Economy and Policy
Ecotourism as an engine of environmental protection
One of the best places for birdwatching in Africa is the village of Bonko in Ghana. A huge number of bird species nest in a nearby government-owned forest, including the rare white-necked rock-fowl. [Read more…] about Ecotourism as an engine of environmental protection
Carbon-free shipping
There is lots of interest these days in buying local. There is of course the desire to bolster local economies and support the businesses of the people who live in our community. But there is also an energy conservation issue because importing products over vast distances uses large amounts of energy and adds to greenhouse emissions. [Read more…] about Carbon-free shipping
Eating natural food
More and more of us are interested in eating healthier foods and “natural” food is especially popular. Food companies have eagerly embraced this concept in their labeling. All sorts of food products are labeled “natural” or even “all-natural.” [Read more…] about Eating natural food
A tree deformity that’s in demand
To most people, a tree burl wouldn’t look like anything special – in fact, these rounded growths found on tree trunks and branches are actually minor deformities. [Read more…] about A tree deformity that’s in demand
Let’s talk about ammonia
Most of us are familiar with ammonia as an irritating gas that is emitted from window-cleaning fluids. It is a great way to cut through grease that has condensed on glass. [Read more…] about Let’s talk about ammonia
Giving women equal footing in science
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/EW-11-20-13-Women-in-Science.mp3|titles=EW 11-20-13 Women in Science]
A recent pair of articles in The New York Times and Scientific American looked at the under-representation of women in science, technology, engineering, and math. Why, at a time when women are alleged to have equal opportunities, are their numbers so limited? [Read more…] about Giving women equal footing in science
Fracking waters contaminate river sediments
Wastewater is produced during oil and gas production, from both conventional and non-conventional wells, including fracking. In the exploitation of the Marcellus shale formation for natural gas, some of the flowback water is derived from the fracking fluids used to release the gas at depth. Some is derived from the shale itself. [Read more…] about Fracking waters contaminate river sediments
Composting: Recycling's final frontier
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the US produced 250 million tons of municipal solid waste in 2011 and more than half of it was compostable materials such as yard trimmings, paper and cardboard, and food waste. [Read more…] about Composting: Recycling's final frontier
The road to better batteries
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/EW-10-28-13-Better-Batteries.mp3|titles=EW 10-28-13 Better Batteries]
Electric cars are becoming more popular all the time, but are still a very small niche in the overall vehicle market because they cost too much and they don’t drive far on a single charge. [Read more…] about The road to better batteries
Turning climate change concern into action
A recent survey shows half of Americans consider environmental impacts when making a purchase. However, far fewer are actively engaged in the fight against climate change. [Read more…] about Turning climate change concern into action
Science in Massachusetts
We’ve heard time and again that American students lag behind in the sciences, especially compared to students in many Asian countries. [Read more…] about Science in Massachusetts
New York's electric truck incentive program
The transportation sector is responsible for three-fourths of U.S. petroleum consumption, and 40 percent of New York State’s greenhouse gas emissions. In 2010, the Obama administration announced the first fuel economy standards for heavy vehicles. New York State’s Governor Cuomo is taking fuel savings for trucks even further. [Read more…] about New York's electric truck incentive program
A debate over trash
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/EW-10-11-13-Debate-Over-Trash.mp3|titles=EW 10-11-13 Debate Over Trash]
There is no shortage of trash in the world. Figuring out what to do with it is a challenge that grows larger all the time. [Read more…] about A debate over trash
Green power for the U.S. military
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/EW-10-09-13-Green-Military.mp3|titles=EW 10-09-13 Green Military]
Due to a combination of economics and national security, the U.S. military has become one of the biggest investors in green energy over the past five years. [Read more…] about Green power for the U.S. military
Hydrogen fueled cars
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/EW-10-07-13-Hydrogen-Fueled-Cars.mp3|titles=EW 10-07-13 Hydrogen Fueled Cars]
We are starting see some real momentum in the adoption of electric cars. There are more models to choose from, and public charging stations are starting to show up in our neighborhoods. [Read more…] about Hydrogen fueled cars
Easing private investment in renewable energy
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/EW-10-01-13-MLPs-Energy.mp3|titles=EW 10-01-13 MLPs Energy]
Energy is essential to a robust economy. At least until the 1980s, fossil fuels were the only game in town. Over the years, the US government has designed a number of marketplace incentives to encourage investment in the energy sector. [Read more…] about Easing private investment in renewable energy
Virtual net metering for apartment dwellers
Homeowners across the country are increasingly taking advantage of the benefits of solar power, either by leasing or purchasing photovoltaic systems for their rooftops. Unfortunately, apartment dwellers have not had much opportunity to use on-site solar electricity because it would require installation of separate PV systems for each tenant, which is complicated and expensive, even if building owners were agreeable. [Read more…] about Virtual net metering for apartment dwellers
Next Generation Science Standards
Students around the country will soon be exposed to the concepts of evolution and climate change at an earlier age, thanks to the Next Generation Science Standards. The new standards are the result of collaboration among 26 states, and non-profit science and education groups. [Read more…] about Next Generation Science Standards
Restoring the darkness
