From the extra-large valley carpenter bee to the diminutive Perdita minima, California has 1,600 different kinds of native bees. ~~~ The state’s bees share their work with other pollinators like butterflies, moths and beetles — together, these insects pollinate thousands of different kinds of plants, including important food crops. Many are “pollen specialists,” which means […]
Offshore wind farms can create their own local climates and may alter currents. How does that affect marine ecosystems? ~~~ LAST YEAR, the Biden administration announced an ambitious goal: enough offshore wind to power 10 million homes by 2030. The move would reduce carbon emissions, create jobs, and strengthen energy security. It would also help the United States […]
Biodegradable soft robots made from brown seaweed and hydrogels enable the exploration of fragile environments with minimal environmental impact. ~~~ Robots let scientists explore places humans can’t go, like distant planets, tiny crevices within archaeological sites, and the ocean floor. But traditional robots can be destructive, especially in environments that contain sensitive organisms, with marine […]
A new generation of small, modular, mobile, wave-powered devices is looking to tackle desalination’s biggest problems head-on. ~~~ In May 2022, California officials unanimously rejected a plan to build a US $1.4-billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach. The plant, the officials said, would produce costly water and possibly harm the marine environment. The decision wasn’t […]
Water experts seek new ways to capture groundwater. ~~~ In most years, California uses more water than nature can deliver. As the climate grows warmer and dryer, the state’s agriculture industry faces steep reductions in water supply and the possibility of fallowing hundreds of thousands of acres of otherwise productive farmland in order to preserve […]
Flooding our fields helps store water in belowground aquifers. ~~~ In drought years, California’s depleted reservoirs are a visible reminder of the state’s water crisis. As dry periods drag on, its two largest reservoirs — Shasta and Oroville — start to look more like streams than lakes. But for every gallon of water no longer […]
The $4 billion project is designed to draw water from the Sacramento River — but only during major storm surges. ~~~ In January, a series of storms pummeled California, causing floods, mudslides, and widespread power outages. In just three weeks, 32 trillion gallons of water fell on the state. Then, in March, another series of storms hit, triggering […]
Active mines, proposed mines and exploratory projects in Alaska and British Columbia may affect key salmon watersheds. ~~~ Wild Alaskan Salmon are a gold standard for American seafood. The long journey from the river to the ocean and back builds the muscle mass that gives the fish their distinct texture and flavor, and the clean […]
In habitat restoration, the need for darkness is largely overlooked. But for some species, it is necessary for survival. ~~~ A few years after a public-private partnership established the Nature Reserve of Orange County to protect and restore southern California’s rare coastal sage scrub habitat, biologists documented the presence of 35 native reptiles and amphibians on the […]
Meet “bambootula.” This newfound tarantula lives in northern Thailand. It gets its nickname from the bamboo stems where it makes a home. This spider is a member of a genus — a group of related species — that scientists had never seen before. Its discoverers say it’s the first time in 104 years that anyone […]
