Archives for February 2014
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-28-14-Packaging-with-Mushrooms.mp3|titles=EW 02-28-14 Packaging with Mushrooms]
Outsourced pollution
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-27-14-Outsourcing-Pollution.mp3|titles=EW 02-27-14 Outsourcing Pollution]
China has the unfortunate reputation of having some of the dirtiest air in the world. Much of the pollution results from the enormous amount of manufacturing that goes on there, often earmarked for countries around the world that have essentially outsourced their own pollution to China. [Read more…] about Outsourced pollution
Batteries from rhubarb and sugar
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-26-14-Batteries-from-Rhubarb-and-Sugar.mp3|titles=EW 02-26-14 Batteries from Rhubarb and Sugar]
Storing energy produced by wind turbines and solar panels is a necessity if these on-again-off-again energy sources are to supply a majority of our electricity needs. But storage technology must be affordable and efficient. [Read more…] about Batteries from rhubarb and sugar
Let’s capture the carbon
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-25-14-CCS.mp3|titles=EW 02-25-14 CCS]
Carbon dioxide emissions – largely due to fossil fuel combustion – are at the crux of the global warming problem. Because some carbon dioxide emissions are fairly localized, they are potentially easy to control. [Read more…] about Let’s capture the carbon
Growing insects on the farm
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-24-14-Growing-Insects-on-the-Farm.mp3|titles=EW 02-24-14 Growing Insects on the Farm]
The precipitous decline in pollinating insects – particularly bees – has become an issue of great concern around the world. Insects pollinate 75% of the crops that we rely on for food worldwide, and bee populations have declined by as much as 96% over the past century. [Read more…] about Growing insects on the farm
Rare earth metals and green technologies
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-21-14-Rare-Earths-and-Green-Technologies.mp3|titles=EW 02-21-14 Rare Earths and Green Technologies]
A growing number of important green technologies depend on rare earth metals and other scarce elements. Everything from the batteries in electric cars to solar panels to advanced wind turbines rely on exotic metals that come from only a few places around the world. Some valuable technologies are not being exploited to their fullest extent due to the scarcity of raw materials. [Read more…] about Rare earth metals and green technologies
Toxic insecticides
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-20-14-Toxic-Insecticides.mp3|titles=EW 02-20-14 Toxic Insecticides]
The European Food Safety Authority has recommended lowering acceptable human exposure levels to two insecticides — acetamiprid and imidacloprid – due to concerns over their effect on developing human nervous systems. Both are part of a class of insecticides called neonicotinoids, which have come under scrutiny before for their effect on bees. [Read more…] about Toxic insecticides
Geothermal energy on the rise
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-19-14-Geothermal-Energy.mp3|titles=EW 02-19-14 Geothermal Energy]
Geothermal energy is experiencing a period of global expansion, with more new power plants ready to go on line over the next three to four years than in any previous decade. U.S. companies are doing much of that work. [Read more…] about Geothermal energy on the rise
Salty streams and rivers
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-18-14-Salty-Streams-and-Rivers.mp3|titles=EW 02-18-14 Salty Streams and Rivers]
By the looks of it, we’re in for quite a winter this year. Here in the Northeast, we’ve seen several heavy snowfalls, freezing temperatures, and icy roads. [Read more…] about Salty streams and rivers
Bad news for butterflies
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-17-14-Bad-News-for-Butterflies.mp3|titles=EW 02-17-14 Bad News for Butterflies]
The familiar orange monarch butterfly is famous for its southward fall migration. It flies from the United States and southern Canada to its wintering grounds in Mexico and coastal California, only to return northward in the spring. This journey takes three to four butterfly generations to complete. At one time, a billion or more monarchs took part in the 2,500-mile journey. [Read more…] about Bad news for butterflies
The answer is blowing in the wind
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/EW-02-14-14-Air-Pollution.mp3|titles=EW 02-14-14 Air Pollution]
For some time now, scientists and medical experts have been investigating whether air pollution compromises human health, particularly cardiovascular function and respiration. And recent studies are strengthening the evidence that polluted air is bad for our health. [Read more…] about The answer is blowing in the wind
Urban biodiversity
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/EW-02-13-14-Urban-Biodiversity.mp3|titles=EW 02-13-14 Urban Biodiversity]
The portion of our planet described as urban is growing rapidly. In fact, it is predicted to triple between 2000 and 2030. People are trying to come to terms with this changing landscape, particularly with respect to the corresponding loss of wildlife. [Read more…] about Urban biodiversity
Our growing ranks
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/EW-02-12-14-Immigration-.mp3|titles=EW 02-12-14 Immigration]
Land in the United States is increasingly dominated by people and their settlements. This is due to population growth and greater levels of wealth. Many citizens who can afford it prefer to live outside of dense urban areas. And suburbs require a large network of roads to support them. [Read more…] about Our growing ranks
There will be a landfill in your future
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-11-14-Waste.mp3|titles=EW 02-11-14 Waste]
Modern society generates an enormous amount of trash, and the volume of trash increases as people become more affluent. The average person in the U.S. throws away their body weight in trash each month. Urban residents throw out more stuff than rural residents of the same income. [Read more…] about There will be a landfill in your future
The solar market is booming
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/EW-02-10-14-Booming-US-Solar-Market.mp3|titles=EW 02-10-14 Booming US Solar Market]
Renewable energy is growing by leaps and bounds in the US and the growth in solar energy is particularly explosive. In 2013, the US installed more solar capacity than world-leader Germany for the first time in more than a decade. [Read more…] about The solar market is booming
Trees and indoor pollution
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/EW-02-07-14-Trees-and-Indoor-Pollution.mp3|titles=EW 02-07-14 Trees and Indoor Pollution]
Living on a tree-lined street is not just idyllic, but good for your health. New research from England has shown that the presence of street trees can mitigate indoor air pollution stemming from vehicle traffic. [Read more…] about Trees and indoor pollution
Heating with food waste
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/EW-02-06-14-Heating-with-Food-Waste.mp3|titles=EW 02-06-14 Heating with Food Waste]
A new program in New York City is making use of food waste to produce bio-gas for residential and commercial heating. More than 100 restaurants are participating in the program, which is a voluntary effort to reduce the amount of food waste headed to landfills. [Read more…] about Heating with food waste
LED light bulbs
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-05-14-LED-Lightbulbs.mp3|titles=EW 02-05-14 LED Lightbulbs]
Incandescent light bulbs are becoming rarer all the time. In some places around the world, they have been phased out completely. They are being replaced by newer lighting technologies, which use far less energy. [Read more…] about LED light bulbs
Horseshoe crabs & red knots
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/EW-02-04-14-Horseshoe-Crabs.mp3|titles=EW 02-04-14 Horseshoe Crabs]
For 475 million years, horseshoe crabs have inhabited the Earth. Currently, their largest numbers are on the Eastern Seaboard, particularly in the Delaware Bay off the coasts of Delaware and New Jersey, where horseshoe crabs lay their eggs each spring. [Read more…] about Horseshoe crabs & red knots
Early warning for climate disasters
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/EW-02-03-14-Early-Warning-for-Climate-Disasters1.mp3|titles=EW 02-03-14 Early Warning for Climate Disasters]