KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. Home to the most listened-to public radio station in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services and an award-winning education program, and as a leader and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas.
Contributions from this Station
Japanese Tsunami Debris Reaches the West Coast
The data Californians start collecting this weekend will begin a new scientific project to trace the world's ocean currents.
Post on Sep 13, 2012 by Andrew Alden
Expanding Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary – Round Table Discussion on Google+
KQED SCIENCE is hosting its first Google+ Hangout On Air round table discussion about the proposed expansion of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary from 1-2PM PDT.
Post on Sep 12, 2012 by Jenny Oh
H2-Whoa: Computing With Water Instead of Electrons
Superhydrophobic surfaces enable simple water-based data storage and logic.
Post on Sep 12, 2012 by Melissae Fellet
X-ray Microscope: Seeing Cells in 3-D
At the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, scientists are using a cutting-edge microscope, the first of its kind in the world, to image whole cells in 3-D with the penetrating power of x-rays. The new images generated by the microscope are offering a deeper, more precise understanding of cellular structures and how they change with diseases.
Video on Sep 11, 2012 by Sheraz Sadiq
Be Moved by "Earthquake": A New E-book and iTunes U Course
What are earthquakes? Gain a new perspective on these powerful phenomena with an e-book and iTunes U course co-produced by the California Academy of Sciences and KQED.
Post on Sep 11, 2012 by Andrea Swensrud
Your Photos on QUEST: Rogelio Bernal Andreo
Astrophotographer Rogelio Bernal Andreo's colorful wide field images of deep sky objects like galaxies, nebulae, star clusters has garnered him dozens of photography awards including the Royal Observatory of Greenwich's 2010 Best Astrophotographer of the Year.
Video on Sep 11, 2012 by Amy Miller
Scientific Whimsy: The Magical Art of Tiffany Bozic
Tiffany Bozic, the first Artist-in-Residence at the California Academy of Sciences, named her first child after a rare bird found in Southeast Asia: Tesia olivea.
Post on Sep 11, 2012 by Danna Staaf
The Results Are In For My Genetics Quiz
In my last blog entry, I wrote a quiz that tested some basic knowledge about genetics that experts have found the public struggles with. What I found from the responses I received is that the QUEST public doesn’t struggle with them or, more likely, people only answer quizzes like this if they are pretty confident [...]
Post on Sep 10, 2012 by Dr. Barry Starr
California's Prop. 37: Are GMO Labels a Scarlet Letter?
Proposition 37 could make California the first state in the country to require "Made with GMO" labels on genetically-engineered foods. But would the labels inform people? Or scare them?
Audio Report on Sep 07, 2012 by Amy Standen
Will the Asteroid Apophis Rock Our World?
With all of the giant rocks flying around in space that can cross Earth's orbit and therefore be a impact threat, what are the odds of one hitting us?
Post on Sep 07, 2012 by Ben Burress
Geological Side Trips from Interstate 80: Griffith Quarry in Penryn
Sometimes you need a break when you're taking Interstate 80 to or from the Sierra. Try this historic quarry in the foothills.
Post on Sep 06, 2012 by Andrew Alden
Braking for Beetles: When Recreation and Conservation Converge
The endangered Ohlone tiger beetle, found only in Santa Cruz County, depends on disturbed landscapes to hunt and breed. Migrating woolly mammoths and more recently grazing elk helped maintain that habitat. Recreational trails might prove a good replacement–as long as mountain bikers follow rules to reduce beetle casualties.
Post on Sep 05, 2012 by Liza Gross
Facebook and Frank Gehry: Will the New Building Be A Marriage of Sustainability?
Facebook hired Frank Gehry to design its new building. Why? If the 'book wanted a green building (and who'd dare to build in the Bay Area without "a big emphasis on being eco-friendly"?), Gehry is a less than obvious choice.
Post on Sep 04, 2012 by Danna Staaf
The Heat is On For California Wines
You’ve probably heard of the wines that made Napa and Sonoma famous, like Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay. But what about Negroamaro or Nero d’Avola? They’re wine grapes that are well-adapted to hotter temperatures — the kind of conditions that California may be facing as the climate continues to warm.
Audio Report on Sep 04, 2012 by Lauren Sommer
Should Men Get A PSA Blood Test To Screen For Prostate Cancer?
Medical experts disagree on whether prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests are an effective screening technique for prostate cancer. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends against PSA screening for men of any age, but recent research disagrees with this assessment.
Post on Sep 03, 2012 by Jennifer Huber
Waterways of the Largest Estuary on the West Coast
San Francisco Bay's watershed extends to the Sierras. Ponder the waterways of the largest estuary in western North America.
Post on Aug 31, 2012 by Sharol Nelson-Embry
Outdoor Labs: The UC Natural Reserve System
The University of California runs a unique set of 38 pristine properties around the state for scientific research.
Post on Aug 30, 2012 by Andrew Alden
Starbucks' Food Waste Fuels Experimental Biorefinery
Most of our plastics come from petroleum-based chemicals. Now, thanks to engineered microbes, similar materials might be made using food waste from Starbucks.
Post on Aug 29, 2012 by Melissae Fellet
Squid Skin: Why Pigment (But Not Glitter) Will Dance to the Beat
Squid and their relatives–a group of animals known as cephalopods–have the world's best skin. And it's not because they moisturize, lack pimples, or tan without ever burning. It's because their skin is a canvas of endless possibilities.
Post on Aug 28, 2012 by Danna Staaf
California Considers Giving Self-Driving Cars Green Light
California is considering rules that would allow self-driving cars on the road, but making rules for robots is no simple task.
Audio Report on Aug 24, 2012 by Lauren Sommer
