Malibu Pier closed, surfer dies as big waves hammer L.A.-area beaches

The Malibu Pier was shut down Tuesday evening and an unconscious surfer was pulled from rough waters nearby earlier in the day as high waves began pounding Southern California beaches.. California State Park officials closed the pier after a piling was knocked loose Tuesday afternoon amid the big waves, officials said. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-malibu-pier-closed-surfer-dies-big-waves-20140826-story.html# Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Robert J Lopez

Did life on Earth come from space?

Did life on Earth come from space? The scientific evidence is mounting. A new report suggests amino acids, the chemical building blocks necessary for life as we know it, may be scattered throughout the solar system, created when high-speed comets smacked into the icy moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and rocky planets like our very own Earth.http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-comet-impact-life-20130916,0,4729019.story Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times-Science Now by Deborah Netburn

Monsoonal Moisture Hits NorCal, Fires Rage in State

The monsoonal moisture that's been hammering portions of Southern California is now moving into Northern California, creating a stark environmental contrast in the state: Flash foods and fires.http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/california/Monsoonal-Moisture-Wildfire-Moves-Toward-Northern-California-Tahoe-Sierra-Bay-Area-269834741.html Article courtesy of NBC Bay Area by Lisa Fernandez

Blocking Californians' beach access will soon carry a hefty fine

Frustrated beachgoers this summer will finally have a remedy against anyone who blocks public access to California's shoreline.. Under a new law that takes effect Tuesday, the California Coastal Commission will for the first time have the authority to impose fines on violators http://www.latimes.com/science/la-me-coastal-penalties-20140630-story.html# Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Tony Barboza

Democratic bill would slow California's effort to curb climate change

A group of business-friendly Democratic lawmakers worries that requiring refineries to buy credits under "cap and trade" could add at least 15 cents to the price of a gallon of unleaded gasoline. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-capitol-business-beat-20140714-story.html# Article courtesy of The Los Angeles Times by Marc Lifsher

How many sheets of paper does one tree produce?

Since a typical 500-sheet packet of the paper weighs 5 pounds, that’s 10,000 to 20,000 sheets per tree The United States produced about 20,700,000 tons of this paper last year, which by my reckoning (see below) takes 55 to 110 million trees, but we only recycle about 11,000,000 tons, or 53 percent. http://sierraclub.org/sierra/2014-4-july-august/green-life/how-much-paper-does-one-tree-produce?src=1pt&utm_source=greenlife&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter Article courtesy of Sierra Magazine/Ask Mr. Green by Bob Shildgen

Senior Citizens Comprise Significant Portion of Bike Riders

While biking might be seen as a young person's pursuit, new data show that Americans aged 60-79 represent a sizeable chunk of new riders. The National Household Travel Survey reports that between 1995 and 2009, the rise in biking among people ages 60-79 accounted for 37 percent of the total nationwide increase in bike trips. To learn more: http://usa.streetsblog.org/2014/06/20/surprise-people-aged-60-79-are-behind-more-than-a-third-of-the-biking-boom/ Article Courtesy of Smart Growth Online Newsletter