Nature photographers should check out this photo essay of Bay Area shooter Steven Christenson’s nighttime photos taken in Fremont. He discusses technique and is co-founder of the Bay Area Night Photography group. Pretty amazing. [See/hear more - QUEST] QUEST on KQED Public Media.
This morning on KQED’s Forum two topics close to WOW readers’ hearts are under discussion. First the impact of the California state park closures, followed by a look at the state’s embattled high-speed rail plans. Listen to the latter live right here: http://www.kqed.org/radio/listen/
By observing chemical changes in the upper atmosphere, scientists say they may be able to predict large earthquakes days before they occur. Researchers have detected a rise in various gas concentrations in 24 different earthquakes of a magnitude greater than 7. But other scientists argue the source of the increased concentration is highly debatable and requires more study. [Read more - California Watch]
A group of the Bay Area’s largest developers and business groups appear to be mounting a campaign of opposition to a plan that helps the region adapt to rising sea levels. The Bay Plan’s drafters recently incorporated language into the draft from a state-wide climate adaptation strategy that would discourage development in areas prone to flooding and environmental damage, which has provoked opposition groups. [Read more - The Bay Citizen]
The voracious, crop-destroying invasive stink bug is turning up in California. Named for the smell they exude when crushed, the Asian bugs have decimated fruit production in some areas of the east coast where they were first found in 1998. California growers are looking anxiously to the east for methods to eradicate the pest before spring crops are impacted. [Read more - San Francisco Chronicle]
A group representing Yellow Pages advocates, called the Local Search Association, is suing Seattle’s City Council for adopting a program that allows residents to opt out of receiving phone books. And they may do the same in San Francisco. Last Tuesday the city’s board of supervisors approved a similar approach to reducing the number of unused phone books it spends $1 million annually to throw away. Local Search Association says it a violation of free speech for cities to single out the books for regulation. [Read more - San Diego Union Tribune]
Disturbing new information about the hundreds of leopard sharks found dead near Redwood Shores in April is raising more questions than answers. Inside one of the sharks, researchers found “inflammation, bleeding, and lesions in the brain, and hemorrhaging from the skin near vents,” reports the Daily News. Researchers say more tests are needed to determine the cause of the disturbing discovery. [Read more - Oakland Tribune]
It appears San Francisco Supervisor John Avalo has decided to side with environmentalists on the fate of Sharp Park Golf Course. Avalo, who recently through his hat in the ring for mayor, says he will work to have the property transferred from the city to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in order to become a park. [Read more - San Jose Mercury News]
Despite good marks in a Brooking’s Institute report on public transportation, the Bay Area transit system is only used by 1 in 10 people. While people say they like the idea of public transportation, the lack of reliability and convenience as well as cost and cleanliness are keeping them in their cars. [Read more - KQED]
The studio where environmental champion, and arguably one of the West’s greatest writers, Wallace Stegner penned his novels and essays is set to be demolished. Stegner’s family tried unsuccessfully to preserve the building by selling it to Stanford University. Instead, Yew Nam and Wan Lei Yong bought the property and plan to level the home. [Read more - San Francisco Chronicle]
If there weren’t already enough reasons to switch to public transportation or electric cars, here’s another: brain damage. California researchers found that exposure to modest amounts of traffic pollution caused memory loss and signs of Alzheimer’s disease in mice. They have yet to study the impact on people, but those driving in open-air vehicles...
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Tags: brain damage, car exhaust, memory loss, traffic pollution
Posted in Living, The Daily Catch, Transportation | Comments Off
SF Environment Director Melanie Nutter talks about SF climate change policy at TEDx
Just as farmers markets are swinging into full bloom, there’s very disturbing news about radiation from Japan reaching new levels in Europe. And if...
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Did you know that sleeping next to someone blitzes you with 0.05 millionth of a sievert of radiation per night? That eating a banana...
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It’s been a point of maddening frustration for scientists and environmentalists that as the predictions on global warming grow more dire, the public seems...
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