Environment

The federal government will not test soil in the fire zones, so USC researchers are doing it for them. For earth scientist Josh West, the work is close to home.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Southern California saw its fire risk zones expand by 3.5 million acres in CalFire’s new hazard maps. Homeowners in those areas must now meet safety standards.

from KCRW Features

Invasive plants are overrunning the Santa Monica Mountains, making fires more destructive and more frequent. Thus, conservationists are trying to grow more native species.

Invasive plants make fires worse. Can they be stopped?

Invasive plants are overrunning the Santa Monica Mountains, making fires more destructive and more frequent. Thus, conservationists are trying to grow more native species.

from KCRW Features

Spring is usually peak poppy season for Southern California, but limited winter showers dampened the flower species’ chances.

Poppies aren’t popping: Why a superbloom won’t happen this year

Spring is usually peak poppy season for Southern California, but limited winter showers dampened the flower species’ chances.

from KCRW Features

Environmentalists say the cuts would have drastic consequences on efforts to protect Americans from hazardous chemicals, air and water pollution, and climate change.

EPA considers eliminating its office of scientific research

Environmentalists say the cuts would have drastic consequences on efforts to protect Americans from hazardous chemicals, air and water pollution, and climate change.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Whales that get caught in Dungeness crab fishing gear have left fishermen and environmentalists scrambling for a solution.

Crabbing season keeps getting shorter due to climate change and the overlap between fisheries and whale feeding grounds

Whales that get caught in Dungeness crab fishing gear have left fishermen and environmentalists scrambling for a solution.

from Good Food

The Environmental Protection Agency plans to eliminate offices that handle environmental justice issues, like pollution in poor neighborhoods and communities of color.

EPA cites DEI as it preps to shutter environmental justice offices

The Environmental Protection Agency plans to eliminate offices that handle environmental justice issues, like pollution in poor neighborhoods and communities of color.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Famed Big Bear bald eagles, Jackie and Shadow, welcomed two newborns after years of losses. The chicks must now weather the winter cold and predators to survive.

Big Bear eagles welcome 2 chicks after years of losses

Famed Big Bear bald eagles, Jackie and Shadow, welcomed two newborns after years of losses. The chicks must now weather the winter cold and predators to survive.

from KCRW Features

LA Fire HEALTH is a research consortium with experts from multiple universities.

Wildfire health effects: The 10-year monitoring plan

LA Fire HEALTH is a research consortium with experts from multiple universities.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Nature, the great outdoors, and our interdependence.

Baratunde Thurston on nature, democracy, and interdependence

Nature, the great outdoors, and our interdependence.

from Life Examined

Apoorva Mandavilli reports on the bird flu crisis and what items to avoid when you're shopping.

What you need to know about the latest version of bird flu

Apoorva Mandavilli reports on the bird flu crisis and what items to avoid when you're shopping.

from Good Food

Investigators are looking into whether one of SoCal Edison’s idle power lines may have become re-energized and caused the Eaton Fire. The utility already faces over 40 lawsuits.

What’s the fate of SoCal Edison if it’s found liable for causing Eaton Fire?

Investigators are looking into whether one of SoCal Edison’s idle power lines may have become re-energized and caused the Eaton Fire. The utility already faces over 40 lawsuits.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Heavy rains could bring flash flooding and debris flows, especially in burn scar areas. Officials advise staying off the roads Thursday during the peak of the storm.

Biggest storm of the season coming to LA

Heavy rains could bring flash flooding and debris flows, especially in burn scar areas. Officials advise staying off the roads Thursday during the peak of the storm.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Weeks after the Eaton Fire in Altadena, injured wildlife is showing up around the disaster area. The singed animals include everything from birds to bobcats.

Injured wild animals with no habitat emerge from burn areas

Weeks after the Eaton Fire in Altadena, injured wildlife is showing up around the disaster area. The singed animals include everything from birds to bobcats.

from KCRW Features

Scientists are worried about chemicals from burned materials (heavy metals, plastics, fire retardants) polluting the ocean.

Rain after fires: Impact of toxic runoff on marine ecosystem

Scientists are worried about chemicals from burned materials (heavy metals, plastics, fire retardants) polluting the ocean.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The Army Corps of Engineers released water from two dams in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. State officials had no warning, and there seems to be no practical reason why it happened.

Trump executive order led to wasted water in California

The Army Corps of Engineers released water from two dams in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. State officials had no warning, and there seems to be no practical reason why it happened.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

We must rethink city planning and development following the LA fires, says UCLA Professor Alex Hall, who advises building homes away from wildlands.

We all pay for future disasters via taxes, insurance rates. How to minimize?

We must rethink city planning and development following the LA fires, says UCLA Professor Alex Hall, who advises building homes away from wildlands.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The EPA designated two sorting and processing locations for hazardous debris from the Palisades and Eaton Fires. Residents in both areas are concerned.

Toxic fire waste sites planned near Topanga and Duarte

The EPA designated two sorting and processing locations for hazardous debris from the Palisades and Eaton Fires. Residents in both areas are concerned.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The LA County supervisor addresses residents' criticisms of officials' initial response to the Palisades Fire. She also discusses fire department investments, cleanup, and rebuilding.

‘We deployed everything’: Lindsey Horvath on LA fires, rebuilding better

The LA County supervisor addresses residents' criticisms of officials' initial response to the Palisades Fire. She also discusses fire department investments, cleanup, and rebuilding.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

This week, Kelsey Johnson , astronomer and author of Into the Unknown:The Quest to Understand the Mysteries of the Cosmos talks about the Cosmos and the moral necessity of exploring…

Midweek Reset: On The Cosmos

This week, Kelsey Johnson , astronomer and author of Into the Unknown:The Quest to Understand the Mysteries of the Cosmos talks about the Cosmos and the moral necessity of exploring…

from Life Examined