KQED Science News

At the United Nations Climate Conference in Bali this week more than 2-hundred leading scientists issued a warning. They say that if immediate action is not taken, millions of people will be at risk from extreme events such as heat waves and floods. Here in California scientists say that as the climate warms and polar ice melts, coastal sea levels could easily rise by another three feet by the end of this century. That would have a dramatic impact on San Francisco Bay, as Craig Miller reports.

At the United Nations Climate Conference in Bali this week more than 2-hundred leading scientists issued a warning. They say that if immediate action is not taken, millions of people will be at risk from extreme events such as heat waves and floods. Here in California scientists say that as the climate warms and polar ice melts, coastal sea levels could easily rise by another three feet by the end of this century. That would have a dramatic impact on San Francisco Bay, as Craig Miller reports.

San Francisco is studying a London-style plan to charge drivers a fee when they travel to high-traffic areas, like downtown San Francisco, or Doyle Drive during peak commute hours. But is congestion pricing a boon for public transportation? Or the death of downtown?

San Francisco is studying a London-style plan to charge drivers a fee when they travel to high-traffic areas, like downtown San Francisco, or Doyle Drive during peak commute hours. But is congestion pricing a boon for public transportation? Or the death of downtown?

A growing number of parents, children's advocates and political leaders are worried that our culture's disconnection from nature is harming kids. Concerns about long-term health consequences like obesity have spawned a movement to "leave no child inside."

A growing number of parents, children's advocates and political leaders are worried that our culture's disconnection from nature is harming kids. Concerns about long-term health consequences like obesity have spawned a movement to "leave no child inside."

As clean-up crews in hazmat suits scour the beaches, scientists say they'll be dealing with the aftermath of last week's oil spill for months, if not years. Why is it so hard to clean up oil, and what will happen to the thousands of gallons of spilled oil that won't be recovered?

As clean-up crews in hazmat suits scour the beaches, scientists say they'll be dealing with the aftermath of last week's oil spill for months, if not years. Why is it so hard to clean up oil, and what will happen to the thousands of gallons of spilled oil that won't be recovered?

NASA has announced a new effort to send humans back to the moon, possibly to build an outpost by 2020. Mountain View's NASA Ames Research Center will identifies scientific investigations that could be performed there on everything from geology to global warming. But some critics question the space agency's priorities.

It's one of the most unusual car races in the world. In the DARPA Grand Challenge, the cars drive themselves - no remote controls needed. And the contest is not a game. It could change the way all of us drive.

It's one of the most unusual car races in the world. In the DARPA Grand Challenge, the cars drive themselves - no remote controls needed. And the contest is not a game. It could change the way all of us drive.

Is California's most controversial water proposal making a comeback? QUEST reports on the fervent politics behind the Peripheral Canal - a $5 billion plan to build a pipeline around the delta, sending Sierra water directly to the state water project.

Is California's most controversial water proposal making a comeback? QUEST reports on the fervent politics behind the Peripheral Canal - a $5 billion plan to build a pipeline around the delta, sending Sierra water directly to the state water project.

This fall, fishing was banned or sharply limited in 18 percent of California's ocean waters from Half Moon Bay to Santa Barbara under a landmark state plan. But that was only the first part. Now, scientists need to see how fast sea life recovers. QUEST finds out: how do you count the fish in the sea?

This fall, fishing was banned or sharply limited in 18 percent of California's ocean waters from Half Moon Bay to Santa Barbara under a landmark state plan. But that was only the first part. Now, scientists need to see how fast sea life recovers. QUEST finds out: how do you count the fish in the sea?