California
Two “doomsday fish” spotted on California beaches in less than three months
A rare deep-sea Pacific oarfish measuring 9.5 feet was recovered last week at Grandview Beach in Encinitas, California, marking only the 21st time since 1901 that this species has washed up on California shores. The discovery was made by PhD candidate Alison Laferriere from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The oarfish was found stretched out on the rocky shoreline and has since been moved to the Scripps Institution for further study and an autopsy.
The sighting was reported by New York Post, Asia Economy, among other outlets.
Oarfish are exceptionally rare creatures, typically inhabiting depths between 200 and 1,000 meters. They can grow to lengths of up to 30 feet, making them the longest bony fish in the world, yet they remain largely unstudied by scientists due to their deep-sea habitat and infrequent appearances near the coast. They are characterized by their long, scaleless, ribbon-like silvery bodies with dark spots and a long red dorsal fin crest extending from the top of their heads.
This recent wash-up offers scientists a unique opportunity to study this elusive species without needing to dive into the ocean. “We took samples and froze the specimen pending a more detailed study and its final preservation in the collection,” explained Ben Frable, Scripps Marine Vertebrate Collection Manager. He added, “Like with the previous oarfish, this specimen and the samples taken from it will be able to tell us much about the biology, anatomy, genomics and life history of oarfishes.” The oarfish will undergo a necropsy to determine its cause of death, providing invaluable data for researchers.
This incident comes just months after another oarfish measuring 12.25 feet was found by kayakers on August 10 near La Jolla Cove, California, only 20 miles south of Grandview Beach. The two discoveries within three months are particularly notable, as only 21 oarfish have been found on California beaches in over a century. Even oarfish bodies rarely float into shallow waters, making these recent events extremely unusual.
The proximity of these strandings has reignited discussions about the oarfish’s mythical reputation as a predictor of natural disasters. Oarfish have sparked myths and legends for centuries and are sometimes referred to as “doomsday fish.” There is a superstition that their appearance is a precursor to disasters like earthquakes, particularly fueled by the sighting of 20 oarfish washed ashore before the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake. Notably, two days after the oarfish was found in August, a magnitude 4.4 earthquake occurred in Los Angeles, California, raising concerns about this mythical association.
However, scientists emphasize that there is no confirmed correlation between Pacific oarfish and earthquakes. A 2019 study by researchers in Japan found no solid scientific evidence linking oarfish to earthquakes, leaving the doom they may or may not portend open to anyone’s guess. Experts have declared, “There is no confirmed correlation between Pacific oarfish and earthquakes,” and “There is no scientific basis, so we should not make hasty conjectures,” despite the longstanding myths surrounding their appearances.
According to researchers, the recent oarfish sightings are much less nefarious. Pacific oarfish are known to come close to the surface when they are sick, dying, or disoriented. Various factors could contribute to these strandings. “We do not know the clear reason for the death of the Pacific oarfish, but changes in the marine environment, population increase, El Niño, and La Niña are variables that may be at play,” explained Ben Frable. He suggested that the sightings could be related to changes in ocean conditions and an increase in the oarfish population in the region. “There was a weak El Niño earlier this year,” he stated.
The recent wash-up coincided with the red tide and Santa Ana winds last week, but many variables could lead to these strandings. The phenomenon of oarfish sightings has sparked researchers’ interest in the possible causes behind these occurrences, with broader shifts such as El Niño and La Niña patterns being considered.
For scientists at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, these rare specimens present an incredible opportunity to learn more about a species that is largely unstudied due to its deep-sea habitat. The oarfish’s unique biology, anatomy, genomics, and life history can provide insights into deep-sea ecosystems and how changes in ocean conditions might affect marine life.
The discoveries have also drawn attention to the species’ elusive nature and the mysteries that still surround the ocean’s depths. Oarfish typically inhabit the dark ocean depths, and their long, ribbon-like bodies and rare appearances have historically contributed to sea serpent legends.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq
Six of the top-polling candidates in California’s race for governor faced off at a debate in San Francisco Wednesday night.
This marked the first debate since former East Bay Congressman Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race for governor and resigned from his seat. Despite Swalwell’s exit as well as the departure of Betty Yee from the race, no clear Democratic frontrunner has emerged.
The debate was hosted by Nexstar/KRON in San Francisco.
The candidates at this debate included four Democrats: former Congresswoman Katie Porter, former California State Attorney General Xavier Beccera, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, and billionaire philanthropist Tom Steyer. The two Republicans at this debate included former Fox News commentator Steve Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco.
All candidates are trying to make an impression ahead of the June 2 primary. Ballots will be mailed out to California voters in early May.
Political analyst Larry Gerston examines the first California governor’s race debate since Eric Swalwell dropped out, hosted by Nexstar/KRON in San Francisco.
California
Federal appeals court blocks California law requiring federal agents to wear identification
LOS ANGELES — An appeals court has blocked a California law passed in 2025 requiring federal immigration agents to wear a badge or some form of identification.
The Trump administration filed a lawsuit in November challenging the law, arguing that it would threaten the safety of officers who are facing harassment, doxing, and violence and that it violated the constitution because the state is directly regulating the federal government.
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an injunction pending appeal Wednesday. It had already granted a temporary administrative injunction to block the implementation of the law.
At a hearing March 3, Justice Department lawyers argued that the California law sought to regulate the federal government, violating the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution.
The appeals court agreed unanimously, saying the law “attempts to directly regulate the United States in its performance of governmental functions,” in an opinion written by Judge Mark J. Bennett. The panel was composed of two Trump appointees, Bennett and Daniel P. Collins, and Obama appointee Jacqueline H. Nguyen.
California lawyers argued that the law applied equally to all law enforcement officers without discriminating against the U.S. government, and that states could apply “generally applicable” laws federal agents. They also argued that the law was important to address public safety concerns.
People are more likely to attack officers in self-defense if there’s no visible identification letting the public know they are law enforcement, California lawyers said in a brief opposing the injunction.
“This confusion has resulted in federal law enforcement officials being mistaken for criminals and vice versa, creating serious risk of harm to peace officers and members of the public,” they wrote.
The appeals court judges said they did not consider the public safety factors because the federal government has demonstrate its constitutional rights would be violated by the legislation, and “all citizens have a stake in upholding the Constitution,” it ruled, quoting previous case law.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli called it a “huge legal victory” in a post on X.
The California Attorney General’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The initial lawsuit also addressed another California measure signed into law last year that would have banned most law enforcement officers from wearing masks, neck gaiters, and other facial coverings. It was blocked by a federal judge in February.
The legislation did not apply to state law enforcement and made exceptions for undercover agents, protective equipment like N95 respirators or tactical gear, and other situations where not wearing a mask would jeopardize the operation.
California
California Islamic calligraphy artist preserves ancient tradition during Arab American Heritage Month
As Arab American Heritage Month is celebrated, one Northern California artist is keeping the centuries-old tradition of Islamic calligraphy alive, one carefully measured stroke at a time.
Sehar Shahzad is a student calligrapher. Before starting any project, Shahzad said “one of the first things that calligraphers learn is how to cut their pens.”
Her tools must be in pristine condition.
“Your instruments are just as important as anything else in this art,” she said.
Shahzad said that as a young girl growing up in Toronto, she took up Islamic calligraphy while reflecting on her religion.
“It’s not like I’d never seen it before, but it was my first time kind of trying it,” she said. “And there’s no other way to say it except that I just fell in love with it.”
Now married with three children, Islamic calligraphy is very much part of her life.
“I remember thinking that this isn’t something that I just want to learn for fun,” she said. “I really want to be able to master it.”
Shahzad said that every angle and curve follows strict geometric rules and is measured with dots.
“For example, this letter here was just a little bit too long, so we use these nuqtas to help us guide and understand how long that letter should be,” she said.
Like the Arabic language, Islamic calligraphy is read from right to left. Its bold simplicity requires precision and a deep understanding of proportion.
“When you’re creating a composition, it’s not only about the letter itself,” Shahzad said. “It’s about composition as a whole and making sure that everything balances together.”
Even though she’s still mastering her form, Shahzad’s work is featured in the prayer room of a Muslim cemetery in Napa and in the domes of mosques in San Jose, Hayward, and San Francisco.
Still, she considers her work on paper the most special.
“A form of meditation, a form of worship, requires focus, requires discipline, really brings me to a different space,” Shahzad said. “And I think that’s what I love most.”
Proving that in this fast-paced world, this millennia-long tradition is far from disappearing.
Shahzad’s work will be featured at the upcoming Light Upon Light art exhibit at the Tarbiya Institute in Roseville from April 24-26.
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