At first glance there’s nothing particularly remarkable about waxworms. The larval form of wax moths, these pale wriggling grubs feed on the wax that bees use to make their honeycomb. For beekeepers, the pests are something to swiftly get rid of without a second thought. But in 2017 molecular biologist Federica Bertocchini, who at the […]
Category: Environmental
Canada Zombie Fires prevelant in dead of winter
Even in the dead of Canada’s winter, the embers of last year’s record-setting wildfire season remain. So-called zombie fires are burning under thick layers of snow at an unprecedented rate, raising fears about what the coming summer may bring. People driving on the highway through the town of Fort Nelson, British Columbia (BC) in the […]
The Paiche; Amazon’s colossal prehistoric fish
Jairo Natorce’s surveillance post in Lake Yarina, deep in Peru’s Amazon rainforest, does not have water or electricity. He works alone in this part of the park on the banks of a river full of piranhas and alligators. Here, he has one sole purpose: to protect one of the greatest biodiversity hotspots on the planet […]
‘No Mow May’ Hurt or help for the climate?
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve heard about the #NoMowMay movement that’s been gaining steam on social media and in eco-conscious circles these past few years. Started in 2019 by citizen scientists in the United Kingdom, the call for homeowners to abstain from mowing their lawns during the month has spread to other countries, […]
Women bear the burden of ‘Emotional labor’ in Holiday season
After two years in which many dialed back celebrations during the Covid-19 pandemic, this holiday season likely will be supersized. Many of us are making up for those missed opportunities with more celebrations with more people. Behind all these celebrations are often some very tired women. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, among […]
Germany turns to the world’s dirtiest fossil fuel
Power Plant Manager Bernard Vendt stands on a platform jutting out from a smokestack, 20 stories above his company’s chemical park. Past the park’s menagerie of twisting pipes, scaffolding and chimneys below him is a waterway that connects these factories to their energy source. “Over there, that’s our harbor,” Vendt says, pointing with one hand […]
Experts blame green energy for Europe’s full-scale energy crisis
Green energy policies in Europe designed to rapidly shift the continent away from fossil fuel dependence have contributed to soaring power prices in the region. The European benchmark index measuring future electricity prices increased to a record $993 per megawatt hour (MWh) on Monday, days after prices in France and Germany surged 25%, according to […]
Biden Administration Suffers Crushing Defeat For Electric Vehicle Pledge
The United States Postal Service is renewing its fleet of gas-powered vehicles as the Biden administration promises a mostly-electric federal fleet.The United States Postal Service (USPS) has confirmed its deal with specialty vehicle manufacturer Oshkosh Corp (OSK) – Get Oshkosh Corp Report to finalize plans for between 50,000 and 165,000 gas-powered delivery vehicles.The USPS/Oshkosh venture […]
Traffic Jam On Mt. Everest Claims Multiple Lives
A British man who summited Mount Everest wrote that he feared the dangers of overcrowding on the world’s highest peak before dying on his descent. Robin Haynes Fisher, 44, is among the growing number of people who have died trying to conquer the Himalayan summit this climbing season, putting a spotlight on the crowds of […]
A rescue is underway to extract a group of men who became stuck in a cave in Virginia after rain made it difficult to get out, officials said Sunday. A group of six initially planned to spend the weekend inside the cave in Cleveland, Virginia, until it began raining late Saturday night, Jess Powers, coordinator […]
Alabama Tornado Leaves Death And Destruction In Its Wake
Search and rescue teams in Alabama are using dogs and heat-detecting drones to search for victims of the deadly tornado that tore through the southeastern part of the state, as new drone video and photos show the scale of the devastation. Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said Tuesday at a news conference at least 23 people […]
Multiple Coal Powered Plants To Close
The Tennessee Valley Authority announced Thursday that it would close two coal plants, including one that buys its fuel from one of Donald Trump’s campaign contributors, despite public pressure from the president to keep it open. In a 5-2 vote, the public utility’s board of directors chose to shutter Kentucky’s Paradise Fossil plant in 2020 […]