Author: Georgia McKoy

Amidst the increase of wildfires, California air quality officials have a new plea: skip the grill. Riverside County is swimming in smoke from the Eagle Fire, making the air dangerously dirty.  Officials from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) are asking everyone to think twice before firing up those barbecues. The Eagle Fire’s Growing Threat Source: Stever1552Steve/X The wildfire, named the Eagle Fire, erupted in Riverside County and quickly devoured over 1,600 acres of land.  By Monday morning, firefighters had only contained half of the blaze. With the air filled with smoke, it’s no wonder there’s a special…

Wehah Farms is in the spotlight for recalling 4,600 cases of Lundberg Family Farms Sustainable Wild Blend Gourmet Rice.  This recall, sparked by potential “rodent origin” contamination, impacts an alarming 27,000 one-pound bags across Arizona, California, Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Wisconsin. What’s Being Recalled? Source: Lundberg Family Farms/Facebook Inside each case are six one-pound bags of rice now under scrutiny. The Food and Drug Administration flagged this issue but hasn’t specified what the contamination entails.  They first announced this concern on May 10, 2024, signaling a serious health alert for consumers. Where Was This Rice Sold? Source: Wikimedia…

Every night, the moon graces our sky with its serene glow, but it’s silently inching away from us.  It drifts about 3.82 centimeters further each year, a subtle migration tracked by astronomers that highlights a celestial change millions of years in the making. How the Moon’s Journey Affects Our Days Source: Kym MacKinnon/Unsplash As the moon edges away, it tugs at the fabric of our time, gradually stretching our days. “As the moon moves away, the Earth is like a spinning figure skater who slows down as they stretch their arms out,” notes Stephen Meyers, a geoscience professor from the…

Salt Lake City’s skyline is blurred with smoke as a relentless wildfire encroaches on the state capitol’s uphill neighborhoods.  Over a hundred firefighters are scrambling to shield homes from the hungry flames. As of Sunday, the fire rages uncontrolled. Heroes in the Sky Source: UtahWildfire/X Above Ensign Peak, helicopters and planes dive into action, unleashing torrents of water on the blaze.  Their target? The fire lines about 1.2 miles up East Capitol Boulevard, putting residents on edge. Evacuees Find Shelter at Capitol Complex Source: Wikimedia Commons Those forced to flee their homes aren’t left in the lurch. The capitol complex…

At last, scientists have tracked down a substantial portion of Earth’s crust that seemed to have vanished.  Thanks to cutting-edge space imaging technology, they’re not only capturing stars but also solving deep-rooted mysteries like the enigmatic water “scars” on our planet’s surface. Decoding Earth’s Water Scars with Advanced Imaging Source: NASA/USGS Space imaging has evolved beyond celestial snapshots, playing a crucial role in unraveling Earth’s mysteries. These sophisticated technologies have been key in identifying and exploring water “scars”, significant geological markers that tell stories of Earth’s turbulent past. Solving a Century-Old Geological Puzzle: The Great Unconformity Source: Wikimedia Commons For…

Just moments after Joe Biden waved goodbye to a reelection bid, Governor Gavin Newsom stepped up, throwing his full support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.  His endorsement catapults Harris to the forefront of the Democratic hopefuls, signaling a united front from the party’s top echelons. Endorsements Unfold Rapidly Source: POTUS/X In a swift sequence following Biden’s withdrawal, he endorsed Harris, and Newsom quickly followed suit.  This flurry of support isn’t just about backing a candidate; it’s a calculated move by Democrats to coalesce around a strong contender early in the race, aiming to cement a solid foundation for the upcoming…

Next time you visit In-N-Out for your burger fix, you might notice a slight uptick in prices.  That’s because California’s new wage laws, which bumped fast food workers’ pay to $20 an hour as of April 1, have kicked in. Despite this, the love for In-N-Out hasn’t waned a bit — with drive-throughs buzzing as energetically as ever. Why Pay More for That Double-Double? Source: Wikimedia Commons In-N-Out isn’t just randomly bumping up prices — it’s a necessary move in response to rising costs.  As of April 1, when California hiked the minimum wage, the chain had to follow suit…

As thunderstorms loom on the horizon, Oregon’s Fire Marshal paints a grim picture of the weekend ahead: “extremely challenging” conditions that could worsen the state’s already devastating wildfires.  Residents brace as the forecast spells potential disaster. What Is a Megafire? Malachi Brooks/Unsplash The ongoing wildfires in Oregon have been referred to as megafires. This is a wildfire that reaches a size of at least 100,000 acres. There are currently around 100 wildfires in Oregon, several of which have reached megafire status. These are the Durkee, Cow Valley, Falls, and Lone Rock fires. 600,000 Acres of Burnt Land Tim Mossholder/Unsplash So…

Archaeologists have discovered a 3,800-year-old textile in Israel’s “Cave of Skulls.” This rare artifact is dyed with a color known as “scarlet worm,” mentioned 25 times throughout the Old Testament.  The textile contains woolen threads dyed red interwoven with uncolored linen threads, creating a distinctive lattice-like pattern that speaks to the advanced textile techniques of the time. Biblical Dye Process Decoded Source: Israel Antiquities Authority The red dye used in the ancient textile was derived from the “scarlet worm,” a term referring to a scale insect that thrives on oak trees.  The dye-making process involved grinding the carcasses and eggs…

When geologists first noticed thick volcanic ash across Kansas in the late 1800s, it sparked a flurry of questions.  How did this ash get here, so far from any active volcanoes? This mystery set off a scientific quest to trace its origins. Volcano Eruptions Are Worrying ruedi häberli/Unsplash When a volcano has erupted or is reported to be close to eruption, this can worry the people living in the area and the local wildlife. When a volcano is put on a red alert, such as Mt. Etna in Italy, this means that the magma inside the volcano is active, and…