Earth Wise
Water supply and beer
Water has historically been undervalued – at least in those regions with a plentiful supply. It’s seen as natural, abundant and limitless. But climate change and human consumption have put a strain on this natural resource. [Read more…] about Water supply and beer
Treating roads with cheese
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/EW-03-14-14-Treating-Roads-with-Cheese.mp3|titles=EW 03-14-14 Treating Roads with Cheese]
Local governments across the country are always experimenting with cheaper and more environmentally responsible ways of keeping roads passable during icy and snowy conditions. Rock salt is the long-standing way to get the job done, but it is harmful to cars, washes away easily, pollutes waterways, and kills vegetation. [Read more…] about Treating roads with cheese
Hot nights in the greenhouse
Physicians have long noted that deaths spike during heat waves. Compared to periods of normal temperature, more people die of heart attack and stroke during hot periods. And hot periods are also associated with the greater formation of ozone and other air pollutants that exacerbate respiratory illnesses such as asthma and emphysema. Electricity generation for air conditioning peaks on hot summer days. [Read more…] about Hot nights in the greenhouse
Sea snakes, oysters, and magic carpets
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/EW-03-12-14-Sea-Snakes-Oysters-and-Magic-Carpets.mp3|titles=EW 03-12-14 Sea Snakes, Oysters, and Magic Carpets]
Scotland is one of the best places in the world to make use of ocean-based energy. It has 25% of Europe’s tidal potential and 10% of its wave potential. Because of this, the Scottish Government has established a competition to reward ocean energy breakthroughs. [Read more…] about Sea snakes, oysters, and magic carpets
Trains and oil spills
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/EW-03-11-14-Trains-and-Oil-Spills.mp3|titles=EW 03-11-14 Trains and Oil Spills]
During the past five years, U.S. domestic oil production has risen 50 percent. This surge has outpaced the pipeline infrastructure needed to move oil to consumers. [Read more…] about Trains and oil spills
Antibiotics in meat
Concerns have long been raised over the presence of antibiotics in the meat we eat. Now, a federal analysis has shown that many of those antibiotics are likely to blame for the increasing number of bacterial infections resistant to treatment in humans. [Read more…] about Antibiotics in meat
Not all drones are airborne
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-03-07-14-Elephant-Seals.mp3|titles=EW 03-07-14 Elephant Seals]
When most of us hear about drones, we look to the sky for aircraft. But, another type of drone is patrolling the ocean around Antarctica, improving our understanding of ocean conditions in that remote corner of the world. Several years ago, scientists began to mount instrument packs on the elephant seals that inhabit Antarctica. The instruments record conditions while the seals dive, and report them back via satellite when they come to the surface. [Read more…] about Not all drones are airborne
Cold weather – Warm climate
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/EW-03-06-14-Cold-Weather-Warm-Climate.mp3|titles=EW 03-06-14 Cold Weather Warm Climate]
For pretty much everyone living east of the Mississippi River, this winter has been cold, snowy, and icy. We’ve all heard about the Polar Vortex and many of us have spent untold hours with our shovels and snow blowers. All in all, it seems like global warming has gone on vacation. [Read more…] about Cold weather – Warm climate
Solar gardens
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-03-05-14-Solar-Gardens.mp3|titles=EW 03-05-14 Solar Gardens]
Solar power is growing by leaps and bounds, but there are still many people who can’t access it for their own homes. Renters, people who live in communities with obstructive building codes, and people whose roofs are shaded by trees or other tall structures don’t have the option of installing their own solar panels. [Read more…] about Solar gardens
Power from sewage
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-03-04-14-Power-from-Sewage.mp3|titles=EW 03-04-14 Power from Sewage]
Located on the banks of the Potomac River, the Blue Plains wastewater treatment plant serves over two million people in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. It is also the largest consumer of electricity in the District of Columbia. [Read more…] about Power from sewage
A mosquito fever expands its range
A mosquito-borne virus that causes fever, headaches, and severe joint pain has spread to the Caribbean. Experts fear it’s only a matter of time before it makes its way to the U.S. Chikungunya gets its name from an East African word meaning ‘that which bends,’ due to the posture of its sufferers. [Read more…] about A mosquito fever expands its range
Packaging with mushrooms
The wide use of Styrofoam presents a number of problems for the environment. It is a petroleum-based material that is not biodegradable. Although it can be recycled, it seldom is. Most Styrofoam winds up in landfills, or even worse, floating in waterways. [Read more…] about Packaging with mushrooms
Outsourced pollution
China has the unfortunate reputation of having some of the dirtiest air in the world. Much of the pollution results from the enormous amount of manufacturing that goes on there, often earmarked for countries around the world that have essentially outsourced their own pollution to China. [Read more…] about Outsourced pollution
Batteries from rhubarb and sugar
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-26-14-Batteries-from-Rhubarb-and-Sugar.mp3|titles=EW 02-26-14 Batteries from Rhubarb and Sugar]
Storing energy produced by wind turbines and solar panels is a necessity if these on-again-off-again energy sources are to supply a majority of our electricity needs. But storage technology must be affordable and efficient. [Read more…] about Batteries from rhubarb and sugar
Let’s capture the carbon
Carbon dioxide emissions – largely due to fossil fuel combustion – are at the crux of the global warming problem. Because some carbon dioxide emissions are fairly localized, they are potentially easy to control. [Read more…] about Let’s capture the carbon
Growing insects on the farm
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/EW-02-24-14-Growing-Insects-on-the-Farm.mp3|titles=EW 02-24-14 Growing Insects on the Farm]
The precipitous decline in pollinating insects – particularly bees – has become an issue of great concern around the world. Insects pollinate 75% of the crops that we rely on for food worldwide, and bee populations have declined by as much as 96% over the past century. [Read more…] about Growing insects on the farm
Rare earth metals and green technologies
A growing number of important green technologies depend on rare earth metals and other scarce elements. Everything from the batteries in electric cars to solar panels to advanced wind turbines rely on exotic metals that come from only a few places around the world. Some valuable technologies are not being exploited to their fullest extent due to the scarcity of raw materials. [Read more…] about Rare earth metals and green technologies
Toxic insecticides
The European Food Safety Authority has recommended lowering acceptable human exposure levels to two insecticides — acetamiprid and imidacloprid – due to concerns over their effect on developing human nervous systems. Both are part of a class of insecticides called neonicotinoids, which have come under scrutiny before for their effect on bees. [Read more…] about Toxic insecticides
Geothermal energy on the rise
