That Time We Tried to Live Under the Sea Off California In the 1960s, as America raced to the Moon, the Navy sent aquanauts to the ocean floor off La Jolla in an ambitious experiment called SEALAB II.

Remember when we tried to live underwater off the coast of California? A look at SEALAB II: californiacurated.substack.com/p/that-time-... 🌊

All the Fish We Did Not See – The Discovery of the Ocean’s False Bottom off California The ocean's twilight zone is a profound mystery to scientists.

In 1942, off the coast of San Diego, sonar readings suggested the ocean floor was far shallower than it should be. The “bottom” wasn’t seafloor at all, but billions of animals. Today we know this as the largest migration on Earth, happening each day. californiacurated.substack.com/p/all-the-fi... 🌊

PSA: The jellyfish is neither jelly nor a fish.

Routine survey captures photos of rare California salamander larvae Biologist Michael Reichmuth captured the California giant salamander in larval form in the wild for the first time in picture on Sept. 10.

A California biologist just captured the first-ever image of newly hatched California giant salamanders in the wild—an elusive species scientists have struggled to study for decades. www.desertsun.com/story/news/n...

Why Southern California is the Stingray Capital of the World Seal Beach has the perfect conditions for Stingrays to feed, breed and sting unsuspecting swimmers.

Why is Southern California, and Seal Beach in particular, the stingray capital of the world!? californiacurated.substack.com/p/why-southe... 🌊 🧪#california

From Desert Riches to Durable Glass: how a California mine has helped change the world California is a leading global producer of borax, a vital chemical essential for constructing the infrastructure of modern life.

California is a leading global producer of borax, a vital chemical essential for constructing the infrastructure of modern life. californiacurated.substack.com/p/from-deser...

A Drive Through Tejon Pass is a Journey Through Time, Terrain, and Tectonics From ancient trade routes to modern freeways, California’s Tejon Pass holds layers of history and geology hidden in plain sight.

In 1857, the Fort Tejon earthquake rocked California with an estimated 7.9 magnitude along the San Andreas Fault, shifting the land by up to 30 feet in seconds. The region ruptures on roughly a 140-year cycle. It’s been 160 years since the last big one. californiacurated.substack.com/p/a-drive-th...

Ten Essential Books About California’s Nature, Science, and Sense of Place I’m an avid reader, and over the past decade I’ve dedicated a large section of my bookshelf to books about California—its wild side, its nature, and its scientific wonders.

We put together a list of the best science and nature books about California. californiacurated.com/2025/11/03/t...

California’s Eye on the Cosmos: The SLAC-Built Camera That Will Time-Lapse the Universe The release of the first images from what’s being called the most powerful astronomical discovery machine ever created.

The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is already reshaping how we see the universe, delivering a steady stream of breathtaking cosmic images. At the heart of it all is the largest digital camera ever built, engineered right here in California. Here’s our story. californiacurated.substack.com/p/california...

California Curated | Substack California, explained. Science, landscapes, and hidden systems of the Golden State. New stories weekly. Click to read California Curated, a Substack publication with hundreds of subscribers.

Each week, California Curated digs into the science, history, and hidden corners of the state. From deep ocean discoveries to forgotten geology to the forces shaping our future.

Free. One email a week. No noise, just great stories. open.substack.com/pub/californ...

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The true, tragic story of one of the worst environmental crimes in California history. The Destruction of Converse Basin Grove and its Giant Sequoias. californiacurated.com/2024/04/25/g...

Why Southern California is the Stingray Capitol of the World Seal Beach has the perfect conditions for Stingrays to feed, breed and sting unsuspecting swimmers.

Why is Southern California, and Seal Beach in particular, the stingray capital of the world!? open.substack.com/pub/californ... 🌊

There is a huge number of whale skeletons off the coast of California. Perhaps more than any other place on earth. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. We actually have a lot of whales. californiacurated.com/2024/07/17/w...

Why Southern California is the Stingray Capitol of the World Seal Beach has the perfect conditions for Stingrays to feed, breed and sting unsuspecting swimmers.

Why is Southern California, and Seal Beach in particular, the stingray capital of the world!? open.substack.com/pub/californ... 🌊

Upwelling, the Ocean’s Engine Beneath California’s Waters How cold, nutrient-rich water rises from the deep to fuel marine life, fisheries, and one of the most productive coastlines on Earth

Cold water rising from the deep might be the single most important force shaping life off California’s coast. It fuels plankton blooms, drives fisheries, and quietly powers one of the most productive marine ecosystems on Earth. This is upwelling. californiacurated.substack.com/p/upwelling-... 🌊

Upwelling, the Ocean’s Engine Beneath California’s Waters How cold, nutrient-rich water rises from the deep to fuel marine life, fisheries, and one of the most productive coastlines on Earth

Cold water rising from the deep might be the single most important force shaping life off California’s coast. It fuels plankton blooms, drives fisheries, and quietly powers one of the most productive marine ecosystems on Earth. This is upwelling. californiacurated.substack.com/p/upwelling-... 🌊

Pasadena: City of Science How Pasadena Became a Hub of Scientific Endeavor Pasadena and Colorado Boulevard (Erik Olsen) Support California Curated with a small donation. Pasadena, California, often renowned for its pictures…

From cosmic discoveries to cutting-edge innovation, Pasadena isn’t just a city—it’s a laboratory for the future. 🌌🔬 Dive into the science capital of SoCal: californiacurated.com/2024/06/28/p... #ScienceCity #Pasadena

Land flows like a river, up to 9-12 inches per week. Unlike a landslide which starts and stops

California’s Common, but Lovely, Birds: the House Finch One of the most common birds in California, probably familiar to anyone whether a backyard enthusiast or committed ornithologist is the house finch. The house finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) is a smal…

An ode to one of California's most common, but interesting birds. californiacurated.com/2023/03/19/c...

The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH): Icon of American Scenic Roadways The Pacific Coast Highway took decades to complete fully, with different sections being opened to the public at various times.

The fascinating story behind one of California's great highways: californiacurated.com/2024/05/21/t...

California Is Choking on Traffic and One Potential Solution Is Effectively Illegal A century-old law, the Jones Act, is keeping coastal shipping off the map—while traffic, costs, and emissions keep rising on land.

Could California solve its traffic problem by the US changing one law? open.substack.com/pub/californ...

Changing just the portion of the Jones law could expand our merchant marine AND reduce highway truck traffic AND reduce bulk transportation costs

One of California's most expensive, exclusive and private neighborhoods is called Bradbury Estates. Most Californians don't even know it exists. www.instagram.com/reel/DWPsfr6...

California Is Choking on Traffic and One Potential Solution Is Effectively Illegal A century-old law, the Jones Act, is keeping coastal shipping off the map—while traffic, costs, and emissions keep rising on land.

Could California solve its traffic problem by the US changing one law? open.substack.com/pub/californ...

California Is Choking on Traffic and One Potential Solution Is Effectively Illegal A century-old law, the Jones Act, is keeping coastal shipping off the map—while traffic, costs, and emissions keep rising on land.

open.substack.com/pub/californ...

One of California's most expensive, exclusive and private neighborhoods is called Bradbury Estates. Most Californians don't even know it exists. www.instagram.com/reel/DWPsfr6...

Unraveling the Geology Behind Palos Verdes' Ongoing Landslide Crisis Heavy rainfall has led to severe landslides and soil instability in this coastal community, which is known for its scenic ocean views, rugged cliffs, and upscale neighborhoods.

Like an old disaster movie, California, or at least part of it, is slowly slipping into the sea. californiacurated.substack.com/p/unraveling...

Ten Essential Books About California’s Nature, Science, and Sense of Place From coast to desert to forest, these books capture the beauty, complexity, and changing spirit of California.

Ten Essential Books About California’s Nature, Science, and Sense of Place open.substack.com/pub/californ...