L.A. Times - Science

California sees the most measles cases in 7 years as disease resurges nationwide

Rong-Gong Lin II — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

California in 2026 has already seen its highest number of annual measles cases in seven years. The looming new domestic beachhead comes as vaccination rates have fallen.

'Dr. Pimple Popper' Sandra Lee had a stroke last fall. Here's how the TV doc is bouncing back

Christie D'Zurilla — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 22:09:38 GMT

'Dr. Pimple Popper' star Sandra Lee suffered a stroke last November while filming her popular reality show. She's still dealing with the fallout from it.

Trump administration promised 'gold standard science.' Scientists say they got fool's gold

Corinne Purtill — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

The Trump administration says it's returning U.S. science to a golden era. Critics say it's tarnished by political agendas.

The longer a species stays in the wildlife trade, the more likely it can spread disease to humans. Study explains why

Meg Tanaka — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:49:42 GMT

For every decade a species remains in the illegal global wildlife markets, the risk of interspecies disease increases, according to a new study.

After Artemis II, here's what's next for NASA's return to the moon

Noah Haggerty — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 01:50:35 GMT

There are several more steps NASA must take between Artemis II and a planned moon landing in 2028. Here's what the space agency expects to do before embarking on an ambitious lunar pit stop to Mars.

Scattered showers expected Sunday through Monday in L.A.

Queenie Wong, Karen Garcia — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 02:58:19 GMT

Weather forecasts for Los Angeles and Southern California predict rain this weekend, which could linger through Monday. There's also a 15% to 25% chance of thunderstorms.

Lead still haunts yards in Exide battery recycler cleanup zone

Tony Briscoe — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

A recycler in Vernon melted down pallets of lead-acid car batteries for a century and there is still lead in people's yards after a decade of cleanup.

Artemis II astronauts safely splash down off San Diego coast after historic moon mission

Noah Haggerty — Sat, 11 Apr 2026 00:18:12 GMT

The Artemis II crew slammed into the atmosphere at more than 30 times the speed of sound, creating a fireball half as hot as the surface of the sun, before splashing down safely off the coast of San Diego.

Did you feel it? As Artemis II nears reentry, scientists want to know how far the sonic boom travels

Noah Haggerty — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 20:04:53 GMT

Southern Californians might hear a sonic boom as NASA's Artemis II moon mission reenters the atmosphere off the coast of San Diego Friday evening, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

How to watch NASA's moon mission splash down off San Diego today

Noah Haggerty — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 14:08:16 GMT

Southern Californians likely won't be able to see reentry or splashdown in person, but NASA will livestream it. Here's what you should know.

For 40 minutes, the greatest solitude humans have known

Noah Haggerty — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 17:14:51 GMT

Speaking from space, the Artemis II astronauts described drifting past the far side of the moon, unable to communicate with Earth.

Contributor: Vaccine confusion sets up U.S. for a resurgence of hepatitis B in babies

Joshua Rothman — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 10:18:00 GMT

The lesson from the past is simple. When we stop using vaccines that work, the diseases they prevent come back.

A cracked heat shield rattled NASA after Artemis I. Now, Artemis II will put the fix to the test

Noah Haggerty — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

When Artemis II reenters earth's atmosphere, NASA will test out a new trajectory, calculated after the heat shield for its moon rocket was damaged during a test mission.

Near the shrinking Salton Sea, children's lungs may pay a price

Ian James — Thu, 9 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Scientists find that children who live near California's Salton Sea, where dust is a problem, suffer from diminished lung development.

Chicago Bears Pro Bowler Steve McMichael diagnosed with CTE a year after ALS death

Chuck Schilken — Tue, 7 Apr 2026 19:57:22 GMT

Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle Steve McMichael, a key member of the Chicago Bears Super Bowl XX champion team, had CTE, a posthumous study shows.

An emotional Artemis II crew flies past moon, traveling farther than any humans in history

Noah Haggerty — Mon, 6 Apr 2026 17:41:52 GMT

NASA's Artemis II crew described the far side of the moon in eloquent detail, named a crater after Cmdr. Reid Wiseman's late wife and spoke of their immense love for Earth.

Microplastics are everywhere — even in the labs studying them. That's a problem for research

Susanne Rust — Sun, 5 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Microplastics scientists are finding the tiny particles everywhere, even in their own research laboratories. So how do they know if what they're finding is in the sample or contamination from plastic fibers floating in the air?

Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant gets final go-ahead to run through 2030

Blanca Begert — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 23:59:02 GMT

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission gave its stamp of approval, ending a three-year process to allow the plant to power on.

Amid E. coli outbreak, California-based Raw Farm voluntarily recalls cheddar cheese

Corinne Purtill, Susanne Rust — Thu, 2 Apr 2026 21:45:21 GMT

The FDA is urging Raw Farm to pull its cheddar cheese products as an E. coli outbreak spreads across California and to other states.

NASA launches humans to moon for first time in half-century

Noah Haggerty — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 22:44:48 GMT

NASA launched the Artemis II mission, which will carry humans to the moon for the first time since 1972.

NASA will attempt to launch astronauts to the moon today. What to know and how to watch

Noah Haggerty — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 17:13:19 GMT

Live coverage for NASA's Artemis II mission is underway. The mission aims to send humans to the moon for the first time in a half-century.

Autistic people are more likely to experience suicidal crisis. 988 is changing to serve them better

Corinne Purtill — Wed, 1 Apr 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Shifts in 988 hotline volunteer behavior can have a major impact for autistic callers, a population more likely to experience suicidal crisis.

MAHA says red meat and beef tallow will make you healthy. The American Heart Assn. isn't buying it

Corinne Purtill — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 23:15:12 GMT

The American Heart Assn. is the latest medical association to issue guidelines that conflict with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA-friendly guidelines.

How NASA plans to keep Artemis astronauts alive if disaster strikes

Noah Haggerty — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

NASA's powerful Launch Abort System, designed to outrun an exploding rocket, is the result of years of work from scientists and engineers across the country, including in Southern California's Mojave Desert.

Hollywood rallies around former L.A. Zoo elephants Billy and Tina as they reportedly suffer in Tulsa

Lila Seidman — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Samuel L. Jackson has joined animal rights activists in a renewed push to move Billy and Tina from the Tulsa Zoo to a sanctuary, as Tina suffers from a serious infection.

New York City Marathon winner Albert Korir banned 5 years for doping

Steve Henson — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 16:24:45 GMT

Kenyan distance runner Albert Korir, long a fixture at the New York Marathon, has admitted to doping after testing positive for a blood-boosting substance.

Next to Joshua Tree National Park, a mining company is staking its claim for rare earth minerals

Alex Wigglesworth — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Dateline Resources Ltd. is exploring for rare earth elements outside Joshua Tree National Park, sparking concerns it could deplete water supplies, draw traffic and generate toxic waste.

A SoCal native is set to pilot NASA's lunar mission — and become the first Black person to reach the moon

Noah Haggerty — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Victor Glover, who grew up in Pomona, will pilot NASA's first crewed flight to the moon since 1972. If successful, he'll be the first Black person to reach the moon.

New IOC policy bans transgender women from competition, starting with 2028 L.A. Olympics

Steve Henson — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:44:55 GMT

Eligibility for women's competition at the 2028 L.A. Olympics and beyond will be determined by a one-time genetics test through saliva, a cheek swab or a blood sample.

As mosquitoes go year-round in L.A., a promising fix hits a snag

Lila Seidman — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

To curb a dengue-carrying mosquito, L.A. County officials are releasing sterilized males. The approach is promising, but funding to expand it is uncertain.

New report on L.A. post-fire beach contamination finds something unexpected: good news

Corinne Purtill — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Sampling on L.A. area beaches found no lead or other metals at concentrations that could hurt humans or animals.

Freaked out by the news? Tips for staying calm from ex-refugees, hostages and 'uncertainty experts'

Deborah Vankin — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Practical advice from neuroscientists and 'uncertainty experts' on how you can reduce anxiety and build resilience.

I had to man up and get a mammogram

Zachary Bernstein — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

Breast cancer isn't just a 'pink' disease; for men with a family history or genetic predisposition, a mammogram can be a lifesaving tool that overrides social stigma.

Industrial chemicals have reached the middle of the oceans, new study shows

Susanne Rust — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:00:00 GMT

New research paints the extent of human pollution across the planet's oceans: Pesticides and pharmaceuticals make up a large fraction of the organic material in our coastal waters. In the open ocean, it's plastics.

Long COVID leaves thousands of L.A. County residents sick, broke and ignored

Corinne Purtill — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 20:04:19 GMT

Six years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, doctors are still treating long COVID patients with complex symptoms and unknown futures.

Federal EPA moves to roll back recent limits on ethylene oxide, a carcinogen

Hayley Smith — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 20:15:48 GMT

An estimated 50% of sterile medical devices in the U.S. are treated with ethylene oxide. It is also a known carcinogen.

H5N1 bird flu spreads to sea otters and sea lions along San Mateo coast, wildlife experts say

Susanne Rust — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 20:20:42 GMT

After H5N1 bird flu was detected in elephant seals gathered at Año Nuevo State Park, other marine mammals have also succumbed, including a sea otter and sea lion. So far, only animals in San Mateo County have been affected.

Nearly 40% of California produce contains PFAS pesticides, report finds

Susanne Rust — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Using state data, an environmental group found PFAS residue on more than 40 different kinds of fruits and vegetables grown in California. The state has approved 53 PFAS pesticide ingredients, while other states, such as Maine, are throttling back.

Newsom's fight with Trump and RFK Jr. on public health

Angela Hart — Mon, 9 Mar 2026 10:00:00 GMT

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has positioned himself as a national public health leader by staking out science-backed policies in contrast with the Trump administration.

The neuro disease rat lungworm has reached California

Susanne Rust — Fri, 6 Mar 2026 11:00:00 GMT

A neurological disease spread by rats and other animals may have become established in San Diego County.

Owners of fire-destroyed Palisades mobile home park seek to displace residents for development deal

Noah Haggerty — Thu, 5 Mar 2026 19:03:36 GMT

An offering memorandum described the destroyed mobile home park as a "blank canvas for redevelopment"; however, city officials reiterated they intend to let fire survivors return and rebuild.

A virus without a vaccine or treatment is hitting California. What you need to know

Karen Garcia, Hanna Sender — Wed, 4 Mar 2026 19:23:26 GMT

Cases of human metapneumovirus, or HMPV, are on the rise in parts of California. It typically causes mild, cold-like symptoms, but could lead to more-severe disease in vulnerable individuals.

After rash of overdose deaths, L.A. halted sales of kratom. Some say they lost lifeline for pain and opioid withdrawal

Karen Garcia — Wed, 4 Mar 2026 11:00:00 GMT

L.A. County halted sales of kratom products over concern about potential overdoses. Some say officials aren't considering how the decision affects those using it for pain and to avoid opioids.

There were 13 full-service public health clinics in L.A. County. Now there are 6

Meg Tanaka — Tue, 3 Mar 2026 11:00:00 GMT

On Feb. 27, the L.A. County Department of Public Health eliminated services at many of its free clinics, citing funding cuts at the federal, state and local levels.

Mobile clinic brings mammograms to women on Skid Row

Corinne Purtill — Tue, 3 Mar 2026 11:00:00 GMT

As public clinics disappear, a joint project of City of Hope, UCLA's Homeless Healthcare Collaborative and Union Rescue Mission is stepping in to fill the gaps.

Can fire-resistant homes be sexy? 'You be the judge,' says this Palisades architect

Noah Haggerty — Mon, 2 Mar 2026 17:26:26 GMT

A new home built in Pacific Palisades is designed for fire resistance without sacrificing architectural beauty.

Lopez: My toothache led to a painful discovery: The dental care system is full of cavities as you age

Steve Lopez — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Roughly half of adults 65 and older have no dental insurance, and they may soon have more company.

Diablo Canyon clears last California permit hurdle to keep running

Blanca Begert — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:42:57 GMT

On Thursday, the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant moved one step closer to full permission to keep running.

Deadly bird flu found in California elephant seals for the first time

Susanne Rust — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:09:48 GMT

Researchers at UC Davis say news they've dreaded since 2023 has come to pass: California's elephant seals have been infected with H5N1 bird flu.

When slowing down can save a life: Training L.A. law enforcement to understand autism

Corinne Purtill — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

In a room filled with pounding noises and clanging cowbells, L.A. County deputies learn that sometimes the best way to handle a crisis is to simply wait.

Bodies of all 9 skiers killed in devastating avalanche recovered by authorities

Tony Briscoe — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 01:55:12 GMT

California search-and-rescue teams have recovered the bodies of all nine missing skiers killed in a devastating avalanche in a remote region of Sierra Nevada

Fourth measles case confirmed in L.A. County; person visited LAX, restaurants while infectious

Andrew J. Campa — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 21:28:32 GMT

The L.A. County Department of Public Health has confirmed its fourth measles case of the year. The infected individual flew into LAX and visited a few San Gabriel Valley fast food restaurants.

When it comes to shark attacks, there's a grim reason California stands out in the U.S.

Meg Tanaka — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Shark attacks in 2025 were back to a normal level after a down year in 2024. California continues to overindex in unprovoked attacks, and in 2025 recorded the only shark-related death of the year in the U.S..

Notoriously hazardous South L.A. oil wells finally plugged after decades of community pressure

Tony Briscoe — Sat, 14 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

A two-acre Los Angeles oil drill site near the St. Vincent Elementary School in University Park, had been releasing noxious fumes for years. Finally, the wells have been shut down.

Newsom tells world leaders Trump's retreat on the environment will mean economic harm

Phil Willon, Hayley Smith — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 22:19:13 GMT

newsom speaks at global security conference

Judge blocks Trump administration move to cut $600 million in HIV funding from states

Kevin Rector — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 01:44:10 GMT

A federal judge granted California and other states a temporary restraining order halting the administration's health funding cuts for 14 days while the litigation continues.

Contributor: Is there a duty to save wild animals from natural suffering?

Brian Kateman — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 17:30:16 GMT

If humans can grow meat in labs, we could feed wild predators and reduce predation in nature.

A SoCal beetle that poses as an ant may have answered a key question about evolution

Lila Seidman — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 19:22:10 GMT

A new study from Caltech explores the remarkable way a SoCal beetle infiltrates the colonies of the ant that runs the show in the Angeles National Forest — and what it can tell us about interdependent relationships in nature.

Contributor: Factory farming of fish is brewing pathogens

Neil M. Vora — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Aquaculture is critical for feeding a hungry planet, but it does not need to be as reckless as it is today.

California reserved $165 million for Tesla to electrify its trucking industry. The result may stifle EV innovation

Tony Briscoe — Mon, 9 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

California has set aside about $165 million in vouchers to subsidize the purchase of the Tesla Semi — an electric vehicle that critics say is still not road-worthy.

California mushroom poisonings are on the rise. Here's what's being done to curb exposure

Karen Garcia — Sun, 8 Feb 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Recent news of more than 30 cases of mushroom-related illness and death has prompted some Southern Californians to seek a mushroom education.

Torrance residents call for the ban of 'flesh-eating' chemical used at refinery

Jasmine Mendez — Sun, 8 Feb 2026 05:36:13 GMT

U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters reintroduces a bill that would require refiners to find alternatives to MHF within five years, or be fined per infraction.

TrumpRx is launched: How it works and what Democrats say about it

Gavin J. Quinton — Sat, 7 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Experts say the jury is still out on whether TrumpRx will lead to significant savings on drug prices, though it will likely help people who need medications not commonly covered by insurance.

The loss of healthcare subsidies forces Californians to pay more or go without

Meg Tanaka, Melody Petersen — Fri, 6 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Tens of thousands of middle-class Californians now face higher health insurance premiums after Congress let enhanced federal subsidies expire Dec. 31.

Tuberculosis outbreak reported at Catholic high school in Bay Area. Cases statewide are climbing

Karen Garcia — Tue, 3 Feb 2026 21:42:01 GMT

San Francisco public health officials issued a health advisory after identifying a tuberculosis outbreak at a private Catholic high school.

Real, fake or overblown? Sorting fact from fiction in fraud allegations surrounding Newsom, California

Melody Gutierrez, Dakota Smith — Mon, 2 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Fraud allegations are increasingly being deployed as a political weapon against Newsom, a leading Trump critic and a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender.

Contributor: Animal testing slows medical progress. It wastes money. It's wrong

Kevin J. Morrison — Mon, 2 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Tech advances already show a future of testing in which we might not have to suffer and die while waiting for systems that don't work.

Department of Education finds San Jose State violated Title IX regarding transgender volleyball player

Steve Henson — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 22:17:35 GMT

The Department of Education warned that San José State risks "imminent enforcement action" if it doesn't voluntarily resolve the Title IX violations by taking action five ways.

The share of Americans medically obese is projected to rise to almost 50% by 2035

Marcos Magaña — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 19:48:08 GMT

A new study found that by 2035, almost 50% of Americans will be medically obese. In 1990, that number was just 20%. Nonwhite Americans are much more likely to suffer.

A push to end a fractured approach to post-fire contamination removal

Noah Haggerty, Tony Briscoe — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Assemblymember John Harabedian is introducing new legislation that would create statewide science-based standards for the testing and removal of contamination left by wildfires.

Expiration of federal health insurance subsidies: What to know in California

Melody Petersen — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Thousands in California who rely on the state-run health insurance marketplace face premiums that are thousands of dollars higher as federal subsidies expire.

Pediatricians urge Americans to stick with previous vaccine schedule despite CDC's changes

Corinne Purtill — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 01:08:43 GMT

America's pediatricians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were once in lockstep on how vaccines impact child health. Not anymore.

'We're not going away': Rob Caughlan, fierce defender of coastline and Surfrider leader, dies at 82

Susanne Rust — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Rob Caughlan, an early leader of the coastal advocacy group Surfrider and a longtime California political activist, dies at the age of 82.

LAUSD says Pali High is safe for students to return to after fire. Some parents and experts have concerns

Noah Haggerty — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 18:30:11 GMT

The students of Palisades Charter High School are set to return to classes after the school district said its tests have cleared the grounds of contamination. But there are concerns about the efficacy of the testing protocols.

A measles resurgence has put the U.S. at risk of losing its 'elimination' status

Corinne Purtill — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Trump administration's health agencies have muddled vaccine messaging. The result is that vaccine-preventable diseases like measles are surging in the U.S.

Contributor: New food pyramid is a recipe for health disasters

Gene Baur — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:00:00 GMT

The new guidelines spearheaded by RFK Jr. go so far as to promote beef tallow despite risks caused by saturated fats.

Fed up with perimenopause or menopause? The We Do Not Care Club is here for you

Deborah Vankin — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Melani Sanders is over it.

With a nudge from industry, Congress takes aim at California recycling laws

Susanne Rust — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 11:00:00 GMT

A bill in Congress seeks to eliminate different state recycling requirements and labeling by creating a single, national standard that would be voluntary.

'Largest outbreak that we've seen in California.' Death cap mushrooms linked to deaths, hospitalizations

Karen Garcia — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:22:35 GMT

California officials warn Northern and Central Coast residents against foraging for mushrooms amid poisoning outbreak.