Photo caption: Fracking activity is causing “swarms” of man-made earthquakes across Oklahoma and other parts of the Midwest and South. Credit: © Jbpribanic, FlickrCC. Dear EarthTalk: Is there proof that fracking for oil and natural gas can by itself cause earthquakes? — James Mitchell, Hauppauge, NY Geologists used to believe that “fracking”—or hydraulic fracturing, the […]
Photo caption: One way to make that puffy jacket last longer while giving it a little panache is by adding a patch from Wyoming-based Noso. Dear EarthTalk: I heard that the apparel industry has a huge carbon footprint and environmental impact. What are manufacturers doing to combat this problem? — Bea Wilson, Miami, FL It […]
Photo caption: If we can get production costs down, there’s no technical reason not to replace conventional petroleum-based plastics with biomass-based biodegradable varieties. Credit: Doug Beckers, FlickrCC. Dear EarthTalk: What are suitable materials for making biodegradable plastic besides corn and sugarcane? Is pineapple or peanut suitable? — Yu Hong Yap, Malaysia Biodegradable plastic is defined […]
Hundreds of millions of people across the globe rely on coral reefs for their livelihoods and coastal protection. Coral reefs feed and shelter over 4,000 species of fish, making them a vital source of food. Coral reefs also attract millions of visitors who snorkel, fish, and pump enormous amounts of money into local economies. So […]
Photo Caption: A true green mattress features at least 60 percent natural and/or organic materials (such as natural latex, plant-based polyfoam or memory foam, cotton, wool, etc.). Credit: Naturepedic. Dear EarthTalk: I’m in the market for a new mattress after two decades on “old faithful” and I figure it’s a good time to go green. […]
Photo caption: Getting a few houseplants is one way to start cleaning up the air quality inside your home. Credit: Stephanie Vacher, FlickrCC. Dear EarthTalk: I’ve been having trouble sleeping and my doctor suggested that indoor air pollution could be a contributing factor. Do you have any tips for how to improve my home’s air […]
Dear EarthTalk: I always assumed the train was the greenest form of mass transit, but a friend told me I would be better off taking the bus. Could this be true? — Jane McNeil, New York, NY Most of us assume that train travel—whether for getting around town, commuting to work or for long hauls—is […]
Dear EarthTalk: What is so-called Regenerative Agriculture and why are environmentalists so bullish on it? — Jess Mancuso, Montgomery, PA Regenerative Agriculture (RA) describes farming and grazing practices that help reverse climate change by rebuilding the organic matter in soil and restoring degraded soil biodiversity. “Specifically, Regenerative Agriculture is a holistic land management practice that […]
Dear EarthTalk: I’ve been having trouble sleeping and my doctor suggested that indoor air pollution could be a contributing factor. Do you have any tips for how to improve my home’s air quality without breaking the bank? — Jennifer Abromovitch, Putney, VT The key to a healthy indoor environment is clean air, but many of […]
Dear EarthTalk: I’ve heard about “Zero Waste” grocery stores in Europe where everything is sold in bulk and customers bring and fill up their own reusable containers and bags. When will we get some of these here on this “side of the pond”? — Jane Smith, Boston, MA Many mainstream American grocery stores and chains […]
