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 »
In the blockbuster hit “Jurassic Park,” fan-favorite Jeff Goldblum stars as the eccentric Ian Malcolm. As a critic of the magnificent park, Malcolm often claims that nature is best in its most primal form, untouched, as even small artificial changes can have dire consequences. This notion is known as the butterfly effect, a small piece
A method to madness: The mathematical basis for the butterfly effect Read More »
We intuitively know that the ocean is constantly moving: the tides ebb and flow, waves swell and crash, plane wreckage moves mysteriously across latitudes to be beached on the other side of the world. But what makes the ocean move? The steady heartbeat of the ocean is its global-scale currents. Ocean circulation is the global-scale
The heartbeat of the ocean is slowing Read More »
As fall descends on the Northern Hemisphere, bears and chipmunks begin to hoard food and build fat stores in preparation for winter. Hibernation occurs in hundreds of known species, including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and even one species of bird — the common poorwill. While animals hibernate, their metabolism slows dramatically: they become hypothermic, their heart
Low-resource survival: How hibernating animals conserve energy Read More »
Dolphins are generally regarded as one of the most intelligent species of mammals, even demonstrating the ability to learn and follow verbal cues and gestures from human trainers while in captivity. In the wild, dolphins use sound signals to navigate, hunt, and communicate with other creatures, including individuals of their own species and of other
Whistles underwater: How humans are changing dolphin communication Read More »
It’s hard to go very far these days without hearing about the latest diet craze, or way to control what you eat. Humans naturally crave diets high in protein, fats, and sugars because those nutrients, called macronutrients, are needed in the highest volume for our bodies’ daily functions. Humans aren’t the only ones who rely
The buzz around bee nutrition Read More »
A growing majority of consumers have begun to make the switch from conventionally-grown to organic produce, hoping to feel a bit better about the food they are eating and where it comes from, even if it means dropping a few extra dollars each week on groceries. Since the latter half of the 20th century, organic
Suspicion of nutrition: Is eating organic really any better for you? Read More »
Earth Day went nearly unnoticed this year. Being in the throes of a worldwide pandemic due to COVID-19, people were likely more focused on their glaring lack of social plans in April than on the planet. However, the environmental benefits of quarantine have unexpectedly begun to reveal themselves, making this year’s Earth Day one that
The environment in a COVID-19 world Read More »