Caption: Scale insects may be dining on your houseplant if you notice a sticky substance on its leaves and bumps on the upper and lower surface of the plant’s leaves and stems. Photo credit: photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com by Melinda Myers A sticky substance on plant leaves, plant stands, and the floor are often the […]
Caption: Storms were more intense than ever in 2020 despite our emissions reductions. Credit: Pexels. Dear EarthTalk: Given the economic slowdown around the world due to the coronavirus in 2020, was there a positive impact on climate change?— M. Stiles, Meriden, CT The coronavirus pandemic has certainly led to a decrease in industrial activity and […]
Bend Parks & Rec (BPRD) is working on a River Restoration and Access Plan to protect riparian habitats in the 8 miles of city parks along the Deschutes. BPRD staff will present their recommendation to the BPRD board on Jan. 19. DogPAC has been working with the district to identify sites for off-leash access, where […]
Caption: If he can deliver on his climate and environment promises, Joe Biden could go down as the greenest U.S. president in history. Credit: jlhervàs, FlickrCC . Dear EarthTalk: What will President-elect Joe Biden’s top environmental priorities be once he assumes office—and who is he tapping to head up key environmental positions in his administration?— […]
Caption: Tomatoes are one of the produce aisle items on Environmental Working Group’s “Dirty Dozen” list of fruits and vegetables that are worth spending extra on for organic varieties to spare yourself exposure to pesticide residues. Credit: Rusty Clark~100K Photos, FlickrCC. Dear EarthTalk: My New Year’s resolution is to eat healthier. Which fruits and vegetables are […]
Caption: Wrapping gifts in brown grocery bags or parcel paper makes use of an everyday item that you may already have in your home while keeping your wrapping recyclable. Credit: Marco Verch, FlickrCC. Dear EarthTalk: The holidays are so wasteful given all the consumerism and decorations. Do you have any tips for making this year’s […]
Caption: Invasive Cheatgrass has taken over more than 50 million acres of desert across the American West. Credit: USFWS, FlickrCC. Dear EarthTalk: What is Cheatgrass and when did it become such a big problem out west?— William G., Portland, ME Cheatgrass is an annual grass native to Europe and eastern Asia that European settlers brought […]
Caption: Our inability to notice or care about the plants around us could pose an existential threat to humanity. Credit: Francesca Zama, Pexels. Dear EarthTalk: What on Earth is “plant blindness?” – Betsy Carlucci. New York, NY Botanists James Wandersee and Elizabeth Schussler coined the term “plant blindness” in 1998 to describe “the inability to […]
Caption: The Emerald Ash Borer hitched a ride on wood from Asia decades ago and has decimated ash forests in 35 states and five Canadian provinces. Credit: B Smith, FlickrCC. Dear EarthTalk: Where I live in Southeast Michigan, an invasive insect called the Emerald Ash Borer is wreaking havoc on our forests. Are other parts […]
Caption: Benji Backer and other young Republicans started the American Conservation Coalition in 2017 to merge their conservative and conservation values. Dear EarthTalk: How can it be that climate change—the major planetary issue of our time and a primary issue for Democrats—isn’t even on the agenda for Republicans in the upcoming elections?— Will Harris, Bridgeport, […]
