Health
Our leaky planet
Petroleum deposits formed millions of years ago, when organic-rich sediments were buried and transformed under heat and pressure deep in the Earth’s crust. Most deposits remain deep in the Earth, making it expensive to drill for oil and gas. However, geologic uplift occasionally brings deposits back near the Earth’s surface. [Read more…] about Our leaky planet
Chemical plants and schools
Just over a year ago, the town of West, Texas drew national attention when a fertilizer facility exploded, killing 15 people and injuring more than 300. The blast destroyed whole neighborhoods, apartment complexes, and schools. And unfortunately, it’s far from the only destructive incident that’s occurred recently as a result of hazardous chemicals. [Read more…] about Chemical plants and schools
Mosquitoes in urban areas
Now that summer is finally on the horizon, so too is mosquito season. More than an annoyance, mosquitoes can spread serious illnesses, like West Nile virus and Dengue. And while we may associate mosquito bites with activities like hiking and camping, the nuisance insects are also very active in urban areas. [Read more…] about Mosquitoes in urban areas
Oil on the water
Marine scientists have spent considerable time tracing the fate of the oil from the BP Deep-Water Horizon oil spill in April 2010. Some was skimmed or burned at the surface. Some was carried in a plume under the water. And, unfortunately, some moved to shore. [Read more…] about Oil on the water
Paintings and pollution
It’s not often scientists make oil paintings a subject of their inquiry, but that is what researchers from Greece and Germany have done in an attempt to understand air pollution through the ages. [Read more…] about Paintings and pollution
Refuge for bees
Throughout the country, efforts are underway to cultivate habitat for bees. Recently, the federal government committed $3 million dollars to support honeybees in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota. And in California’s Central Valley, researchers are encouraging ranchers and farmers to grow plants that attract pollinators. [Read more…] about Refuge for bees
Tasmanian devils
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The Tasmanian devil is best known to most Americans as Taz, the cyclone-spinning cartoon character made popular by Warner Brothers in the fifties and again in the nineties. [Read more…] about Tasmanian devils
Myopia
Worldwide, more and more people are suffering from myopia – or near-sightedness – and a lack of outdoor time may be to blame. [Read more…] about Myopia
Honeybees: They give us more than honey
In today’s world of mechanized agriculture, pollinating services are a commodity. Without a sufficient number of bees, certain crops could cease to grow. As a result, managed honeybees are now traded internationally. Unfortunately, this practice is making our wild pollinators sick. [Read more…] about Honeybees: They give us more than honey
Echinacea
Echinacea supplements are a staple in many American medicine cabinets, especially during cold and flu season. The plant is thought to boost the immune system and help ward off illness. [Read more…] about Echinacea
One word: Plastics
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Plastics, Mr. Robinson advises the young Ben Braddock, played by Dustin Hoffman, in the Graduate more than 40 years ago. And, he was right: the production of plastics increased from 1.7 to 280 million tons per year during the past 60 years. Plastics are found in nearly all products we buy, either as central components or in the packaging that contains them. [Read more…] about One word: Plastics
Scarce water
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Water poverty – the lack of access to clean, fresh water – is a much-discussed problem in the developing world. However, problems with water scarcity are in no way limited to third-world countries. [Read more…] about Scarce water
Golfers can breathe easy
A lot of Americans take to the golf course on Saturday afternoons. There must be something about beating on a little white ball and then chasing it across the countryside that is soothing after a week at work. Across the U.S., prodigious amounts of fertilizer, irrigation water, and pesticides are used to keep golf courses green. Today, let’s focus on the pesticides. [Read more…] about Golfers can breathe easy
Consider going DEET-free
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DEET, also known as N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, was developed during World War II to protect our troops during military operations in the tropical Pacific from mosquitoes and the diseases they carry. It undoubtedly saved thousands of lives. At war’s end, it was commercialized for public use. Countless families have slathered on DEET to ward off bugs on weekend picnics, camping trips, and nature walks. [Read more…] about Consider going DEET-free
Dirty drinking water
A new government study is raising red flags about the safety of our drinking water. EPA and U.S. Geological Survey scientists analyzed treated water samples from 25 U.S. utilities. They found that more than 1/3 contained chemicals not regulated by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. [Read more…] about Dirty drinking water
The U.S. is emitting less carbon
In 2012, carbon dioxide emissions from energy use in the US reached the lowest level since 1994 and were 12% lower than their peak in 2007. This is certainly good news, but just how good? [Read more…] about The U.S. is emitting less carbon
The costs of a warmer Arctic
As the Arctic warms in response to rising concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere, some eagerly anticipate the opening of the Northwest Passage for ship navigation. Others applaud the potential to ramp up petroleum exploration and fishery efforts in the Arctic Ocean. But, there are real costs to Arctic warming. [Read more…] about The costs of a warmer Arctic
Phthalates: A toxic swap
A nationwide study of the controversial group of chemicals known as phthalates has shown human exposure is still high, despite bans. [Read more…] about Phthalates: A toxic swap
Allocating carbon emissions
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