The latest word on climate change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, also known as the IPCC, recently released its latest assessment of the current state of scientific understanding regarding climate change. This is the fifth in the series, which began in 1990. At more than 2000 pages and with more than 250 authors, the report is a monumental attempt to bring the world’s best scientists together to see where we stand in regard to human impacts on Earth’s climate. [Read more…] about The latest word on climate change
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
Fuel from landfills
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Landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane emissions in the United States. About 18% of the human sources of this potent greenhouse gas comes from the decomposition of solid waste. [Read more…] about Fuel from landfills
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!
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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!
Crowdfunding energy
Crowdfunding has become very popular for musicians, artists, and even inventors. Recently, 1,700 Dutch households set a crowdfunding record by raising $1.8 million in just 13 hours. What did they get for their money? A 2-megawatt wind turbine. [Read more…] about Crowdfunding energy
Is fresh cafeteria food possible?
Like the ironic concept of “jumbo” shrimp, the idea of fresh school meals seems contradictory. After all, tater tots and chicken nuggets are staples in the country’s 30 million daily school lunches. [Read more…] about Is fresh cafeteria food possible?
Methane on the rise
In coastal ocean sediments, methane produced by decaying organic matter can collect in solid form. Known as a hydrate, this form of methane is stable at cold temperatures and high pressures. But when it’s brought to the surface, it converts from solid to gas, and the escaping methane can be ignited with a match. [Read more…] about Methane on the rise
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
Making Halloween a little greener
From disposable plastic costumes and decorations to toxic face paint, Halloween can be an ecological nightmare. But with some simple tricks, families can make their festivities a little greener. [Read more…] about Making Halloween a little greener
Tracking disease in a warming world
Understanding how infectious diseases respond to climate change would help public health officials and environmental managers predict and mitigate disease impacts. [Read more…] about Tracking disease in a warming world
Fighting climate change with trees
Researchers are looking at many approaches to mitigate the effects of increasing carbon dioxide on the climate. A group of German scientists has proposed a technique that they call carbon farming, which may help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. [Read more…] about Fighting climate change with trees
The road to better batteries
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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
Testing the value of storage
As the electrical grid comes to depend more and more on intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, it is becoming important to be able to store electricity for later use. [Read more…] about Testing the value of storage
How hot is your smartphone?
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Recent studies suggest that rising temperatures are likely to be associated with changes in mortality in urban areas. Winter deaths may decline, as the severity of flu and the incidence of slippage on ice both decrease when winters are warmer. [Read more…] about How hot is your smartphone?
A measles-like virus that leads to dolphin loss
A measles-like virus has been sweeping through bottlenose dolphins along the Eastern Seaboard. Since July, more than 330 dolphins have washed up dead on shore between North Carolina and New York, and many more are likely infected. [Read more…] about A measles-like virus that leads to dolphin loss
Keeping cats in the house
