Author
Erik Olsen
Los Angeles–based journalist and filmmaker. Former Senior Video Journalist at The New York Times and West Coast correspondent for Quartz. Work has appeared in National Geographic, BBC, Scientific American, Popular Science, CNN, MSNBC, and PBS NOVA.
151 stories
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It’s Going to Be a Sharky Summer. Here’s Why That’s Okay.
Shark populations are rebounding along California’s coast, and the risks may be far lower than people think, says Chris Lowe, the director of the Shark Lab at Cal State Long Beach.
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That Time We Tried to Live Under the Sea Off California
One of the most ambitious attempts to allow humans to live on the ocean floor took place just off San Diego. It’s called SEALAB II.
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Why Southern California is the Stingray Capital of the World
According to research led by Dr. Chris Lowe at California State University, Long Beach Shark Lab, Southern California’s nearshore waters may host one of the densest concentrations of stingrays anywhere in the world.
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How the Jones Act Strangles California Innovation and Keeps I-5 Packed with Trucks
California’s highways are clogged with trucks moving goods that could travel by sea, but the Jones Act makes coastal shipping too costly to scale, locking freight onto crowded roads and limiting a cleaner alternative.
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The Man Who Saved the Owens Pupfish
Less than 2.5 inches in length, the Owens pupfish is a silvery-blue fish in the family Cyprinodontidae. Endemic to California’s Owens Valley, 200 miles north of Los Angeles, the fish has lived on the planet since the Pleistocene, becoming a new species when its habitat was divided by changing climatic conditions, 60,000 years ago.
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MBARI and the Machines That Let Us See the Deep
You’ve probably seen the videos. A fish with a transparent head, its organs floating inside like tennis…
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Curiosity Is the Point
The more you look around in California, the more you realize there is almost always something fascinating to notice and something worth learning a little more about.
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The Valley That Feeds a Nation
When it comes to a geological feature that has quietly shaped daily life in California more than almost any other, we should consider the Central Valley, arguably the state’s most important geological masterpiece.
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California’s Daily Tidal Wave of Life
Every day, trillions of marine animals migrate up and down through the ocean in the largest daily movement of biomass on Earth. California’s exceptionally productive waters, and research hubs like MBARI near Moss Landing, make the state one of the best places in the world to observe and study this vast, invisible pulse of life.
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Measuring the Earth’s Tremors and the Development of the Richter Scale
In 1935, Charles F. Richter, a seismologist at CalTech, introduced a groundbreaking method to quantify earthquakes: the Richter scale.
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When Muybridge Made Motion Visible in Palo Alto
Eadweard Muybridge’s ‘Animal Locomotion’ was the first scientific study to use photography. Now, more than 130 years later, Muybridge’s work is seen as both an innovation in photography and the science of movement.
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Recommended California Science & Nature Videos
Today’s newsletter is a little different. Instead of one big story focused on a single topic, I put together a short list of some of my…
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Ancient and Poisonous Cycads Are the Prehistoric Plants of Southern California
These living fossils predate dinosaurs and bear some of the largest seed cones on Earth — yet most Californians walk past them in gardens without ever recognizing what they’re seeing.
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California’s Two-Spot Octopus is the Alien Mind Off Shore
I have a deep passion for octopuses. I have made several short documentaries about them and even traveled twice to Indonesia with one of…
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Upwelling, the Ocean’s Engine Beneath California’s Waters
Few marine processes are as impactful on the abundance of sea life off the coast of California as upwelling. It may not be a term you’ve heard before, but the natural oceanic process of upwelling is one of the most important engines driving climate, biological diversity, and the ocean’s food web.
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Transforming California’s Oil Platforms into Marine Sanctuaries
Beneath the surface of California’s offshore oil platforms lies one of the most productive ecosystems on Earth. As the state debates whether to remove or reef these massive structures, scientists, divers, and environmental advocates like Blue Latitudes’ Amber Sparks are fighting to keep the life they support alive.
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San Clemente Island is Where War Games and Wildlife Coexist
San Clemente Island looks like a long volcanic ridge from offshore, but it has been one of the most important and least visible military landscapes in California for almost a century.
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The Happy Nut: California’s Rise to Pistachio Power
California now grows more pistachios than any place on Earth, generating nearly $3 billion in economic value in the state. Nearly every nut sold in the United States, and most shipped abroad, comes from orchards in the Central Valley.
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Ten Essential Books About California’s Nature, Science, and Sense of Place
I’m an avid reader, and over the past decade I’ve dedicated a large section of my bookshelf to books about California—its wild side, its nature, and its scientific wonders.
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The Myth of the 100-foot Whale
So, according to the best records we have, the largest blue whale ever properly measured was 98 feet long. Granted, 98 feet is close to 100 feet, but it’s not 100 feet, and it’s certainly not over 100 feet, as so many otherwise reputable references state.
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One Wilshire: Los Angeles’ Hidden Artery of the Internet
One Wilshire in downtown Los Angeles. I often discover these stories not from full articles, books, or podcasts, but from a single…
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California Is a Nobel Powerhouse
The University of California system now counts 74 Nobel Prizes among its faculty and researchers. 23 in physics and 16 in chemistry. Berkeley leads the list, with 26 laureates, followed by UC San Diego, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, and UC San Francisco. Even smaller campuses, such as UC Riverside, have ties to winners like Barry Barish, who shared the 2017 Nobel in Physics for detecting gravitational waves.
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Corals Revealed as Never Before Through a Groundbreaking New Microscope in California
What this new tool allows scientists to do is determine whether corals may be under stress from factors like warming seas, pollution, or disease. Ideally, these warning signs are detected before the corals expel their zooxanthellae and bleach. Researchers are also learning far more about the everyday behavior of corals: something rarely studied in situ, directly in the ocean.
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The Unsung California Labs That Powered the Digital Revolution
The technology is extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV). And one of the most important points I want to leave you with is that the origins of EUV are not found in Silicon Valley startups or corporate boardrooms but in California’s national laboratories, where government-funded science made the impossible possible.
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A Tiny California Seaweed Could Make a Big Dent in Livestock Methane
Because methane is so potent, trapping more than 80 times as much heat as carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, the livestock industry’s footprint has become a central focus for climate scientists searching for solutions.
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Riding Wave Energy in Los Angeles
Turning the steady motion of the Pacific into clean electricity, Eco Wave Power’s pilot at the Port of Los Angeles tests whether wave energy can become a real piece of California’s renewable future.
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The Story of Southern California Sand from Mountains to Surf
It turns out most of the grains between your toes actually began their journey high in the mountains above LA, on craggy slopes far from the shore. Mostly, we are talking about the San Gabriel Mountains and other peaks in the Transverse Ranges that run east-west across Southern California.
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The Physics and Geology of The Wedge, California’s Most Dangerous Wave
There is something unforgettable about the Wedge and the way its waves crash with such raw force. Sometimes they detonate just offshore, sending water skyrocketing into the air; other times they slam thunderously against the sand, eliciting groans and whoops from bystanders.
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California’s Precarious Future and the Promise—and Limits—of Desalination
Visibly low water conditions at Shasta Lake in Shasta County, on October 13, 2022. Andrew Innerarity / California Department of Water Resources. Water, water, every where, nor any drop to…
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Bring Human Exploration Back to California’s Deep Ocean
It’s time for California to put…
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How California Has Revived Its Groundfish Fisheries
How Smart Policy and Collaboration Brought Groundfish Back From the Brink Vermillion Rockfish scientific illustration Recently, I wrote a…
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What David Attenborough Reminded Me About the Sea
The new National Geographic documentary Oceans makes plain what bottom trawling does to the seafloor — and why protecting the ocean might be the most important thing we can do.
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The Salton Sea Was California’s Strangest Catastrophe
In California’s southeastern desert, the Salton Sea stretches across a wide, shimmering basin, a lake where there shouldn’t be one. At about 340…
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The Caltech Experiment That Proved How Life Copies Itself
The Meselson-Stahl experiment didn’t just prove a point. It told a story about how knowledge is built: carefully, creatively, and with a precision that leaves no room for doubt. It became a model for how science can answer big questions with simple, clean logic and careful experimentation. And it all happened in California.
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Manzanitas are California’s Sculptured Survivors
With twisting, terra-cotta limbs and bark polished smooth by the sun, manzanita doesn’t just grow in California’s chaparral — it sculpts itself into the landscape.
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California’s Eye on the Cosmos: The SLAC-Built Camera That Will Time-Lapse the Universe
Images from the most powerful astronomical discovery machine ever created, and built in California A breathtaking zoomed-in glimpse of the cosmos: this first image from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory…
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California’s Wild Laboratory and The Evolutionary Wonders of the Channel Islands
The Channel Islands of California, an enchanting archipelago, offer a fascinating natural laboratory for the study of island biogeography. This field of biology, which explores the distribution of species and ecosystems in island environments, finds a perfect case study in these islands.
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The Scourge of Ghost Lobster Traps and the Battle to Save Marine Life in California
Lobster is delicious. Let’s just get that out of the way. Yes, I’m sure there are some who either don’t…
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Caltech’s Einstein Papers Project is a Window into the Mind of a Genius
Albert Einstein on the beach in Santa Barbara in 1931 ( The Caltech Archives ) We wrote a piece a while back about the three winters Albert Einstein spent in Pasadena, a little-known chapter in the…
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The Fight for California’s Coastline and the Future of the Coastal Commission
For over 50 years, the California Coastal Commission has protected public access and natural beauty, but growing challenges—wildfires, housing shortages, and political pressure—are testing its authority like never before.
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The Plate Tectonic Revolution and How California Became the Epicenter of a Scientific Breakthrough
For many geologists, the moment this new understanding solidified was in December 1969, at a groundbreaking conference at the Asilomar Conference Center in California that reshaped the future of the field.
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Salt to Salvation: The Desalination Revolution in California’s Drought Battle
While an atmospheric river storm in 2023 significantly eased California’s drought conditions for the time being, there is widespread concern that serious drought conditions will soon return and become the new norm.
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Berkeley’s Cosmic Breakthrough and the Alvarez Discovery That Rewrote Earth’s History
The Alvarez’ work led to one of the most significant scientific breakthroughs of the 20th century: the discovery that a massive meteorite impact was responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs and much of life on Earth.
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Creosote Bushes Are the Mojave Desert’s Time Travelers
In the Mojave Desert, one creosote plant known as “King Clone” is estimated to be over 12,000 years old, making it one of the oldest living clonal organisms on Earth.
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Camp Pendleton’s Wild Landscape as a Natural Refuge
Covering approximately 200 square miles in north San Diego County, the base has served as a critical training ground for the U.S. Marine Corps since 1942. However, its restricted access and limited development have inadvertently preserved some of Southern California’s last remaining wild coastal terrain.
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Long Valley Caldera Discover the Science and Beauty of California’s Ancient Supervolcano
The Long Valley Caldera in eastern California is an extraordinary geological feature, spanning about 20 miles in length and 11 miles in width. It owes its existence to one of the most dramatic volcanic events in Earth’s history, a supereruption that occurred approximately 760,000 years ago.
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A Deep Dive into Monterey Canyon, California’s Great Abyss
Monterey Canyon, often called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, is one of the largest and most fascinating submarine canyons in the world. Stretching over 95 miles from the coast of Monterey, California, and plunging to depths exceeding 3,600 meters (11,800 feet), this underwater marvel rivals its terrestrial counterpart in size and grandeur.
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The Mountain Pass Mine in California May Be the U.S. Rare Earths Game Changer
With the global race for critical minerals intensifying, MP Materials’ success demonstrates the potential—and challenges—of revitalizing domestic mining infrastructure in an era of heightened resource competition.
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How a Lancaster, California Company is Giving Old EV Batteries a Second Life on the Grid
By harnessing the power of old electric vehicle (EV) batteries to store renewable energy, B2U is giving these aging batteries a productive second life and helping enhance the viability of green energy grids. The effort could pave the way for not only improving solar storage but also reusing old batteries that might otherwise end up in landfills or pose environmental hazards.
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Understanding the Impact of Santa Ana Winds in the Eaton Fire
One fact is indisputable: the fires were unusual in their ferocity and destruction. While studies, debates, and expert analyses following the disaster are inevitable, the immediate aftermath offers one clear conclusion—this fires were driven, in large part, by the extraordinary winds that descended on Los Angeles that night.
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California’s Two-Spot Octopus Combines Extraordinary Intelligence with Masterful Camouflage
The California two-spot octopus, Octopus bimaculoides, is a marine creature that not only captivates with its intelligence but also serves as a window into the complex tapestry of cephalopod behavior and genomics.
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How a Tiny Beetle Helped Save California
California’s citrus industry confronted a deadly challenge, leading to a groundbreaking innovation in pest control. Cottony Cushion Scale (Public Domain) Click to We’d…
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Laurel Sumac, the Resilient Beauty of Southern California’s Chaparral
Here’s another article exploring some of California’s native plants. With a remarkable…
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Walter Munk was a Californian Oceanographer Who Changed Our Understanding of the Seas
Photo: Erik Jepsen (UC San Diego) Walter Munk, often referred to as the “Einstein of the Oceans,” was one of the most influential oceanographers of…
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The Remarkable Revival of the Giant Sea Bass in California: Catalina Island’s Growing Giants
The Giant Sea Bass, also known as Stereolepis gigas, has long been a majestic part of California’s coastal ecosystems. This behemoth of a fish can grow up to nearly 7 and a half feet long, weighing a whopping 560 pounds, and can live to the age of 75.
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California’s Dark-Eyed Juncos Are Quietly Evolving in Plain Sight
One of the most compelling examples of urban ecology at work is the story of the dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis), a small songbird traditionally found in mountainous forests, now thriving in urban environments like San Diego and Los Angeles.
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John Isaacs, the Maverick Oceanographer Who Wanted to Tow Icebergs to California
California’s water crises have always inspired bold solutions, but few ideas rival the sheer audacity of John Isaacs’ proposal to tow a giant Antarctic iceberg to San Diego.
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All the Fish We Did Not See - The Discovery of the Ocean’s False Bottom off California
This phenomenon, later termed the Deep Scattering Layer (DSL), created a “false bottom” in sonar readings, revealing an unexpectedly dense concentration of biological life in a mid-ocean zone once thought to be relatively sparse. The discovery of the DSL challenged assumptions about life distribution in the ocean, showing that vast numbers of organisms—such as fish, squid, and zooplankton—populate these depths, rising and descending with daily cycles to avoid predators and optimize feeding.
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Cadillac Desert: How Marc Reisner Changed the Way We See Water
Marc Reisner’s Cadillac Desert is not just a history of water in the West; it is a call to rethink our relationship with one of the planet’s most precious resources. At once an epic tale and an urgent warning, it stands as a monumental testament to the price we pay for bending nature to our will.
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The Great Los Angeles Flood of 1934 was a Disaster That Shaped California’s Approach to Flood Control
A forgotten New Year’s disaster killed dozens, swept hundreds of homes off their foundations in the foothills, and forced California to invent the modern playbook for flood control.
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A Massive Aircraft Carrier called the USS Independence Rests in Deep Waters off the Coast of California
The waters off California’s coast are scattered with relics of wartime history, each telling its own story of conflict and survival. Among these wrecks is the USS Independence, a WWII aircraft carrier whose journey took it from the heights of naval warfare to the depths of nuclear experimentation.
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The Ivanpah Solar Project is an Engineering Solar Power Giant in the Mojave Desert
Update (February 2025): The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, once a…
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Get Your Nukes on Route 66: The Wild Plan to Use Nuclear Weapons to Blast a Highway Through the California Desert
…and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. Micah 4:3 Fake…
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Unearthing the Secrets of the Sierra Nevada Batholith
Ansel Adams , with his iconic black-and-white…
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Western Fence Lizard: California’s Blue Belly Is Evolving in Cities
California’s western fence lizard, the iconic blue belly, is evolving to thrive in cities — a backyard reptile quietly rewriting urban biology.
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The Magic, Wonder, and Science of Ocean Bioluminescence in Southern California
The phenomenon that causes the blue glow has been known for centuries, but that in no way detracts from its wonder and beauty. The phenomenon is called bioluminescence, and it is one of nature’s most magical and interesting phenomena.
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The Lost Island of Santarosae off California’s Coast
During the last Ice Age, approximately 20,000 to 25,000 years ago, when sea levels were significantly lower, Santarosae Island was a single, expansive landmass that now comprises most of California’s Channel Islands.
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California’s Elephant Seals are the Giants of the Golden Coast
Elephant seal in California. Once teetering on the brink of extinction, the California elephant seal has made an…
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New Research Sheds Light on the Saber-Toothed Cats of California, Fierce Predators of the Pleistocene
Among the region’s Pleistocene Epoch megafauna, the Saber-toothed cats are some of the most iconic prehistoric predators to have roamed California.
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Squid Pro Quo: How the California Market Squid Gives Back to Nature and Economy
The California market squid, scientifically known as Doryteuthis opalescens, is an integral component of the marine ecosystem and significantly contributes to California’s economy.
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The Desert Garden at The Huntington is a Sanctuary for Succulents and a Battleground Against Poaching
The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California, is one of the institutions on the front lines of this battle against plant theft.
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Unraveling the Geology Behind Palos Verdes’ Ongoing Landslide Crisis
For decades, geologists and engineers have been aware that the Portuguese Bend region of Palos Verdes is prone…
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Looking back at John McPhee’s Assembling California: A Journey through Geology and Time
when it comes to exploring the state’s geology - its mountains, coastlines, and, most notably, its fault lines - few books can match the prowess and eloquence of John McPhee’s “Assembling California”. Part of his Pulitzer-winning series, “Annals of the Former World,” the book offers a comprehensive and accessible tour through the geological history of California, crafting a narrative that is as engaging as it is informative.
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California’s Monterey Formation: Unraveling the Secrets of a Fossil-Rich, Oil-Bearing Geological Wonder
California’s Monterey Formation is one of the most fascinating geological formations in the United States. Stretching along the California coast from San Francisco to Los Angeles, this formation is notable for its incredible diversity of siliceous rocks—rocks rich in silica, such as shale, chert, diatomite, and porcelanite.
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Why bringing back California’s kelp is so important
Sea urchins have devastated kelp forests in California. Support California Curated by buying us a coffee? Two centuries ago, the waters off the California coast were home to a vibrant ecosystem of…
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The California Sea Lion’s Story of Survival and Conservation
California sea lions are part of the family Otariidae, which includes all eared seals. These agile marine mammals are well adapted for life in the ocean, with streamlined bodies, strong flippers, and a layer of blubber to help regulate body temperature.
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Why Parkfield, California is the Nation’s Earthquake Capital
In Parkfield, every hillside and valley, grassy nook and riverbed is home to some kind of instrument that measures earthquakes. Over the years, these instruments have become more sophisticated and expensive, making it necessary in many cases to fence them off with the threat of arrest. These instruments monitor, hour by hour, or better, millisecond by millisecond, the stirrings of the earth. To geologists, it is ground zero for seismic measurement.
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How Theodore Roosevelt’s 1903 trip to California gave birth to modern conservation
Theodore Roosevelt’s 1903 trip to California gave birth to modern conservation.
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The Mighty Oaks of California Are a Keystone of the Golden State’s Ecosystem
Support California Curated by buying us a coffee? Oak trees hold a profound presence in the landscape of California, constituting a living link between the state’s rich biodiversity and cultural…
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Saving California’s White Abalone is Part of a Much Bigger Story
The current effort to bring back the white abalone is one of numerous projects underway in California to revive the state’s once-thriving marine environment.
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Beyond the Beach: How Santa Monica Became Home to the RAND Corporation, America’s Premier Defense Think Tank
“This was a very smart bunch,” said Ellsberg, before his death on June 16, 2023. “The smartest group of people I ever did associate with. It turns out, by the way, intelligence is not a very good guarantee of wisdom.”
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Caltech Fly Labs and a Century of Genetic Discovery
And much of the work to understand the fruit fly has taken place and is taking place now, right here in California at the Cal Tech fly labs.
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California Coastline Teems with Whale Skeletons
Recently, scientists have discovered an extraordinary number of these whale falls off the coast of Los Angeles—over 60 skeletons, a number that surpasses the total found worldwide since 1977.
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Pasadena: City of Science
Pasadena, California, often renowned for its picturesque landscapes and historic architecture, harbors another, less visible identity as a bustling hub of scientific innovation and intellectual fervor. This unique blend of beauty and brains makes Pasadena not just a city, but a veritable city of science
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From Desert Treasures to Resilient Glass: How a California Boron Mine Transformed the World
Acknowledgment: Many of my stories begin with something I come across while reading. Often, it is a…
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Dark Parks in California Allow Us to Reconnect with the Universe
The Milky Way above the Eastern Sierra. Despite its vast expanse (over 163,000 square miles) California offers surprisingly few places where one can…
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The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH): Icon of American Scenic Roadways
The Pacific Coast Highway took decades to complete fully, with different sections being opened to the public at various times.
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Black Gold Beach or How Oil Transformed Long Beach and Built the Southern California Economy
Southern California is best known for its sun-soaked…
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Giants Fallen: The Destruction of Converse Basin Grove and its Giant Sequoias
The true tragic story of one of the worst environmental crimes in California history.
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Julia Platt was the Unwavering Force Behind Monterey’s Ecological Conservation
In the 18th century, when Spanish and French explorers ventured along the northern California coast they encountered…
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JPL and the Voyager Golden Record: Humanity’s A Cosmic Mixtape in Space
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge, California is well-known for sending spacecraft far into the cosmos to help us better understand the universe. But the agency was also extensively involved in one of the most ambitious and symbolic projects in the history of space exploration: the Voyager Golden Record.
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Geologist Thomas Dibblee Jr. and the Theory Behind Pinnacles National Park’s 200-Mile Tectonic Journey
Pinnacles National Park’s wide landscape of dramatic rock formations and craggy spires looks otherworldly, especially in golden hour light. But few people who visit the park, located in Central California, southeast of the San Francisco Bay Area, are aware that the rock formations were once at the center of one of the most fierce debates in the history of California geology.
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Feathers on the Flyway: Unraveling Avian Mysteries at Bear Divide with the Moore Lab
Bear Divide is strategically positioned along the Pacific Flyway, a significant north-south migratory route used by birds traveling between Alaska and Patagonia. The geographical features of the San Gabriels provide an ideal resting and feeding ground for these birds, making Bear Divide a crucial stopover during their long journeys.
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The Blythe Intaglios are the California’s Nazca Lines. They are True Mysteries Etched in Earth.
The Blythe Intaglios—have long puzzled anthropologists and captivated the imagination of those who visit them or view them from the sky.
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The Enigmatic Island Fox: A Tale of Survival and Conservation
The Island Fox’s journey from the brink of extinction to a conservation success story is a testament to the power of dedicated conservation efforts. It also highlights the importance of maintaining ecological balance in sensitive environments like the Channel Islands.
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California’s SLAC and the Mission to Unveil the Mysteries of Matter and the Cosmos
Since its inception in 1962, originally as the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (as it was previously known), it has been on the forefront of scientific discovery in numerous scientific disciplines. It is truly one of the nation’s great scientific institutions, being at the forefront of numerous major discoveries that have deeply impacted - and will impact - the world.
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Roadcut Revelations: Unearthing California’s Deep History Along the Highway
Roadcuts in California, those slices through hills and mountainsides made during the construction of roads, are like open books to geologists. They reveal the intricate and often dramatic geological history of the state.
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The Mystical Sentinels of the Mojave: Unraveling the Secrets of the Joshua Tree
Standing tall against the backdrop of the sun-scorched Mojave Desert, the Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia) is an emblematic figure of resilience and beauty. With its twisted, bristled limbs reaching towards the sky, this iconic species is not just a tree but a symbol of the untamed wilderness that is California’s desert landscape.
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Underground Fury: The 1985 Methane Blast That Rocked Los Angeles and Rerouted Its Subways
When an unseen pocket of methane ignited under a Ross Dress for Less in 1985, it didn’t just injure 23 people — it forced Los Angeles to redraw the future of its subway.
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Journey to the Iron Giant: NASA’s Psyche Mission Could Unlock the Secrets of a Metallic World
The Psyche spacecraft in the clean room of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge, CA A NOVEL PROPULSION SYSTEM WILL TAKE US TO A MASSIVE METAL ASTEROID IN DEEP SPACE Imagine being…
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Autumn’s Alchemy: Unveiling the Science Behind California’s High Sierra Fall Foliage
The transformation of leaves in the high Sierra is far more than a seasonal aesthetic; it’s a vivid illustration of how meticulously nature has calibrated life to adapt and thrive.
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The California Gull is the Unsung Hero of Feathered Adaptability and Ecological Balance
Imagine a bird that’s not only a reliable fixture on both coastal and inland landscapes, but also a winged hero with a knack for saving ecosystems…
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Through the Looking Glass Head: The Enigmatic World of the Barreleye Fish
The Barreleye fish is the kind of creature that captures the imagination and evokes wonder about what remains undiscovered in the deep ocean.
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The Ocean’s Invisible Elevator: How Upwelling Fuels California’s Marine Bounty
The Vital Role of Upwelling in California’s Rich Ocean Life Few marine processes have been as impactful on the abundance of sea life off the coast…
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Navigating the Unseen Current: How the California Current System Shapes Our Ocean, Climate, and Future
The California Current, originating from the colder regions up near British Columbia, sweeps its way down toward Baja California, extending laterally several hundred miles offshore into deep oceanic waters off the continental shelf.
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Davidson Seamount and the Unseen Mountains and Hidden Treasures Off California’s Coast
Perhaps the most astonishing discovery at Davidson Seamount occurred in 2018, when scientists discovered the “Octopus Garden,” the largest known aggregation of octopuses in the world. The garden is about two miles deep and was discovered by researchers on the research vessel (RV) Nautilus.
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The Majestic San Gabriel Mountains: A Deep Dive into Their Formation, History, and Biodiversity
It is believed that much of the sand on California’s legendary beaches originated in the San Gabriel mountains, the result of erosion and various rivers and streams that run into the Pacific Ocean.
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The Garibaldi’s Dance of Color and Character in California’s Coastal Ballet
California Garibaldi Underwater photos of California’s coast featured in books and magazines almost always showcase a certain fish: the garibaldi. Within the underwater kaleidoscope of California’s…
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The Eucalyptus Tree’s Twisted Path to Californian Soil
The California landscape is dotted with numerous plant species, many of them native , but few have a story as…
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Mt. Wilson Observatory in Los Angeles is a Celestial Time Capsule
The story of the Mt. Wilson Observatory begins with George Ellery Hale. A visionary, Hale had the foresight to choose Mt. Wilson as the site for his new observatory because of its altitude (at 5,710 feet) and proximity to the Pacific Ocean, making it an ideal spot for stable, clear skies.
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The Sweet Journey of the Boysenberry from Family Farms to Theme Park Fame
Bowl of boysenberries on wooden table. California has long been a hub for berry innovation, boasting a rich history of developing countless berry…
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Einstein in Pasadena: Three Wonderful Winters in Paradise
But of all the places he visited, one city stood out in particular. Pasadena, with its warm weather, lively culture, and, most importantly, its reputation as a scientific hub, had a deep personal appeal to Einstein. He visited Pasadena during the winters of 1931, 1932, and 1933, each time staying for approximately two to three months.
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Tejon Pass is a Journey Through Time, Terrain, and Tectonics
There’s a drive that I’ve done many times where I tend to look around…
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Hannes Keller’s Deadly 1,000-Foot Descent off Catalina Island Was the Dive of the Century
“If a man could go, for instance, to 1,000 feet down and do practical work,” Mr. Keller wrote in The Sydney Morning Herald, “then all the continental shelf zone could be explored, a total of more than 16 million square miles.”
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Baja California Is Slowly Breaking Away from the Mainland and May One Day Become an Island
In the southwest corner of North America, surrounded by the vast Pacific Ocean and the ethereal Sea of Cortez, lies the rugged and beautiful Baja California Peninsula. While well known for its captivating landscapes, what’s perhaps more fascinating is the story of its origin—a tale written in the language of tectonic plate movements, over tens of millions of years.
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Where the Sand on Southern California’s Beaches Comes From
Beach sand, particularly in Southern California, is primarily composed of quartz and feldspar mixed with silvery mica and milky quartz. These minerals originally existed in the granite of the local mountains, miles from the shoreline.
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Why Are Dinosaur Fossils So Scarce in California?
Hadrosaur on ancient California landscape. Hadrosaurs like this AI generated one are among the very few dinosaurs whose fossils have ever been found in California. Support California Curated with a…
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How Citrus Transformed California
The citrus boom in California reached its zenith in the late 19th and early 20th century. It was during this period that the citrus industry became a pivotal part of the state’s economy and helped shape its cultural identity.
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J. Robert Oppenheimer: The Berkeley Era and The Birth of the Manhattan Project
J. Robert Oppenheimer, one of the leading physicists of the 20th century, is often remembered as the ‘father of the atomic bomb’. However, his journey toward this formidable title began at the University of California, Berkeley, an intellectual crucible where his talent for theoretical physics was honed, ultimately leading him to oversee the Manhattan Project, a scientific endeavor that would change the world.
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Genetic Guardians: The Asilomar Conference and its DNA Diplomacy
The Asilomar Conference reached a consensus that with proper containment measures, most rDNA experiments could be conducted safely. This resulted in a set of guidelines that differentiated experiments based on their potential biohazards and suggested appropriate containment measures.
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Ghost of the West: The Tragic Story of the California Grizzly Bear’s Journey from Wilderness to State Flag
In the expansive and diverse landscape of California, many iconic animals are an integral part of the state’s reputation for natural beauty and untamed wilderness. Yet, one particular creature looms larger in the Californian narrative than many others – a species that has been extinct for nearly a century, but lives on as a powerful symbol: the California Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos californicus).
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A Deep Dive into the World of California’s Orcas: Majestic Ocean Predators
The marine ecosystem of California is both vibrant and diverse, boasting an array of majestic creatures, from the smallest microorganisms to the most massive marine mammals. One of the ocean’s most…
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The Long Life and Accidental Death of the Prometheus Bristlecone Pine
Yet, in an ironic twist of fate, one of these seemingly invincible trees—known as Prometheus—fell not to the ravages of nature, but to the hand of man.
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The Enduring Legacy of Hydraulic Mining in California
While the gold rush was an incredible boon for California, hydraulic mining’s environmental toll—eroded hillsides and choked rivers—remains a stark reminder of the cost of progress. Support…
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The Desert Tortoise: A Resilient Survivor of the Mojave
a close-up of a desert tortoise The Mojave Desert, a harsh yet strikingly beautiful landscape that extends across four western U.S. states, is home to an equally fascinating and resilient creature:…
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Hidden in Plain Sight: The Fascinating World of California’s Bush Toyon
California is a land of endless natural wonder. From towering redwoods to sun-soaked deserts, the state offers an…
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Maybe You’ve heard of Josiah Whitney, Mt. Whitney’s Namesake
Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the contiguous United States, is one of the great peaks in California. A wildly popular destination for…
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Serpentine is the Geological Gem of California
Serpentine is formed through the metamorphic process, where pre-existing rocks are transformed into new types under high temperatures, pressures, and chemical processes. This unique rock originates from the Earth’s mantle, brought to the surface through tectonic activity like subduction.
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The return of Lake Tulare - once the largest lake West of the Mississippi
The massive atmospheric snowstorms that pummeled California this year have been a boon to ski slopes throughout the Sierra Nevada mountains. But the rains have had an unusual result: The torrents of…
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The Los Angeles Aqueduct Cascades is a Monument to Human Ingenuity and the Lifeblood of a Megacity
Los Angeles is home to nearly four million people, but this bustling metropolis would not have been possible without a vital resource: water. While…
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California’s Common, but Lovely, Birds: the House Finch
One of the most common birds in California, probably familiar to anyone whether a backyard enthusiast or committed ornithologist is the house finch. The house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) is a small passerine (perching) bird that is native to western North America, including California. This bird is widely known for its vibrant red plumage and melodic song, making it a beloved sight and sound in backyards across the state.
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Ten Little-Known Facts About California
Giant Sequoia California is known for its sunny beaches, bustling cities, and iconic landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Hollywood sign. However, the state is also home to a wealth of…
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California is a dolphin paradise
A Pacific White-Sided Dolphin swims alongside a boat off Newport Beach, California For those who are fortunate enough to live near the coast of California, Dolphin sightings are a frequent delight.…
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The Rich Historical and Geological Past of the Alabama Hills
The hills are known for their unique geological formations, including massive rounded boulders and natural arches, and their rich history and cultural significance.
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Exploring the Long Valley Caldera, California’s Ancient Supervolcano
Beneath the seemingly calm and serene landscape of Eastern California lies one of the planet’s most explosive features — a volcanic giant that has been slumbering for thousands of years. It’s the Long Valley Caldera.
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Clair Patterson: The little-known California scientist who may have saved millions of lives.
At Caltech, Clair Patterson’s relentless determination to understand the health impacts of atmospheric lead changed the world for the better.
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The Ancient Cycads: A Living Fossil Collection at Descanso Gardens
Cycads are cool to look at and examine closely, and it turns out that one of the best places in the United States to see actual living cycads in Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge. But how’d they get there?
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Why are California’s redwoods and sequoias so big and tall?
California’s giant sequoias and redwoods are nature’s skyscrapers. Existing mostly in a few narrow pockets in Northern California (there are also some redwoods just over the border with Oregon and Washington State), these two tree species are wonders of the biological world. They are also some of the most magnificent things to behold on the planet.
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The Majesty and Mystery of California’s Bristlecone Pines
Bristlecones are the longest living organism on earth. Gnarled and oftentimes squat, especially when compared to the majestic coastal redwoods and giant sequoias living near the coast further west, they hardly seem like mythical beings. But to scientists, they are a trove of information, offering clues to near immortality and to the many ways that the earth’s climate has changed over the last 5,000 years.
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Mars helicopter Ingenuity is ready for its “Wright Brothers” moment
If all goes well, in late July, Nasa will do something it’s never done before. The agency will launch a new mission to Mars with the aim of landing a small helicopter on the surface that will perform several test missions to see if we can fly on the surface of the Red Planet.
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Ancient Bristlecone Pines by Drone
Last week we had the opportunity to head up Highway 395 into Big Pine where we made a left up to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest . Because of the coronavirus, the place was empty. Not a soul to…
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Beautiful, but Deadly: Painting the Coronavirus
Pandemic as art. You’ve seen it. Probably a thousand or more times by now. It’s the image of a greyish sphere, hanging in space, barbed with blood-red spikes. It looks like an undersea Navy mine……
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How one building survived the San Francisco earthquake and changed the world.
The Bekins building survived because it was made of a relatively new material that had largely been ignored (and vigorously opposed) in California. That material is reinforced concrete.
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Not So Big: How We Overstate the Length of the Blue Whale, Earth’s Largest Creature
Many articles and references about blue whales will tell you, blue whales can reach lengths of up to 100 feet long or more. But not a single blue whale has ever been scientifically verified as being 100 feet long. That’s right. Not one.
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Vasquez Rocks: Where Plates Collide and Captain Kirk Roamed
This is Vasquez Rocks, one of California’s most interesting and dramatic geologic formations.
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The genius of Luther Burbank, father of the most famous potato in the world
Luther Burbank created some of the most successful fruits and vegetables in the world, all from his California farm.
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This is how we’re going to solve climate change
The Resnicks’ $750 million gift to Caltech is a bet that the climate crisis won’t be solved by cutting emissions alone — and that California’s labs will lead the search for what comes next.
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White shark sightings are up in California, but don’t panic
CSULB Shark Lab They’re baaaack! Here we are in late summer and the great white shark stories keep coming. On August 22, a drone captured a white shark swimming beneath some surfers, who…
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Saving the California Condor
The birth of the 1000th condor chick as part of an extensive breeding and reintroduction program gives hope to many other species in peril.
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Towing an iceberg from Antarctica isn’t a new idea.
It was proposed 70 years ago by a maverick California scientist at Scripps. Sign up for the California Science Weekly newsletter . Fresh California science every Friday! Annie Spratt…
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How California Companies are Leading the Effort to Save the World with Microbes
Synbio startups like NovoNutrients are developing novel products to help feed the world and stop climate change. Wikipedia - CC BY-SA 3.0 (Sign up for the California Science Weekly newsletter ,…