Earth Wise

A look at our changing environment.

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Wake up and smell the coffee

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coffee beans

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/EW-05-10-12-Coffee.mp3|titles=EW 05-10-12 Coffee]

We can add high quality coffee to the growing list of crops being destabilized by our changing climate. The Union of Concerned Scientists recently reported that Arabica coffee yields are down and prices are rising. This isn’t just bad news for coffee shops. It threatens the economy in places like Ethiopia, Costa Rica, and India. [Read more…] about Wake up and smell the coffee

If you are allergic to pollen, you should worry about climate change

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Pine Pollen

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EW-05-09-12-Pollen-.mp3|titles=EW 05-09-12 Pollen]

As part of a field experiment in North Carolina, scientists bathed a pine forest with elevated levels of carbon dioxide, or CO2. This is one of the greenhouse gases that is contributing to global warming. CO2 is emitted when we burn fossil fuels, and it stays in the atmosphere where it traps heat on the earth’s surface. [Read more…] about If you are allergic to pollen, you should worry about climate change

When it comes to tracking eels, citizens make a difference

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Glass Eels

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EW-05-04-12-Eels.mp3|titles=EW 05-04-12 Eels]

American eels are born way out in the Atlantic Ocean, between Bermuda and Puerto Rico. Juveniles, known as “glass eels,” migrate to freshwater habitats like the Hudson River when they are just a couple of inches long. There, they can spend up to twenty years maturing. They return to the ocean only to spawn. [Read more…] about When it comes to tracking eels, citizens make a difference

For a few weeks in 2008, the city of Beijing reduced its notorious air pollution

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Beijing Olympic Stadium

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/EW-05-01-12-Beijing-Olympics-.mp3|titles=EW 05-01-12 Beijing Olympics]

Like most developing countries, China has prioritized economic development over environmental protection. But after winning the right to host the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, the country made a commitment to address its pollution problem. Olympic organizers promised blue skies over Beijing. [Read more…] about For a few weeks in 2008, the city of Beijing reduced its notorious air pollution

Why should we care about freshwater mussels?

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pearly mussel

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EW-04-27-12-Pearly-Mussels.mp3|titles=EW 04-27-12 Pearly Mussels]

There were once three hundred species of mussels in the United States. They supplied food to Native Americans and people harvested them for pearls and for mother-of-pearl to make buttons. Now, hardly anyone eats freshwater mussels and buttons are mostly made of plastic. [Read more…] about Why should we care about freshwater mussels?

Honeybees are critical to U.S. agriculture, and they’re in trouble

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Honeybee

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EW-04-26-12-Honeybees.mp3|titles=EW 04-26-12 Honeybees]

At least a third of U.S. crops are pollinated by commercial beekeeping operations, including apples, blueberries, cucumbers, almonds, pumpkins. In the year 2000, the value of these bee-assisted crops was about fifteen billion dollars. [Read more…] about Honeybees are critical to U.S. agriculture, and they’re in trouble

Raising livestock outdoors is humane, but pasture-raised animals can cause environmental problems

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pigs

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EW-04-25-12-Hog-Waste.mp3|titles=EW 04-25-12 Hog Waste]

Let’s focus on pigs. Most of the pork we consume comes from massive indoor facilities where a large number of animals are raised in a relatively small space. These operations are notorious for pervasive odors and for causing air and water pollution. For ethical reasons, many people prefer to buy pasture-raised pork. [Read more…] about Raising livestock outdoors is humane, but pasture-raised animals can cause environmental problems

You might want to think twice about that picnic on the beach

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Beach

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EW-04-23-12-Beach-Sand.mp3|titles=EW 04-23-12 Beach Sand]

Most of us take precautions when planning to spend a day in the sun and surf. We apply sunscreen, don hats, and pay attention to warnings about waves, sharks, and water quality. But a recent report highlights an overlooked beach risk: the sand. [Read more…] about You might want to think twice about that picnic on the beach

Every Day is Earth Day

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[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EW-04-20-12-Earth-Day.mp3|titles=EW 04-20-12 Earth Day]

Sunday is the 42nd anniversary of Earth Day, which first took place on April 22, 1970 and helped to prompt an awakening of American citizens to the importance of the environment. [Read more…] about Every Day is Earth Day

The Olympic games, traffic congestion, and childhood asthma

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Atlanta Olympics

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EW-04-19-12-Atlanta-Olympics.mp3|titles=EW 04-19-12 Atlanta Olympics]

In 1996, organizers of the Atlanta Olympics were expecting a million visitors to their  congested city. To ensure spectators could reach Olympic venues on time, they developed strategies for reducing traffic congestion. They beefed up public transportation, closed parts of downtown to private vehicle traffic, and encouraged local businesses to allow telecommuting. [Read more…] about The Olympic games, traffic congestion, and childhood asthma

Fertilizer helps feed the world – but the way it's produced can be harmful

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fertilizer

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EW-04-18-12-Fertilizer.mp3|titles=EW 04-18-12 Fertilizer]

Until the Industrial Revolution, we increased fertility in our farms and gardens by applying animal manure, compost, or minerals mined from the earth. Then, scientists developed a method to capture nitrogen for use in fertilizer. Synthetic fertilizer is responsible for the so-called Green Revolution that increased crop yields and supports the earth’s growing population. [Read more…] about Fertilizer helps feed the world – but the way it's produced can be harmful

Wonder fish or pink poison?

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salmon farm

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EW-04-17-12-Aquaculture.mp3|titles=EW 04-17-12 Aquaculture]

Salmon consumption has been linked to improved cardiovascular health and brain function. But not all fish are created equal. In the U.S., two-thirds of salmon are farm-raised. Compared to their wild counterparts, these fish are often less nutritious and have a larger environmental impact. [Read more…] about Wonder fish or pink poison?

Holy mackerel!

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mackerel

[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/EW-04-13-12-Mackerel.mp3|titles=EW 04-13-12 Mackerel]

Over the past two decades, stocks of Jack mackerel in the South Pacific have declined by 90%, from 30 million tons to 3 million tons.  Many of the fish being netted are juveniles. This is a sad turn of events for one of the world’s richest fishing grounds. [Read more…] about Holy mackerel!

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