The La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles are the site of millions of fossils from the ice age. Woolly mammoths, giant sloths, dragonflies, and other plants and animals from this era have been found in these pits. Scientists at the tar pits discovered that many of the smaller animals they extracted from the pits still exist around Los Angeles today. But many of the larger mammals—such as woolly mammoths and saber-toothed tigers—are now extinct. Why do you think this is the case? What can scientists learn about Los Angeles’ climate history by studying the specimens found in these tar pits?

Recently, crops of vegetables such as lettuce and green onions have been contaminated, while they are still on the farm, with bacteria that cause food poisoning. how will science influence the way the government responds to prevent an increase in food-borne diseases? because science has shown that lettuce and green onions are not nutritionally valuable, the government may pass laws that ban the sale of lettuce and green onions. because science has shown that there is no way to prevent bacterial contamination, the government may pass laws that punish businesses that buy lettuce and green onions. because science has shown that the washing of hands prevent the spread of infectious diseases among people, the government may pass laws that require hand washing by everyone who handles food. because science has shown there are ways to find the source of the contamination, the government may pass laws that require farm practices that reduce the contamination of lettuce and green onions.