sunflower
Environment

I thought that putting ethanol in our gas tanks was going help fight climate change, but lately I’ve heard reports to the contrary. Can you enlighten?

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: I thought that putting ethanol in our gas tanks was going help fight climate change, but lately I’ve heard reports to the contrary. Can you enlighten?       –– Bill B., Hershey, PA Ethanol and similar “biofuels” made from corn and other crops seem like a […]

birds on lake
Environment

How is it that migrating birds are being negatively affected by oil extraction in Canada’s Boreal forest?

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: How is it that migrating birds are being negatively affected by oil extraction in Canada’s Boreal forest?            — Jennifer Chase, Fort Lauderdale, FL Each year tens of million of migratory birds “overwinter” in the Canadian Boreal forest, a vast tract of mostly […]

sunflower
Environment

We must really be swimming in electronic waste, what with all the iPhones and other devices that are so common. How is this all being dealt with?

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: We must really be swimming in electronic waste, what with all the iPhones and other devices that are so common. How is this all being dealt with?      — Mary Shufelt, New Bern, NC With electronic equipment and gadgets the fastest growing waste stream in many countries, how to […]

sunflower
Environment

Is it true that much of our food—including cereals and snacks eaten by children—is actually over-fortified with excessive amounts of vitamins and minerals that can be dangerous to our health?

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that much of our food—including cereals and snacks eaten by children—is actually over-fortified with excessive amounts of vitamins and minerals that can be dangerous to our health?                  — Diane Summerton, Waukesha, WI Added nutrients in the processed foods we […]

sunflower
Environment

To what extent is Antarctica really melting and what impact might it have on coastlines around the world?

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: To what extent is Antarctica really melting and what impact might it have on coastlines around the world?     — Andrea Hutchinson, Cary, NC The Antarctic continent, roughly the size of the United States and Mexico combined, is composed of rock covered by glaciers some 16,000 […]

sunflower
Environment

Is it true that fuel cell cars aren’t really any greener than conventional gas-powered internal combustion cars?

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that fuel cell cars aren’t really any greener than conventional gas-powered internal combustion cars? — Michelle Adamo, Portland, OR A decade ago cars powered by fuel cells seemed like the future of green automotive travel, but many analysts now think otherwise. These futuristic cars […]

sunflower
Environment

We often see and read reports about environmental threats to women’s health, but aren’t there also concerns about which men should be especially vigilant?

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: We often see and read reports about environmental threats to women’s health, but aren’t there also concerns about which men should be especially vigilant? — Jay Walsh, Boston, MA Indeed, women aren’t the only ones who should be worried about environmental threats. A recently released report (“Men’s […]

sunflower
Environment

With summer officially here now, what can you tell us about which sunscreens are safe and which are not?

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: With summer officially here now, what can you tell us about which sunscreens are safe and which are not?— Clara Rosen, New York, NY Skin cancer is by far the most common form of cancer in the United States, with more new cases each year than breast, […]

sunflower
Environment

How is it that our more effectively managing ocean resources could help us better feed the world?

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: How is it that our more effectively managing ocean resources could help us better feed the world?— Missy Jenkins, Boone, IA Hunger is a growing problem around the world, in both developing and developed countries. As our population continues to rise, the amount of arable land per […]

google car
Environment

What are the environmental implications of the so-called “driverless car” that Google and others are working on right now?

EarthTalk® E – The Environmental Magazine Dear EarthTalk: What are the environmental implications of the so-called “driverless car” that Google and others are working on right now? ­– April Jackman, Barre, MA Just a decade ago most of us wouldn’t have dreamed we’d live to see driverless cars whisking people around, but things are changing […]