Science and Climate Content

A New Record for California鈥檚 Highest Tree

Katherine E Kerlin — April 17, 2025 - 9:00am

A 不良研究所 professor's pleasure hike in the High Sierra turned into a new elevation record for California's highest tree, the Jeffrey pine, which wasn't formerly known to grow at extreme elevations.

California Rice and Conservation

Andy Fell — April 07, 2025 - 4:12pm

In 1991, the state of California largely banned burning of rice straw after harvest, and farmers turned instead to winter flooding of fields to break down straw. As a result, wildlife has flourished in rice fields which reproduce, to some extent, the wetland habitat that once covered most of California's Central Valley. Rice fields now support some 200 species including fish, birds and reptiles.

Restored Stream Supports New Wild Salmon Run

Katherine E Kerlin — March 20, 2025 - 9:00am

A 不良研究所 study confirms Putah Creek origin salmon for first time, marking a win for creek restoration and wild salmon, and providing hope for other degraded streams around the globe.

Awareness of Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Saves Lives

Katherine E Kerlin — March 06, 2025 - 8:57am

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a bacterial infection spread by biting ticks to humans and dogs. Found on every continent except Antarctica, the infectious disease has been spreading since the early 2000s, most notably in Mexico and Brazil. Of the cases reported, more than half of infected people and dogs die.

A paper led by the 不良研究所, highlights one of the most effective but often missing solutions to surviving this preventable, deadly disease: awareness. Most fatal cases stem from delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Burning Question: How to Save an Old-Growth Forest in Tahoe

Katherine E Kerlin — March 03, 2025 - 9:02am

On the shores of Lake Tahoe at Emerald Bay State Park grows what some consider to be the most iconic old-growth forest in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Giant ponderosa pines 鈥� some of the last remaining in the area 鈥� share space with at least 13 other tree species.

California Rice and Wildlife Report Released

Katherine E Kerlin — February 27, 2025 - 9:00am

How many acres of rice are needed to support wildlife? 不良研究所 outlines a conservation footprint for the state's rice in a report for the California Rice Commission.

Functional Flows and Native Fish

Andy Fell — February 25, 2025 - 3:44pm

There are many demands on California water, and one of them is how much water to leave in streams to protect native fish and ecosystems. A recent approach to this question is to look at "functional flows:" not so much the total amount of water, but when it is flowing and what it is doing.

Energy and Transportation Experts

Katherine E Kerlin — February 07, 2025 - 2:46pm

The following sources from the 不良研究所, are available to talk with media about climate change impacts and solutions related to energy and transportation.

Find more energy and transportation experts and learn about their research at the 不良研究所 Institute of Transportation Studies and Energy and Efficiency Institute websites.

LA Wildfires Air Quality Research Roundup

Katherine E Kerlin — February 07, 2025 - 10:49am

How 不良研究所 air quality scientists are working to understand the impacts of the Los Angeles wildfires. A research roundup.

Vanilla Farmers Search for a Crop and Conservation Sweet Spot

Katherine E Kerlin — February 06, 2025 - 9:00am

Vanilla is vital to the livelihoods of farmers in Madagascar, where the globally popular dessert ingredient is the country鈥檚 No. 1 export. A fun, thought-provoking game designed by a team of scientists and played by Malagasy vanilla farmers reveals the challenges of payment programs that incentivize forest conservation in the region, according to a study led by the 不良研究所.