Engineering
Solar plane takes off on historic cross-country trip
Lighter than an SUV and covered with more than 12,000 solar cells, Solar Impulse, the world's first solar plane that can fly day and night without recharging, launched from Moffet Field this morning in a cross country voyage.
Post on May 03, 2013 by Lindsey Hoshaw from QUEST Northern California
Landslide at the Calaveras Reservoir
The long-running dam replacement project must pause to deal with a sleeping monster.
Post on Apr 25, 2013 by Andrew Alden from QUEST Northern California
Navy Training Raises New Concerns for Whales off California Coast
As the whale migration season reaches its peak, new concerns arise over naval training exercises off the California coast.
Audio Report on Apr 05, 2013 by Lauren Sommer from KQED Science
UC Berkeley Students Build 3D Printing Vending Machine
Combining 3D printing technology with the convenience and accessibility of the DVD-dispensing Redbox service, student entrepreneurs at UC Berkeley have built a vending machine with a seemingly infinite selection of products.
Post on Mar 26, 2013 by Sean Greene from KQED Science
Historic Devil's Slide Tunnels Finally About To Open
It's been a long time coming. The first highway tunnels to open in California in nearly fifty years are about ready for motorists.
Post on Mar 22, 2013 by Andrea Kissack from KQED Science
Get a Sneak Peek of San Francisco's New Exploratorium
The Exploratorium, San Francisco's famous hands-on science museum, is moving to a new location on the Embarcadero. We got to follow along as employees packed up exhibits in the old location at the Palace of Fine Arts near the Golden Gate Bridge, and began to settle into their new spot at Pier 15.
Post on Mar 22, 2013 by Molly Samuel from KQED Science
San Francisco's Exploratorium is Moving, Growing — and Evolving
The Exploratorium, a San Francisco icon, will soon reopen as a stunning, new, energy efficient building on the city's Embarcadero.
Audio Report on Mar 22, 2013 by Molly Samuel from KQED Science
In Historic Gold Country, Old Mines Get New Life
It's not the frenzy of 1849, but gold mining is quietly making a comeback in California. While some communities are concerned about the environmental costs, others see the chance for a "greener" gold rush.
Audio Report on Jan 18, 2013 by Lauren Sommer from KQED Science
California Prepares First Fracking Regulations, Joining Nationwide Debate
The controversial drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing has created an oil and gas boom around the country – and that’s left state governments grappling with how to regulate it. Now, California is wading into that fight.
Audio Report on Dec 17, 2012 by Lauren Sommer from KQED Science
How Do California's Fracking Regulations Compare to Other States'?
California regulators are expected to release new fracking regulations by the end of the year. Most fracking rules come under state jurisdiction, and different states have different approaches.
Post on Dec 14, 2012 by Molly Samuel from KQED Science
Top KQED Science & QUEST Stories from 2012
From the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to killer whales, bicycles to cheese — it's been another year of diverse storytelling from the KQED Science and Environment team. Here's a round-up of the top 10 stories shared on our website (based on page views) that you've enjoyed in 2012.
Post on Dec 10, 2012 by Jenny Oh from KQED Science
With Large Oil Reserve, California Faces Fracking Debate
The new oil-and-gas boom that’s sweeping the country may be coming to California. With it comes the controversy over the drilling technique known as hydraulic fracturing – or fracking.
Audio Report on Dec 07, 2012 by Lauren Sommer from KQED Science
Growing Pains for California's Electric Car Charging Network
KQED Science explores the growing pains of building an electric car charging network and the fledgling new industry rising up to meet the challenge.
Audio Report on Nov 30, 2012 by Alison van Diggelen from KQED Science
China’s ‘Gridlock’ May Slow Conversion to Clean Energy
California and China share the challenge of updating their power grids for the new age of clean energy. But China's task would appear to be–um–bigger.
Post on Nov 16, 2012 by Marjorie Sun from KQED Science
Q & A – How Will the Solar Industry Shake Out?
Plummeting prices, trade war, record growth – it’s been a busy year for the solar industry. Reporter Lauren Sommer talks to a solar analyst about how California is doing in the rapidly changing global market.
Post on Nov 05, 2012 by Lauren Sommer
Looming Trade War Shakes Up U.S. Solar Industry
Federal officials have put trade tariffs on Chinese solar panels. American solar companies are split on whether it will be good or bad for the industry.
Audio Report on Nov 02, 2012 by Lauren Sommer from KQED Science
In Livermore, Still Waiting on Nuclear Fusion
The National Ignition Facility in Livermore, California, has been called a modern-day moon-shot, a project of "revolutionary science," and "the mother of all boondoggles." NIF, as it's known, is a five-billion dollar, taxpayer-funded super laser project whose goal is to create nuclear fusion – a tiny star – inside a laboratory. But so far, that hasn't happened.
Audio Report on Oct 27, 2012 by Amy Standen from KQED Science
Women in Science: Meet a Mathematician, a Physicist and a Geologist Through Art
There's nothing like role models for inspiring the scientific spirits of women, today and tomorrow! And Marie Curie isn't the only one out there–history is rife with lesser-known but no less fabulous female scientists, engineers, and mathematicians.
Post on Oct 23, 2012 by Danna Staaf from QUEST Northern California
China Tries Greening from the Ground Up
Green building and sustainable design are a trend in California, but nowhere is the urgency greater than in China, where hundreds of millions of people are moving to cities in pursuit of a better life.
Audio Report on Oct 19, 2012 by Marjorie Sun from KQED Science
Century-Old Battle Over Yosemite's 'Second Valley' Heats Up
One of California's oldest environmental battles is on the San Francisco ballot. Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park holds most of San Francisco's water supply. But some environmental groups want to turn back the clock.
Audio Report on Oct 05, 2012 by Lauren Sommer from KQED Science
