Archive for the ‘Environmental quality’ Category


No joke: Laughing gas attacks ozone! - Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

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?



Fertilizing the ocean - Thursday, August 6th, 2009

As Earth warms, we may need huge geoengineering projects to fight climate change. Would adding iron to fertilize ocean plants withdraw enough carbon dioxide to slow warming? Could the plan backfire?



Bush creates huge Pacific reserves - Sunday, January 25th, 2009

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?



Fuel Faves: Coffee meets diesel! - Tuesday, January 6th, 2009

Oils in spent coffee grounds are easily converted into biodiesel — a renewable source of transportation energy. Bottoms up for CofFuel?



Carbon tax or carbon trading? Can economics battle global warming? - Thursday, December 4th, 2008

Carbon tax or carbon trading? Can economics battle global warming? As the United Nations gets set for (another!) pow-wow on global warming, policy wonks are focusing on two mechanisms to reduce carbon pollution. Which gets more control at a lower price: carbon tax or carbon cap-and-trade?



New concern as ocean grows more acidic - Thursday, November 13th, 2008

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?



Mystery of the disappearing ice sheet - Thursday, September 4th, 2008

Rapid melting of Canadian ice sheet suggests that Greenland’s massive ice cap could melt and raise sea level much faster than predicted within a century.



Ice is nice: Report offers no certainty on sea level rise - Thursday, May 3rd, 2007

Greenland’s icecap holds enough water to raise sea level by 7 meters. Some studies show it sliding faster into the sea. Should we worry? New report says “We don’t know.” Comforting?



Nature: The natural prescription for health? - Thursday, April 19th, 2007

Could a walk in the park be good for you? Could looking out a window at a park be good for you? Can nature lower stress and promote healing? For centuries, philosophers, mystics and tree-huggers have talked up the benefits of nature.



Ethanol: Can it, Should it, Replace Gasoline? - Thursday, February 8th, 2007

Global warming gets worse. Petroleum grows scarce. Should we start making biofuels bigtime? If so, should we get the ethanol from corn, or from plant wastes?


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