Time to green ‘urban street canyons’
Urban living can be green. City dwellers typically have smaller living spaces and rely more on walking and public transportation. They are also apt to have less lawn to mow and shorter commutes. But one thing that remains in short supply in urban centers: fresh air. [Read more…] about Time to green ‘urban street canyons’
Good food on a tight budget
By now, most of us know the drill. Eat more fruits and vegetables, less meats and processed foods. Whenever possible, go organic. And, in the words of Michael Pollan, “don’t eat anything your grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food.” [Read more…] about Good food on a tight budget
Let’s have a carbon tax
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As the fall’s elections plays out, we are unlikely to hear much about raising taxes. But, for the moment, let me use the bad word—taxes—to catch your attention. [Read more…] about Let’s have a carbon tax
Getting clean just got a little safer
For some time now, scientists have warned about the harmful effects of ingredients used in personal care products. In our quest to get clean, many of us overlook the fact that shampoos and lotions can contain a suite of potential carcinogens. These toxins are harmful to us, and they pollute the environment when they are washed down our drains. [Read more…] about Getting clean just got a little safer
Oxygen in our atmosphere: what is the source?
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We often hear the phrase “Have you thanked a green plant today?” That’s because plants provide nearly all of our food, fuel, and fiber. And during photosynthesis, plants give off oxygen to the atmosphere. Sometimes, we hear that the Amazon rainforests are the lungs of the Earth—taking up carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen to our atmosphere. [Read more…] about Oxygen in our atmosphere: what is the source?
From military weapons to environmental monitoring tools
For most of us, unmanned aerial vehicles … commonly called “drones” … are associated with the military. These pilot-less aircraft, which can be controlled remotely, are used for stealth reconnaissance and attacks when manned flight is too dangerous. [Read more…] about From military weapons to environmental monitoring tools
The importance of the rare earth elements
Remember the periodic table from high-school chemistry? The elements of life—like carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen—are near the top. Then, along the bottom, is a row of elements the teacher never talked about. These are the rare earth elements—17 of them make up <0.02% of the Earth’s crust. They have names like lanthanum, neodymium, europium, and yttrium. And, until recently, they seemed like bit players. [Read more…] about The importance of the rare earth elements
Toxins escalate West Nile virus warfare
This summer, right after the 10th person died from West Nile virus in Dallas, the city decided to begin large-area spraying for mosquitoes using the relatively benign pesticide known as Duet. [Read more…] about Toxins escalate West Nile virus warfare
Does Glacier National Park need a new name?
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Located in Montana, Glacier National Park owes its rugged topography to the carving action of massive sheets of ice. Its mountain ranges bear evidence of glaciers from the last ice age – with U-shaped valleys, knife-like ridges, and lake-impounding moraines. [Read more…] about Does Glacier National Park need a new name?
The benefits of organic farming
Cultivation turns over and loosens the soil, stimulating the microbes that decompose organic materials, and releasing nutrients. In fact, cultivation of soils in the Great Plains is thought to be responsible for the loss of about 1/3 of their organic matter, contributing to the rise in carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. [Read more…] about The benefits of organic farming
Cleaning up coal
Coal has been under a lot of fire lately. Environmentalists blame its CO2 emissions for exacerbating climate change. When burned, coal emits mercury into the atmosphere, where it later contaminates lakes and lake fishes. Coal is also a source of noxious air pollutants, like ozone and nitric oxide, which exacerbate asthma and emphysema. [Read more…] about Cleaning up coal
The trash-to-gas concept
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the United States consumes over 367 million gallons of gasoline each day—the majority of which is derived from imported oil. [Read more…] about The trash-to-gas concept
The fight against invasive species
Invasive species – plants, animals, and microbes introduced to regions beyond their native range – carry a global price tag of $1.4 trillion dollars. They are responsible for the loss of natural resources and biodiversity, damages to infrastructure, and an uptick in infectious disease. [Read more…] about The fight against invasive species
Australia’s climate change report card
Recently, a team of more than 80 marine scientists issued a climate change report card on the status of the marine ecosystems surrounding Australia. The effort, which details pressures faced by marine life, was funded by the Australian government and undertaken to inform decision making. The insights are sobering. [Read more…] about Australia’s climate change report card
Embedded energy – the energy we don’t see
Today, I want to talk about embedded energy, which is hidden in each product that we purchase. Consider a simple hamburger. Its embedded energy includes the energy needed to produce the cattle that made the burger—including the fertilizer that grew its feed and the irrigation system that kept the cow well-watered. It also includes the energy needed to cook both the burger and its bun. [Read more…] about Embedded energy – the energy we don’t see
The decline of ocean fisheries
Nowhere is the decline of fisheries more obvious than in Downeast Maine and the maritime provinces of Canada. Abandoned canneries are a reminder of better days gone by. Commercial harvests of cod, herring, and sardines are a distant memory, and fishermen resort to dragging the ocean bottom for scallops, and harvesting shoreline seaweeds. [Read more…] about The decline of ocean fisheries
Bumps in the Alaska Highway
In 1942 the Alaska Highway was built as an Army Supply route, with the goal of connecting the 49th state with the contiguous U.S. It was an epic task that involved carving through mountainous arctic forest. Following World War II the 1,500 mile road – which traverses British Columbia, the Yukon, and Alberta – was noted for its ruggedness. [Read more…] about Bumps in the Alaska Highway
New York's drinking water and the Catskill watershed
A two-thousand-square-mile group of watersheds north of New York City provides 8 million city residents with clean, delicious drinking water. Although this water is treated with chlorine, most of it is unfiltered. [Read more…] about New York's drinking water and the Catskill watershed
Greening the Olympic games
