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Jacob Margolis
What I cover
I cover science, with a focus on environmental stories and disasters, as well as investigations and accountability.
My background
I created, wrote and hosted the LAist Studios podcasts, The Big One: Your Survival Guide and The Big Burn: How To Survive In The Age of Wildfires . I was part of the team that won the 2021 Investigative Reporters and Editors Audio Journalism Award for the series "Hot Days: Heat’s Mounting Death Toll On Workers In The U.S. "Most recently, I’ve published investigations into large scale illegal dumping in L.A. County and previously unreported heavy metal concentrations in fire retardants.
My goals
To uncover how science, policy, and power intersect — so people have the information they need to hold decision-makers accountable and protect their communities.
Best way to reach me
You can reach me by email: jmargolis@laist.com . Or for encrypted communications, I'm on Signal: @ jacobmargolis.1 .
Stories by Jacob Margolis
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California’s wildfires have gotten increasingly destructive and deadly. That's been underscored with destructive fires kicking off 2025.
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Whether it’s at home or at work, there's an assumption that people will be safe if an earthquake hits.
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We’re launching a community science project and we want you to participate!
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Disturbed by unrelenting heat waves, massive wildfires, disappearing beaches, and worsening droughts? Here’s what you need to know.
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As the climate changes, the more acidic our oceans are getting, But a new study shows that mussels with certain genetic traits can survive those more acidic waters.
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We’ve spent a lot of time recently stressing out about bad weather here in Southern California. It’s been too hot, too dry and too smoky. So, we thought it'd be appropriate on Thanksgiving to give thanks to this latest storm, which should leave you feeling good.
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You may not know this, but oftentimes in newsrooms we write obituaries ahead of time so that they're ready to publish when the person passes away. But what if the obit wasn't for a person, but for a place that's been the home of magical memories for generations?
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It could be some of your favorite spots.
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It's August, which means the spectacular Perseids meteor shower is upon us. That said, they're not going to be nearly as bright as they could be given the moon.
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When you're laying on the beach, beware of the crumbling cliffs above you. They could be deadly.
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Travel 390 million miles away from Earth to Jupiter’s moon Europa and you’ll find something more often found on dining tables. Salt. That’s according to a new study from researchers at Caltech and JPL.
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It’s been a bit shaky in parts of the Inland Empire. Glen Avon and Fontana have experienced a swarm of earthquakes, more than 430 in the past week or so. Does that mean that a big one is right around the corner?
