After more than a century, California condors soar over redwoods once again
After being pushed to the brink of extinction, California condors have returned to a slice of Northern California habitat for the first time in 130 years. On Tuesday, four of the big birds flew the coop after being born in a captive-breeding program......»»
House call: A new study rethinks early Christian landmark
Since its discovery by modern researchers a century ago, an ancient structure known as the "Christian building" has become widely considered the cornerstone of early Christian architecture. Constructed around 232 C.E. in the ancient city of Dura-Euro.....»»
Self-driving Waymo cars keep SF residents awake all night by honking at each other
Haunted by glitching algorithms, self-driving cars disturb the peace in San Francisco. Enlarge / A Waymo self-driving car in front of Google's San Francisco headquarters, San Francisco, California, June 7, 2024. (credit: Getty Im.....»»
Are Andromeda and the Milky Way doomed to collide? Maybe not
Scientists discovered the Andromeda galaxy, known as M31, hundreds of years ago, and around a century ago, we realized that it had negative radial velocity toward the Milky Way. In other words, eventually, the two galaxies would merge spectacularly......»»
Wildfires don"t just burn farmland—they can contaminate water farmers use to irrigate crops and support livestock
The wildfires that burned across Maui, Hawaii, in August 2023 became the deadliest conflagration in the United States in more than a century. While the harm to homes and tourism drew the most attention, agriculture was also heavily affected across th.....»»
Jamestown DNA helps solve a 400-year-old mystery and unexpectedly reveals a family secret
An ancient DNA (aDNA) study at the 17th-century English colony of Jamestown, Virginia, has identified two of the town's earliest settlers, and revealed an unexpected family secret......»»
A galactic "comet" called Terzan 5 illuminates a 100-year-old puzzle about cosmic rays
When my colleagues and I set to work on a century-old cosmic mystery, we found an unexpected celestial laboratory in Terzan 5, a dense star cluster currently plunging through our galaxy at breakneck speed......»»
New genetic editing technique can modify wild populations with less risk
A new technique developed by researchers from Macquarie University and the California Institute of Technology could allow scientists to more safely alter the genetic makeup of wild populations. The study is published in the journal Nature Communicati.....»»
Unveiling the ancient Maya"s relationship to animals and nature
As the scorching May sun of Central Belize blazes down on us, temperatures soar to a staggering 106°F. Local farmers anxiously await the onset of the rainy season to sow their crops, but the much-needed first rain remains elusive. This property is o.....»»
SpaceX Falcon 9 booster just launched fo a record-tying 22nd time
A SpaceX Falcon 9 first-stage booster launched and landed for a record-tying 22nd time during a mission in California on Sunday night......»»
Like the new Eli Roth film Borderlands? Then watch these 3 action movies now
If you liked Borderlands, try watching the three movies, including a DC superhero film and the best action film of the 21st century......»»
New finds in treasure-laden shipwreck off Colombia
New artifacts have been found on the legendary Spanish galleon San Jose, Colombia's government announced Thursday, after the first robotic exploration of the three-century-old shipwreck......»»
California zoo throws a show to welcome back Chinese pandas
California pulled out all the stops Thursday to welcome the arrival of two new giant pandas from China, the first to be sent by Beijing to the United States in 21 years......»»
Another death in nationwide outbreak that spurred massive meat recall
The outbreak tally has increased to 43 amid recall of 7 million pounds of meat. Enlarge / A recall notice is posted next to Boar's Head meats that are displayed at a Safeway store on July 31, 2024, in San Rafael, California. (cr.....»»
From California"s bronzed surfers to China"s facekinis: A history of tanning around the world
If you're lucky enough to have escaped to sunny shores of late, chances are your colleagues will have complimented you upon your return on your summer glow. Yet tanning as a fashionable practice is both a relatively recent historical phenomenon and o.....»»
‘It’s beyond scary’: This California single mom was shocked to discover she owes $180K on ‘zombie mortgage’
‘It’s beyond scary’: This California single mom was shocked to discover she owes $180K on ‘zombie mortgage’.....»»
Beach Sand Replenishment Projects Are Expensive, Ineffective and Never-Ending
The U.S. has been pumping sand onto eroding beaches for nearly a century. As climate change worsens, there’s no end in sight.....»»
Study finds discrepancies between intended and actual use of certain areas aboard the International Space Station
An archaeological strategy adapted for space used daily photos to reveal how astronauts actually use areas aboard the International Space Station—and how this differs from intended uses. Justin Walsh of Chapman University, California, and colleague.....»»
Smells may prime our gut to fight off infection
Many organisms react to the smell of deadly pathogens by reflexively avoiding them. But a recent study from the University of California, Berkeley, shows that the nematode C. elegans also reacts to the odor of pathogenic bacteria by preparing its int.....»»
Biotech potential set to soar with the help of digital technology
Microbes and fungi have long been nature's helpers in producing fine food, drinks and medicine, but new digital technologies could unlock far greater potential for the European biotech sector......»»
Planning for climate resilience in California"s freshwater ecosystems
California's unique geomorphology and Mediterranean-type climate have largely shaped the state's freshwater lakes, streams, rivers, and wetlands. Now, however, freshwater ecosystems are stressed by water diversion, land use changes, non-native specie.....»»