Earth Wise

Multiple studies are now reporting that wind and solar power are the cheapest way to make electricity in a growing number of places around the world.   A thorough analysis of the levelized cost of energy – which considers every cost component from capital expenditures to operating and maintenance costs over a lifetime – shows that […]

There are many good reasons why we should be making the transition from fossil fuel energy sources but the one that is likely to be the most persuasive is strictly economic.  It has long been said that the renewable energy future will truly arrive when installing new solar panels is cheaper than a comparable investment […]

Climate change is posing a major threat to polar bear survival.  The polar bear, whose native range lies largely within the Arctic Circle, depends on sea ice for nearly all of its life cycle functions.  And rising temperatures are causing that sea ice to disappear.  Earlier this month, officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife […]

Because of its Arctic location, Alaska is warming about twice as fast as the rest of the United States.   The past year has been the warmest on record.  The forces of erosion and increasingly powerful storms have resulted in the imminent risk of destruction for at least 31 Alaskan towns and cities.   Many are predicted […]

As the oceans warm, many kinds of fish are on the move, seeking cooler and deeper water.  Because of this, the fishing industry is struggling with antiquated regulations that are not moving as fast as the climate is changing. The waters of Rhode Island Sound used to be a bountiful source of whiting, but those […]

We don’t experience climate; we experience weather.  And a new study has found that what Americans believe about the changing climate often depends more on their personal experience than what is going on around the world. There is a cognitive disconnect between local and global events and this represents one of the greatest challenges in […]

A new study has revealed that the global population of the world’s fastest land animal – the cheetah – is down to only 7,100, a drop of 50% over the past 40 years.  The dramatic decline in cheetah population could soon lead to the extinction of the species unless urgent conservation efforts are made. Cheetahs […]

The new administration has promised to revitalize the coal industry in the U.S.   A major part of this plan is to eliminate various regulations that hamper that industry.  But the truth is that coal has lost ground for far more important reasons than regulation. The biggest factor is economics.   Coal is simply no longer cost-competitive […]

According to the FDA, approximately three-quarters of all antibiotics used in the U.S. are fed to livestock for non-therapeutic purposes.  This routine administration of antibiotics promotes the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which can spread to animals and humans.   And as antibiotic-resistant bacteria spreads, medicines used to treat human diseases can become less effective. Antibiotic resistant […]

Farmers in many places have found additional sources of income by allowing wind turbines to be built on their land.  One example is the Amazon Wind Farm, which is a massive project of over 100 turbines near Elizabeth City, North Carolina.  The 494-foot tall turbine towers scattered over 34 square miles are rising up above […]