As humans stayed home during the peak of the pandemic, air, water, and noise pollution improved in certain places around the world, according to many studies. But now that travel and tourism are ramping back up, areas that had a reprieve from human impact are seeing the return of large crowds. To mitigate its visitors’ […]
Researchers at the University of Cambridge in England have developed a new kind of flower power, creating “artificial leaves” that convert energy from sunlight and water into clean fuel. According to an article published on the university website, scientists said they gleaned inspiration from Mother Nature. The lightweight, flexible devices work similarly to photosynthesis, the
Floating “Artificial Leaves” Make Clean Fuel From Sunlight and Water Continue Reading »
Built on land reclaimed from the sea and surrounded by Holland’s world-famous tulip fields, the city of Almere is the perfect example of the Dutch’s delicate relationship with Mother Nature — and their flair for innovative urban development. So, it’s fitting that the modern “garden city” is the setting for Floriade, a solutions-focused horticulture expo.
Dutch Expo Showcases Creative Ways to Build a Greener Future  Continue Reading »
As the popularity of fast food options and meal delivery services has grown in recent years, the number of single-use plastics that accompany orders has also increased. To help the restaurant industry cut down on plastic use and disposable packaging moving forward, Beyond Plastics has created a free, detailed guide for businesses to successfully implement
“Hold the Plastic, Please”: New Free Guide Helps Restaurants Reduce Plastic Use Continue Reading »
Many of us wouldn’t want to come eye to (grapefruit-sized) eye with a whale, but marine biologists at the University of Toronto in Ontario are metaphorically gazing into the eyes of the world’s largest species to glean further insight into their evolution. Interested in how the ancestors of today’s whales behaved roughly 35 to 55
Scientists Study How Whale Ancestors Saw to Understand Their Evolution Continue Reading »
Black trash bags on corners and curbs are as ubiquitous in New York City as hot dog carts and yellow cabs. Officials have struggled to devise a suitable solution to the city’s trash problem for over a century, but the Clean Curbs Pilot Program could be it. The program resembles public sanitation measures in cities
How New York City Is Hoping to Finally Combat Sidewalk Trash Problem Continue Reading »
Much like the intricate and beautiful webs spiders create in waking life, their minds may spin dreams. New research led by behavioral ecologist Daniela Roessler at the University of Konstanz in Germany shows that jumping spiders (evarcha arcuata) experience a sleep-like state with muscle twitches and rapid-eye-movements (REM) similar to those observed in dreaming humans.
Study Suggests Spiders Can Dream Continue Reading »
Two centuries after becoming locally extinct, and three years after being reintroduced, the Galapagos land iguana population is booming on the island of Santiago. In 1835, Charles Darwin observed a large population of iguanas on Santiago, located near the center of the Galagapos archipelago off the coast of Ecuador — a locale the English naturalist
The majestic mustang, a longstanding symbol of freedom and the American West, may be an unlikely hero in the fight against wildfires. According to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) most recent estimates, there are currently about 64,604 wild horses and 17,780 wild burros roaming the western United States. Another 58,800 are in captivity in
How Wild Horses Could Help With Wildfire Prevention in the US Continue Reading »
Lake Tahoe, which Mark Twain called “the fairest picture the whole earth affords,” is famous for its stunning crystalline waters. And in the next few years, scientists say, the world’s clearest large lake could become even clearer due to changes in its ecosystem. In their annual “State of the Lake” report last week, researchers at
Lake Tahoe Could Become Clearer Due to Changing Plankton Populations Continue Reading »
