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.

Fukushima impacts two years later http://t.co/v9irrYZTup #environment #EarthWise #fukushima

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May22

Fukushima impacts two years later

Fukushima cleanup

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When the tsunami triggered the explosions at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, we all worried about the release of radioactivity to the environment. Indeed, just a few days later, increased levels of radioactive cesium were measured in rainfall along the west coast of the United States. Public Health officials assured us that, while measurable, this radioactive fallout did not pose a human health hazard. (more…)

May21

The ever-expanding footprint of Homo sapiens

Crowd

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When oil was easy to find, it required a lot less effort to extract. Punch a hole in the ground, and the oil flowed. As oil has become more difficult to locate, the environmental impact of producing it has increased markedly.  We now look for oil deep beneath the sea and we scrape away the boreal forest of Canada to expose buried tar sands.  (more…)

May20

Can we capture the carbon?

CCS Technology Demo

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When I speak to public audiences about climate change, people often ask: Isn’t there a way to capture and remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere?  (more…)

May17

Why flare it?

natural gas flaring

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Natural gas is often found with oil. The high pressure of natural gas is often what causes oil to gush from the ground in oil fields. If it occurs near a market, natural gas is often captured and used as a fossil fuel itself.  But, when natural gas is produced distant from markets, or the price of natural gas is low, it is vented to the atmosphere and burned. (more…)

May16

Give carpooling a chance

Traffic Congestion

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We all want to reduce the amount of gasoline we use and we all want to have less traffic congestion.  There are various strategies to address these issues but one of the simplest and most effective is carpooling.  (more…)

Earth Wise is a presentation of WAMC Northeast Public Radio and The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Follow us Facebook Twiter RSS Podcast