Wildlife and Habitat
We're making it tough for Santa Claus
It used to be that young children wondered about the reality of Santa Claus. Would Santa show up on Christmas Eve? Parents turned the controversy to good ends by threatening us that Santa would not show up unless we were good. [Read more…] about We're making it tough for Santa Claus
An invasive species named Fluffy
An invasive species is a plant or animal that is not native to a particular ecosystem. An invasive can throw an ecosystem out of whack by competing with native species for resources or eliminating native species. Examples include zebra mussels, Japanese knotweed, and the domestic house cat. [Read more…] about An invasive species named Fluffy
Dogs and urban parks
A new study out of Israel suggests that the presence of dogs in urban parks decreases the diversity of bird species. [Read more…] about Dogs and urban parks
What color is your water?
When most of us turn on the tap, we find clean, flowing water. In fact, we’ve come to expect that across this country, and the alternative is both annoying and newsworthy. [Read more…] about What color is your water?
Birds: Worth their weight in coffee
I’m a bird-watcher and an advocate of bird conservation. But often, my friends ask me if birds really make a difference. Normally, I point out the large amount of money spent by birdwatchers in travel and for tour guides to their latest bird “hot spot.” But, that income doesn’t always filter down to locals. [Read more…] about Birds: Worth their weight in coffee
Pig farms and MRSA
A paper published recently in JAMA Internal Medicine found that people who live near pig farms or fields fertilized with pig manure are more likely to contract methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria – also known as MRSA. [Read more…] about Pig farms and MRSA
Sentinel species: Nature’s early warning system
The phrase “canary in a coal mine” is a shorthand expression that indicates an early warning of an environmental hazard. [Read more…] about Sentinel species: Nature’s early warning system
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
Rising Sea Level 101
One of the most significant impacts of rising global temperatures will be melting of the polar ice on Greenland and Antarctica. These are known as continental ice packs, since the ice rests on underlying land. Their melt-water contributes to sea level rise, the same way adding another cube of ice to a full glass of soda will cause it to overflow. [Read more…] about Rising Sea Level 101
Bird-friendly wind farms
Alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind, are key to a better environment. In order to move away from fossil fuels that cause climate change and contribute to human health problems, we need these alternatives. [Read more…] about Bird-friendly wind farms
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
Climate change, oysters, and super-sized crabs
Super-sized crabs may be the next side effect of climate change, according to scientists at the University of North Carolina’s Aquarium Research Center. Researchers analyzed Chesapeake Bay blue crabs kept in both high-carbon and low-carbon tanks. Crabs in the high-carbon tanks grew at almost four times the rate of the other crabs. [Read more…] about Climate change, oysters, and super-sized crabs
The killing fields
To control weeds, American farmers apply vast amounts of herbicides to their fields each year. Glyphosphate is one of the most widely used herbicides; it’s effective at killing grasses, broadleaf, and woody plants. Crops tolerate it because they are genetically modified to be glyphosphate-resistant. [Read more…] about The killing fields
Land use leaves a lasting impact on forests
How do Northeastern forests compare with those a settler might have encountered 400 years ago? According to a new study by researchers at Harvard Forest and the Smithsonian, there are stark contrasts between pre-colonial forests and those of today. [Read more…] about Land use leaves a lasting impact on forests
A bad year for the Arctic
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2012 was one of the warmest years since global temperatures have been recorded. This was especially evident in the Arctic, where the effects of warmer temperatures led to several records being broken. [Read more…] about A bad year for the Arctic
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
If you can’t beat 'em, eat 'em!
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/EW-11-07-13-Eat-the-Invaders.mp3|titles=EW 11-07-13 Eat the Invaders]
When it comes to seafood, sustainability is a hot topic – around the world, fisheries are over-exploited and popular commercial fish populations are struggling to survive. At the same time, invasive species such as Asian carp are wreaking havoc on ecosystems and further threatening indigenous marine life. [Read more…] about If you can’t beat 'em, eat 'em!
Methane on the rise
