This formidable fungus has been traveling up and down the California coast as a Monterey-cypress groupie. But how does it follow its favorite tree?
Timely news, art, ideas and science from the natural world of Northern California.
Spring 2023 Editor’s Letter: Guess Who’s Been Named a Bay Area Superhero?
“These are folks who speak with their actions and choices over days, years, and decades, and motivate us all to do the same,” writes editor-in-chief Victoria Schlesinger.
How the South Bay Salt Ponds Got So Rainbowy
The South Bay Salt Restoration Project is reconnecting salt ponds to SF Bay, converting them into tidal marsh for endangered species.
Explore the Bay by Ferry
Ferries are a cheap, environmentally friendly way to breathe in some brisk salt air and see the Bay in a new way. Here are five places you can go.
Rainy Day Roundup: All About Atmospheric Rivers
Gosh—is it raining again? When you’d rather stay inside reading about rain than go out and get wet, here’s a pile of stories from our archives.
That Foam on the Beach Is (Probably) Fine
Storms on the California coast whip up sea foam, especially in winter and spring. Here’s a frothy dollop of the science behind how this stuff forms (it’s kind of a planktonic meringue).
A Nasty Salmon-Killing Tire Chemical Is in Bay Waterways. Can It Be Cleaned Up?
6PPD-quinone comes from a long-used chemical that will be hard to replace in tires. But green infrastructure like “living levees” may help trap it.
The Calypso Orchid—Shady Trickster of the Understory
This fancy flower is secretive yet brash, and it’s an expert in the art of deceiving bumblebees.
Something Fishy Is Happening Inside the Ears of Delta Smelt
Abnormalities in the ear bones of hatchery-reared delta smelt could challenge efforts to save the
endangered fish.
In a Changing World, a Biologist Documents the Newt Normal
Droughts, wildfires, and heat waves are putting unprecedented strain on newts. With help, scientists hope, they may be able to persevere.