Radio
A Census for the Birds
Grab your binoculars and checklist! The annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count is under way. During the last two weeks of the year, from dawn to dusk volunteers spread out over 22,000 count areas, including Peru, Haiti, the U.S. and Canada. Their tally is used by scientists to understand changes in bird populations.
Audio Report on Dec 30, 2011 by Andrea Kissack from QUEST Northern California
Climate Change Throws a Wrench in Water and Weather Forecasts
2011 has been a record-breaking year for extreme weather events. Both the government and insurance companies try to plan for these events by predicting the risk. But as Lauren Sommer reports, climate change is making that tougher.
Audio Report on Dec 23, 2011 by Lauren Sommer from QUEST Northern California
Top KQED QUEST Stories of 2011
From hackerspaces to banana slugs, flying telescopes to cheese – it's been a quite a diverse year of storytelling here at QUEST. Here's a round-up of the top 10 video and audio stories and blog posts that you've enjoyed from the past year.
Post on Dec 21, 2011 by Jenny Oh from QUEST Northern California
Biofuels Face a Reality Check
Despite the buzz around biofuels, the industry been slow to scale up. But Bay Area researchers are making breakthroughs that could move us one step closer to having our cars run on fuels from plants.
Audio Report on Dec 16, 2011 by Lauren Sommer from QUEST Northern California
Can PTSD Nightmares Be Cured?
The hallmark of a healthy dream is its weirdness. PTSD dreams, in contrast, are like a broken record, the same, real-life event, played over and over again, in some patients, for decades.
Audio Report on Dec 09, 2011 by Amy Standen from QUEST Northern California
Porpoises Return to San Francisco Bay
Harbor porpoises haven’t been seen in San Francisco Bay for more than 60 years. Now, they’re returning in growing numbers and researchers are working to understand why.
Audio Report on Dec 02, 2011 by Lauren Sommer from QUEST Northern California
HIV: Searching For a Cure
As we approach World AIDS Day, QUEST's Andrea Kissack talks with one of the world's top HIV/AIDS researchers about progress in the search to find a cure.
Audio Report on Nov 24, 2011 by Andrea Kissack from QUEST Northern California
Energy-Saving Windows Get Smarter
Buildings are responsible for 40% of the country’s energy use. So, researchers are trying improve our energy efficiency by making windows dynamic and intelligent.
Audio Report on Nov 11, 2011 by Lauren Sommer from QUEST Northern California
From Swords to Test Tubes: The Million Veteran Program
A massive database like what the VA is building would allow scientists to compare thousands of anonymous medical records with just a few keystrokes, to study conditions such as cancer and PTSD.
Audio Report on Nov 04, 2011 by Amy Standen from QUEST Northern California
"A Big, Captivating Idea": The Bay Area Ridge Trail
Like the great pyramids of Egypt, the 550-mile Ridge Trail will take generations to complete. Think of it as a local Appalachian Trail for the current crop of two-year olds.
Audio Report on Oct 21, 2011 by Amy Standen from QUEST Northern California
The Amazing Transformation of San Francisco's "Sludge Puddle"
Dumping garbage into the bay wasn’t only convenient, it served the larger goal of getting rid of the bay entirely.
Audio Report on Oct 14, 2011 by Amy Standen from QUEST Northern California
In a Sea of Energy Data, Utilities Try to Inspire Conservation
Smart meters are providing California households with their hourly and daily energy use information for the first time. Consumers use less electricity, studies have shown, when they can see that data. But getting them to pay attention to energy in the first place may be the biggest hurdle.
Audio Report on Oct 07, 2011 by Lauren Sommer from QUEST Northern California
Clean Tech Earns Its Stripes
The largest energy user in the United States is the U.S. Military. Its annual energy bill runs about $15 billion dollars a year, which is why the Department of Defense has developed a keen interest in finding other ways to meet its energy needs, including investing in alternative energy.
Audio Report on Sep 30, 2011 by Amy Standen from QUEST Northern California
The View from Coal Country in the Age of Green
Coal produces nearly half the electricity in the U.S., but the mercury, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide it emits also makes it one of the most controversial energy sources. For many environmental activists, coal represents an old, dirty source of power, but for coal-mining communities around the country, the story is different.
Audio Report on Sep 23, 2011 by Carolyn Beeler from QUEST Philadelphia
A Difficult Path for Clean Coal
Coal generates half of all the electricity in the U.S. It’s also the biggest source of global-warming emissions and other air pollution. The coal industry says the answer is not to phase out coal, but instead to produce “clean coal.” Anne Glausser of QUEST Ohio reports on the difficult path for clean coal.
Audio Report on Sep 23, 2011 by Anne Glausser from QUEST Ohio
Mercury Rises on Coal Costs
Half of the airborne mercury pollution in the US comes from coal-fired power plants. After years of study and debate, the Environmental Protection Agency is planning to announce new limits on mercury from coal plants in November. Meanwhile, utilities are scrambling to meet other new federal regulations and industry groups are asking the government to slow down.
Audio Report on Sep 23, 2011 by Grant Gerlock from QUEST Nebraska
As Renewables Boom, California Struggles to Quit Coal
California is known for its "green" reputation, so it might be a surprise that residents in Southern California still depend on coal power when they turn on the lights.
Audio Report on Sep 23, 2011 by Lauren Sommer from QUEST Northern California
Climate Change Could Mean Cloudy Future for Lake Tahoe
Over the last 15 years, more than a billion dollars has been spent to protect Lake Tahoe's clear waters from runoff and erosion. Now, new threats to lake's clarity are emerging, just as restoration funding is drying up.
Audio Report on Sep 16, 2011 by Lauren Sommer from QUEST Northern California
The Lost Lagoon
Oakland Museum curator Christopher Richard and geologist Janet Sowers function as water detectives, looking for clues of the city’s long-lost aquatic past. Recently, they believe, they solved a mystery that had nagged them for years.
Audio Report on Sep 09, 2011 by Amy Standen from QUEST Northern California
California Gets New Environmental Chief
California's new environmental chief is in the first month of his new position. With budget cuts, environmental lawsuits and a mandate to cut green house gasses, Matt Rodriquez has a big job in front of him.
Audio Report on Aug 19, 2011 by Andrea Kissack from QUEST Northern California
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