Earth Wise

Earth Wise From WAMC Northeast Public Radio, a look at our changing environment. Earth Wise is produced by WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

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 every day on the radio and online. Host Dr. Randy Simon brings decades of scientific background to the microphone to narrate essays and talk to experts. And a big thank you to the Sim Redmond Band for our awesome theme music!

People in remote, low-income regions far from the ocean often need to meet their water needs from groundwater and ground...
07/11/2024

People in remote, low-income regions far from the ocean often need to meet their water needs from groundwater and groundwater is becoming increasingly saline due to climate change. Desalination of brackish groundwater is a huge and largely untapped source of drinking water, but there are challenges in making the process efficient and reliable.

Solar-powered desalination November 7, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment People in remote, low-income regions far from the ocean often need to meet their water needs from groundwater and groundwater is becoming increasingly saline due to climate change.  Desalination of brackish groundwater is a hu...

The Antarctic Peninsula, like other polar regions, is warming faster than the rest of the world. Ocean heatwaves and ic...
06/11/2024

The Antarctic Peninsula, like other polar regions, is warming faster than the rest of the world. Ocean heatwaves and ice loss are becoming more common and more severe.

Antarctic greening November 6, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment The Antarctic Peninsula, like other polar regions, is warming faster than the rest of the world.  Ocean heatwaves and ice loss are becoming more common and more severe. New research by the universities of Exeter and Hertfordshire in t...

According to a new report by the International Energy Agency, the world is on track to produce nearly half of the electr...
05/11/2024

According to a new report by the International Energy Agency, the world is on track to produce nearly half of the electricity it uses from renewable sources by the end of this decade. The report also finds that in nearly every country, large wind and solar plants are the cheapest forms of new power.

Renewables progress November 5, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment According to a new report by the International Energy Agency, the world is on track to produce nearly half of the electricity it uses from renewable sources by the end of this decade.  The report also finds that in nearly every count...

According to a new U.N. report, the world’s rivers had their driest year in at least three decades. Record heat and dro...
04/11/2024

According to a new U.N. report, the world’s rivers had their driest year in at least three decades. Record heat and droughts in many places contributed to low levels of water in many of the world’s rivers.

Rivers are drying up November 4, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment According to a new U.N. report, the world’s rivers had their driest year in at least three decades.  Record heat and droughts in many places contributed to low levels of water in many of the world’s rivers. The world faces probl...

The frequent and massive megafires in places like Canada and the American west have led to a lot of research on the impa...
01/11/2024

The frequent and massive megafires in places like Canada and the American west have led to a lot of research on the impact of smoke on humans but there has been less study of the effects of smoke on plant health. Researchers at the University of California, Davis have found that trees are just as vulnerable as humans are to the harmful effects of long-term exposure to smoke.

Megafires and orchard health November 1, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment The frequent and massive megafires in places like Canada and the American west have led to a lot of research on the impact of smoke on humans but there has been less study of the effects of smoke on plant health.  Researcher...

The Industrial Revolution, which basically got underway in the mid-19th century, was largely enabled by coal, which fuel...
31/10/2024

The Industrial Revolution, which basically got underway in the mid-19th century, was largely enabled by coal, which fueled iron manufacturing, railroads, steam engines, and more. Most of these things got their start in Britain, which inspired the rest of the world to follow suit.

The last coal plant in Britain October 31, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment The Industrial Revolution, which basically got underway in the mid-19th century, was largely enabled by coal, which fueled iron manufacturing, railroads, steam engines, and more.  Most of these things got their start in Br...

As the dangers of climate change continue to grow, so has interest in geoengineering – deliberate tinkering with the ear...
30/10/2024

As the dangers of climate change continue to grow, so has interest in geoengineering – deliberate tinkering with the earth’s climate system. In particular, stratospheric solar geoengineering – releasing aerosols into the stratosphere to reduce the amount of heat from the sun reaching the Earth – is attracting increasing interest.

Renegade geoengineering October 30, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment As the dangers of climate change continue to grow, so has interest in geoengineering – deliberate tinkering with the earth’s climate system.  In particular, stratospheric solar geoengineering – releasing aerosols into the s...

According to the National Retail Federation, spending on Halloween festivities this year by the 72% of Americans who pla...
28/10/2024

According to the National Retail Federation, spending on Halloween festivities this year by the 72% of Americans who plan to celebrate is expected to total $11.6 billion – or about $104 per person. The annual consumer survey also found that 67% of Americans plan to pass out candy this year, and nearly 50% of Americans plan to carve a pumpkin.

Halloween pumpkins October 28, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment According to the National Retail Federation, spending on Halloween festivities this year by the 72% of Americans who plan to celebrate is expected to total $11.6 billion – or about $104 per person.  The annual consumer survey also f...

The size and especially the weight of batteries is a critical factor for most things that use them. Battery weight is a...
25/10/2024

The size and especially the weight of batteries is a critical factor for most things that use them. Battery weight is a key limitation for computers and cell phones. It is even more of a limitation for electric cars, ships, or planes.

A structural battery October 25, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment The size and especially the weight of batteries is a critical factor for most things that use them.  Battery weight is a key limitation for computers and cell phones. It is even more of a limitation for electric cars, ships, or plan...

As greenhouse gas emissions continue to be dangerously large and the perils of climate change are increasingly apparent,...
24/10/2024

As greenhouse gas emissions continue to be dangerously large and the perils of climate change are increasingly apparent, the world is increasingly exploring ways to deliberately intervene in climate systems. A number of these ideas involve introducing substances into the atmosphere, but there are also ways to tinker with the oceans.

Ocean geoengineering October 24, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment As greenhouse gas emissions continue to be dangerously large and the perils of climate change are increasingly apparent, the world is increasingly exploring ways to deliberately intervene in climate systems.  A number of these ideas...

Every year, there are one to two million collisions between motor vehicles and large animals in the U.S. About 200 peop...
23/10/2024

Every year, there are one to two million collisions between motor vehicles and large animals in the U.S. About 200 people are killed annually. Counting smaller vertebrates, around a million animals are killed by vehicles each day. Research has shown that global warming is triggering widespread species redistribution. As a result, more and more animals are on the move, changing their habitats to escape warming temperatures and climate extremes.

Wildlife crossings October 23, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment Every year, there are one to two million collisions between motor vehicles and large animals in the U.S.  About 200 people are killed annually.  Counting smaller vertebrates, around a million animals are killed by vehicles each day.....

Methane is a colorless and odorless gas that occurs abundantly in nature and is also a product of certain human activiti...
22/10/2024

Methane is a colorless and odorless gas that occurs abundantly in nature and is also a product of certain human activities. It’s a short-lived but highly potent greenhouse gas and, as a result, is a major driver of climate change. In fact, methane heats the atmosphere nearly 90 times faster than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.

Rising methane emissions October 22, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment Methane is a colorless and odorless gas that occurs abundantly in nature and is also a product of certain human activities.  It’s a short-lived but highly potent greenhouse gas and, as a result, is a major driver of climate ch...

As more and more cars are powered by electricity instead of gasoline, people are beginning to worry about what happens d...
21/10/2024

As more and more cars are powered by electricity instead of gasoline, people are beginning to worry about what happens during power outages caused by storms and other disruptive events. It is easy to jump to the conclusion that this is a brand-new problem for drivers. However, when electricity goes out over a sizeable area, most gas pumps stop working and it isn’t easy to keep gas cars running either.

Electric cars and power outages October 21, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment As more and more cars are powered by electricity instead of gasoline, people are beginning to worry about what happens during power outages caused by storms and other disruptive events.  It is easy to jump to the conclusi...

According to a sweeping global research review recently published in the journal Science, greenhouse gas emissions from ...
18/10/2024

According to a sweeping global research review recently published in the journal Science, greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture are now 18 times higher than they were in the 1960s.

The impact of climate change on agriculture October 18, 2024 By EarthWise Leave a Comment Agriculture is a major part of the climate problem and remains one of the hardest human activities to decarbonize.  Agriculture is responsible for approximately 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions. On farms...

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