Archives for April 2014
Power from the moon
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/EW-04-29-14-Lunar-Power.mp3|titles=EW 04-29-14 Lunar Power]
Almost all our energy ultimately derives from the Sun. There is of course solar power, but even hydroelectric, wind, and wave power are actually driven by the Sun’s energy. Fossil fuels originate from prehistoric plant matter created by photosynthesis. The only major non-solar sources are nuclear power and geothermal energy, which itself results from nuclear reactions in the Earth’s interior. [Read more…] about Power from the moon
Climate change and Coca-Cola
Most corporations are primarily concerned with their bottom line. Even companies with good values must protect their interests and their profits. So at first, many corporations were less concerned with climate change than with keeping their costs down. [Read more…] about Climate change and Coca-Cola
How we fill the breadbasket
Everything we eat can be traced back to the Sun. Sunlight powers plant photosynthesis, which yields the grains that we eat in bread, cereal, and rice. Plants feed the animals that provide us with beef, pork, and poultry. And the fishes of the sea feed on tiny phytoplankton that photosynthesize in the upper layers of the ocean’s waters. [Read more…] about How we fill the breadbasket
Utility-scale solar power
Utility-scale solar power projects now provide nearly 5,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States. Another 27,000 megawatts is under development. This is enough to power more than 5 million homes. [Read more…] about Utility-scale solar power
One word: Plastics
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/EW-04-23-14-Danube-Plastics.mp3|titles=EW 04-23-14 Danube Plastics]
Plastics, Mr. Robinson advises the young Ben Braddock, played by Dustin Hoffman, in the Graduate more than 40 years ago. And, he was right: the production of plastics increased from 1.7 to 280 million tons per year during the past 60 years. Plastics are found in nearly all products we buy, either as central components or in the packaging that contains them. [Read more…] about One word: Plastics
Scarce water
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/EW-04-22-14-Scarce-Water.mp3|titles=EW 04-22-14 Scarce Water]
Water poverty – the lack of access to clean, fresh water – is a much-discussed problem in the developing world. However, problems with water scarcity are in no way limited to third-world countries. [Read more…] about Scarce water
Volcano power
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/EW-04-21-14-Volcano-Power.mp3|titles=EW 04-21-14 Volcano Power]
For decades, geothermal wells have been used to power turbines to generate electricity. These wells utilize heat from the earth’s core by tapping into underground sources of hot water. Recently, scientists have made progress drilling directly into volcanoes and using molten rock – or magma – as a much more potent energy source. [Read more…] about Volcano power
Progress in ocean energy
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/EW-04-18-14-Progress-in-Ocean-Energy.mp3|titles=EW 04-18-14 Progress in Ocean Energy]
For over a decade, the annual Ocean Energy International conference has followed the steady but creeping progress of technologies to extract energy from the world’s oceans. This year’s meeting in Providence, Rhode Island featured multiple announcements of major new projects. The pace of commercialization of ocean energy is definitely quickening. [Read more…] about Progress in ocean energy
Plastic from shrimp
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/EW-04-17-14-Plastic-from-Shrimp.mp3|titles=EW 04-17-14 Plastic from Shrimp]
Petroleum is not just used in fuels— it is an integral part of a broad range of products that we use every day. Common plastics are a prime example. So, in order to get away from our dependence on oil, we need alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. [Read more…] about Plastic from shrimp
Progress in artificial photosynthesis
Artificial photosynthesis, the technology of converting sunlight into liquid fuels, would be the greenest of green technology if it can be done economically and on a large scale. Plants store energy derived from the sun in the form of chemical bonds created by photosynthesis. We would like to do the same thing in the laboratory. [Read more…] about Progress in artificial photosynthesis
Is the Atlantic a re-circulating bathtub?
From the shore, we are likely to overlook the real dynamics of the Atlantic Ocean. Surface and deep ocean currents stir its waters in a global circulation that each year carries more water than all the rivers of the world combined. [Read more…] about Is the Atlantic a re-circulating bathtub?
Oil-palm in Africa
Palm oil is in demand. It’s found in nearly half of the processed foods in our supermarkets, from ice cream and cookies to canned soup and baby formula. But plans to cultivate the oil palm tree in its native Africa are raising concern about deforestation and the protection of primates. [Read more…] about Oil-palm in Africa
California's water
We’ve all seen the news reports of this winter’s devastating drought in California. Last year was the state’s driest in more than a century, resulting in a water shortage with dire consequences, especially for farmers. Even recent rain and snow storms have made only a minuscule improvement in the severe water deficit. [Read more…] about California's water
Local wildlife protection
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/EW-04-10-14-Communities-Protecting-Wildlife.mp3|titles=EW 04-10-14 Communities Protecting Wildlife]
As of 2012, national governments have designated over 177,000 protected areas around the world for the long-term conservation of nature. These areas cover an amazing 12.7% of the earth’s land surface. In fact, over the past 20 years or so, such protected acreage has increased by 48%. [Read more…] about Local wildlife protection
Salt-water fish save water
An estimated 80% of the water used in the U.S. supports crop and livestock production. Resource managers are increasingly concerned about the excessive amount of water required to satisfy our nation’s appetite for beef. Using conservative estimates, it takes 441 gallons of water to produce one pound of conventionally raised beef. [Read more…] about Salt-water fish save water
U.S. business goes solar
America’s largest companies are embracing solar technology in a big way. As of the middle of 2013, there were nearly 33,000 commercial buildings in the US deploying solar technology totaling more than 3 gigawatts of generating capacity. This represents an amazing 40% increase over last year. [Read more…] about U.S. business goes solar
Evolutionary traps