Earth Wise

Fresh fruits and vegetables can sometimes become contaminated by microorganisms during their long journey from fields to restaurants and grocery stores.  Contaminated produce can spoil other produce, which increases the number of fruits and vegetables in the supply chain that can cause illnesses.  In order to prevent this cross-contamination between produce, researchers from Texas A&M […]

Many countries, states, and cities around the world have set goals to become carbon neutral, typically by the year 2050.  These goals are based on the desire to mitigate the effects of climate change that are steadily increasing as a result of the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  But reducing emissions is not […]

The need to mitigate the effects of climate change has been a global focus for about 40 years and has seen ever-changing views on what actions are needed.  The historical record has been defined by over-reliance on promises of new technology to solve climate change.  Looking to future technology to save the environment has been […]

A new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society, the US Forest Service, and UC Berkeley has shown that mountain-dwelling species trying to escape warming temperatures may also be finding refuge from human pressure. The study shows that nearly 60% of the world’s mountainous areas are under intense human pressure.  Most of that pressure occurs at […]

One of the great concerns about the warming Arctic temperatures is that thawing permafrost will release alarming amounts of methane into the atmosphere.  Organic material in the permafrost begins to decompose when temperatures rise, and methane is released in the process. Methane is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.  Methane’s lifetime in […]

Many of the nation’s environmental laws are under siege from the current administration, but a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court has solidified the Clean Water Act’s place as one of the country’s most effective environmental laws. The case in question was about whether a wastewater treatment plant in Maui has been violating the […]

In order to meet international climate targets, we need to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half over the next decade and reach net-zero by mid-century.  Achieving this will require unprecedented and rapid changes in how energy is supplied, distributed and used. Researchers at several European universities collected data on a wide variety of energy technologies […]

Our stories often discuss how human activities change the natural environment.  With most of us confined to our homes, the lack of human activities is having profound effects on the environment.  We are talking about some of these this week. With about a third of the world’s population sheltering in place, our planet is much […]

Our stories often discuss how human activities change the natural environment.  With most of us confined to our homes, the lack of human activities is having profound effects on the environment.  We are talking about some of these this week. Seven different species of sea turtles are found in the world’s oceans and play important […]

Our stories often discuss how human activities change the natural environment.  With most of us confined to our homes, the lack of human activities is having profound effects on the environment.  We are talking about some of these this week. India suffers from some of the worst air pollution in the world.  Of the most […]