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It will most likely be weeks before the County Fire west of Sacramento is completely extinguished. By Friday it had consumed nearly 140 square miles -- an area larger than Las Vegas.

Firefighters say it was a vicious cycle of weather conditions, terrain and vegetation that made it one of the fastest-growing fires in recent memory. But there was something else at work: a relatively new challenge confronting fire crews.

Scientists have noted that nighttime temperatures -- overnight lows, in particular -- are rising at a faster rate than daytime highs.

Wolves, bears and mountain lions (oh my!) are some of the animals settling into a major new expansion of the Oakland Zoo. The zoo says its “California Trail” project is pushing the envelope for animal welfare and conservation. But whether zoos should even keep large predators remains controversial because of their need to roam and hunt. Reporter Sarah Craig takes us to meet the new arrivals.

The season of summer blockbusters is in full swing. From the rollicking space adventure of "Solo," to the universe-spanning "Avengers: Infinity War," characters are dodging blasters, collecting stones of power, and falling in love as their world hangs in peril.

It's a lot of popcorn, and whole lot of fun. It's also a chance to lose yourself in new imaginary worlds. Sometimes what you see on screen can become inspiration for real life.

"The number of present-day scientists who might point to a character like Spock as a point of inspiration that got them interested in science is many," says Rick Loverd, program director of the Science & Entertainment Exchange, a project of the National Academy of Sciences.

"It's our job here at the Exchange to try to facilitate as many of those moments as possible for the next generation of kids."

The service is free and works best, Loverd says, when a researcher connects with a storyteller early on, while the project is still being envisioned.

"While we're happy to help at anytime," Loverd says, "we're most excited by those projects where a screenwriter calls us up and says, 'Hey, I just had an idea. It involves time travel and I'd love to talk to a scientist.'"

Loverd helped "Black Panther" movie makers conceive the city of Wakanda, for example, finding architects, city planners and anthropologists to contribute to a document the crew used as a reference for the history, culture and layout of Wakanda.

Lovered recently spoke with KQED Science editor Danielle Venton about what science can offer to Hollywood.

Deciding how to vote on Prop. 68? Here's everything you need to know.

UPDATE: Voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 72 by a roughly 83-17 margin, in a move to promote water conservation in the state.

What You Need to Know About Proposition 72

• Exempts rainwater catchment systems from property tax assessments

• Applies to systems constructed on or after Jan. 1, 2019

• The rainwater system is included in the value of the home when it is sold.

How did It Get on the Ballot?

State lawmakers put Proposition 72 on the ballot with a unanimous vote in both houses.

Why Do People Support It?

Rainwater systems catch rain from the roof of a home and siphon it to a large barrel, or even larger cistern, for outdoor use. Prop 72 aims to encourage rainwater catchment by ensuring that homeowners who install a system won't have to pay property tax on the increased value of the home. Using rainwater for landscaping will preserve drinking water, lower utility bills and retain more water in streams and rivers, thereby aiding fish and wildlife.

Prominent state newspapers have endorsed it. So have environmental groups like Save the Bay and Trout Unlimited.

Why Do People Oppose It?

Actually, there's no organized opposition to Proposition 72, and no opposition statement listed in the California Secretary of State voter guide.

Who Gains -- Who Loses?

Homeowners gain an incentive to install rainwater catchment systems, because they won't have to pay property tax on the home improvement. The savings for homeowners can be varied. An inexpensive system might mean only a few dollars saved in property taxes. But there are also bigger, more expensive systems that can cost thousands to install and would otherwise raise property taxes a noticeable amount. The value of the catchment system would be included in the value of the home when it is sold.

Local governments may bring in slightly lower property tax revenues.

*Michael Mann, creator of 'hockey stick' curve for greenhouse gases, says we now have to double sea rise projections.

*Sees California as 'shining beacon' for how to take action

*Despite harassment, says 'You don't back off from a worthy battle when the stakes are important.'

Even as negotiators wind up another round of climate talks in Germany this week, there is little evidence that leaders are reining in global greenhouse gas emissions enough to avoid warming Earth by more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) — that's the threshold at which scientists say we can avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

In fact, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere averaged more than 410 parts per million in April, for the first time since scientists have been tracking it. KQED Science Editor Craig Miller sat down recently with Michael Mann, who directs the Earth System Science Center at Penn State University, to assess where things stand.

Young adults with autism often struggle to find jobs, let alone meaningful careers. But a new Bay Area program is pioneering ways to turn what some employers might view as disabilities into strengths. KQED’s Peter Arcuni tells us how that’s playing out in the field of scientific research.

One day we may tell our kids or grandkids about the first time we ever saw a car drive down the street without a human behind the wheel. Today in California, we are a little closer to that milestone. Now, the DMV can issue permits to test driverless cars on public roads. Unlike previous testing, the new permits will not require cars to have a person behind the wheel.

What did Exxon executives know about climate change and when did they know it? A federal judge in San Francisco hears cities and the oil industry on climate science Wednesday.

What will Point Reyes National Seashore look like in 20 years -- here's a primer on the management fight over the future of the beloved national park.