Our changing planet is linked to human behaviors and natural phenomena. Posts summarize human impact on climate, pollution, recycling, flora and fauna habitat conservation and restoration.
The United Nations hosted talks in South Korea to tackle plastic pollution. The previous round of talks in Ottawa, Canada, ended without reaching an agreement on limiting plastic production. Instead, the discussions this time focused on the harmful chemicals in plastics and other measures to reduce plastic waste. Countries like Saudi Arabia and China, which […]
For the past 50 years, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) Environmental Studies Program (ESP) has been essential in advancing ocean stewardship. Established in 1973, BOEM has been a critical source of data for predicting, evaluating, and mitigating environmental impacts from offshore energy and marine mineral operations on human, marine, and coastal ecosystems. A Environmental […]
In the state of Washington, forest managers are trying a new method called “assisted migration” to help forests adapt to climate change. Through this approach, forest management involves planting trees from warmer and drier areas in order to make forests stronger and more resilient. Forest management and climate change are intricately linked. The Old Tree […]
Climate scientists predict that supercharged hurricanes will become more common. The development of Hurricanes Helene and Milton support this observation. With higher velocity winds and increased volumes of atmospheric moisture, tropical storms are impacting significant areas of the country. The result is widespread destruction and death; sadly, in locations that historically were isolated from such […]
As Hurricane Ernesto churned towards Bermuda, it became clear that this year’s hurricane season is off to an unusually early and intense start. Ernesto’s development into a Category 2 storm arrived weeks ahead of schedule, signaling the potential for a particularly dangerous season. A Stormy Start to the Season In an average year, the third […]
Plastic pollution is a severe and growing problem. Each year, 20 million metric tons of plastic enter the environment. This plastic is found everywhere, from Mount Everest to the Mariana Trench, and even within the human body. With plastic production expected to triple by 2060, the urgency of addressing this issue has never been more […]
Researchers from West Virginia University are investigating techniques for extracting rare earth elements from old coal mines. Contaminated ground water and coal mining overburden laced with rare earth minerals holds the potential to enhance the nation’s energy and product manufacturing future. Valuable Elements from Coal Mine Groundwater Instead of mining coal, researchers are repurposing mine […]
Innovative companies like Magrathea Metals in Oakland, California, are pioneering a maintainable approach to sustainable mining of minerals from ocean water and waste brines. Instead of relying on traditional land disturbance mining, they’re turning to extracting critical metals from seawater like magnesium and lithium. This approach addresses economic and environmental concerns and strengthens national security […]
The anticipation surrounding the upcoming 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is marked by forecasts predicting extreme tropical storm activity. Experts point to the transition from El Niño to La Niña weather pattern as a significant factor driving this forecast. Supporting the prediction is historical weather data showing La Niña typically reduces upper atmosphere wind shear, fostering […]
The global decline of migratory species as reported in The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) requires international attention. A recent United Nations report highlights a decline that transit country boundaries by air, land, and sea. Nearly half of the world’s wildlife population is threatened due to various conditions like […]
