Earth Wise

As the climate warms, city dwellers tend to suffer from extreme heat more than people in rural areas because of the urban heat island effect. Extensive surfaces of man-made materials like concrete, asphalt, and brick absorb the sun’s energy and lead to temperatures well above those in the surrounding countryside. Cities can take countermeasures that […]

Do you crave that morning cup of coffee?  You’re not alone, and not by a long shot.  In fact, more than 2.2 billion cups of coffee are consumed globally every day.  The existing coffee market is dominated by two species: Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora (the latter commonly called robusta).  Historically, coffee drinkers have preferred […]

Scientists have discovered a new type of wood that is highly efficient at storing carbon.  A comprehensive survey of the microscopic structure of the wood from many species of trees revealed that there is a type of wood that is neither softwood, such as pine and conifers, or hardwood, such as oak, ash, and birch. […]

Weeds are the bane of every gardener’s existence.  They pop up, uncontrolled and unwelcome, and must be tediously managed time and time again.  But in some cases, weeds are more than just a nuisance.  Some are a public health hazard.  Meet giant hogweed.  Native to Europe’s Caucasus Mountains, giant hogweed belongs to the carrot family. […]

A prolonged and widespread coral bleaching event in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has taken place this year.  It is the fifth such event over the past eight years and appears to be one of the worst ever.  According to preliminary analysis, 97% of corals in some areas of the northern part of the reef died […]

Air pollution is a serious health threat.  It is associated with asthma and can lead to chronic disease, cancer, and premature death.  Globally, air pollution kills 7 to 9 million people, and 200,000 Americans die from it each year. There are multiple sources of air pollution including automobiles, power plants, and other industrial activities.  Exposure […]

One of the country’s largest co-located solar and battery energy storage projects is now fully operational.  The Gemini Solar+Storage project is located in Clark County, Nevada, about 30 minutes outside of Las Vegas. The project’s 1.8 million solar panels can generate up to 690 megawatts of electricity, which is enough to supply about 10% of […]

China has been the biggest source of greenhouse emissions for nearly 20 years.  Its emissions surpassed those of the United States in 2006 and its fraction of the world’s emissions is now nearly a third.  Therefore, unless China’s emissions stop growing, the world’s emissions won’t either. Recent data from China’s government and by energy analysts […]

There have been numerous temperature records set in recent years.  Apart from record high temperatures for many places around the world, there were 13 consecutive monthly temperature records set for the planet since the previous summer. According to NASA data, July 22, 2024, was the hottest day on record.  July 21st and 23rd also exceeded […]

According to new data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, solar and wind now make up more than 20% of the total US electrical generating capacity.  Adding up all renewable energy sources – which also include biomass, geothermal, and hydropower – renewable energy is now nearly 30% of the total electrical generating capacity in this […]