Earth Wise

Cochin International Airport in southern India is the seventh busiest airport in the country.   Its managers were fed up with the facility’s large electric bills and decided to take matters in their own hands. Three years ago, they began to add solar panels to the place.  First they put them on the roof of the […]

What large mammal routinely kills 200 humans in the Eastern United States every year?  Here’s a hint:  It’s not cougars.  It’s actually overabundant white-tailed deer.  Deer are notorious for jumping out in front of vehicles.  In fact, many listening to this have likely either hit a deer themselves or have known family or friends that […]

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe.  Estimates are that it comprises 75% of all matter.  There is plenty of it here on earth too, but almost none of it is in its elemental form.  It is mostly bound up in compounds like water. Pure hydrogen is a highly desirable fuel; it gives […]

Several major automakers are betting on hydrogen-powered cars as the future of personal transportation.  The first of these cars are already available in California.  What isn’t readily available is the hydrogen to power them.  There are very few hydrogen stations out there and hydrogen is pretty expensive. People are exploring a variety of ways to […]

The majestic great white shark has been around for a very long time.  Its evolutionary origin dates back 14 to 16 million years.  And while great whites still enjoy decent populations off the coasts of Canada, Australia, and the United States, the same can’t be said for South Africa’s great whites.  According to a new, […]

Those of us who grew up in Los Angeles are quite familiar with the L.A. River.  It’s not much of a river at all.  Just a 51-mile-long concrete drainage ditch that shows up from time to time in movies like The Italian Job and Terminator 2. But it used to be a real river.  For […]

Waste due to excess packaging of the products we buy is a real problem.  It is one that most of us are conscious of and more and more businesses are making efforts toward eco-friendly packaging.  There is increased use of cardboard, which is recyclable.  Most of us try to reduce our waste through recycling.  But […]

A constitutional amendment being discussed in the Brazilian Senate threatens to set back decades of conservation efforts in the Amazon. The amendment, known as PEC 65, would abolish Brazil’s environmental licensing process for infrastructure projects, such as Amazon dams and mines. If adopted, submission of a preliminary environmental impact assessment would be considered sufficient for […]

We have talked about the impact of light pollution on our ability to see stars and the Milky Way.  We have also discussed its impact on our circadian rhythms.   Recently, scientists in Great Britain published a report on the relationship between light pollution and the timing of when trees produce their buds.  The results of […]

The Las Vegas Strip has been referred to as an energy consumption nightmare.  Just one look at the place provides evidence for the claim:  an endless sea of lights, glitz and glamour and cavernous casinos running huge banks of air conditioning equipment in the desert heat.  Even with Boulder Dam a hop, skip and jump […]