Sustainable Living
Power from sewage
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-03-04-14-Power-from-Sewage.mp3|titles=EW 03-04-14 Power from Sewage]
Located on the banks of the Potomac River, the Blue Plains wastewater treatment plant serves over two million people in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. It is also the largest consumer of electricity in the District of Columbia. [Read more…] about Power from sewage
Packaging with mushrooms
The wide use of Styrofoam presents a number of problems for the environment. It is a petroleum-based material that is not biodegradable. Although it can be recycled, it seldom is. Most Styrofoam winds up in landfills, or even worse, floating in waterways. [Read more…] about Packaging with mushrooms
Batteries from rhubarb and sugar
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-26-14-Batteries-from-Rhubarb-and-Sugar.mp3|titles=EW 02-26-14 Batteries from Rhubarb and Sugar]
Storing energy produced by wind turbines and solar panels is a necessity if these on-again-off-again energy sources are to supply a majority of our electricity needs. But storage technology must be affordable and efficient. [Read more…] about Batteries from rhubarb and sugar
Let’s capture the carbon
Carbon dioxide emissions – largely due to fossil fuel combustion – are at the crux of the global warming problem. Because some carbon dioxide emissions are fairly localized, they are potentially easy to control. [Read more…] about Let’s capture the carbon
Growing insects on the farm
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-24-14-Growing-Insects-on-the-Farm.mp3|titles=EW 02-24-14 Growing Insects on the Farm]
The precipitous decline in pollinating insects – particularly bees – has become an issue of great concern around the world. Insects pollinate 75% of the crops that we rely on for food worldwide, and bee populations have declined by as much as 96% over the past century. [Read more…] about Growing insects on the farm
Rare earth metals and green technologies
A growing number of important green technologies depend on rare earth metals and other scarce elements. Everything from the batteries in electric cars to solar panels to advanced wind turbines rely on exotic metals that come from only a few places around the world. Some valuable technologies are not being exploited to their fullest extent due to the scarcity of raw materials. [Read more…] about Rare earth metals and green technologies
Geothermal energy on the rise
Geothermal energy is experiencing a period of global expansion, with more new power plants ready to go on line over the next three to four years than in any previous decade. U.S. companies are doing much of that work. [Read more…] about Geothermal energy on the rise
Salty streams and rivers
By the looks of it, we’re in for quite a winter this year. Here in the Northeast, we’ve seen several heavy snowfalls, freezing temperatures, and icy roads. [Read more…] about Salty streams and rivers
The answer is blowing in the wind
For some time now, scientists and medical experts have been investigating whether air pollution compromises human health, particularly cardiovascular function and respiration. And recent studies are strengthening the evidence that polluted air is bad for our health. [Read more…] about The answer is blowing in the wind
Urban biodiversity
The portion of our planet described as urban is growing rapidly. In fact, it is predicted to triple between 2000 and 2030. People are trying to come to terms with this changing landscape, particularly with respect to the corresponding loss of wildlife. [Read more…] about Urban biodiversity
Our growing ranks
Land in the United States is increasingly dominated by people and their settlements. This is due to population growth and greater levels of wealth. Many citizens who can afford it prefer to live outside of dense urban areas. And suburbs require a large network of roads to support them. [Read more…] about Our growing ranks
There will be a landfill in your future
Modern society generates an enormous amount of trash, and the volume of trash increases as people become more affluent. The average person in the U.S. throws away their body weight in trash each month. Urban residents throw out more stuff than rural residents of the same income. [Read more…] about There will be a landfill in your future
The solar market is booming
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/EW-02-10-14-Booming-US-Solar-Market.mp3|titles=EW 02-10-14 Booming US Solar Market]
Renewable energy is growing by leaps and bounds in the US and the growth in solar energy is particularly explosive. In 2013, the US installed more solar capacity than world-leader Germany for the first time in more than a decade. [Read more…] about The solar market is booming
Heating with food waste
A new program in New York City is making use of food waste to produce bio-gas for residential and commercial heating. More than 100 restaurants are participating in the program, which is a voluntary effort to reduce the amount of food waste headed to landfills. [Read more…] about Heating with food waste
LED light bulbs
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-05-14-LED-Lightbulbs.mp3|titles=EW 02-05-14 LED Lightbulbs]
Incandescent light bulbs are becoming rarer all the time. In some places around the world, they have been phased out completely. They are being replaced by newer lighting technologies, which use far less energy. [Read more…] about LED light bulbs
Horseshoe crabs & red knots
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/EW-02-04-14-Horseshoe-Crabs.mp3|titles=EW 02-04-14 Horseshoe Crabs]
For 475 million years, horseshoe crabs have inhabited the Earth. Currently, their largest numbers are on the Eastern Seaboard, particularly in the Delaware Bay off the coasts of Delaware and New Jersey, where horseshoe crabs lay their eggs each spring. [Read more…] about Horseshoe crabs & red knots
Coming from a barnyard near you
Atmospheric scientists recognize the long-distance transport of air pollutants. When we used leaded gasoline, we saw elevated levels of airborne lead in cities, but also in the Greenland ice pack, thousands of miles away. And past shutdowns of coal-fired power plants in the Midwest resulted in lower nitric oxide concentrations in the eastern U.S. [Read more…] about Coming from a barnyard near you
Drones provide a window into the deep ocean
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/EW-01-30-14-Ocean-Drones.mp3|titles=EW 01-30-14 Ocean Drones]
With the advance of science and technology, few corners of the Earth remain unexplored. But much of what goes on beneath the surface of our oceans remains a mystery. [Read more…] about Drones provide a window into the deep ocean
Exotic greenhouse gases
