Science & Technology
/Knowledge
The National Climate Assessment is broken – appointing Matthew Wielicki to lead it won’t help
In early July 2026, the Trump administration quietly tapped Matthew Wielicki to lead the U.S. Global Change Research Program. The move places a podcaster known for downplaying the threats of climate change – and importantly, someone who has not been meaningfully involved in research on climate change or its impacts – at the top of one of ...Read more
Why 78 degrees isn’t the right thermostat setting for everyone during a heat wave
Across the U.S., it’s a hot summer, and electricity prices are high. Various public officials and corporate websites suggest people set their thermostats to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (25.6 degrees Celsius), or even 81 F (27.2 C), as a way to stay relatively cool without breaking the bank. But as someone who studies energy costs, I know from ...Read more
Review: Gunnar’s ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ glasses captures the vibe of the game
One of the best parts about gamer glasses is that they’re often wilder and more adventurous than everyday eyewear. They go beyond those retro horn-rimmed glasses. The ones from Gunnar adopt a post-apocalyptic vibe or bring players closer to their favorite video game character. The company’s latest gaming efforts involve “Cyberpunk 2077,�...Read more
Gadgets: A premium charger
Satechi ChargeView 140W is one of those chargers that does what it says it does; it will charge up to four devices at the same time. This can include just about any USB-C charging device, including high-powered MacBook Pros.
The premium desktop AC-powered charger eases the charging cable clutter many of us have by eliminating the need for ...Read more
Jim Rossman: Getting your phone’s dictionary to learn your favorite words
I was helping a friend with a few small tech issues last week and he came up with one that I had to look up before I could help.
It was a nuisance, more than a problem: His iPhone was autocorrecting certain words, but from the right spelling to a wrong spelling.
There is a neighborhood in our area of town called Lakewood. Every time my ...Read more
The feds no longer protect endangered species habitat. States say they can't pick up the slack
The Trump administration is removing protections from the key places where endangered species live, saying states can keep the areas safe.
But experts say states aren’t equipped for the task.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration finalized a major change to the Endangered Species Act, rolling back protections for the forests, wetlands...Read more
As water restrictions hit farmers, solar is making sense
California’s Central Valley is one of the country’s richest farming regions, blessed with fertile soils, sunny days and a massive man-made system of irrigation canals and reservoirs.
But as climate change intensifies, droughts deepen, and water restrictions kick in, growers in much of the valley are getting less water for their fields. They...Read more
California's Bonta, other AGs fight Trump EPA's attempt to weaken 'super pollutant' regulations
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s Environmental Protection Agency challenging its attempt to weaken restrictions on the climate “super pollutant,” hydrofluorocarbons.
President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced in May the agency would ease requirements for ...Read more
California's Yolo County declares local emergency over threat of invasive golden mussels
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Yolo County’s Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency Tuesday in response to the threat of invasive golden mussels spreading through the county’s waterways, officials announced.
Yolo County authorities confirmed June 25 that the invasive freshwater mollusk, native to Asia, had been found in county waterways ...Read more
SpaceX launch sends Northrop Grumman's 2-handed rescue robot to space
SpaceX sent up a Tuesday evening launch of a Northrop Grumman robotic vehicle featuring a pair of swiveling arms with clampy hands that aims to become an all-purpose Mr. Fix-It in space.
The Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) has been in the works for years, with Northrop subsidiary SpaceLogistics working with the Defense Advanced Research Project ...Read more
Super pollutants -- California and other states sue Trump administration for ignoring climate-changing fridge chemicals
California and 19 other attorneys generals are suing the Environmental Protection Agency for reversing action on high-polluting refrigerants.
President Donald Trump announced in May that grocery stories and air conditioning companies would get several more years to phase out hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, a class of very climate-damaging ...Read more
'A five-alarm fire': Western reservoirs that supply California fall to record low levels
Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the country’s two largest reservoirs, have fallen to their lowest combined levels on record, a grim marker in the deepening water crisis across seven states that depend on the Colorado River.
The two reservoirs are now lower than the previous record in 2023, researchers say.
“It’s a hell of a milestone,” said...Read more
SpaceX launch to send Northrop Grumman's 2-handed rescue robot to space
ORLANDO, Fla. — SpaceX is targeting an evening launch of a Northrop Grumman robotic vehicle featuring a pair of swiveling arms with clampy hands that aims to become an all-purpose Mr. Fix-It in space.
The Mission Robotic Vehicle (MRV) has been in the works for years, with Northrop subsidiary SpaceLogistics working with the Defense Advanced ...Read more
5 lessons from 20 years of climate surveys: Political party matters, but it doesn’t explain everything
Why would a young Republican back solar power but reject a carbon tax? Why would two Democrats agree that climate change is real but split over a policy that would charge households more if they exceeded a monthly limit on energy use?
Those patterns may go against the partisan rhetoric of our times, but they reflect the reality that ...Read more
Behold the new rules of a Midwest summer. One, check the air quality first
Remember when planning a summer day meant glancing out the window to see if it might rain?
Summer now comes with a checklist. What’s the temperature? What’s the heat index? Is there a thunderstorm coming? What’s the air quality index? Is wildfire smoke drifting in from Canada? Should the kids bring swimsuits or stay inside? Will tonight�...Read more
Commentary: Air conditioning alone won't save us from killer heat
From my desk in London, I’ve watched Los Angeles with a jolt of recognition. As dangerous heat settles over the city, it’s opening more than a hundred cooling centers and running air-conditioned buses to reach people with nowhere cool to go. It’s a life-saving response to a growing problem. It’s also a quiet admission: For many Angelenos...Read more
Injured bald eagle rescued near Big Bear is believed to be Jackie
LOS ANGELES — Big Bear bald eagle Jackie, one-half of the beloved avian pair featured in a longtime nest livestream, was rescued over the weekend after going missing from the aerie for several days, according to the wildlife nonprofit behind the cam.
The injured eagle was seen on the ground near Dana Point Park in the nearby community of ...Read more
Rescued Big Bear bald eagle Jackie is 'stable,' wildlife nonprofit says
LOS ANGELES — Big Bear bald eagle Jackie, one-half of the beloved avian pair featured in a longtime nest livestream, was rescued over the weekend after going missing from the aerie for several days, according to the wildlife nonprofit behind the cam.
The injured eagle was seen on the ground near Dana Point Park in the nearby community of ...Read more
Injured bald eagle rescued near Big Bear is believed to be Jackie
LOS ANGELES — A bald eagle rescued near Big Bear over the weekend is likely Jackie, one-half of the beloved pair featured in a longtime nest livestream, according to the wildlife nonprofit behind the cam.
Based on videos and pictures from the public and rescuers, "it is apparent that the rescued eagle is likely Jackie," Friends of Big Bear ...Read more
Most Americans support conservation – here’s how the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative got politicians from both parties on board too
In a time of political polarization, it’s easy to forget that the vast majority of Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs – 80% or more, depending on the poll – value environmental conservation. However, this support is not easily or often translated into successful, popular initiatives.
One success story is the Great Lakes ...Read more
Popular Stories
- Injured bald eagle rescued near Big Bear is believed to be Jackie
- Behold the new rules of a Midwest summer. One, check the air quality first
- Review: Gunnar’s ‘Cyberpunk 2077’ glasses captures the vibe of the game
- 5 lessons from 20 years of climate surveys: Political party matters, but it doesn’t explain everything
- Jim Rossman: Getting your phone’s dictionary to learn your favorite words





