As sea otters recolonize California estuary, they restore its degraded geology
In the several decades since sea otters began to recolonize their former habitat in Elkhorn Slough, a salt marsh-dominated coastal estuary in central California, remarkable changes have occurred in the landscape......»»
Scientists steer the development of stem cells to regenerate and repair organs
Investigators from Cedars-Sinai and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) have identified a new way to deliver instructions that tell stem cells to grow into specific bodily structures, a critical step in eventually regenerating and repa.....»»
Sea snakes regain advanced color vision, recovering a complex trait once lost to evolutionary time
Nine species of sea snakes have now been identified as having regained the genetic requirements for advanced color vision, demonstrating that once a complex trait has been lost to evolutionary time, it may be regained in some way......»»
Research reveals an inexpensive fix for California"s struggling wildflowers
California's native wildflowers are being smothered by layers of dead, invasive grasses. A new UC Riverside study shows that simply raking these layers can boost biodiversity and reduce fire danger......»»
Environmental groups challenge update to California"s low-carbon transportation rules
A coalition of environmental groups challenged California's leading climate regulator on Wednesday, alleging that a recent update to a leading climate program will create additional pollution in the state's San Joaquin Valley......»»
Climate change could trigger more earthquakes, study suggests
A recent Colorado State University study published in the journal Geology demonstrates that climate change can affect the frequency of earthquakes, adding to a small but growing body of evidence showing that climate can alter the seismic cycle......»»
Valencia floods showed why coastal cities should restore their wetlands
Valencia, a city and province in south-east Spain, became synonymous with disaster in October 2024 when floods killed at least 231 people. Extreme rainfall will happen more often as the climate warms and the cost to coastal cities like Valencia is ex.....»»
New software unlocks secrets of cell signaling, showing realistic simulations
Researchers at University of California San Diego have developed and tested a new software package, called Spatial Modeling Algorithms for Reactions and Transport (SMART), that can realistically simulate cell-signaling networks—the complex systems.....»»
Boomerang workers: helpful returnees or resented colleagues?
While movement from job to job throughout one's career is expected, little research has evaluated the effects of hiring boomerang workers—those who return to a former employer. A new study by a University of California, Davis, researcher and collea.....»»
EPA lets California set its own stricter emissions standards until 2035
The regulations will phase out the sale of new internal combustion cars by 2035. Today, the US Environmental Protection Agency granted a pair of waivers to California, allowing th.....»»
Melting sea ice in Antarctica causes ocean storms, scientists say
The record-breaking retreat of Antarctic sea ice in 2023 has led to more frequent storms over newly exposed parts of the Southern Ocean, according to a study published Wednesday......»»
Ice is melting, seas are rising—how scientists are tracking the changes
Will the sea rise by 20 cm or 3 meters by 2100? This is obviously an interesting question to answer. Predicting the sea level in 75 years requires precise calculations and correct models of the melting of the ice from, e.g., Greenland. To do so, rese.....»»
Russian oil spill contaminates 50km of Black Sea beaches
Russia Wednesday expanded an operation to clean up thousands of tonnes of oil that spilt into the sea and contaminated 50 kilometers of beaches after tanker ships were wrecked in a storm......»»
Expert shares factors increasing forest fire ignitions
As firefighters strive to contain the blaze threatening to consume homes in Malibu, California, other wildfires burn in Texas, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Forest fires are natural phenomena, yet studies show they are becoming more wide.....»»
Carnivorous squirrels documented in California
A ground squirrel with cheeks stuffed with nuts, seeds or grains is a common sight. But a new study provides the first evidence that California ground squirrels also hunt, kill and eat voles. The study, led by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire a.....»»
The social cost of carbon: Study finds current estimates omit key effects
The social cost of carbon—an important figure that global policymakers use to analyze the benefits of climate and energy policies—is too low, according to a study led by the University of California, Davis......»»
Protective salt marshes along coasts are in danger across the globe but it"s not too late to act, researchers say
Salt marshes are among coastal habitats endangered by both rising sea levels and urban development......»»
Stem cell transplants could save the world"s corals, say researchers
Climate change is bleaching and killing off vast amounts of the world's coral due to rising sea temperatures. Dr. Benyamin Rosental of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and his colleagues have proposed an out of the box potential solution: transplan.....»»
Shrubs can help or hinder a forest"s recovery after wildfire
Research from the University of California, Davis, is shedding light on when and where to plant tree seedlings to help restore forests after high-severity wildfires, and it has a lot to do with shrubs......»»
On Trump’s chopping block: EVs, charger funding, California’s emissions
Trump's attack on clean vehicles to be bigger than thought, says report. The incoming Trump administration has even more plans to delay electric vehicle adoption than previously t.....»»
Sea sponge-inspired microlenses offer new possibilities in optics
Beneath the ocean's surface, simple marine animals called sea sponges grow delicate glass skeletons that are as intricate as they are strong. These natural structures are made of a material called silica—also known as bioglass—that is both lightw.....»»