Earth Wise

Clownfishes or anemonefishes are colorful saltwater fishes that mainly inhabit coral reefs in the warm and tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific.  Clownfishes have a symbiotic and mutually beneficial relationship with sea anemones, which they rely on for shelter and protection from predators. In turn, clownfishes will protect the anemone from anemone-eating fish, as well as clean and fan them.  The popular film Finding Nemo is about a […]

A new study by ETH Zurich, one of the world’s leading universities in science and engineering, demonstrates that human-induced climate change greatly increased the likelihood and intensity of over 200 global heatwaves between 2000 and 2023.  Emissions associated with each of the 180 largest producers of fossil fuels and cement contributed substantially to these events.  […]

A colossal iceberg known as A-23A broke off from the Filchner Iceshelf in Antarctica in 1986.  At that time, it was 1,418 square miles in area, slightly larger than the state of Rhode Island, or roughly twice the size of greater London.  It weighed about a trillion tons.  It was the largest iceberg ever observed. […]

Vast and powerful, the oceans have sustained human life around the world for millennia. They provide food, natural resources, and livelihoods, supporting countless communities and economies. But despite their size and resilience, the oceans are under increasing pressure from climate change and human activity, pushing them toward a dangerous threshold. According to a new study […]

A recent survey of the plans of U.S. electricity utilities for meeting projected future demand indicates that they are looking to build twice as much natural gas capacity as they had anticipated just 18 months earlier.  The reason?  Data centers.  These warehouses full of computers that form the backbone of the internet are multiplying rapidly […]

Sargassum is a free-floating brown seaweed that can drift together in vast mats, sometimes stretching for miles across the ocean’s surface. For centuries, these blooms have been a natural part of the Atlantic, creating food and shelter for many marine creatures.  Sargassum was once thought to be confined mainly to the Sargasso Sea in the […]

A new study by Danish researchers examines how invasive plant species are reshaping ecosystems and people’s relationship with nature in the tropics.  The researchers found roughly 10,000 alien plant species in the greater tropics – which includes both the tropic and sub-tropic parts of the world.  Islands are especially invasion hotspots, and some have more […]

A company called Eco Wave Power has launched the first U.S. wave energy project in the Port of Los Angeles.  The system captures the motion of ocean waves to generate renewable electricity. The Eco Wave Power system harnesses hydraulic energy with floaters installed near the shore on existing structures like breakwaters, piers, and jetties.   The […]

Civilization has an enormous need to utilize the biosphere, that is, the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and bodies of water of the earth occupied by living organisms.  The biosphere supplies us with food, raw materials, and increasingly, climate protection. A study by two European universities looked at functional biosphere integrity, which is essentially the […]

Northern forests store a third of the world’s carbon, acting as sinks for atmospheric carbon dioxide.  Forest carbon exchange is the process whereby forests sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere via photosynthesis, storing it in their wood, leaves, and roots, and releasing some carbon through decomposition and respiration.  This natural cycle in forests is a […]

In January 2025, a series of destructive wildfires in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and San Diego County killed as many as 440 people, forced more than 200,000 to evacuate their homes, destroyed more than 18,000 homes and structures, and burned over 57,000 acres of land.  A study by the nonpartisan California Policy Lab found […]

Geoengineering refers to a wide range of mechanical or chemical methods aimed at deliberately changing the global climate system.  It includes a number of unproven concepts, one of which is intentionally polluting the upper atmosphere with thousands of tons of artificial particles such as chemical sprays or mineral dust.  This is referred to as solar […]

Hanauma Bay is a marine sanctuary near Honolulu that is a popular snorkeling spot and is home to vibrant marine life and well-preserved corals. Its popularity grew in the 1970’s and 1980’s and its visitor attendance peaked at an estimated 10,000 people a day. A new management plan in 1990 reduced visitation, improved facilities, established […]

Polyethylene Terephthalate (otherwise known as PET plastic) is a clear, strong, lightweight plastic used for food and beverage containers, textiles, and many other things.  It is one of the most pervasive forms of plastic piling up in the world’s oceans, in landfills, and elsewhere.  Getting rid of it is a real challenge. Scientists at the […]

The current administration has essentially declared war on renewable energy.  President Trump stated recently that his administration will not approve solar or wind power projects.  Renewable companies are unlikely to receive permits that were once a normal course of business. Now, the United States is likely to struggle to meet its growing demand for electricity […]

Honeybee populations have been declining for a combination of interacting factors.  There is the parasitic Varroa mite that spreads disease; there is widespread exposure to pesticides; there is diminishing natural forage and nesting habitats as land is developed; and there is climate change.   Researchers at Oxford University looked at the impact of climate change and […]

The Middle East is known for its vast petroleum resources and oil has been its primary source of wealth.  But the desert region is now becoming a significant center for solar energy as well.  The world’s largest single-site solar park is the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, located in the United Arab Emirates. […]

Planting trees is a key strategy in the fight against climate change.  Trees absorb carbon dioxide, regulate temperature, support biodiversity, and improve air and water quality, offering benefits that extend well beyond their boundaries. But according to a new study by researchers from University of California – Riverside, where those trees are planted makes a […]

Tens of millions of bison once migrated across the United States in enormous herds; tribal oral histories speak of it taking days for an entire herd to pass by.  These herds shaped the landscape and performed many ecosystem functions.  By the 1890s, the bison population had plummeted to fewer than 1,000 individuals.  Since then, dedicated […]

Lead pipes were once widely used in plumbing because of the metal’s low melting point and durability.  However, lead exposure can cause developmental problems, cardiovascular issues, and organ damage.  The federal government banned new lead pipes in 1986, but millions of lead service lines remain in service to this day. Chicago has the highest number […]