Biochar: Can it save our climate?
Chances are good that you’ve never heard of biochar, though you may know of it by its common name: charcoal. Burying partially burned wood may enhance the storage of carbon in soils, helping to mitigate climate change. [Read more…] about Biochar: Can it save our climate?
The KeyStone XL pipeline
Soon, the Obama administration will likely make a decision on the KeyStone XL pipeline, proposed to carry crude oil extracted from the oil sands in Alberta, Canada to refineries in the United States. There is huge pressure from oil companies to build the pipeline and increase the production of oil in North America. [Read more…] about The KeyStone XL pipeline
Arsenic and baby formula
In a nutshell, it’s suspected that some 75% of U.S.-grown rice contains elevated levels of arsenic. The likely culprit: past agricultural practices that relied on lead arsenate pesticides and left a legacy of arsenic in our soils. [Read more…] about Arsenic and baby formula
Biodiversity: What is it and why should you care?
Recently, I was chatting with a newspaper reporter about the impacts of encroaching development in California’s Mojave Desert. I mentioned we could expect to lose some of the wondrous diversity of plants and animals that are adapted to such extreme desert conditions. Her response? “I know you’re right, but no one cares about diversity.” [Read more…] about Biodiversity: What is it and why should you care?
Bad news for maple syrup and moose
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Following an exhaustive review of more than fifty years of long term data on environmental conditions at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the results are clear: spring is advancing and fall is retreating. [Read more…] about Bad news for maple syrup and moose
Protecting the monarch butterfly migration
We’ve all heard about the great monarch migration. Millions of butterflies fly to Mexico or Southern California every fall, some traveling as far as 3000 miles to escape the winter cold, and millions fly back every spring. But what is not as well known is that no butterfly makes the complete round trip. [Read more…] about Protecting the monarch butterfly migration
Cap & trade
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Environmental scientists have high hopes that the newly elected Congress will tackle rising concentrations of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, and the global warming that it will bring. [Read more…] about Cap & trade
Should we get a real or an artificial Christmas tree this year?
Last year, Americans bought nearly 38 million Christmas trees, spending $1.8 billion dollars. Nearly a quarter of these were artificial trees, which now include a number of pre-lit and decorated options. [Read more…] about Should we get a real or an artificial Christmas tree this year?
Clouding our ability to forecast severe weather
Hurricane Sandy battered the New York metropolitan region. Floods, blackouts, fires, and gas shortages left many feeling vulnerable. A number of areas are still recovering, and damages are expected to top $50 billion. [Read more…] about Clouding our ability to forecast severe weather
Making sense of arsenic and rice
A few months back, we ran a segment on a disturbing trend seen in rice. Elevated levels of arsenic have been recorded in U.S. rice, with crops from Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, and Texas exhibiting the highest levels. More than 75% of domestic rice is grown in these regions. [Read more…] about Making sense of arsenic and rice
Genetically engineered food and consumer choice
Last month, California had the chance to be the first state in the union to require the mandatory labeling of genetically engineered food. Dubbed the ‘Right to Know Act,’ Proposition 37 would have required producers to clearly label raw or processed foods that contained modified ingredients. [Read more…] about Genetically engineered food and consumer choice
Let’s keep electronics out of our landfills
Our cell phones, computers, and game consoles make our lives more productive or at least more interesting. But in our efforts to keep up with the latest technology, we are creating an enormous problem of electronic waste. [Read more…] about Let’s keep electronics out of our landfills
Climate change and the American mind
More Americans believe global warming is real, the number of climate deniers is shrinking, and the majority of Americans believe that climate change is causing extreme weather. So reports a new opinion poll conducted by Yale and George Mason University. It is the seventh poll in an ongoing series initiated to track evolving public attitudes toward climate change. [Read more…] about Climate change and the American mind
A holiday tradition "for the birds"
The term “crowd-sourcing” may be new. But it’s exactly what the National Audubon Society has been doing for more than 100 years, with the Christmas Bird Count. In December, tens of thousands of people participate in this, the longest running citizen science initiative ever. Local groups set forth on a designated day and count every single bird they see or hear in a 15-mile-diameter circle. [Read more…] about A holiday tradition "for the birds"
A jet-setting bird under attack from several fronts
The Bicknell’s Thrush is a reclusive cousin to the American Robin. Smaller, with a brown spotted breast and a distinctive raspy song, it breeds in high mountains in New York, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. [Read more…] about A jet-setting bird under attack from several fronts
The military as a climate change ally
By now, most listeners are familiar with the consequences of climate change. Warming has been linked to a rise in the frequency and intensity of droughts, severe storms, floods, and infectious disease. These events damage infrastructure, sicken citizens, and alter the availability of crops and natural resources. [Read more…] about The military as a climate change ally
How should we choose which species to protect?
Bald eagles, humpback whales, and giant pandas have a few things in common. They are larger than their peers, their looks are striking, and they are or have been endangered. These species, along with various types of tiger, dolphin, and wolf, have become known as Charismatic Megafauna. [Read more…] about How should we choose which species to protect?
Ecological engineering on the ski slope
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Every winter, ski resorts groom trails using heavy machines that do a great job flattening the snow, but also compact the soil underneath. In the offseason, the compacted soil makes it hard for vegetation to regrow, so a lot of money is invested in re-vegetation. [Read more…] about Ecological engineering on the ski slope
'Turn right' to protect the environment
