Earth Wise
The road to better batteries
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Electric cars are becoming more popular all the time, but are still a very small niche in the overall vehicle market because they cost too much and they don’t drive far on a single charge. [Read more…] about The road to better batteries
Testing the value of storage
As the electrical grid comes to depend more and more on intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, it is becoming important to be able to store electricity for later use. [Read more…] about Testing the value of storage
How hot is your smartphone?
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Recent studies suggest that rising temperatures are likely to be associated with changes in mortality in urban areas. Winter deaths may decline, as the severity of flu and the incidence of slippage on ice both decrease when winters are warmer. [Read more…] about How hot is your smartphone?
A measles-like virus that leads to dolphin loss
A measles-like virus has been sweeping through bottlenose dolphins along the Eastern Seaboard. Since July, more than 330 dolphins have washed up dead on shore between North Carolina and New York, and many more are likely infected. [Read more…] about A measles-like virus that leads to dolphin loss
Keeping cats in the house
Keeping pet cats indoors or allowing them to roam free, there’s more to the decision than managing fleas. Consider the fact that cats – domestic and feral – kill up to 3.7 billion birds each year, as well as 20 billion small mammals. [Read more…] about Keeping cats in the house
Turning climate change concern into action
A recent survey shows half of Americans consider environmental impacts when making a purchase. However, far fewer are actively engaged in the fight against climate change. [Read more…] about Turning climate change concern into action
Seafood mislabeling
Next time you think about ordering a spicy tuna roll, you may want to consider this. A study by Oceana found that 59 percent of fish labeled “tuna” at restaurants and grocery stores in the U.S. were not, in fact, tuna. Sushi restaurants were the worst offenders, accounting for three-quarters of mislabeled tuna. [Read more…] about Seafood mislabeling
Science in Massachusetts
We’ve heard time and again that American students lag behind in the sciences, especially compared to students in many Asian countries. [Read more…] about Science in Massachusetts
New York's electric truck incentive program
The transportation sector is responsible for three-fourths of U.S. petroleum consumption, and 40 percent of New York State’s greenhouse gas emissions. In 2010, the Obama administration announced the first fuel economy standards for heavy vehicles. New York State’s Governor Cuomo is taking fuel savings for trucks even further. [Read more…] about New York's electric truck incentive program
Giving some of your lawn back to nature
A manicured lawn is as synonymous with suburban America as the white picket fence. But if maintaining that perfectly green yard seems like a chore, that’s because lawns are – essentially – unnatural. [Read more…] about Giving some of your lawn back to nature
The hidden cost of antibacterial products
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A new study is the first to reveal that triclosan – a synthetic antibacterial widely used in personal care products – is fueling the growth of resistant bacteria in streams and rivers. [Read more…] about The hidden cost of antibacterial products
A debate over trash
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There is no shortage of trash in the world. Figuring out what to do with it is a challenge that grows larger all the time. [Read more…] about A debate over trash
Old car or new car?
So, you want to do something good for the environment. Should you replace your old car with a fuel efficient model or keep it because you know it takes a lot of energy to produce a new car? A clear answer to this question has been elusive. [Read more…] about Old car or new car?
Green power for the U.S. military
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Due to a combination of economics and national security, the U.S. military has become one of the biggest investors in green energy over the past five years. [Read more…] about Green power for the U.S. military
Gray seals thriving off Cape Cod
If you visited Cape Cod this summer, you probably heard tourists and locals all over town talking about the seals. [Read more…] about Gray seals thriving off Cape Cod
Hydrogen fueled cars
[audio:http://wamcradio.org/EarthWise/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/EW-10-07-13-Hydrogen-Fueled-Cars.mp3|titles=EW 10-07-13 Hydrogen Fueled Cars]
We are starting see some real momentum in the adoption of electric cars. There are more models to choose from, and public charging stations are starting to show up in our neighborhoods. [Read more…] about Hydrogen fueled cars
An alarming connection between pesticides and Parkinson’s
Many pesticides interfere with the nervous transmission in insects, whereas herbicides often mimic the hormones that control growth and development in plants. I suppose, in hindsight, we should have expected these chemicals to have some effects on humans as well. [Read more…] about An alarming connection between pesticides and Parkinson’s
Fuel cells for refrigerated trucks
Refrigerated trucks are a crucial part of our food delivery system. Approximately 300,000 of them are on the road in the United States. Most of them use an auxiliary power unit, which is a small diesel engine that burns about 10 gallons of fuel a day keeping food cold. [Read more…] about Fuel cells for refrigerated trucks
Dams complicate river management
