Our nation’s streams and rivers are in trouble
The Environmental Protection Agency recently released a somber assessment of the state of our nation’s streams and rivers. A comprehensive survey looking at the health of nearly 2,000 stream and river miles across the country found more than half were in poor condition. A mere twenty percent were deemed healthy. [Read more…] about Our nation’s streams and rivers are in trouble
Is natural gas really a cleaner fuel?
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/EW-05-01-13-Clean-Fuel-Natural-Gas.mp3|titles=EW 05-01-13 Clean Fuel (Natural Gas)]
The discovery of abundant natural gas in shale formations has been hailed as a potential game changer for greenhouse gas mitigation. For the same amount of energy, carbon dioxide emissions from burning natural gas are only half of those produced by coal. [Read more…] about Is natural gas really a cleaner fuel?
Grow vegetable gardens instead of lawns!
For years, I lived in a densely wooded neighborhood in suburban North Carolina. Anyone who wanted to grow vegetables needed to plant them in the front yard, where there was much more sunlight. Fortunately, the neighbors were very tolerant of street-side gardens. [Read more…] about Grow vegetable gardens instead of lawns!
Energy storage: The next big thing
Electricity is a major commodity that is produced on demand, not stockpiled in advance. Generally, there is no choice in the matter. We simply don’t have very many ways to store large amounts of electricity. [Read more…] about Energy storage: The next big thing
Trees are good for human health
Many of us have experienced a restorative walk in the woods. But does associating with trees really make us any healthier? After investigating the loss of some 100 million ash trees in the Eastern and Midwestern United States, Forest Service researcher Geoffrey Donovan and his colleagues suspect that the answer is yes. [Read more…] about Trees are good for human health
An embarrassment of green riches
Most developed countries around the world are seeking ways to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and increase their use of green energy sources. Not so for Iceland. That small, beautiful, and staunchly self-reliant country is already powered 100% by renewable energy. [Read more…] about An embarrassment of green riches
The rise of the superbug
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/EW-04-24-13-Superbug.mp3|titles=EW 04-24-13 Superbug]
A lot of our protein—especially chicken and pork—is now grown in Confined Animal Feeding Operations, known as CAFOs. Here a huge number of animals are kept under controlled conditions and fed special diets to fatten them up quickly. To combat the inevitable diseases that spread among animals kept at high density, the animals are often fed antibiotic-rich feed, even if they aren’t sick. [Read more…] about The rise of the superbug
Air travel and our carbon footprint
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/EW-04-23-13-Air-Travel-Carbon.mp3|titles=EW 04-23-13 Air Travel & Carbon]
The average American’s day-to-day activities generate about 19 tons of carbon dioxide a year—though some of us generate far more than this. This quantity is called our carbon footprint. [Read more…] about Air travel and our carbon footprint
There is an energy alternative
A lot of arguments in favor of hydraulic fracking for natural gas end up with the statement—you can’t be against everything. People will want to be warm with the lights on. [Read more…] about There is an energy alternative
Share your yard with wildlife
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/EW-04-19-13-Wildlife-Garden.mp3|titles=EW 04-19-13 Wildlife Garden]
Using satellite images, scientists have determined that the largest irrigated crop in the U.S. is turfgrass. This is astounding, especially when considering the recurring droughts we have suffered. Some cities and states have begun to limit lawn watering during drought periods. And many homeowners have been searching for sustainable alternatives to Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue. [Read more…] about Share your yard with wildlife
Renewable energy aspirations
Getting 100% of our electricity from renewable sources is an aspiration many of us have – but is often thought to be little more than a pipe dream. For years, states and countries around the world have timidly established targets for integrating renewables into their grids. Numbers like 10% and 20% have been the rule. But things are changing. [Read more…] about Renewable energy aspirations
The high cost of congestion
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/EW-04-17-13-Traffic-Congestion.mp3|titles=EW 04-17-13 Traffic Congestion]
The Texas A&M Transportation Institute has been studying traffic patterns in the U.S. for more than thirty years. They recently issued their annual Urban Mobility Report and the results are eye-opening. [Read more…] about The high cost of congestion
Pharmaceuticals disrupt sensitive stream habitat
Pharmaceutical pollution is found in waters throughout the world. Causes include sewage overflows, aging infrastructure, and agricultural runoff. Even when waste water makes it to sewage treatment facilities, they aren’t equipped to remove most pharmaceuticals. [Read more…] about Pharmaceuticals disrupt sensitive stream habitat
Climate change and invasive species
There has been much attention paid in recent times to the problem of invasive species and the potential harm that they cause. As a result, we have employed a variety of strategies to control the spread of non-native plants and animals that, in many instances, can disrupt local ecosystems and cause both ecological and economic damage. [Read more…] about Climate change and invasive species
Land snails and forest disturbance
There’s no universally accepted definition of an ‘old growth forest’ – but most scientists agree they’re characterized by large old trees, multi-layered canopies, and dead wood that provides habitat for a variety of animals, from cavity nesting birds to invertebrates. [Read more…] about Land snails and forest disturbance
Corn ethanol and greenhouse gases
Ninety-five percent of all gasoline sold in the United States contains ethanol. This is the result of the Renewable Fuel Standard established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. These laws require renewable fuel to be blended into transportation fuel in increasing amounts each year through 2022. [Read more…] about Corn ethanol and greenhouse gases
Improving water, improving lives
Add water pollution to the list of ills suffered by under-served urban communities. Economically-depressed neighborhoods are hotspots for water contamination due to aging sewer and storm-water systems. Optimistically, a new study suggests that water cleaning and community greening can go hand-in-hand. [Read more…] about Improving water, improving lives
Dust in the wind
Increasingly, atmospheric chemists are understanding the importance of dust particles—known as aerosols—in our atmosphere. Many aerosols are rather large particles that fall out of the atmosphere fairly quickly. But, some small particles are held aloft and undergo long-distance transport in the atmosphere. Each year winds bring more than 6,000 tons of dust from Asia to the west coast of the United States. [Read more…] about Dust in the wind
Measuring real progress on carbon
