Earthworms are invading our forests
People tend to think of earthworms as benign or even beneficial creatures. Gardeners love them. But earthworms are not native to the northeastern United States. In regions of North American once covered by glaciers, earthworms are recent imports from Europe or Asia. They likely arrived as stowaways in ship ballast or in plants that settlers wanted to establish here. [Read more…] about Earthworms are invading our forests
The emergency is here, and the time to stop is now
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EW-07-24-12-Climate-Change.mp3|titles=EW 07-24-12 Climate Change]
A recent report published in journal Nature has closed the door on one of the last remaining arguments of climate change skeptics. We now have firm evidence that rising concentrations of carbon dioxide preceded and drove the warming at the end of the last continental glaciation, some 18,000 years ago. [Read more…] about The emergency is here, and the time to stop is now
Why you should brake for possums
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EW-07-23-12-Opossums.mp3|titles=EW 07-23-12 Opossums]
The Virginia opossum is not the brightest of animals. When they are threatened, they pretend to be dead, which where we get the expression “playing possum.” Sometimes, they do this in response to threats from oncoming traffic, which results in possums becoming roadkill. [Read more…] about Why you should brake for possums
Diesel emissions are carcinogenic
More carcinogenic than second-hand smoke – that’s how the World Health Organization recently described diesel fuel emissions. [Read more…] about Diesel emissions are carcinogenic
The Chinese know it; what’s wrong with us?
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EW-07-19-12-Population-II.mp3|titles=EW 07-19-12 Population II]
In 1974, Stanford biologist Paul Ehrlich proposed a simple equation to measure human impact on the environment: Impact = population x affluence x technology. [Read more…] about The Chinese know it; what’s wrong with us?
Natural gas, fracking, and your green lawn
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EW-07-18-12-Lawn-Fracking.mp3|titles=EW 07-18-12 Lawn (Fracking)]
When you buy fertilizer, you’ll notice three numbers on the label, for instance, 12, 6, 6. These indicate the percentage of three key nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. For green grass, nitrogen is the most important ingredient. [Read more…] about Natural gas, fracking, and your green lawn
Butterflies—field reporters from nature
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EW-07-17-12-Butterfly-Census.mp3|titles=EW 07-17-12 Butterfly Census]
Butterflies are beautiful creatures. They are also useful barometers for the state of an ecosystem. Their presence or absence provides insight into pollution, the health of native plants, and the impacts of climate change. [Read more…] about Butterflies—field reporters from nature
Dead wood shapes streams
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/EW-07-16-12-Deadwood-Streams.mp3|titles=EW 07-16-12 Deadwood (Streams)]
Imagine a stream with no plants at all. Water flows rapidly, tearing out a deep channel. Anything you put into the stream is subject to being moved out. [Read more…] about Dead wood shapes streams
Ponds are falling silent around the world
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/EW-07-13-12-Frogs-Cytridomycosis.mp3|titles=EW 07-13-12 Frogs (Cytridomycosis)]
From the Andes to the Pyrenees, a fungal disease has been blamed for the death of frogs and salamanders. A number of species native to Australia and South America are now extinct and massive declines have been recorded in North America and Europe. [Read more…] about Ponds are falling silent around the world
Keeping the military on a black-gold diet
