California, explained.https://californiacurated.com/https://californiacurated.com/blog/that-time-we-tried-to-live-under-the-sea-off-california/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/why-southern-california-is-the-stingray-capital-of-the-world/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/how-the-jones-act-strangles-california-innovation-and-keeps-i-5-packed-with-trucks/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-man-who-saved-a-species/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-man-who-saved-a-species/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.Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/mbari-and-the-machines-that-let-us-see-the-deep/https://californiacurated.com/blog/mbari-and-the-machines-that-let-us-see-the-deep/The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in Moss Landing, California (Photo: Erik Olsen) You’ve probably seen the videos. A fish with a transparent head, its organs floating inside like tennis…Fri, 06 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/curiosity-is-the-point/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Tue, 24 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-valley-that-feeds-a-nation/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/californias-daily-tidal-wave-of-life/https://californiacurated.com/blog/californias-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.Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/measuring-the-earths-tremors-and-the-discovery-of-the-richter-scale/https://californiacurated.com/blog/measuring-the-earths-tremors-and-the-discovery-of-the-richter-scale/In 1935, Charles F. Richter, a seismologist at CalTech, introduced a groundbreaking method to quantify earthquakes: the Richter scale.Wed, 04 Feb 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/when-muybridge-made-motion-visible-in-palo-alto/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/my-favorite-california-science-nature-videos/https://californiacurated.com/blog/my-favorite-california-science-nature-videos/Would you support us? Just a few bucks. We’d appreciate it! 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…Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/ancient-and-poisonous-cycads-are-the-prehistoric-plants-of-southern-california/https://californiacurated.com/blog/ancient-and-poisonous-cycads-are-the-prehistoric-plants-of-southern-california/Cycad at Descanso Gardens in La Canada Flintridge. (Photo: Erik Olsen) Would you support us? Just a few bucks. We’d appreciate it! If there’s one thing our increasingly digital world has pushed me…Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/californias-two-spot-octopus-is-the-alien-mind-off-shore/https://californiacurated.com/blog/californias-two-spot-octopus-is-the-alien-mind-off-shore/Would you support us? Just a few bucks. We’d appreciate it! I have a deep passion for octopuses. I have made several short documentaries about them and even traveled twice to Indonesia with one of…Fri, 19 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/upwelling-the-oceans-engine-beneath-californias-waters/https://californiacurated.com/blog/upwelling-the-oceans-engine-beneath-californias-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.Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/transforming-californias-oil-platforms-into-marine-sanctuaries/https://californiacurated.com/blog/transforming-californias-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.Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/san-clemente-island-is-where-war-games-and-wildlife-coexist/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-happy-nut-californias-rise-to-pistachio-power/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-happy-nut-californias-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.Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/ten-essential-books-about-californias-nature-science-and-sense-of-place/https://californiacurated.com/blog/ten-essential-books-about-californias-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.Mon, 03 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/not-so-big-how-we-overstate-the-length-of-the-blue-whale-earths-largest-creature/https://californiacurated.com/blog/not-so-big-how-we-overstate-the-length-of-the-blue-whale-earths-largest-creature/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.Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/one-wilshire-los-angeles-hidden-artery-of-the-internet/https://californiacurated.com/blog/one-wilshire-los-angeles-hidden-artery-of-the-internet/One Wilshire in downtown Los Angeles. Would you support us? Just a few bucks. We’d appreciate it! I often discover these stories not from full articles, books, or podcasts, but from a single…Fri, 17 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/california-is-a-nobel-powerhouse/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/a-microscopic-window-into-dying-reefs/https://californiacurated.com/blog/a-microscopic-window-into-dying-reefs/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.Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-unsung-california-labs-that-powered-the-digital-revolution/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Fri, 26 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/a-tiny-california-seaweed-could-make-a-big-dent-in-livestock-methane/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Fri, 19 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/riding-wave-energy-in-los-angeles/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Thu, 11 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-story-of-southern-california-sand-from-mountains-to-surf/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-physics-and-geology-of-the-wedge-californias-most-dangerous-wave/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-physics-and-geology-of-the-wedge-californias-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.Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/californias-precarious-future-and-the-promise-and-limits-of-desalination/https://californiacurated.com/blog/californias-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…Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/bring-human-exploration-back-to-californias-deep-ocean/https://californiacurated.com/blog/bring-human-exploration-back-to-californias-deep-ocean/Launching a Triton 3300/3 submersible from a scientific support ship in the Bahamas. (Photo: Erik Olsen) Would you support us? Just a few bucks. We’d appreciate it! It’s time for California to put…Fri, 15 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/how-california-has-revived-its-groundfish-fisheries/https://californiacurated.com/blog/how-california-has-revived-its-groundfish-fisheries/How Smart Policy and Collaboration Brought Groundfish Back From the Brink Vermillion Rockfish scientific illustration Would you support us? Just a few bucks. We’d appreciate it! Recently, I wrote a…Tue, 05 Aug 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/what-david-attenborough-reminded-me-about-the-sea/https://californiacurated.com/blog/what-david-attenborough-reminded-me-about-the-sea/(Photo: Alamy) Would you support us? Just a few bucks. We’d appreciate it! I’m going to keep this week’s article shorter than usual. I want to talk about the ocean. I know I do this a lot; many…Thu, 24 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/californias-strangest-catastrophe/https://californiacurated.com/blog/californias-strangest-catastrophe/Support California Curated with a small donation. 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…Wed, 16 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-caltech-experiment-that-proved-how-life-copies-itself/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/manzanitas-are-californias-sculptured-survivors/https://californiacurated.com/blog/manzanitas-are-californias-sculptured-survivors/At Inspiration Point, Yosemite, sticky whiteleaf manzanita tends to occupy south slopes, greenleaf manzanita tends to occupy north slopes. (Photo: NPS) Would you support us? Just a few bucks. We’d…Tue, 01 Jul 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/californias-eye-on-the-cosmos-the-slac-built-camera-that-will-time-lapse-the-universe/https://californiacurated.com/blog/californias-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…Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/islands-of-insight-unraveling-the-mysteries-of-island-biogeography-in-californias-channel-islands/https://californiacurated.com/blog/islands-of-insight-unraveling-the-mysteries-of-island-biogeography-in-californias-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.Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-scourge-of-ghost-lobster-traps-and-the-battle-to-save-marine-life-in-california/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-scourge-of-ghost-lobster-traps-and-the-battle-to-save-marine-life-in-california/Ghost lobster trap off Santa Cruz Island in California’s Channel Islands (Photo: Erik Olsen) Lobster is delicious. Let’s just get that out of the way. Yes, I’m sure there are some who either don’t…Wed, 07 May 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/caltechs-einstein-papers-project-is-a-window-into-the-mind-of-a-genius/https://californiacurated.com/blog/caltechs-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…Thu, 24 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-fight-for-californias-coastline-and-the-future-of-the-coastal-commission/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-fight-for-californias-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.Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-plate-tectonic-revolution-and-how-california-became-the-epicenter-of-a-scientific-breakthrough/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Mon, 24 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/salt-to-salvation-the-desalination-revolution-in-californias-drought-battle/https://californiacurated.com/blog/salt-to-salvation-the-desalination-revolution-in-californias-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.Thu, 13 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/berkeleys-cosmic-breakthrough-and-the-alvarez-discovery-that-rewrote-earths-history/https://californiacurated.com/blog/berkeleys-cosmic-breakthrough-and-the-alvarez-discovery-that-rewrote-earths-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.Tue, 04 Mar 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/creosote-bushes-are-the-mojave-deserts-time-travelers/https://californiacurated.com/blog/creosote-bushes-are-the-mojave-deserts-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.Mon, 24 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/natures-refuge-in-the-untamed-landscape-of-camp-pendleton/https://californiacurated.com/blog/natures-refuge-in-the-untamed-landscape-of-camp-pendleton/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.Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/long-valley-caldera-discover-the-science-and-beauty-of-californias-ancient-supervolcano/https://californiacurated.com/blog/long-valley-caldera-discover-the-science-and-beauty-of-californias-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.Mon, 10 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/a-deep-dive-into-monterey-canyon-californias-great-abyss/https://californiacurated.com/blog/a-deep-dive-into-monterey-canyon-californias-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.Tue, 04 Feb 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-mountain-pass-mine-in-california-may-be-the-u-s-rare-earths-game-changer/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Wed, 29 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/how-a-california-company-is-giving-old-ev-batteries-a-second-life-on-the-grid-in-lancaster/https://californiacurated.com/blog/how-a-california-company-is-giving-old-ev-batteries-a-second-life-on-the-grid-in-lancaster/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.Fri, 17 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/understanding-the-impact-of-santa-ana-winds-in-the-eaton-fire/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Thu, 16 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/chromatics-and-cognition-the-intriguing-world-of-the-california-two-spot-octopus/https://californiacurated.com/blog/chromatics-and-cognition-the-intriguing-world-of-the-california-two-spot-octopus/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.Wed, 15 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/how-a-tiny-beetle-helped-save-california/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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 buy us a cup of coffee? We’d…Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/laurel-sumac-the-resilient-beauty-of-southern-californias-chaparral/https://californiacurated.com/blog/laurel-sumac-the-resilient-beauty-of-southern-californias-chaparral/Laurel sumac in the San Gabriel Mountains (Erik Olsen) Support California Curated with a small donation. Here’s another article exploring some of California’s native plants. With a remarkable…Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/walter-munk-was-a-californian-oceanographer-who-changed-our-understanding-of-the-seas/https://californiacurated.com/blog/walter-munk-was-a-californian-oceanographer-who-changed-our-understanding-of-the-seas/Photo: Erik Jepsen (UC San Diego) Support California Curated with a small donation. Walter Munk, often referred to as the “Einstein of the Oceans,” was one of the most influential oceanographers of…Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-remarkable-revival-of-the-giant-sea-bass-in-california-catalina-islands-growing-giants/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-remarkable-revival-of-the-giant-sea-bass-in-california-catalina-islands-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.Fri, 13 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/dark-eyed-juncos-are-californias-unexpected-pioneers-of-urban-evolution/https://californiacurated.com/blog/dark-eyed-juncos-are-californias-unexpected-pioneers-of-urban-evolution/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.Tue, 10 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/john-isaacs-the-maverick-oceanographer-who-wanted-to-tow-icebergs-to-california/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Fri, 06 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/all-the-fish-we-did-not-see-the-discovery-of-the-oceans-false-bottom-off-california/https://californiacurated.com/blog/all-the-fish-we-did-not-see-the-discovery-of-the-oceans-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.Tue, 03 Dec 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/cadillac-desert-how-marc-reisner-changed-the-way-we-see-water/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Tue, 26 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-great-los-angeles-flood-of-1934-was-a-disaster-that-shaped-californias-approach-to-flood-control/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-great-los-angeles-flood-of-1934-was-a-disaster-that-shaped-californias-approach-to-flood-control/A house in the La Crescenta-Montrose area was swept off its foundation and carried several hundred feet by the New Year’s Eve floodwaters. (LA Times) Click to buy us a cup of coffee? We’d appreciate…Thu, 07 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/uss-independence-californias-aircraft-carrier-rests-off-the-coast/https://californiacurated.com/blog/uss-independence-californias-aircraft-carrier-rests-off-the-coast/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.Wed, 30 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-ivanpah-solar-project-is-an-engineering-solar-power-giant-in-the-mojave-desert/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-ivanpah-solar-project-is-an-engineering-solar-power-giant-in-the-mojave-desert/Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in the Mojave Desert (Erik Olsen) Click to buy us a cup of coffee? We’d appreciate it! Update (February 2025): The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System, once a…Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/get-your-nukes-on-route-66-the-wild-plan-to-blast-a-highway-through-the-california-desert/https://californiacurated.com/blog/get-your-nukes-on-route-66-the-wild-plan-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…Tue, 15 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/rock-stars-unearthing-the-secrets-of-the-sierra-nevada-batholith/https://californiacurated.com/blog/rock-stars-unearthing-the-secrets-of-the-sierra-nevada-batholith/An example of Sierra Nevada batholith. There are several domes in Yosemite besides Half Dome. (Erik Olsen) Click to buy us a coffee? We’d appreciate it! Ansel Adams , with his iconic black-and-white…Fri, 11 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-western-fence-lizard-the-world-of-scaly-sunbathing-acrobats/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-western-fence-lizard-the-world-of-scaly-sunbathing-acrobats/Western fence lizards are an excellent local example of what called urban ecology. Urban ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment in urban areas.Tue, 08 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-magic-wonder-and-science-of-ocean-bioluminescence/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-magic-wonder-and-science-of-ocean-bioluminescence/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.Fri, 04 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-lost-island-of-santarosae-off-californias-coast/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-lost-island-of-santarosae-off-californias-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.Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/giants-of-the-golden-coast-the-majestic-saga-of-californias-elephant-seals/https://californiacurated.com/blog/giants-of-the-golden-coast-the-majestic-saga-of-californias-elephant-seals/Elephant seal in California. Buy us a cup of coffee? Lots of work goes into California Curated. We’d appreciate it! Once teetering on the brink of extinction, the California elephant seal has made an…Mon, 30 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-saber-toothed-cats-of-california-fierce-predators-of-the-pleistocene/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Tue, 24 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/squid-pro-quo-how-the-california-market-squid-gives-back-to-nature-and-economy/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-desert-garden-at-the-huntington-a-sanctuary-for-succulents-and-a-battleground-against-poaching/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-desert-garden-at-the-huntington-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.Tue, 17 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-geology-behind-palos-verdes-perlious-predicament-of-landslides/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-geology-behind-palos-verdes-perlious-predicament-of-landslides/A neighborhood threatened by landslides at Portuguese Bend on Palos Verdes (Erik Olsen) For decades, geologists and engineers have been aware that the Portuguese Bend region of Palos Verdes is prone…Mon, 09 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/looking-back-john-mcphees-assembling-california-a-journey-through-geology-and-time/https://californiacurated.com/blog/looking-back-john-mcphees-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.Fri, 06 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-monterey-formation-and-californias-miocene-oceans-fossils-and-oil/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-monterey-formation-and-californias-miocene-oceans-fossils-and-oil/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.Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/why-bringing-back-californias-kelp-is-so-important/https://californiacurated.com/blog/why-bringing-back-californias-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…Mon, 02 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-resilient-california-sea-lion-a-story-of-survival-and-conservation/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-resilient-california-sea-lion-a-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.Fri, 30 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/parkfield-california-earthquake-capital/https://californiacurated.com/blog/parkfield-california-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.Mon, 26 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/how-theodore-roosevelts-1903-trip-to-california-gave-birth-to-modern-conservation/https://californiacurated.com/blog/how-theodore-roosevelts-1903-trip-to-california-gave-birth-to-modern-conservation/Theodore Roosevelt’s 1903 trip to California gave birth to modern conservation.Sat, 24 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-mighty-oaks-of-california-a-keystone-of-the-golden-states-ecosystem/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-mighty-oaks-of-california-a-keystone-of-the-golden-states-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…Thu, 22 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/saving-the-white-abalone-is-part-of-a-much-bigger-story/https://californiacurated.com/blog/saving-the-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.Wed, 21 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/beyond-the-beach-how-santa-monica-became-home-to-the-rand-corporation-americas-premier-defense-think-tank/https://californiacurated.com/blog/beyond-the-beach-how-santa-monica-became-home-to-the-rand-corporation-americas-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.”Tue, 13 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/caltech-fly-labs-a-century-of-discovery/https://californiacurated.com/blog/caltech-fly-labs-a-century-of-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.Tue, 06 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/whale-falls-a-deep-sea-spectacle-off-the-california-coast/https://californiacurated.com/blog/whale-falls-a-deep-sea-spectacle-off-the-california-coast/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.Thu, 18 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/pasadena-city-of-science/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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 scienceFri, 28 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/from-desert-riches-to-durable-glass-the-story-of-the-rio-tinto-borax-mine/https://californiacurated.com/blog/from-desert-riches-to-durable-glass-the-story-of-the-rio-tinto-borax-mine/U.S. Borax borate mine in California (Erik Olsen) Support California Curated with a small donation. Acknowledgment: Many of my stories begin with something I come across while reading. Often, it is a…Fri, 07 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/dark-parks-in-california-reconnecting-with-the-universe/https://californiacurated.com/blog/dark-parks-in-california-reconnecting-with-the-universe/The Milky Way above the Eastern Sierra. Support California Curated with a small donation. Despite its vast expanse (over 163,000 square miles) California offers surprisingly few places where one can…Fri, 24 May 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-pacific-coast-highway-pch-icon-of-american-scenic-roadways/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Tue, 21 May 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/black-gold-beach-how-oil-transformed-long-beach-and-grew-the-california-economy/https://californiacurated.com/blog/black-gold-beach-how-oil-transformed-long-beach-and-grew-the-california-economy/Signal Hill oil development (Photo: The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens) Support California Curated with a small donation. Southern California is best known for its sun-soaked…Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/giants-fallen-the-destruction-of-converse-basin-grove-and-its-giant-sequoias/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/julia-platt-the-unwavering-force-behind-montereys-ecological-conservation/https://californiacurated.com/blog/julia-platt-the-unwavering-force-behind-montereys-ecological-conservation/Monterey Bay (Photo: Erik Olsen) Support California Curated with a small donation. In the 18th century, when Spanish and French explorers ventured along the northern California coast they encountered…Tue, 16 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/jpl-and-the-voyager-golden-record-humanitys-a-cosmic-mixtape-in-space/https://californiacurated.com/blog/jpl-and-the-voyager-golden-record-humanitys-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.Mon, 15 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/rocks-in-motion-pinnacles-national-park-the-geological-odyssey-of-thomas-dibblee-jr-and-californias-dynamic-terrain/https://californiacurated.com/blog/rocks-in-motion-pinnacles-national-park-the-geological-odyssey-of-thomas-dibblee-jr-and-californias-dynamic-terrain/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.Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/feathers-on-the-flyway-unraveling-avian-mysteries-at-bear-divide-with-the-moore-lab/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Tue, 27 Feb 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/mysteries-etched-in-earth-unraveling-the-secrets-of-the-blythe-intaglios-californias-nazca-lines/https://californiacurated.com/blog/mysteries-etched-in-earth-unraveling-the-secrets-of-the-blythe-intaglios-californias-nazca-lines/The Blythe Intaglios—have long puzzled anthropologists and captivated the imagination of those who visit them or view them from the sky.Wed, 10 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-enigmatic-island-fox-a-tale-of-survival-and-conservation/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/frontiers-of-discovery-slacs-mission-to-unveil-the-mysteries-of-matter-and-the-cosmos/https://californiacurated.com/blog/frontiers-of-discovery-slacs-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.Wed, 22 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/roadcut-revelations-unearthing-deep-history-along-the-highway/https://californiacurated.com/blog/roadcut-revelations-unearthing-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.Mon, 20 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-mystical-sentinels-of-the-mojave-unraveling-the-secrets-of-the-joshua-tree/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Mon, 13 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/underground-fury-the-1985-methane-blast-that-rocked-los-angeles-and-rerouted-its-subways/https://californiacurated.com/blog/underground-fury-the-1985-methane-blast-that-rocked-los-angeles-and-rerouted-its-subways/A 1985 methane explosion in L.A.'s Fairfax district turned a Ross Dress for Less into a disaster scene. Photo by Dean Musgrove, courtesy of the Herald-Examiner Collection - Los Angeles Public…Fri, 03 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/journey-to-the-iron-giant-nasas-psyche-mission-could-unlock-the-secrets-of-a-metallic-world/https://californiacurated.com/blog/journey-to-the-iron-giant-nasas-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…Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/autumns-alchemy-unveiling-the-science-behind-californias-high-sierra-fall-foliage/https://californiacurated.com/blog/autumns-alchemy-unveiling-the-science-behind-californias-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.Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-california-gull-the-unsung-hero-of-feathered-adaptability-and-ecological-balance/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-california-gull-the-unsung-hero-of-feathered-adaptability-and-ecological-balance/Support California Curated with a small donation. 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…Fri, 06 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/through-the-looking-glass-head-the-enigmatic-world-of-the-barreleye-fish/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Thu, 05 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-oceans-invisible-elevator-how-upwelling-fuels-californias-marine-bounty/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-oceans-invisible-elevator-how-upwelling-fuels-californias-marine-bounty/The Vital Role of Upwelling in California’s Rich Ocean Life Click to buy us a cup of coffee? We’d appreciate it! Few marine processes have been as impactful on the abundance of sea life off the coast…Wed, 27 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/navigating-the-unseen-current-how-the-california-current-system-shapes-our-ocean-climate-and-future/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/davidson-seamount-unveiled-the-unseen-mountains-and-hidden-treasures-off-californias-coast/https://californiacurated.com/blog/davidson-seamount-unveiled-the-unseen-mountains-and-hidden-treasures-off-californias-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.Tue, 05 Sep 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-majestic-san-gabriel-mountains-a-deep-dive-into-their-formation-history-and-biodiversity/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Thu, 31 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/orange-enigma-the-garibaldis-dance-of-color-and-character-in-californias-coastal-ballet/https://californiacurated.com/blog/orange-enigma-the-garibaldis-dance-of-color-and-character-in-californias-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…Thu, 24 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/gumming-up-the-works-the-eucalyptus-trees-twisted-path-to-californian-soil/https://californiacurated.com/blog/gumming-up-the-works-the-eucalyptus-trees-twisted-path-to-californian-soil/Eucalyptus in Los Angeles (Erik Olsen) Support California Curated with a small donation. The California landscape is dotted with numerous plant species, many of them native , but few have a story as…Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/mt-wilson-observatory-a-celestial-time-capsule/https://californiacurated.com/blog/mt-wilson-observatory-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.Thu, 10 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-sweet-tale-of-the-boysenberry-from-berry-vines-to-theme-park-lines/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-sweet-tale-of-the-boysenberry-from-berry-vines-to-theme-park-lines/Bowl of boysenberries on wooden table. Support California Curated with a small donation. California has long been a hub for berry innovation, boasting a rich history of developing countless berry…Tue, 08 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/einstein-in-pasadena-three-winters-in-paradise/https://californiacurated.com/blog/einstein-in-pasadena-three-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.Fri, 04 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/tejon-pass-a-journey-through-time-terrain-and-tectonics/https://californiacurated.com/blog/tejon-pass-a-journey-through-time-terrain-and-tectonics/Interstate 5 coming out of the Grapevine near Tejon Pass (Photo: Erik Olsen) Support California Curated with a small donation. There’s a drive that I’ve done many times where I tend to look around…Fri, 04 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-dive-of-the-century-hannes-kellers-1000-foot-descent-off-catalina-island/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-dive-of-the-century-hannes-kellers-1000-foot-descent-off-catalina-island/“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.”Wed, 02 Aug 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/baja-california-and-the-sea-of-cortez-birthed-by-earths-mighty-tectonic-forces/https://californiacurated.com/blog/baja-california-and-the-sea-of-cortez-birthed-by-earths-mighty-tectonic-forces/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.Sun, 30 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/mountains-to-shoreline-the-geologic-journey-of-southern-californias-beaches/https://californiacurated.com/blog/mountains-to-shoreline-the-geologic-journey-of-southern-californias-beaches/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.Fri, 21 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/chasing-shadows-why-are-dinosaur-fossils-so-scarce-in-california/https://californiacurated.com/blog/chasing-shadows-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…Sat, 08 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/how-the-zesty-gold-rush-of-citrus-transformed-california/https://californiacurated.com/blog/how-the-zesty-gold-rush-of-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.Wed, 05 Jul 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/j-robert-oppenheimer-the-berkeley-era-and-the-birth-of-the-manhattan-project/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Tue, 27 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/genetic-guardians-the-asilomar-conference-and-its-dna-diplomacy/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Wed, 21 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/ghost-of-the-west-the-tragic-story-of-the-california-grizzly-bears-journey-from-wilderness-to-state-flag/https://californiacurated.com/blog/ghost-of-the-west-the-tragic-story-of-the-california-grizzly-bears-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).Tue, 20 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/a-deep-dive-into-the-world-of-californias-orcas-majestic-ocean-predators/https://californiacurated.com/blog/a-deep-dive-into-the-world-of-californias-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…Fri, 16 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-long-life-and-accidental-death-of-the-prometheus-bristlecone-pine/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Fri, 09 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-unearthed-truth-hydraulic-minings-lingering-legacy-in-california/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-unearthed-truth-hydraulic-minings-lingering-legacy-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…Wed, 07 Jun 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-desert-tortoise-a-resilient-survivor-of-the-mojave/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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:…Mon, 15 May 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/toyon-californias-berry-own-super-shrub/https://californiacurated.com/blog/toyon-californias-berry-own-super-shrub/Toyon. (Photo: Erik Olsen) Click to buy us a cup of coffee? We’d appreciate it! California is a land of endless natural wonder. From towering redwoods to sun-soaked deserts, the state offers an…Tue, 09 May 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-man-for-whom-mt-whitney-was-named/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-man-for-whom-mt-whitney-was-named/Support California Curated with a small donation. Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the contiguous United States, is one of the great peaks in California. A wildly popular destination for…Mon, 24 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/serpentine-the-geological-gem-of-california/https://californiacurated.com/blog/serpentine-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.Fri, 21 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-return-of-lake-tulare-once-the-largest-lake-west-of-the-mississippi/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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…Tue, 18 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-los-angeles-aqueduct-cascades-a-monument-to-human-ingenuity-and-the-lifeblood-of-a-megacity/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-los-angeles-aqueduct-cascades-a-monument-to-human-ingenuity-and-the-lifeblood-of-a-megacity/Support California Curated with a small donation. Los Angeles is home to nearly four million people, but this bustling metropolis would not have been possible without a vital resource: water. While…Thu, 06 Apr 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/californias-common-birds-the-house-finch/https://californiacurated.com/blog/californias-common-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.Mon, 20 Mar 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/ten-little-known-facts-about-california/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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…Tue, 14 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/california-is-a-dolphin-paradise/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.…Mon, 13 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-rich-historical-and-geological-past-of-the-alabama-hills/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Thu, 09 Feb 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-volcanic-history-of-owens-valley-and-the-long-valley-caldera/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-volcanic-history-of-owens-valley-and-the-long-valley-caldera/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.Fri, 20 Jan 2023 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-little-known-california-scientist-who-may-have-saved-millions-of-lives/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Mon, 08 Nov 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/descanso-gardens-rare-collection-of-dinosaur-era-plants/https://californiacurated.com/blog/descanso-gardens-rare-collection-of-dinosaur-era-plants/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?Sun, 11 Apr 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/why-are-californias-redwoods-and-sequoias-so-big/https://californiacurated.com/blog/why-are-californias-redwoods-and-sequoias-so-big/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.Thu, 04 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-majesty-and-mystery-of-californias-bristlecone-pine/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-majesty-and-mystery-of-californias-bristlecone-pine/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.Sun, 17 Jan 2021 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/mars-helicopter-ingenuity-is-ready-for-its-wright-brothers-moment/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Fri, 26 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/ancient-bristlecone-pines-by-drone/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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…Thu, 11 Jun 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/beautiful-but-deadly-painting-the-coronavirus/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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……Wed, 20 May 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/how-one-building-survived-the-san-francisco-earthquake-and-changed-the-world/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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.Fri, 01 May 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-mismeasure-by-man-how-we-overstate-the-length-of-the-blue-whale-earths-largest-creature/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-mismeasure-by-man-how-we-overstate-the-length-of-the-blue-whale-earths-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.Wed, 01 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/vasquez-rocks-where-plates-collide-and-captain-kirk-roamed/https://californiacurated.com/blog/vasquez-rocks-where-plates-collide-and-captain-kirk-roamed/This is Vasquez Rocks, one of California’s most interesting and dramatic geologic formations.Thu, 30 Jan 2020 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/the-genius-of-luther-burbank-father-of-the-french-fry/https://californiacurated.com/blog/the-genius-of-luther-burbank-father-of-the-french-fry/Luther Burbank created some of the most successful fruits and vegetables in the world, all from his California farm.Fri, 15 Nov 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/this-is-how-were-going-to-solve-climate-change/https://californiacurated.com/blog/this-is-how-were-going-to-solve-climate-change/Caltech. Credit: Erik Olsen Yesterday, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena made a major announcement : philanthropists and entrepreneurs Stewart and Lynda Resnick gave the…Fri, 27 Sep 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/white-shark-sightings-are-up-but-dont-panic/https://californiacurated.com/blog/white-shark-sightings-are-up-but-dont-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…Fri, 23 Aug 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/saving-the-calfornia-condor/https://californiacurated.com/blog/saving-the-calfornia-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.Wed, 24 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/californias-unheralded-role-in-apollo-11/https://californiacurated.com/blog/californias-unheralded-role-in-apollo-11/The lunar laser ranging project is the longest continuing experiment in the history of space science.Fri, 19 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-july-19/https://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-july-19/California’s unheralded role in Apollo 11 // Wildfires, climate change and atmospheric rivers // Marine reserves working even better than thought  // California science news roundupFri, 19 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-july-5/https://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-july-5/Redwood poachers ruin majestic giants // LA’s air quality is deteriorating // Inhaled: new podcast series  // California science news roundupFri, 05 Jul 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-june-21-2019/https://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-june-21-2019/Blocking offshore drilling // Finding clear for star-gazing in California // Amazing moon shots // Black abalone recovery // California’s Central Valley as artFri, 21 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/towing-an-iceberg-from-antarctica-isnt-a-new-idea/https://californiacurated.com/blog/towing-an-iceberg-from-antarctica-isnt-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…Tue, 11 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-june-7/https://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-june-7/California companies lead the effort to save the world with microbes, California connection: meet 2018 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry Frances Arnold, Carnegie Observatories and the GMT, Questioning “Disaster tourism” in California, Feeling the Force in Anaheim and moreFri, 07 Jun 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-may-31/https://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-may-31/California companies lead the effort to save the world with microbes, California connection: meet 2018 Nobel Prize winner in chemistry Frances Arnold, Carnegie Observatories and the GMT, Questioning “Disaster tourism” in California, Feeling the Force in Anaheim and moreFri, 31 May 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/how-california-companies-are-leading-the-effort-to-save-the-world-with-microbes/https://californiacurated.com/blog/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 ,…Wed, 29 May 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-may-10/https://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-may-10/CalTech’s famous fly lab, Saving California’s rare fruit, Atomic microscope, Winter snowfall earthquakes, Brain enhancement drugs, Mars copterFri, 10 May 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-may-3/https://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-may-3/CalTech’s famous fly lab, Saving California’s rare fruit, Atomic microscope, Winter snowfall earthquakes, Brain enhancement drugs, Mars copterFri, 03 May 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-april-19/https://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-april-19/CalTech’s famous fly lab, Saving California’s rare fruit, Atomic microscope, Winter snowfall earthquakes, Brain enhancement drugs, Mars copterFri, 19 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-april-12/https://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-april-12/CalTech’s famous fly lab, Saving California’s rare fruit, Atomic microscope, Winter snowfall earthquakes, Brain enhancement drugs, Mars copterFri, 12 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-april-5/https://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-april-5/CalTech’s famous fly lab, Saving California’s rare fruit, Atomic microscope, Winter snowfall earthquakes, Brain enhancement drugs, Mars copterSat, 06 Apr 2019 00:00:00 GMThttps://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-march-15/https://californiacurated.com/blog/week-of-march-15/Marine Policy What to do with California’s dying oil rigs? Credit: Los Angeles Times A magnificent multimedia story by the Los Angeles Times looks at the fate of the Holly oil platform off the coast…Fri, 15 Mar 2019 00:00:00 GMT