Earth Wise
Our leaky planet
Petroleum deposits formed millions of years ago, when organic-rich sediments were buried and transformed under heat and pressure deep in the Earth’s crust. Most deposits remain deep in the Earth, making it expensive to drill for oil and gas. However, geologic uplift occasionally brings deposits back near the Earth’s surface. [Read more…] about Our leaky planet
Beefalo
In the early 1900s, a rancher conducted a breeding experiment that resulted in a cattle-buffalo hybrid called beefalo. Also known as cattalo, the unruly animals still exist and are now causing major problems in Arizona. [Read more…] about Beefalo
Untapped hydroelectric power
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Hydroelectric power is still the largest renewable energy source in the US, providing about 7% of our electricity generation. In New York, where Niagara Falls has been providing power for over a century, hydropower provides 17% of the state’s electricity. [Read more…] about Untapped hydroelectric power
Chemical plants and schools
Just over a year ago, the town of West, Texas drew national attention when a fertilizer facility exploded, killing 15 people and injuring more than 300. The blast destroyed whole neighborhoods, apartment complexes, and schools. And unfortunately, it’s far from the only destructive incident that’s occurred recently as a result of hazardous chemicals. [Read more…] about Chemical plants and schools
Mosquitoes in urban areas
Now that summer is finally on the horizon, so too is mosquito season. More than an annoyance, mosquitoes can spread serious illnesses, like West Nile virus and Dengue. And while we may associate mosquito bites with activities like hiking and camping, the nuisance insects are also very active in urban areas. [Read more…] about Mosquitoes in urban areas
No-till farming
Overall, the loss of grassland in favor of farmland throughout the Midwest has resulted in a loss of wildlife diversity. But recent research from the University of Illinois has shown that the soybean fields that abound throughout the region actually attract nesting birds. [Read more…] about No-till farming
Just how safe are our parks?
Our national park system enjoys almost universal bipartisan support in Congress. True, the parks don’t get all the money they need, but there is no obvious constituency that seeks to dismantle the park system. We all believe that the parks preserve at least a token of the natural heritage of this country, and certain parks, like the Grand Canyon, are iconic. [Read more…] about Just how safe are our parks?
Storing energy with liquid air
A growing percentage of our electricity comes from solar and wind power. Both of these sources are plentiful, but both sunshine and wind come and go. To really depend on these energy sources, we need to be able store the energy they generate when they are most productive so we can use it at other times. [Read more…] about Storing energy with liquid air
Nurturing some nature in all of us
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I grew up with a butterfly net in hand. Not that my parents appreciated it. My mother dreaded most things in nature—rodents, poison ivy, and bugs. Even my rock collection was regarded as dirty. But my early comparisons of butterflies taught me about the variation within species; there was no perfect specimen of the cabbage butterfly. [Read more…] about Nurturing some nature in all of us
Seas of garbage
The protracted and complicated search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 has exposed a worldwide problem that hadn’t previously gotten much attention: the oceans are full of garbage. [Read more…] about Seas of garbage
Eagles and wind farms
Wind power has long faced criticism for the threat it poses to birds – specifically endangered species. Experts estimate anywhere from 140,000 to 328,000 birds are killed each year by wind turbines. [Read more…] about Eagles and wind farms
Tidal barrages
There are two basic ways that ocean tides are used to generate electricity: tidal streams and tidal barrages. There has been a great deal of recent interest in tidal stream power, which works like wind power driven by underwater tidal currents. But tidal barrages or barriers are an older technology that is the basis of the largest tidal power installations in the world. [Read more…] about Tidal barrages
Shrinking salamanders
For the first time, a scientific study has concluded that climate change can alter the body size of a species. It was previously speculated that such a connection may exist, but a new study from the University of Maryland has provided concrete support. [Read more…] about Shrinking salamanders
Oil on the water
Marine scientists have spent considerable time tracing the fate of the oil from the BP Deep-Water Horizon oil spill in April 2010. Some was skimmed or burned at the surface. Some was carried in a plume under the water. And, unfortunately, some moved to shore. [Read more…] about Oil on the water
Sterilizing salmon
Farm-raised or wild-caught? That’s a question many people have asked themselves when it comes to buying salmon for dinner. Experts are now concerned about wild and farm-raised salmon associating with one another. [Read more…] about Sterilizing salmon
A low power future
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There is a booming business in energy efficiency, including the design and adoption of energy efficient light bulbs, high mileage vehicles, and more effective insulation. [Read more…] about A low power future
Paintings and pollution
It’s not often scientists make oil paintings a subject of their inquiry, but that is what researchers from Greece and Germany have done in an attempt to understand air pollution through the ages. [Read more…] about Paintings and pollution
Refuge for bees
Throughout the country, efforts are underway to cultivate habitat for bees. Recently, the federal government committed $3 million dollars to support honeybees in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North and South Dakota. And in California’s Central Valley, researchers are encouraging ranchers and farmers to grow plants that attract pollinators. [Read more…] about Refuge for bees
Tasmanian devils
