By Subject - Environment

  • Raising (Whooping) Crane
    Raising (Whooping) Crane

    Refuge is site of effort to use ultralight aircraft to guide crane chicks toward Florida wintering grounds. Dangers remain, but it’s a step ahead for Americas’ largest flying bird, once reduced to 21 animals.


    Thursday, October 15th, 2009
  • Planetary limits: More than just global warming
    Planetary limits: More than just global warming

    Scientists propose 9 limits on human actions: Wrecking ozone, over-using fertilizer, killing species could block key “ecosystem services.” Are there natural limits to fresh water use and pollution?


    Thursday, October 1st, 2009
  • Computer image of Earth focused on Antarctica with large blue shading representing ozone hole.
    No joke: Laughing gas attacks ozone!

    The ozone layer protects Earth from UV rays: Twenty-two years after a treaty to protect ozone, how is the layer doing? What has happened to the ozone hole above Antarctica?


    Thursday, September 3rd, 2009
  • Fertilizing the ocean
    Fertilizing the ocean

    As Earth warms, should we try huge geoengineering projects to cool the climate? Would adding iron to fertilize ocean plants withdraw enough carbon dioxide to slow warming — or backfire?


    Thursday, August 6th, 2009
  • History of fishing
    History of fishing

    A new study finds a surprising number of fish, birds and mammals in the oceans 100 and 1,000 years ago. Can this information help regulators slow the decline of important marine animals?


    Thursday, May 28th, 2009
  • Counting birds
    Counting birds

    The feds put out a massive report on American birds, and the #1 source of data is – amateurs! What is the role of amateurs in ornithology? Hint: if you want to survey 800 species on 3.5 million square miles…


    Thursday, April 2nd, 2009
  • Bush creates huge Pacific reserves
    Bush creates huge Pacific reserves

    Three giant new reserves, extend 50 miles out from shore, will protect coral reefs, fish, clams, and other life forms. But how effective are marine protected areas?


    Sunday, January 25th, 2009
  • Carbon tax or carbon trading? Can economics battle global warming?
    Carbon tax or carbon trading? Can economics battle global warming?

    Carbon tax never even got considered, but it may produce more carbon control at a lower price. Comparing carbon tax with cap and trade…


    Thursday, December 4th, 2008
  • New concern as ocean grows more acidic
    New concern as ocean grows more acidic

    Each hour, the ocean dissolves 1 million tons of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuel. As the water grows more acidic, sound travels further. What will happen to marine mammals, which rely on an exquisite sense of hearing?


    Thursday, November 13th, 2008
  • Green as a garbage dump? Waste rots, makes energy…

    Decay is part of life, and death. When garbage decays in a landfill, or manure decays in a tank, the result is methane. Is this natural gas a problem — or an opportunity?


    Thursday, November 6th, 2008


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