World's First Swimming Robot Limbers Up to Make a Splash, Bay Area Landscape Likely To Come Up Short On Water - 7/19 KQED Science News Roundup

World's First Swimming Robot Limbers Up to Make a Splash: Scientific American VideoNews videos covering science, health and technology at Sciam.com

Algal Blooms Could Have Caused Last Ice AgeAt various points in Earth's history, dust fell into the ocean and fed algae, which gobbled up carbon dioxide and sank to the bottom of the sea, taking greenhouse gas with them and cooling the world. That's a key conclusion scientists are drawing from an unusual 2004 experiment in which they grew a massive algae bloom in the Southern Ocean.

Bay Area Landscape Likely to Come Up Short on WaterBay Area Landscape Likely to Come Up Short on Water Facing the difference between how much water plants need, and how much they'll get We hear a lot about how climate change will affect rainfall in California, but climate scientists are increasingly looking at a new indicator: water deficit.

California Dreaming? Selling Congress on Low-Carbon FuelCalifornia Dreaming? Selling Congress on Low-Carbon Fuel Researchers hope to sway Congress on expanding the California-based standard, though it remains untested at home Proponents of California's low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) hope problems with the federal Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) could spell an opportunity to promote the state's groundbreaking alternative approach at the national level.

Doctors use eggs to reverse egg allergies in kidsFirst peanuts, now eggs. Doctors have reversed allergies in some children and teens by giving them tiny daily doses of problem foods, gradually training their immune systems to accept them. In the best test of this yet, about a dozen kids were able to overcome allergies to eggs, one of the most ubiquitous foods, lurking in everything from pasta and veggie burgers to mayonnaise and even marshmallows.

Stanford researchers estimate more deaths from Fukushima falloutNew research suggests that the cancer and death toll from Fukushima may be higher than previously claimed.According to a team of Stanford University researchers, most of these deaths will likely occur in Japan, but there could be as many as 30 casualties from radiation exposure in...

California lifts rules that curbed anti-mosquito ground treatments - The Sacramento BeeAfter months of intense lobbying, California's local mosquito control districts have won a key battle against new federal regulations that districts contended slowed them in their fight against West Nile virus. The victory came late last week as the State Water Resources Control Board lifted monitoring requirements that districts said hindered ground treatment of mosquitoes in the larval stage.

Santa Cruz County health officials: Two birds found with West Nile Virus - San Jose Mercury NewsSANTA CRUZ - West Nile Virus has been detected in the county for the first time this year, county health officials said Wednesday.