Earth Wise

Domesticated honeybees are an essential part of our agricultural system, being responsible for one in every three bites of food Americans consume and contributing $15 billion a year to the value of the nation’s crop production.  Millions of bee colonies are trucked across the country every year to pollinate cranberries, melons, broccoli, blueberries, and cherries, […]

Biodiversity has been declining at an alarming rate in recent years as a result of human activities, including land use changes, pollution, and climate change.  According to a 2019 UN report, one million species – out of an estimated eight million – are threatened with extinction.  Many scientists warn we are in the middle of […]

According to a new report released by the World Wildlife Fund, global populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish have declined by 68% in less than half a century.  The report presents a comprehensive overview of the state of the natural world based on the tracking of almost 21,000 populations of more than 4,000 […]

New research from the University of Exeter in the UK reveals that the world’s oceans soak up more carbon than previously believed.  Previous estimates of the movement of carbon between the atmosphere and the oceans did not account for the temperature differences between the water’s surface and a few meters below. The new model includes […]

The Komodo dragon is the world’s largest and most iconic lizard.  Growing up to 10 feet long and weighing up to 360 pounds, Komodo dragons are endemic to five islands in southeast Indonesia, four of which are part of Komodo National Park, as well as a fifth that has three nature reserves.  Komodo dragons have […]

In August, the New York Power Authority announced the start of construction on one of the largest battery energy storage projects in the nation.  Located in Franklin County at the very top of New York State, the project will comprise 20 MW of lithium ion battery storage that will help the state meet its peak […]

Biomes are large, naturally occurring communities of flora and fauna that occupy a major habitat.  Examples include several different kinds of forests, grasslands, deserts, and tundra.  According to a new study published in the journal Global Change Biology, the resilience of North America’s plant biomes is declining, which means that they are in danger of […]

Small island developing states increasingly find themselves with large amounts of plastic waste.  A recent study looked at the financial cost for removing it. Aldabra Atoll is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Seychelles.  It is the world’s second-largest coral atoll and is the home of 307 species of animals and plants, including the […]

Celiac disease is a well-documented autoimmune disease triggered by exposure to the dietary proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley.  Celiac disease affects less than 1% of Americans yet many more people claim to be sensitive to gluten. When people with celiac disease eat gluten, their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small […]

California has unique micro-climate diversity that creates ideal growing conditions for a wide range of crops.  One third of the vegetables and two-thirds of the fruits and nuts we eat in this country are grown on the more than 76,000 farms in California.  But as the climate continues to change, many farmers have started to […]