Earth Wise

By Randy SimonScience Education Self-Improvement Natural Sciences Nature

Earth Wise episodes

October 25, 2019 Breaking Down Forever Chemicals
One of the toughest classes of pollutants are per- and polyfluoralkyl substances, or PFAS, as they are known. PFAS are often called “forever chemicals” because they are extremely long-lasting and difficult to clean up. They are found in household products including non-stick pans, dental floss, water-repellent fabrics, and many others. They can be found extensively in U.S. waterways and soil.
PFAS move through the food chain, accumulating in humans at levels that scientists say can cause adverse health effects. While these have not been definitively proven, there is evidence that higher cholesterol levels, cancer, thyroid disruption, and low infant birth rates are all associated with PFAS ingestion.
PFAS are difficult to get rid of because their carbon-fluorine covalent bonds are some of the strongest in organic chemistry. Researchers at Princeton University have been studying a process known as Feammox in which ammonium breaks down in acidic, iron-rich soils in New Jersey wetlands and similar locations. They found that this reaction takes place when a bacterium called Acidimicrobium A6 is present.
Using gene-sequencing techniques, they found that the microbe has
characteristics that could help break down carbon-fluorine bonds, and therefore
break down PFAS. In tests using
microbe-loaded soil samples, they found that the bacterium removed 60% of PFAS
pollutants within 60 days.
The research has been published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology and the team is now testing the bacterium’s effectiveness over different time-spans in lab conditions before testing it in the field.
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New Jersey Soil Microbe Shown to Break Down ‘Forever Chemicals’
Photo, posted November 9, 2017, courtesy of the Department of Environmental Quality via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
2 min
October 24, 2019 A Powerful Case For Protecting Whales
Efforts to mitigate climate change typically face two major challenges. One is to find effective ways to reduce the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The other is how to raise enough money to implement climate mitigation strategies.
Many proposed solutions to climate change, like carbon capture and
storage, are complex, expensive, and in some cases, untested. What if there was a low-tech solution that
was effective and economical?
Well, it turns out there is one, and it comes from a surprisingly
simple, “no-tech” strategy to capture CO2: increase global whale
populations.
According to a recent analysis by economists with the International
Monetary Fund, whales help fight climate change by sequestering CO2 in the
ocean.
Whales sequester carbon in a few ways. They hoard it in their fat and protein-rich bodies, stockpiling tons of carbon apiece. When whales die, they turn into literal carbon sinks on the ocean floor. While alive, whales dive to feed on tiny marine organisms like krill and plankton before surfacing to breathe and excrete. Those latter activities release an enormous plume of nutrients, including nitrogen, iron, and phosphorous, into the water. These so-called “poo-namis” stimulate the growth of phytoplankton, microscopic marine algae that pull CO2 out of the air and return oxygen to the air via photosynthesis. Phytoplankton are responsible for every other breath we take, contributing at least 50% of all oxygen to the atmosphere and capturing approximately 40% of all CO2 produced.
With other economic benefits like ecotourism factored in, economists
estimate that each whale is worth $2 million over its lifetime, making the
entire global population possibly a one trillion dollar asset to humanity.
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How much is a whale worth?
Photo, posted June 12, 2013, courtesy of Gregory Smith via Flickr.
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October 23, 2019 Compressed Air Energy Storage
The increasing use of solar and wind power has created a growing need for technology to store up the energy they generate for use when it is most needed.
Historically, pumped hydropower has provided the largest amount of
storage capacity, but it is limited to only certain geographic locations. Battery energy storage has been growing
rapidly, with the technology becoming better and cheaper over time. But there are various other ways to store
energy that have potential and may well find their place in the changing energy
infrastructure.
One of these is compressed air energy storage, which has been around
for more than a century. It has been
used as a backup method for restarting power plants. But to date, the economic viability of using
it at a large scale has been lacking.
A Canadian startup company called Hydrostor is developing compressed
air energy storage technology that it believes can be used on a utility scale.
The way it works is excess renewable energy is used to run compressors
that compress air. Compressing the air
heats it up and the heat is captured and stored in insulated hot water tanks. The compressed gas is then injected into
underground caverns. When energy is
needed, the compressed air is released, the stored heat is added, and the
warmed gas is run through turbines to generate electricity. Additional features improve the system’s
efficiency.
Hydrostore has built a 1 MW pilot project in Ontario, Canada and is
now commissioning a 2MW system as well.
It is funded to build a 5 MW system in Australia next year and it is bidding
for 300 MW and 500 MW systems in North America.
The company has received equity funding from Baker Hughes, a large
oil-and-gas services and equipment company.
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Storing energy in compressed air could finally become cheap enough for the big time
Photo courtesy of Hydrostor.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
2 min
October 22, 2019 A New Kind Of Coral Nursery
Coral reefs around the world are struggling from warming waters and increasing ocean acidification driven by excess carbon dioxide. Many of the world’s greatest reefs – such as Australia’s Great Barrier Reef – have seen steep declines over the past decade.
But apart from the global environmental threat, reefs also are often
damaged by various marine accidents such as ships grounding on them. Such events can severely damage a reef and
scatter countless small coral fragments onto the seafloor. These small pieces of coral are not actually
dead; they can continue on with their lives if they are relocated to a suitable
environment such as a coral nursery.
Coral nurseries are generally small installations that allow coral
fragments – typically pieces about 4 inches in length – to recover from their
reef breaking up and to grow until they are large enough for conservation
managers to replant them into reefs that need them. This strategy works well in places where
corals grow relatively quickly – such as Florida and the Caribbean – but not as
well in places where coral grows more slowly, such as Hawaii.
Recently, coral experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration working with mechanical engineering students at the University
of Hawaii have developed a new type of coral nursery that can save fully formed
coral colonies as opposed to small coral fragments.
The nurseries are large, carefully designed structures that can be
loaded up with corals that have become detached from their reefs. Some of these new structures were installed
in the waters of Oahu in the summer of 2018 and were populated with
corals. The relocated corals, which would
have otherwise died, are now recovering nicely in their new coral daycare
centers and will soon be replanted back into the reef.
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NOAA Develops A New Type of Coral Nursery
Photo, posted July 29, 2010, courtesy of Kyle Taylor via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
2 min
October 21, 2019 Eco-Friendly Agriculture
Modern agriculture has steadily destroyed native grasslands, among other ecosystems. In fact, farming is one of the most ecologically destructive things that humans do. But we do have to eat. In response, there is a growing movement for agrarian reform, from grain farming on the prairie, to agroforestry, to raising livestock more sustainably. Efforts are accelerating to develop a kinder, gentler agriculture adapted to a changing world.
One such effort has come from the Land Institute, an organization in
Kansas that works on natural systems agriculture, which seeks to retain the
ecological stability of the prairie with its perennial seed plants along with a
grain and seed yield comparable to that from annual crops.
After four decades of effort, the institute has introduced its first commercial grain, a trademarked variety called Kernza. Kernza is a domesticated perennial wild grass – a so-called intermediate wheatgrass – that has a long, slender head that resembles wheat seeds. People describe its taste as sweet and nutty. Kernza is already being made into a cereal called Honey Toasted Kernza by Cascadian Farms. Patagonia Provisions – a spin-off from the clothing company – is making beer from the new grain.
Although Kernza is already being grown and sold commercially, it is not yet ready for prime time. Last year, there were only about 1,000 acres in cultivation and the yield is only a third to a tenth of the yield of wheat.
Developing a sustainable perennial polyculture of edible plants would
have major benefits such as not having to plow every year, plants developing
large root systems that can reach water far beneath the surface and, without
annual plowing, having soil carbon remain in the ground.
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With New Perennial Grain, a Step Forward for Eco-Friendly Agriculture
Photo courtesy of Cascadian Farms/General Mills.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
2 min
October 18, 2019 Monster Tumbleweeds
Tumbleweeds have long been seen as symbols of America’s old west. Tumbleweeds are a structural part of the above-ground anatomy of a number of species of plants known as diaspores. Diaspores are essentially seed dispersal units. In a few seed plants, they comprise most or all of the plant. Once they are mature and dry, they detach from the roots and roll around due to the force of the wind.
There is a new species of gigantic tumbleweed – the Salsola ryanii –
that is expanding its territory in the American west. It is the result of a relatively unusual
genetic process known as polyploidy, which produces offspring with multiple
sets of chromosomes. Researchers believe
that that the new hybrid species of tumbleweed is healthier than earlier
versions. As a result, one geneticist
described Salsola ryanii as a nasty species replacing other nasty species of
tumbleweed in the US.
These tumbleweeds can grow up to 6 feet tall. Tumbleweeds in general are invasive plants that cause traffic accidents, damage agricultural operations, and cause millions of dollars in property damage. Last year, the town of Victorville in the California desert was buried in them, piling up to the second story of some houses.
Salsola ryanii has a relatively small range, but it is expanding
rapidly. The new study determined that
it is more vigorous than its predecessors, which are invasive in 48
states. The plant is an annual but tends
to grow on the later side of winter. It
is one of the only things that is still green in late summer. With summer rains increasing as the climate
changes, these monster tumbleweeds are poised to wreak havoc. The experts are warning that there should be
efforts to suppress them before they take over.
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Monster tumbleweed: Invasive new species is here to stay
Photo, posted February 27, 2018, courtesy of Tracie Hall via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
2 min
October 17, 2019 Other Ways To Cut Vehicle Emissions
It is pretty clear that the way to drastically reduce vehicle greenhouse gas emissions is to switch as many vehicles as possible to electric power. As a result, more and more localities are putting in place policies that encourage electrification.
While there is no doubt that electrification is the long-term solution
to vehicle emissions, a recent study by MIT and the Ford Motor Company found
that, in the short term, there are some places in the US where electric cars
are not the best way to reduce emissions.
The study looked at a variety of factors that affect the relative
performance of vehicles. These include
the role of low temperatures in reducing battery performance, regional
differences in the average number of miles driven annually, and significant
differences in the way electricity is generated in different parts of the US.
The results showed that electric vehicles definitely provide the greatest impact in reducing greenhouse gas emissions for most of the country – and particularly on both coasts and in the south – but that there are some places in the upper Midwest where the greatest reduction would be achieved by the use of lightweight gasoline-powered vehicles.
In places like parts of Wisconsin and Michigan, it is mostly rural, there are cold winters, and electricity is predominantly generated by coal-powered plants. In these places, if gas-powered lightweight cars were to be used, the overall benefit would be greater than that of electric cars. Unfortunately, there are no high-volume lightweight gasoline-powered mid-sized cars on the market in the US. Ironically, the only cars of that class using lightweight aluminum construction are Teslas.
While electric cars are truly the long-term solution, the study does demonstrate
the benefits of reducing the weight of vehicles.
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What’s the best way to cut vehicle greenhouse-gas emissions?
Photo, posted February 9, 2018, courtesy of Dave Field via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
2 min
October 17, 2019 Birds Are Disappearing
A new analysis, published in the journal Science, reports that the number of birds in the United States and Canada has fallen by 29% since 1970. There are 2.9 billion fewer birds in the two countries now than there were 50 years ago.
The analysis is the most comprehensive attempt to date to look at the
status of avian populations. The results
were a shock to researchers and conservation organizations.
It is well-known that some bird species have become vulnerable to
extinction, but the new study, which surveyed more than 500 species, uncovered
steep losses even among such traditionally abundant birds as robins and
sparrows.
There appear to be multiple causes for the steep declines. The largest ones are likely habitat loss and
the wider use of pesticides. Rachel
Carson’s 1962 book Silent Spring warned of the dangers of pesticides and
took its title from a world that has lost its birds.
The survey includes 76% of all bird species in the US and Canada, but actually represents almost the entire population of birds. Grassland species have suffered the biggest declines by far, as a result of modern agriculture and development. Pesticides, such as neonicotinoids, make it harder for birds to put on weight needed for migration, delaying their travel.
There are a few bright spots: bald eagles are thriving, and falcon and waterfowl populations are on the upswing. These are species that have been the subject of conservation measures in recent decades.
Stopping the bird decline will require a great deal of effort to
defend habitats, restrict chemicals, and redesign buildings. Without that effort, birds will continue to
disappear.
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Birds Are Vanishing From North America
Photo, posted April 1, 2012, courtesy of Barry Skeates via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
2 min
October 15, 2019 An Upside Of Climate Change
In contrast with most countries in the world, the main political factions in the United States have very different views of climate change. Somehow, one side of the aisle remains skeptical about the changing climate even as temperature records are broken, arctic ice disappears, and powerful storms become increasingly common.
But putting aside the increasingly inexplicable political schism about climate change, there are instances where the consequences of the warming climate are not all dire. In fact, there are places where climate change is having a positive effect.
One such place is West Virginia, where research studies are finding a
real upside to the changing climate.
A recent study of the climate in West Virginia over the period from
1900 to 2016 found the maximum temperatures trended downward, average minimum
temperatures ascended, and annual precipitation increased. On average, West Virginians are now seeing
cooler summers, warmer winters and wetter weather.
Given these changes, there have been big changes in agriculture. Yields of important crops like hay, corn,
winter wheat, and soybeans have all increased.
The winter season has shrunk by as much as 20 days and the growing
season itself has increased by approximately 13 days. A number of crops that historically did not
fare well in West Virginia may now become viable. It may even be possible to pursue double
cropping, meaning that the longer growing season may allow farmers to raise one
crop, harvest it, and then raise and harvest a second crop within the same
year.
In the big picture, climate change is shaping up as a global calamity,
but for a few people in certain places – such as West Virginia – it may have
some real upside.
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The positive implications of…climate change? WVU researcher sees agricultural, food availability and economic possibilities
Photo, posted November 12, 2014, courtesy of Mike via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
2 min
October 14, 2019 Pulling Water From The Air
A couple of years ago, we reported on the early development of a device that harvests water from the air that even works in the low humidity environment of a desert. Since then, the researchers from UC Berkeley have continued to improve the device and it is now 10 times better than it was two years ago.
The harvester is based on a porous water-absorbing material called a
metal-organic framework, or MOF. The
latest version can pull more than five cups of water from low-humidity air per
day for every kilogram of the improved MOF material and that is more than
enough water to sustain a person. The
harvester cycles around the clock and is powered by solar panels and a battery.
Previous techniques for condensing water from air at low humidity
required cooling down the air to temperatures below freezing, which is not
economically practical. The MOF-based
device does not require any cooling.
The Berkeley researchers have formed a startup company – Water
Harvester, Inc. – which is now testing and will soon market a device the size
of a microwave oven that can supply 7 to 10 liters of water per day, which is
enough drinking and cooking water for two or three adults.
An even larger version of the harvester, which would be the size of a
small refrigerator, would provide 200 to 250 liters of water per day, enough
for a household to drink, cook, and shower.
The new company envisions a village-scale harvester that would produce
20,000 liters per day, still running off of solar panels and a battery.
Water Harvester believes the water needs for many people can come out
of the thin air.
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Water harvester makes it easy to quench your thirst in the desert
Photo courtesy of Grant Glover (University of South Alabama) via UC Berkeley.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.
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From green business and new environmental legislation to how nature impacts our environment in ways never before considered, Earth Wise offers a look at our changing environment.