Earth Focus Shorts Season 1 Episode release dates & where to watch

1. How Abalone Genes Could Help Marine Life Survive Our Changing Oceans

A captive breeding lab at the University of California, Davis, is growing thousands of abalone. Researchers are looking at their genetics to understand why some are more resilient to ocean acidification. If researchers understand what makes some abalone more reslient, they can not only help the endangered species survive, but help other marine life survive into the future as well.

2. What Joshua Tree's Social Media Presence Means for Tourism

The documentary explains that while the high desert has always attracted artists and dreamers, social media acts as an information accelerator. Because Joshua Tree National Park sits so close to major cities like Los Angeles, viral posts can cause visitor numbers to spike almost overnight. In fact, park visitation tripled in just five years, pushing park staff into a constant state of playing catch-up.

3. Weathering the L.A. River Unsheltered

Extreme heat and flood events pose a growing threat for people experiencing homelessness on the L.A. River. The impact of climate change is complex, but community members are finding a way forward with emergency response skills, inclusive modeling to reimagine the channel, and volunteer programs serving the day-to-day needs of unhoused people, especially during climate change disasters.