KPBS News: Science

Thousands Of Marine Mammals May Be Harmed By Navy Sonar

Peggy Pico — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:00:00 -0700

A new report by the U.S. Navy predicts its use of explosives and sonar may hurt or kill thousands more marine mammals than previously thought.

Four Paws Is Giving Rescued Animals A Second Chance

Dwane Brown — Fri, 11 May 2012 06:00:00 -0700

We don't know what they were used for, but they're considered healthy and adoptable.

Seau's Family To Donate His Brain To Science

City News Service — Fri, 04 May 2012 06:39:42 -0700

The family of late former San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau will be donating his brain to science to help determine whether repeated trauma suffered by football players leads to depression, it was reported today.

Gen-Probe Bought For $3.7 Billion By Massachusetts Company

CITY NEWS SERVICE — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:14:21 -0700

The San Diego-based biotech firm Gen-Probe announced today it has agreed to a $3.7 billion buyout by Hologic Inc., a Bedford, Mass., maker of medical devices.

Baby Elephant Seal Rescued at Moonlight Beach

Katie Euphrat — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:05:48 -0700

Springtime is when young seals are weaned from their mothers, but if they're hunting skills aren't up to par, they beach themselves on San Diego's shores. At Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, three California Elephant Seals have been rescued just in the past week.

Anglo-Swedish Drug Company Buying San Diego Biotech

Associated Press — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 06:31:56 -0700

Anglo-Swedish drug company AstraZeneca PLC is buying Ardea Biosciences, Inc., in a deal which values the U.S. biotech company at $1.26 billion.

UCSD Scientist Uses Physics, Math To Get Out Of $400 Traffic Ticket

Associated Press — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:04:50 -0700

A University of California San Diego scientist was able to use his math and physics knowledge to argue his way out of a $400 traffic ticket.

Maritime Museum Rebuilds 500-Year-Old Spanish Ship

Katie Euphrat — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:00:00 -0700

At Spanish Landing Park just across from Lindbergh Field, you may have noticed mysterious wooden beams rising from behind the trees. It’s not a new playground or another waterfront art installation. It’s a unique construction project dating back 500 years.

UCSD Shaking Table Rattles Building

Erik Anderson — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:34:49 -0700

UC San Diego researchers put a five story building through a couple of major earthquakes. The nation's largest earthquake shake table experiment is part of a five million dollar project aimed at making buildings safer.

UCSD Quake Table Set To Shake 5-Story Building

Erik Anderson — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 06:00:00 -0700

UC-San Diego researchers will shake and rattle a 75-foot-tall, five story building on a huge earthquake simulator today. Engineers hope to learn more about how the guts of the building perform under stress.

Nail Polish Labeled "Non-toxic" Not Always As Advertised

Marianne Russ, California Capitol Network — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:43:03 -0700

A new California study finds some nail polish brands that claim to be free of certain toxins are not.

First Magnetic Fix For Heartburn

Peggy Pico — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:11:51 -0700

A San Diego man is among the first in the nation to get a magnetic implant to control chronic heartburn.

Science, Tech Building Boom Signals 'Investment In The Future'

Megan Burke, Maureen Cavanaugh, Joanne Faryon, Claire Trageser — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 11:32:12 -0700

Both public and private construction of several science and biotech facilities is under way in San Diego. We'll examine this welcome news for our economy.

USD Scientist Getting The Word Out On Global Warming

Maureen Cavanaugh, Joanne Faryon, Patty Lane, Claire Trageser — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:30:00 -0700

A USD scientist is leading the effort to educate the public about climate change and global warming, but with a twist: using business and community leaders to educate the public about what affects our region.

SDSU Study Will Examine When Literacy Begins

Kenny Goldberg — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 06:00:00 -0700

A new research project will explore whether early language comprehension leads to literacy.

Small Earthquake Rattles Julian

City News Service — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 09:11:08 -0700

A small earthquake rattled part of eastern San Diego County today, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

Radioactivity Cured By A Capsule

Helen Hawes — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:33:52 -0700

Scientists discover a method to render radioactive materials harmless in drinking water, beverages.

Skin-Like Plastic Repairs Itself

Peggy Pico — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 06:00:00 -0700

A new type of plastic "bleeds" when it's cut, then repairs itself just like human skin.

Scripps Researchers Reawaken Old Memories in Mice

City News Service — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:01:39 -0700

Scripps Research Institute scientists and their colleagues have successfully harnessed neurons in mouse brains, which allowed them to at least partially control a specific memory, Scripps announced today.

New Website Is All About The Brain

Dwane Brown, Maureen Cavanaugh, Patty Lane, Claire Trageser — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 16:00:46 -0700

A new website headed by a UC San Diego neurobiology professor will debunk brain myths and teach you everything you want to know about the brain.