EarthTalk
Chloride-based de-icers have a chilling effect on vegetation
Dear EarthTalk: Are road salts and other de-icing chemicals bad for the environment? And if, so are greener alternatives available? —Jane Willis, Fairfield, IA Nov. 15. Traditional de-icers, particularly chloride-based compounds such as sodium chloride, magnesium chloride and calcium chloride, can have various detrimental effects on the environment. According to the Minnesota Stormwater Manual, chloride-based […]
Video games can educate young people about environmental issues
Dear EarthTalk: What are some video games that educate young people about environmental issues? —Concerned parent, Skokie, IL As the climate crisis gets more pressing, video games are emerging as powerful tools to educate young people about environmental issues. Games offer an interactive, engaging platform where players can explore complex challenges like climate change, conservation […]
EarthTalk: What do bees know?
Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that bee populations are healthier in and around organic farms than elsewhere and if so, why? —Martin Mason, St. Louis, MO Oct.4. According to experts from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, bees are responsible for a third of the world’s food production. Flowering plants, which make up about […]
Keep pets safe from the heat
Dear EarthTalk: How can I keep my pets safe during the increasingly frequent heat waves we are experiencing lately? —Mary B., Bern, NC Sept. 28. Summer may be over but the heat still lingers in much of the US and elsewhere. As such, the need to keep pets safe becomes an increasing concern. Heat poses […]
Dam: What’s up with these water-stopping relics?
Dear EarthTalk: What’s the story with so-called “deadbeat dams” causing ecosystem problems across the country? — George H., Seattle, WA Sept. 20. The invention of dams was certainly one of humanity’s most innovative feats of engineering. Able to harness power from the water currents, reserving water and effectively controlling floods, dams have been crucial to […]
EarthTalk: What’s being done to phase out Styrofoam?
Aug. 29. Dear EarthTalk: Styrofoam is terrible for the environment and hard to recycle but still prevalent across the U.S. What’s being done to phase it out? — Michael Brophy, Boston, MA Plastic foam, better known under its brand name of Styrofoam, has been used for insulation, packaging and foodware (cups, takeout containers, etc.) for […]
EarthTalk: Coming clean about pesticides on food
Dear EarthTalk: What’s the most effective way to remove pesticide residues from fruits and vegetables that I buy at the supermarket? —R.L.J., Kansas City, KS Aug. 23. For decades, pesticides have been a vital tool for farmers to ensure that their harvests aren’t overgrown by weeds or eaten by pests. As a result, pesticides remain […]
EarthTalk: What about big banks and the climate?
Dear EarthTalk: How is it that banks play a disproportionately large role in the increase in greenhouse gas emissions, and what can we do to reform this? —Philip, C., New York, NY Aug. 19. Banks play a critical role in the global economy. By financing industrial activities and investing in infrastructure projects, banks are at […]
EarthTalk: What’s really going on with tech companies going green?
Dear EarthTalk: Which of the big tech companies are considered the greenest now? – B.P. via email Aug. 9. As global demand for sustainable practices intensifies, the race among major tech companies to adopt green practices has become highly competitive. Many tech giants, including Microsoft, Apple and Google are pursuing demanding sustainability goals. Microsoft has […]
EarthTalk: What’s up with rising sea levels?
Dear EarthTalk: Why is sea level rising more in some regions—like the U.S. Southeast—than others? Is there a way to reduce sea level rise in certain specific locales? – C.T, Tampa, FL Sea level rise is a pressing global issue, exacerbated by climate change. And its impacts are not uniform across the globe; some regions […]
