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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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Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out.
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It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning.
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Scientists report that they may have found Martian minerals that on Earth are formed by microbes in oxygen-free, muddy environments. But they say other explanations are possible, too.
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The waste was likely dumped alongside barrels of DDT discovered in recent years. Its chemical makeup has changed the types of organisms that live on the ocean bottom.
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There's a SpaceX rocket launch scheduled for about 10 p.m., so you may hear loud sounds.
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Hexavalent chromium is the same carcinogen Erin Brockovich warned about in the 1990s, but researchers say more study is needed on the potential health effects of nanoparticles detected earlier this year. Experts will answer questions at a webinar this evening.
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The FAA briefly issued ground stops Monday afternoon for flights coming to Long Beach, John Wayne and Los Angeles International airports, likely causing delays.
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Several UCLA scientists tell LAist that their experiments on cancer, heart disease and other ailments are imperiled, but they’re more worried that young academics will abandon the field and that humanity will be worse off for it.
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A red flag warning has been issued for mountainous areas of Southern California, including in L.A., Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.
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A new $5 million grant allows officials to move forward with large scale projects.
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The fire started at about 3 p.m. Thursday in dry brush.
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The fire broke out at around 1 a.m. and quickly grew in hot, dry conditions.
