Real tools and guides for the causes we care about — tracking spills as they happen, growing back what's been lost, catching the rain, and going electric.
Real satellite-detected oil slicks, pulled directly from SkyTruth's Cerulean database. Click any line for details.
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A running, government-maintained log of oil and chemical spill incidents across U.S. waters, updated as new events happen.
SkyTruthA free, publicly viewable map that uses AI and daily satellite radar imagery to detect oil slicks anywhere in the ocean, worldwide.
Several major U.S. universities do active oil spill research and response work — including two right here in California.
Home of C-IMAGE, a ten-year, $36.6 million research program studying the impact of oil spills on the Gulf of Mexico, alongside ongoing satellite monitoring and pollution studies.
USF College of Marine ScienceA 2026 study using satellite data found spill coverage roughly quadrupled amid regional conflict — a current example of USF's active spill-monitoring work.
USF College of Marine ScienceUSF's long-running archive of Deepwater Horizon-era research, news coverage, and findings from over a decade of Gulf oil spill science.
UC San Diego — Scripps Institution of OceanographyDuring the 2021 Huntington Beach spill, Scripps deployed sensor-equipped ocean robots and radar-based current tracking to feed real-time data to spill responders — based right here in Southern California.
UC Davis — Oiled Wildlife Care NetworkA UC Davis-managed statewide network that rescues and rehabilitates oil-affected wildlife across California, funding millions in research on treatment and long-term recovery since 1994.
Beyond traditional booms and skimmers, researchers have developed genuinely new materials and methods for pulling oil out of water.
MIT researchers developed a patented method that mixes water-repellent magnetic nanoparticles into spilled oil, then uses magnets to lift the oil cleanly out of the water — with the oil itself recoverable afterward.
Northwestern UniversityA porous sponge coated in an oil-attracting, water-repelling nanocomposite that absorbs over 30 times its own weight in oil and can be squeezed out and reused dozens of times.
A few of the larger, well-established reforestation efforts operating around the world right now — each one lets individuals get involved directly.
A nonprofit that plants trees across dozens of countries, funded largely through simple per-tree donations from individuals and companies.
Trees for the FutureWorks directly with farming communities to rebuild degraded land through agroforestry, training, and long-term land planning.
World Economic ForumA global coalition tracking pledges from governments, companies, and organizations toward growing and restoring a trillion trees by 2030.
Practical starting points for setting up a rain barrel or full catchment system — no special property or climate required.
Covers the basic setup — gutters, storage tanks, and rain barrels — plus what harvested rainwater is and isn't safe to use for.
Texas A&M AgriLifeA university extension guide on building a simple home rain barrel system, sizing it correctly, and avoiding common mistakes like mosquito buildup.
From installing a charger at your own house to picking your first electric vehicle — current, practical guides.
Breaks down what a licensed electrician actually does during installation, what drives the price up or down, and what to ask before hiring one.
CheapEVChargerExplains the difference between charger levels and connector types in plain terms, so you know what to actually buy.
RechargedA step-by-step walkthrough for first-time EV shoppers — how to think about range, charging access, and new versus used.