Disaster Readiness at Calif. Nuclear Plants
After the earthquake in Japan, Californians have been asking whether the state's two nuclear power plants, Diablo Canyon and San Onofre, are really prepared to survive a catastrophic earthquake and tsunami. The utilities that run the plants insist they are safe -- but the utility that runs San Onofre plans to reassess, using fresher technology.
Measuring Water in the Sierra Snowpack
This week's survey of the Sierra snowpack found the state's "frozen reservoir" bursting with water content -- 165 percent of normal for this time of year. Scientists have been keeping a close eye on the mountains for a long time, but as California's climate evolves, they're looking for ways to collect more and better data.