KQED Science

Santa Clara County Sales Tax, Measure A, Pitched to Offset Deep Medicaid Cuts | KQED Public hospitals across California warn of closures as federal Medicaid cuts strain county budgets, leaving Santa Clara County leaders banking on Measure A to keep facilities open.

Public hospitals across California warn of closures as federal Medicaid cuts strain county budgets, leaving Santa Clara County leaders banking on Measure A to keep facilities open.

California’s Ancient Glaciers Are Melting Away for the First Time in Human History | KQED New research shows that California's Sierra Nevada glaciers, which will vanish in decades, have remained intact for at least 10,000 years.

California's Sierra Nevada glaciers have remained intact for at least 10,000 years. New research shows they will vanish within decades.

A New Eye on Earth's Edge: UC Berkeley-Guided Space Telescope Has Liftoff | KQED A UC Berkeley lab is controlling a NASA mission to study the farthest reaches of Earth’s atmosphere from afar using the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory.

A UC Berkeley lab is controlling a NASA mission to study the farthest reaches of Earth’s atmosphere from afar using the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory.

Fiber Optic Cables Could Revolutionize Earthquake Detection and Monitoring | KQED A new study suggests using fiber optic cables on the ocean floor could track underwater fault ruptures and improve earthquake early warning systems.

Many of the world’s largest and most devastating earthquakes strike beneath the ocean, where the lack of sensors makes quick warnings difficult. Most monitoring stations are on land.

After Losing Brothers to Cancer, 2 Bay Area Teens Fought to Change California Law | KQED From a July Fourth lemonade stand to the state Capitol, two Bay Area teens turned the loss of their brothers into a new law funding childhood cancer research.

From a July Fourth lemonade stand to the state Capitol, two Bay Area teens turned the loss of their brothers into a new law funding childhood cancer research.

RFK Jr.'s Vaccine Panel Backs Away From Plan to Require an Rx For a COVID Shot | KQED The group voted to require people who want a COVID shot to be briefed on harms and benefits, but in a close vote, the panel failed to pass a change that would have asked states to require people to ge...

The group voted to require people who want a COVID shot to be briefed on harms and benefits, but in a close vote, the panel failed to pass a change that would have asked states to require people to get a prescription.

California Lawmakers Propose $23 Billion Bond to Make Up Trump Cuts to Science Funding | KQED Democratic lawmakers aim to put a bond measure on the 2026 ballot that would create and fund the California Foundation for Science and Health Research.

Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday announced an ambitious effort for California to make up for billions of dollars the Trump administration is seeking to cut from scientific and medical research, which critics say threatens American innovation and health.

Bay Area Turns Up the Heat as Dry Lightning Looms Later This Week | KQED Forecasters expect Tuesday to be the Bay Area’s hottest day of the week, with a chance of thunderstorms and dry lightning stirring trouble by Thursday.

Forecasters expect Tuesday to be the Bay Area’s hottest day of the week, with a chance of thunderstorms and dry lightning stirring trouble by Thursday.

The Hidden Health Risk Behind Bay Area Homeless Encampment Sweeps | KQED Cities have accelerated the clearing of tent cities as leaders press for cleaner neighborhoods. But are they pushing people out of sight and into danger?

Cities have accelerated the clearing of tent cities as leaders press for cleaner neighborhoods. But are they pushing people out of sight and into danger?

California Lawmakers Reach Last-Minute Deals on Climate, Energy | KQED California’s top Democratic lawmakers have rushed to negotiate a series of closed-door climate, energy and transit deals before the end of the Legislative session.

Late-night negotiations between Gov. Gavin Newsom and Democratic leaders in the state Legislature produced a flurry of agreements Wednesday on pivotal climate and energy programs.

California Breaks With CDC, Cosigns COVID Vaccine Guidelines From Medical Groups | KQED The California Department of Public Health endorsed recent public health recommendations that say children under 2 and people who are pregnant should get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The California Department of Public Health endorsed recent public health recommendations that say children under 2 and people who are pregnant should get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Newsom’s Push to Fast-Track Delta Tunnel Fails, Moving Fight to High-Stakes Hearing | KQED Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan for a 45-mile tunnel under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to move water south faces delays and growing opposition.

Newsom’s Push to Fast-Track Delta Tunnel Fails, Moving Fight to High-Stakes Hearing

“Newsom wants to win approval for his tunnel so he can claim that he’s done more than Trump to help ... nut farms & corporate landowners."

@kqednews.kqed.org @kqedscience.bsky.social

www.kqed.org/science/1998...

Newsom’s Push to Fast-Track Delta Tunnel Fails, Moving Fight to High-Stakes Hearing | KQED Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan for a 45-mile tunnel under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to move water south faces delays and growing opposition.

Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan for a 45-mile tunnel under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to move water south faces delays and growing opposition.

Bay Area Makers Process a Climate Catastrophe Through Art | KQED The Bay Area sky glowed a dark orange on Sept. 9, 2020, when the sun was blotted out by wildfire smoke. Local artists processed and memorialized the day through their work.

The Bay Area sky glowed a dark orange on Sept. 9, 2020, when the sun was blotted out by wildfire smoke. Local artists processed and memorialized the day through their work.

A New Musical Revisits the Bay Area’s Apocalyptic Orange Sky Day | KQED A new musical, running this month at Z Space in San Francisco, uses hip hop, R&B and soul to ease us back to a day we’d like to forget.

A new musical, running this month at Z Space in San Francisco, uses hip hop, R&B and soul to ease us back to a day we’d like to forget.

Winery Worker Says Ashes Linked to Napa County Fire Were Doused Before Blaze Began | KQED Fire officials are looking into discarded ashes as a potential source of the Pickett Fire. A worker told investigators he had poured water on the ashes before the fire broke out.

Fire officials are looking into discarded ashes as a potential source of the Pickett Fire. A worker told investigators he had poured water on the ashes before the fire broke out.

At Burning Man, the Weather Can Feel Biblical. Will Climate Change Make It Even Worse? | KQED Extreme events like this year’s rain, heat and hourslong sandstorm could get more common on the playa as the world gets warmer.

Extreme events like this year’s rain, heat and hourslong sandstorm could get more common on the playa as the world gets warmer.

Happy Hatchday, Claude! Bay Area’s Beloved Albino Alligator Celebrates the Big 3-0 | KQED On Sept. 14, the California Academy of Sciences will host Claude’s birthday party with cupcakes for human guests and a special “fish cake” for the birthday boy.

Measuring 10 feet long from snout to tail and weighing 300 pounds, San Francisco’s beloved albino alligator is turning 30 — and @calacademy.bsky.social is throwing him a monthlong birthday party, stretching far beyond the Swamp exhibit where Claude spends his days.

At Burning Man, the Weather Can Feel Biblical. Will Climate Change Make It Even Worse? | KQED Extreme events like this year’s rain, heat and hourslong sandstorm could get more common on the playa as the world gets warmer.

At Burning Man, the Weather Can Feel Biblical. Will Climate Change Make It Even Worse?

“I don’t see any reason to believe that climate change would eliminate Burning Man ... It will increase the likelihood of extreme events”

@kqednews.kqed.org @kqedscience.bsky.social
www.kqed.org/science/1998...

Lightning-Sparked Fires Tear Through Historic California Gold Rush Town | KQED Firefighters face difficult conditions battling multiple blazes that make up the TCU Lightning Complex. Multiple structures have been destroyed, including in the town of Chinese Camp.

Firefighters face difficult conditions battling multiple blazes that make up the TCU Lightning Complex. Multiple structures have been destroyed, including in the town of Chinese Camp.

Elon Musk has pledged to settle Mars. A prize-winning book offers a reality check | CNN In “A City on Mars,” Kelly and Zach Weinersmith investigate what life would be like for humans on the red planet, arguing that Elon Musk’s dream is doomed to fail.

🚀FRI at 10AM:

Elon Musk wants to colonize Mars. NASA renews its push for interplanetary travel. Scientist @weinersmith.bsky.social and cartoonist @zachweinersmith.bsky.social join to discuss the nuanced logistics of living in space.

❓What Q's do you have about expanding human life beyond Earth?

This New North Bay Child Care Center Is Adapting to Climate Change | KQED Heat, wildfire and other disasters often force child care centers to close, leaving families in the lurch.

Heat, wildfire and other disasters often force child care centers to close, leaving families in the lurch.

The FDA Just Limited Approvals For COVID Vaccines This Year. What Happens Now — and Who Can Get a Shot? | KQED The FDA approved updated COVID-19 shots on Wednesday, but limited their use for many Americans. What happens now, what will health insurance cover and who can still get their shot this year?

The FDA approved updated COVID-19 shots on Wednesday, but limited their use for many Americans. What happens now, what will health insurance cover and who can still get their shot this year?

The Summer That Changed California Forever | KQED The 2020 California wildfires, fueled by climate change and dry lightning, scorched over 4 million acres and reshaped how the state prepares for a future of extreme fire risk.

Californians who lived through the 2020 fire siege — the state’s worst fire year on record by some measures — vividly remember the dry lightning storm of Aug. 15.

When Wildfires Compromise California's Drinking Water, Utilities Lean on This Professor’s Advice | KQED In 2017, the Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa, California, exposed a new threat to public health: Wildfires can contaminate drinking water with toxic chemicals, which federally mandated testing is not designe...

In 2017, the Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa, California, exposed a new threat to public health: Wildfires can contaminate drinking water with toxic chemicals, which federally mandated testing is not designed to catch.

Breathing Poison: You Can’t Outrun Wildfire Smoke | KQED Five years ago, Alana Semuels fled California for New York, hoping to avoid another toxic wildfire season, but then haze from Canadian fires followed her there.

Five years ago, Alana Semuels fled California for New York, hoping to avoid another toxic wildfire season, but then haze from Canadian fires followed her there.

Bay Area Cities Swelter as Temperatures Near Triple Digits | KQED As temperatures across the Bay Area soar, the National Weather Service has issued a moderate heat advisory for residents to keep cool and stay safe.

As temperatures across the Bay Area soar, the National Weather Service has issued a moderate heat advisory for residents to keep cool and stay safe.

San Rafael Apartment Building Fire Injures 8, Displaces 50 Residents | KQED A resident leaped into the San Rafael River to escape the blaze, officials said.

A resident leaped into the San Rafael River to escape the blaze, officials said.

Is Extinction Permanent? Resurrecting California’s Xerces Blue Butterfly | KQED Ecologists hope to resurrect a crucial piece of the Presidio dunes ecosystem with a rare blue butterfly.

Ecologists hope to resurrect a crucial piece of the Presidio dunes ecosystem with a rare blue butterfly.

The Bay Area Weekend Warm-Up Isn’t a Heat Wave, Although It May Feel Like One | KQED Weather officials said the heat, which will bake Southern California this weekend, will feel more extreme in the Bay Area, which has acclimated to a summer chill.

Bay Area residents will be getting a break from the colder-than-normal summer over the next few days.