When considering endangered species, people often think of animals like the white rhino, polar bear, or dodo bird. What people often fail to consider is the fact that plants can be equally as susceptible to being endangered or going extinct, often from human impacts. Plants are just as vulnerable as animal species to the impacts […]
Seed banks: So humans can stop & smell the roses for generations to come Read More »
Most of the time, the natural phenomena that are visible from space are destructive forces such as hurricanes, volcanoes, and forest fires. But every so often, a beautiful display of flowers illuminates satellite images. In the springs of 2017 and 2019, the dry hills in southern California exploded into what has become known as a
California’s super blooms: A force of nature Read More »
We all like to think we are saving the turtles when we throw a plastic bottle in the recycling, but where does this actually end up? According to a new study from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a shocking 79 percent of that plastic ends up in landfills — or even worse, in the
Where does recycling actually go? Read More »
Do you ever wish you had eyes in the back of your head? While most humans can only turn their heads 90 degrees in each direction, owls can turn theirs 270 degrees each way. This is more than any other vertebrate can turn its head, giving owls the highly sought after ability of being able
Fantastic fields of vision: Owl eyes, explained Read More »
For most of our lives, it has been engrained in us that illnesses are primarily caused by unhygienic environmental factors. However, in the case of leukemia, recent studies have shown that it may very well be the opposite. With an annual incidence in the United States of approximately 3,800 children per year, leukemia is the
The paradox of leukemia and cleanliness Read More »
Tea bags, coffee cups, clothing, soda cans, and gum are only a select few items that surprisingly all contain some form of plastic. The more obvious plastic water bottles, bags, electronics, and containers further display how humans live in a plastic-filled world. Although innovation and standard of living have greatly improved since its invention, plastic
A world without plastic? The pros and cons of plastic Read More »
In 2014, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world’s leading voice on the matter, released its latest assessment report, delivering stunning predictions of the potential consequences of human-driven climate change in the 21st century. At the same time that the U.N. panel in Geneva prepared the report for release, an international team
While cities cover only 2 percent of the Earth’s land area, they house upwards of 55 percent of the world’s population and account for a whopping 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. It is estimated that nearly 70 percent of the population will live in cities by 2050 and bring with them a hefty carbon
Building a greener future starts with the buildings themselves Read More »
For most people, fire is synonymous with destruction and death. After the recent apocalyptic-looking orange skies in northern California made national news, this association has only been strengthened. Because of California’s rampant wildfires, thousands of people and countless animals have been displaced, more than a thousand homes have been destroyed, and five people have tragically
Fire is a blessing and a curse (and a result of climate change) Read More »