A Push to Cut Down on Antibiotics in Livestock
The overuse of antibiotics in livestock is a growing concern in the wake of evolving drug-resistant “superbugs” like Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and the ST131 strain of Escherichia coli (E. Coli). According to…
BPA’s Long Paper Trail
A study published in Environmental Science and Technology in September 2011 found that the hormone-disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA) is more widespread in paper products than previously thought. The chemical first drew public concern for its use in…
FEATURED BLOGS
Solar Heats Up in Hawaii
The Big Island’s New Rules Pave the Way for More Renewable Energy
As snowstorm season approaches, many shovel-bearing, snowsuit-clad folks are thinking wistfully about tropical escapes like Hawaii. And why wouldn’t they? Hawaii’s crystal clear waters, laid-back island culture and warm temperatures are powerful attractions. But,…
IN OUR CURRENT ISSUE
The Great Jellyfish Invasion
Jellyfish, a prominent feature of ancient oceans, have weathered multiple mass extinctions and date back at least 500 million years. Their populations were kept in check by fish, which eat small jellyfish and compete for jellyfish food such as zooplankton. But in recent…
Where the Green Jobs Are
Hint: They Aren’t In Wind and Solar
Newsflash: The job market stinks. Even people with two or three advanced degrees are having trouble finding work in their chosen fields. So if you’re a young person with the goal of moving out of mom and dad’s house, maybe even finding a career improving the…
Slice of Life: Connected
Protesters Call on Obama to Stop the Keystone Pipeline
On November 6, 2011, 12,000 protesters called on President Obama to stop the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline by forming a circle around the White House. Four days later, Obama announced that the project would be put on hold and subject to a reevaluation by the U.S. State…
Whale Watcher
There are few people who approach life with the singular conviction of Paul Watson. His life’s mission is no less than to rescue the endangered creatures of the sea from those who would do them harm. Certain threats to whales, dolphins and predator fish are too large in…
EARTHTALK Q&A
Are Food Dyes Harmful?
Dear EarthTalk: Ever since the red dye #2 scare in the 1970s I’ve been wary of using food colorings or buying food that appears to contain them. Are there natural and healthy food colorings?
—Nancy McFarlane, Methuen, MA…
Global Warming’s Big Impact on Water Supplies
Dear EarthTalk: How is it that global warming could negatively impact water supplies in the U.S.?
—Penny Wilcox, Austin, TX…