Economy and Policy
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 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.
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
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?
How green is your dinner?
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Farmers have a real challenge —how to feed 10 billion people within the next few decades. Conventional agriculturalists say this isn’t a problem. We have the technology needed to increase global crop yields to the levels enjoyed by Iowa’s farmers. [Read more…] about How green is your dinner?
Large dairy farms are tied to estrogen pollution
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When buying dairy products, such as milk and cheese, we can opt to purchase items that are labeled ‘no added hormones.’ The same can’t be said of the wastewater that originates from large-scale dairy operations. [Read more…] about Large dairy farms are tied to estrogen pollution
The emergency is here, and the time to stop is now
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A recent report published in journal Nature has closed the door on one of the last remaining arguments of climate change skeptics. We now have firm evidence that rising concentrations of carbon dioxide preceded and drove the warming at the end of the last continental glaciation, some 18,000 years ago. [Read more…] about The emergency is here, and the time to stop is now
The Chinese know it; what’s wrong with us?
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In 1974, Stanford biologist Paul Ehrlich proposed a simple equation to measure human impact on the environment: Impact = population x affluence x technology. [Read more…] about The Chinese know it; what’s wrong with us?
Natural gas, fracking, and your green lawn
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When you buy fertilizer, you’ll notice three numbers on the label, for instance, 12, 6, 6. These indicate the percentage of three key nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. For green grass, nitrogen is the most important ingredient. [Read more…] about Natural gas, fracking, and your green lawn
Keeping the military on a black-gold diet
