Saving species isn’t cheap, but it's sure worth it
Most everyone wants to prevent the extinction of species—at least until it impacts local livelihoods and paychecks. But, what would it cost taxpayers if we were to buy enough land to ensure the survival of all of the species on the planet? [Read more…] about Saving species isn’t cheap, but it's sure worth it
It’s radiant in Virginia
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Most of us who worry about the safety of nuclear power plants think immediately of the reactors. The last thing we want is a Fukushima-style meltdown that results in many square miles of uninhabitable land. Imagine whole neighborhoods, schools, and shopping districts left as abandoned ghost towns. [Read more…] about It’s radiant in Virginia
Penguins on thin ice
Anyone who’s watched the documentary “March of the Penguins” knows that emperor penguins have evolved to live and breed under remarkably harsh conditions. [Read more…] about Penguins on thin ice
A tale of factory farms, fertilizer, and fish
A new study released in the journal Environmental Science and Technology is the second to highlight that manure used to fertilize farm fields may reduce the health of fish living in adjacent streams. [Read more…] about A tale of factory farms, fertilizer, and fish
A world without insects?
The revered biologist E.O. Wilson said, “If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.” [Read more…] about A world without insects?
How fast will the waters rise?
Everyone agrees that if the ice-caps on Greenland and Antarctica melt, the seas will rise. What is difficult is to estimate how fast this may happen, with the ongoing rise in global temperature. Recent measurements of sea-level rise hover about 3.5 mm/year—or about a foot and a half by the end of the century. The highest estimates puts the rate of rise at about twice that fast. [Read more…] about How fast will the waters rise?
Urban green spaces are losing ground
A new study has revealed a concerning trend in many U.S. cities: urban tree cover is in decline, and hardened surfaces are on the rise. [Read more…] about Urban green spaces are losing ground
Tough times for the Arctic
Arctic permafrost is warming, the Greenland Ice Sheet is melting, and the Arctic fox is facing extinction. So reports the 2012 Arctic Report Card—recently unveiled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. [Read more…] about Tough times for the Arctic
Turning algae into fuel
It took geology hundreds of millions of years to create the fossil fuels that power modern society. Can humble algae compress this process into months and make it carbon neutral? [Read more…] about Turning algae into fuel
How dams can cause fish declines
The Glen Canyon Dam was the last big dam built in the United States. Spanning the Colorado River above the Grand Canyon, it provides hydropower for the region and regulates the flow of water. Until the dam was built, the river would experience spring floods during snowmelt followed by low flow in the summer, especially during drought years. Now water below the dam flows at about the same rate year-round. [Read more…] about How dams can cause fish declines
Nesting in an ashtray?
Picture an urban environment. Now think about animals that capitalize off of resources discarded by humans. Most of us will conjure up an image of a rat foraging in a dumpster or a pigeon making off with some lunch scraps. But what about songbirds? [Read more…] about Nesting in an ashtray?
Kicking the can down the road
Fifteen years ago, the first international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions was adopted. The Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change recognized the threat elevated greenhouse gases posed. And it presented a framework for stabilizing emissions. [Read more…] about Kicking the can down the road
Making sense out of flame retardants
Flame retardants are making news again. Many of these chemicals, used to inhibit or resist the spread of fire, have been found to be toxic. Studies have linked flame retardants to cancers, altered hormones, and neurological problems. Children are especially vulnerable. [Read more…] about Making sense out of flame retardants
Underestimating climate risks
Climate scientists are often portrayed as alarmists by deniers, with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or the IPCC, derided by naysayers. But a new review in the journal Global Environmental Change highlights a reality that most scientists already know: over the past 20 years the IPCC has underestimated climate change impacts. [Read more…] about Underestimating climate risks
Why should we care about one endangered fish?
The humpback chub is a rather homely fish that lives only in the Colorado River. It is federally listed as protected under the Endangered Species Act. [Read more…] about Why should we care about one endangered fish?
The effects of hurricanes on lakes
The East Coast has experienced an impressive number of hurricanes in the past few years, with Hurricane Sandy inflicting more than $50 billion in damages in the New York/New Jersey area. Many residents are still recovering from disruptions to their homes, and from the flooding of tunnels and subways. [Read more…] about The effects of hurricanes on lakes
Thawing permafrost. What does that mean?
Permafrost is defined as soil, sediment, or rock – including ice and organic material – that’s remained frozen for at least two straight years. Permafrost covers a large area of land in the Northern Hemisphere. The problem? It’s thawing. [Read more…] about Thawing permafrost. What does that mean?
Biochar: Can it save our climate?
Chances are good that you’ve never heard of biochar, though you may know of it by its common name: charcoal. Burying partially burned wood may enhance the storage of carbon in soils, helping to mitigate climate change. [Read more…] about Biochar: Can it save our climate?
The KeyStone XL pipeline
