Oceanographers study the impact of toxic ash from the L.A. wildfires
Los Angeles — A research ship from the San Diego-based Scripps Institute of Oceanography goes out every three months along the Southern California coastline.
Recently, the ship was traveling the coast collecting plankton samples, small organisms that many larger fish live on. But this trip was anything but ordinary.
"This is something I've never experienced before, and I don't know anybody else that has," Scripps Institute scientist Dr. Rasmus Swalethorp told CBS News.
What the researchers experienced, by total coincidence, was pulling up to Los Angeles in January as the deadly and devastating Palisades and Eaton fires were burning thousands of homes, incinerating plastic, paint, asbestos and car batteries. The fires released a cloud of toxic ash that settled over the ocean for about 100 miles.
Crew members put on masks to protect against the smoke as black ash settled on the ship, while the plankton they collected was also swimming in ash.
"All the organisms that are going to live down on the seabed, they're certainly going to be exposed to this, potentially transporting whatever is in that ash further up the food chain," Swalethorp said.
Scientists with the Scripps Institute have been collecting California ocean samples for 75 years. The new ash-laden samples will be added to this vast archive.
"We know what the fish are like under normal circumstances, but the scientific opportunity here is to look at the condition of the fish when they're exposed to all the ash," said Andrew Thompson, a scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Commercial and recreational fishing in California brings in about $1 billion a year and supports 193,000 full and part-time jobs, according to numbers from the NOAA. While it could take years to know how, or if, these toxins impact fish, both fishermen and restaurants say knowing the answer is important.
"The damage that these fires has caused is like woven so deeply into the fabric of our food systems that it's something that you know, it should be just an absolute red flag for anyone involved…a red flag for change," said Michael Cimarusti, a chef at the L.A. seafood restaurant Providence. "Like, what can be done to ensure that these kinds of fires, like, don't happen again."
Swalethorp says monitoring how ocean life responds will continue for years.
"We are also going to be looking for chromium, for mercury," Swalethorp said. "…Things we don't want in the ocean."
But because of a grim kind of luck, scientists at least have a head start in knowing exactly what toxins they are looking for.
Dolly Parton's husband, Carl Dean, died at age 82. Here's a look back at their love story
Federal employees received a new email about weekly tasks. Here's how agencies responded.
"Anora" wins 5 Oscars at 97th Academy Awards
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Texas to expand psychedelic research with $50M ibogaine investment
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is holding a bill signing ceremony Tuesday for legislation that invests $50 million into clinical research of ibogaine — a naturally occurring psychedelic substance that could treat post-traumatic stress disorder, opioid use disorder and other mental health conditions. For years, veterans and others suffering from PTSD have sought ibogaine treatment in Mexico, where the substance is not heavily regulated. In the United States, ibogaine is classified as a Schedule 1 drug, the most restrictive drug category. Other drugs classified under Schedule 1 include psilocybin, LSD and heroin. According to the legislative summary of SB 2308, the implications for those with opioid use disorder are lifechanging; a single administration of ibogaine in a controlled setting has been shown to stop withdrawal symptoms and reduce drug cravings long-term. RELATED: Lawmakers hope to expand medical marijuana program as state bans intoxicating hemp products 'Preliminary reports also suggest benefits in cognitive function, mood regulation, and sleep among individuals with [traumatic brain injury] and PTSD—conditions prevalent among U.S. veterans,' the bill text read. The new legislation will create a program within the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to support Texas-based trials of ibogaine through the FDA. Ibogaine is not currently FDA-approved due to its Schedule 1 classification. SB 2308 will fund research through gifts, grants or donations and will require equal matching funds by the recipients, which will include Texas medical facilities 'equipped for cardiac-intensive monitoring' by a supervising physician, among other qualifications. 'By advancing ibogaine research, Texas has the opportunity to lead in neuroscience innovation, address urgent veteran health needs, and shape the future of mental health treatment nationwide,' the bill text reads. While legislation aimed at easing access to ibogaine moves forward, separate legislation to restrict access to another plant has also progressed. Texas lawmakers sent a bill banning non-medical THC products to Abbott for approval late last month. Still, Texas in recent years has become more open-minded to the use of psychedelic substances in treating mental health conditions. 'There's definitely been a shift in the openness and the receptivity of the field to this type of research,' said Greg Fonzo, Ph.D., co-director of the McGill Center for Psychedelic Research & Therapy at Dell Medical School. 'People who do undergo this treatment process, some of them respond well and have a benefit in terms of symptom reductions and feeling better,' Fonzo told KXAN earlier this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Somnee raises $10m for AI neurotech sleep wearables
US-based Somnee has secured $10m in a seed extension round to advance its AI-powered neurotech sleep wearables. The funding will aid the launch of the company's second-generation smart sleep headband. Khosla Ventures spearheaded the round with contributions from Marc Benioff's TIME Ventures, the DeVos family of the NBA's Orlando Magic, LEAD VC, Seaside Ventures, Metalab, and Nelstone Ventures. Based on sleep research and neuroscience, the company developed the headband that utilises AI technology and electroencephalogram (EEG+) to map the brain activity of users and provide personalised stimulation. This headband is said to aid individuals in falling asleep quickly, extending their sleep duration, and minimising restlessness. In a study, the headband demonstrated superiority over melatonin, Ambien, and cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-i). The headband features SmartSleep AI operating system, which will offer real-time monitoring and AI-driven interventions tailored to individual sleep patterns. Somnee's product is currently undergoing beta testing with certain NBA [National Basketball Association] teams and the performance training staff. Founded in 2022 by Dr Matt Walker and a team from the University of California, the company has seen significant progress under CEO Tim Rosa, who joined 18 months ago. Somnee is actively seeking further collaborations with professional sports teams, employers, as well as brands focusing on healthcare to leverage research that connects sleep quality with athletic performance, longevity, and productivity. Dr Walker said: 'We're trying to speak to the brain in its own language – using gentle, precisely timed pulses of electricity, not unlike how a conductor uses subtle hand movements to guide an orchestra into harmony. 'The goal was to create what I call a 'blast radius' of benefit: deeper sleep, more efficient sleep, and a quicker descent into sleep itself by preparing the brain just before sleep, we're trying to drive more powerful deep-sleep brainwaves, and give you a faster entry into sleep to begin with.' Last year, Somnee introduced an upgraded app and new features for its smart sleep headband. "Somnee raises $10m for AI neurotech sleep wearables" was originally created and published by Medical Device Network, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Boston Globe
6 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Fighting climate change, one yard at a time
'There's this feeling of, 'Oh my gosh, this problem is so much bigger than I am,'' said C. Adam Schlosser, senior research scientist and deputy director at the But Schlosser said he disagrees: It took a collective effort to get here, and it will take one to get us out. 'My answer has always been, every little bit counts,' he said. Home gardeners can take their clues from what some industry professionals are adopting in the face of climate change, starting by fine-tuning their carbon footprint. Increased atmospheric carbon contributes to climate warming. The garden is full of opportunities to practice carbon-neutrality. Advertisement 'We obviously have a lot of technologies that are trying to remove carbon from the air, but … the best way of doing that, in terms of nature, is to plant new vegetation,' Schlosser said. Schlosser said that heat-tolerant varieties will stand up to weather patterns and require less water. To add a buffer against unpredictable weather extremes, create microclimates in the home landscape, said Ben Falk, a Vermont-based regenerative landscape A monarch butterfly fed on New England aster. Conserve water by catching rainfall in a barrel or other container. Soil health is another important consideration, Falk said. Avoid using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides that contain While Falk said he doesn't characterize his approach as outright resistance to climate change, adapting to it may soften its impact. 'If the wind's blowing, you know, put up your sail,' he said. 'The best responses to climate change also are the most beneficial footprint upon our ecological systems, which could have the best impact on reducing climate change simultaneously.' Landscaping tools have long relied on gas fuel, but Mark Richardson, executive director of the Advertisement Iconic to the suburban landscape are manicured lawns and geometric hedges. But monocultures are more likely to suffer total losses when problems strike. 'The advice that I would give is to expect the unexpected,' Richardson said. A resilient, biologically diverse garden can mix native and non-native species that overall require less maintenance. Even in tough years when not everything thrives, Richardson said, the garden isn't decimated. 'You're hedging your bet that when you have a diverse garden, some things will make it and other things won't,' he said. Plants take in carbon, a process known as carbon sequestration, as part of photosynthesis. To encourage even more of this, don't just plant more, but plant diverse gardens full of native species. 'All forms of resilience seem to rely on diversity, and that certainly goes for gardening,' Falk said. Just as biodiversity improves carbon sequestration, its absence can drive a self-reinforcing cycle: warming climates cause species to struggle, reducing diversity, and ultimately increasing carbon output, said 'The climate crisis cannot be solved without also solving the biodiversity crisis,' Abramson said. 'As we lose more species … we're losing the ability of our landscapes and systems to stabilize the climate.' Advertisement Plant diversity can also provide physical resilience, he said. For example, a mixed meadow will be more resilient to flooding or drought than a turfgrass lawn. Seek inspiration from other areas of the state that are used to wet or dry conditions, such as coastal plains or Berkshires grasslands. And though many ecological changes can be slow to observe, Abramson said if you plant it, pollinators will come. After just three years, his team observed an increase from two to seven insect pollinator species at one of his planting sites. Red columbine flowered in Norwell. Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff Essentially, it's a process of ecological restoration. Start by adding a few keystone species — such as aster and goldenrod, which support many types of wildlife — and adding other plants that attract specialists. Shrubs are another often overlooked planting that provide natural bird food and habitat. Abramson said to observe what's there, and add what's missing. Turning to native plantings doesn't have to mean ripping out your roses. Native plants don't always have the ostentatious flare of some annuals, but Chieppo urged gardeners to trust the process while shopping. 'When you go to a nursery and you see a bunch of native plants, they're not probably going to be beautiful at the time … because it's nature,' Chieppo said. 'If it doesn't bloom this year, it most certainly will next year.' Advertisement In May, the state of Massachusetts launched Even native plants are sold in plastic pots that end up bound for the landfill. Chieppo Chieppo said that when it comes to climate resilience, the key is to rethink nature as your partner. 'Ask your landscape what it needs from you, as opposed to, 'What do you want on your landscape?''
