Earth Wise

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as much as 40% of the food supply in the United States is wasted.  In fact, Americans generate more food waste than all but two countries. To address this problem, the federal government announced a goal nearly a decade ago to cut food waste in half by 2030 […]

The changing climate is creating challenges for some of the most productive apple growing regions in America.  A study by Washington State University analyzed over 40 years of climate conditions that impact the growth cycle of apple trees. Many growing areas face increased climate risk, but the top three apple-producing counties are among the most […]

Hydroclimate whiplash is a term that describes rapid swings between intensely wet and dangerously dry weather.  Global weather records show that the occurrence of hydroclimate whiplash has increased by 31% or as much as 66% since the mid-20th century.  California’s experience is a prime example of this phenomenon.  After years of severe drought, dozens of […]

A decade ago, the ability of utilities to store large amounts of electricity in batteries was basically nonexistent.  In the past several years, growth in battery storage systems has exploded.  As of the end of November, the US had about 24 gigawatt-hours of storage capacity in place.  This is 71% more than just a year […]

Advances in genomics have created the possibility of bringing back extinct species from the past by making use of recovered DNA from preserved specimens.  Companies attempting to “de-extinct” iconic species have received hundreds of millions of dollars from venture capitalists. These companies are trying to bring back iconic species that include ivory-billed woodpeckers, Tasmanian tigers, […]

For many years, scientists have warned that the Great Salt Lake in Utah is headed toward a catastrophic decline.  While the size of the Great Salt Lake fluctuates naturally with seasonal and long-term weather patterns, the lake has been experiencing significant and steady declines for decades.  In fact, the Great Salt Lake has lost more […]

The Cambridge Energy Storage Project in Cambridge, Minnesota will be the first commercial deployment of iron-air battery technology.  Developed by startup company Form Energy, the battery system will provide 1.5 MW and 150 MWh of multi-day energy storage. Iron-air batteries are based on the principle of reversible rusting.  When discharging, the battery releases energy by […]

The most abundant protein on the planet is an enzyme called ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, better known as RuBisCO.  Its critical role in photosynthesis makes life as we know it on earth possible.  What it does is convert carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the organic matter contained in plants. Getting plants to take up more carbon […]

The interests of billionaires seldom seem to coincide with our own.  In fact, they often seem to be quite the opposite.  But there are a number of billionaires who are trying to help the world combat climate change.  Yes, they want to make money doing it, but doing it is nevertheless in everyone’s interest. A […]

The Paris Climate Agreement is a global treaty adopted in 2015 to combat climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, while striving to keep it below 1.5°C.  But according to recent research, the planet is quickly approaching these critical thresholds.  An international research team led by scientists from Colorado […]