Moss Knows How to Wait
Mosses are not particularly competitive; they do not crowd out other species. They find a foothold where there are the proper resources: moisture, a place to tuck their rhizoid roots....
Science and Nature
After the Algal Bloom Cleared Out of Lake Merritt, the Nudibranchs Came to Party in Droves
Oodles of nudibranchs showed up in Lake Merritt after the harmful algal bloom of August 2022. These sea slugs appeared in record breaking numbers, taking Oakland's beloved tidal lagoon by...
These Fabulous Flowers Are Spring’s Final Encore
When other plants start hunkering down, clarkias send up a dazzling array of purples and pinks.
Don’t Blame the Bark Beetles
While walking in the woods, you’ve likely encountered a dead log engraved with maze-like squiggles. These natural carvings are known as beetle galleries, and the grooves are munched out by...
How the DNA We Leave Behind Can Help Conservation
Bits of DNA linger on the forest floor, in the ocean, and even in the air—and these strands have stories to tell, back at the lab. Here's how environmental DNA...
Here Comes the 2023 City Nature Challenge, A Global Competition You Can Join This Weekend
What’s your plan for this year’s City Nature Challenge, April 28-May 1? Here's what it's all about, plus a map of Bay Area bioblitzes you can join.
Dungeness Crab Fishery Is Closed Early Again to Prevent Whale Entanglements
Dungeness crabbers finished the season without a single whale entanglement, unlike past years, but they paid a price.
Avian Flu Claims at Least 7 California Condors—and a Beloved Bay Area Peregrine Falcon
Avian flu is hitting close to home, and it isn't going anywhere anytime soon. California condors and a beloved San Jose falcon are the newest victims of this epidemic that...
The Lyrids Are Our First Chance to See Some Shooting Stars This Year
The story of how Earth came to be graced with this meteor shower starts at the birth of the universe, with a dirty snowball.
Is The Western Drought Finally Ending? That Depends On Where You Look
After three years of extreme drought, the Western U.S. is finally getting a break. Mountain ranges are covered in deep snow, and water reservoirs in many areas are filling up...
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