Are cloth napkins better?
It seems like a no-brainer. Substitute reusable cloth napkins for paper ones, and you’ll save a tree. Use cloth instead of paper towels and handkerchiefs instead of tissues, and you’ll save a lot of trees. [Read more…] about Are cloth napkins better?
The ocean is turning into a giant ashtray
While we’ve made great strides in reducing roadside trash – largely through imposing and enforcing fines – when it comes to cigarette butts, we’re still litterbugs. [Read more…] about The ocean is turning into a giant ashtray
Are organic foods the solution?
Organic foods are certainly catching on in the United States—with sales topping $25 billion last year. Organic foods are grown without synthetic inputs—industrial fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides. And they certainly don’t include genetically-modified crop species. [Read more…] about Are organic foods the solution?
Outsourcing our CO2 emissions
Last month, the administration’s Energy Information Agency reported that carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels in the United States have fallen by almost 9 percent since 2005. [Read more…] about Outsourcing our CO2 emissions
Is geo-engineering the solution to global warming?
When a major volcano erupts, it can inject sulfurous gases into the upper atmosphere—the stratosphere—about 5 miles above the Earth’s surface. These gases form tiny particles, known as aerosols, that reflect sunlight. For the couple of years that they spend in the stratosphere, before they mix down and are deposited on Earth’s surface, these sulfate aerosols cool our planet. [Read more…] about Is geo-engineering the solution to global warming?
Drought and tornados
According to the United States Drought Monitor, two-thirds of the nation is covered by a drought that stretches from coast to coast. Federal officials recently designated 23 Wisconsin counties as natural disaster areas. The drought is so bad that some people are even painting their lawns green, which raises a whole separate set of environmental questions. [Read more…] about Drought and tornados
Droughts and your grocery bill
In July, some 64% of the U.S. was experiencing intense drought. According to Weather Underground meteorologist Jeff Masters the extent of the drought is second only to the great Dust Bowl of 1934. And, as you might have guessed, our crops are suffering. [Read more…] about Droughts and your grocery bill
Are bats on the rebound?
Little brown bats used to be one of the most common bats in North America. They could be found hibernating together during the winter months, clinging to the roofs of mines, caves, and caverns. [Read more…] about Are bats on the rebound?
Drought relates to India's power outage
On the last day of July, nearly 10% of the world’s population was left in the dark when three of India’s electric power grids failed. Some six hundred million people were impacted by the most extensive blackout in history. Miners were trapped underground, passengers were stranded on trains, and water supplies were interrupted.
Turning the tide on ocean acidification
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Many of our modern habits result in emitting excess carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Transportation, utilities, and manufacturing all rely heavily on fossil fuels, such as oil, coal, and natural gas. [Read more…] about Turning the tide on ocean acidification
Cooling the air; speeding up global warming
Since their popularization in the 1950s, air conditioners have revolutionized American life. A tool that lets us control the climate – they make oppressive, humid conditions more tolerable. In their absence, it is unlikely places like Arizona and Florida would support such large populations. [Read more…] about Cooling the air; speeding up global warming
Bagging plastic grocery bags
Los Angeles, California recently became the largest U.S. city to ban single-use plastic grocery bags. Other cities that have embraced bag bans include Austin, Texas and Portland, Oregon. [Read more…] about Bagging plastic grocery bags
Are Fish Made of Maple Leaves?
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Most of us learned about the aquatic food web in high school. Using a sealed aquarium, teachers explained that plants form the base of the web, with the organic carbon they create supporting aquatic life—from invertebrates to sport fish. [Read more…] about Are Fish Made of Maple Leaves?
Rethinking nuclear power…
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According to the World Nuclear Association, there are more than 430 nuclear power reactors globally, providing roughly 14% of the world’s electricity. [Read more…] about Rethinking nuclear power…
Science, art, and music—all in the same room
The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is a scientific research and education organization. Sixteen Ph.D. scientists explore pressing environmental problems including acid rain, forest health, the ecology of Lyme disease, and pharmaceuticals in our waterways. Postdoctoral associates and summer undergraduate researchers round out a robust scientific staff. [Read more…] about Science, art, and music—all in the same room
We all know about rain forests. Now we are learning about fog forests
There’s a desert in north-central Chile that receives less than six inches of rain a year. Right in the middle of it is a lush mountain forest that is dense with trees, bromeliads, ferns, and mosses. [Read more…] about We all know about rain forests. Now we are learning about fog forests
Smoke and mirrors
We’re surrounded by flame retardants. They are in our couches and cars, our televisions and laptops, in industrial electronics and children’s pajamas. [Read more…] about Smoke and mirrors
Can chemical exposure make you fat?
Bisphenol-A – commonly called BPA – is used to make polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. These products have a variety of uses, from lining canned foods to making the plastics preferred for food containers and baby bottles. [Read more…] about Can chemical exposure make you fat?
We are all a little bit of stardust
