Did Volcanoes Provide the Spark of Life?
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Published: 2 May 2023
Scripps chemist Jeffrey Bada proposes volcanic lightning, not storm lightning, sparked life on early Earth. Eruptions could generate energy and pumice rafts to spread organic compounds across oceans 4 billion years ago.
Keywords: origin of life, volcanic lightning, Jeffrey Bada, Scripps Oceanography, Miller-Urey, RNA, pumice rafts
ALERTCalifornia Launches to Provide Essential Tools to Understand and Adapt to Natural Disasters
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Published: 3 May 2023
UC San Diego launched ALERTCalifornia, a 1,000+ camera and sensor network tracking wildfires and natural hazards. It provides real-time data, supports firefighting, and drives research on climate impacts, resiliency, and recovery.
Keywords: ALERTCalifornia, wildfire monitoring, UC San Diego, climate resilience, LiDAR, big data, natural disasters
Researchers Track Endangered Nassau Grouper Eggs with Underwater Microscope
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Published: 9 May 2023
Scientists tracked Nassau grouper eggs in Little Cayman with underwater microscopes and drifters, showing larvae often return locally but sometimes reach nearby islands, highlighting the role of protections in species recovery.
Keywords: Nassau grouper, spawning, Little Cayman, conservation, larvae dispersal, Scripps Oceanography, REEF
