Mercury pollution can be a serious health threat as once mercury enters our body, it acts as a neurotoxin, interfering with the brain and nervous system. Mercury is emitted to the air by power plants and other industrial facilities and becomes a serious threat when it settles into oceans. As the mercury enters waterways, naturally…

By now, you’ve probably heard that the US government has shutdown, as members of Congress have not been able to agree on a spending plan for the fiscal year. While big media topics include healthcare and fiscal issues, another item on the table is the Farm Bill. The Farm Bill officially expired as of October…

Naked mole rats live approximately 30 years, which doesn’t seem too big of a feat to humans, but compared to the rest of the animal kingdom, this is an exceptionally long time. What’s also impressive is that these mole rats pretty much stay healthy until the end of their lives. Reports even say that this…

Halyomorpha halys, better known as the stink bug, was accidentally introduced into the United States in 1998. Being known as an invasive species in recent years, this bug has infested homes from the East Coast to the Midwest, causing significant damage as an agricultural pest. Surveys in Oregon have also reported the presence of the…

A recent study, published in Environmental Science and Technology journal and funded by NASA Carbon Cycle & Ecosystems, the National Foundation’s Long Term Ecological Research Program, and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation reported that human activity is a major factor behind acid rain and alkalinization of 97 different waterways along the east coast.

Usually we think of demolished concrete walls and floors as environmental contaminants, but in fact this material may turn out to be a valuable resource in nature protection work. This is the conclusion from researchers from University of Southern Denmark after studying the ability of crushed concrete to bind phosphorus. “We have shown that crushed…

Last month, France implemented one of the world’s most comprehensive “lights out” ordinances. Conditions include turning off shop lights between 1 a.m. to 7 a.m., shutting off lights inside office buildings within an hour of workers leaving the premises, and waiting only until sunset before turning lights on, on building facades. Over the next two…

Carbon dioxide is a heavy hitter when it comes to global climate change. But there are some other big players that contribute to rising temperatures as well including soot and methane. While some scientists have argued to cut these emissions, a new study suggests that targeting these emissions may make much less of an impact…

New research at the University of California, Davis, and Point Blue Conservation Science shows that song sparrows experience climate change differently at various ages. Two studies show the importance of considering the various stages and ages of individuals in a species to best predict not only how climate change could affect a species as a…

According to International Energy Outlook 2013 (IEO2013) which was released today by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), world energy consumption is projected to increase by 56 percent over the next three decades! This projected increase is mainly due to the growth of the developing world. EIA Administrator Adam Sieminski explains, “Rising prosperity in China…