http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/14/science/earth/un-climate-panel-warns-speedier-action-is-needed-to-avert-disaster.html?ref=science&_r=0
A UN Panel recently released that governments are not doing enough to try and prevent climate change, even though there is a political will to do so. There is still time to inhibit the effects of climate change, the longer we wait, the worse the effects of climate change will be. The panel said that many countries have begun to enact climate change prevention plans, however these efforts still are not enough. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are increasing almost twice as fast as they did in the 20th century. If prevention plans aren't put in place, future generations will spend their whole lives trying to permanently remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and fix the mistakes of our generation.
Monday, April 14, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Guinea: Government Bans Bat Soup to Halt Ebola Outbreak
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/03/27/world/africa/guinea-government-bans-bat-soup-to-halt-ebola-outbreak.html?from=science
There was a recent ebola outbreak in Guinea that has resulted in a ban of bat soup. Bats are a common food source in West Africa but they have been banned from consumption due to the outbreak of ebola that has killed 63 people. The bats contain a filovirus that causes ebola. This can be seen as a cultural hazard because it is the result of the West African diet.
There was a recent ebola outbreak in Guinea that has resulted in a ban of bat soup. Bats are a common food source in West Africa but they have been banned from consumption due to the outbreak of ebola that has killed 63 people. The bats contain a filovirus that causes ebola. This can be seen as a cultural hazard because it is the result of the West African diet.
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Questions as More Wastewater Flows in North Carolina
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/16/us/north-carolina-investigating-another-duke-energy-site.html?ref=science&_r=0
Duke energy, which is the company that spilled toxic waste into a North Carolina River last month, has released wastewater from a second site upriver, which could be illegal. There are pumps that appear to be siphoning water into a canal leading to the river. A company representative said that this was "routine maintenance" to lower the water level in the pond. The company has permits to remove excess water from the surface from rain, however if they are pumping out too much water, they take some of the impurities out along with the water. It is believed that such actions were taken so that Duke energy would have to spend less money on treating less water.
Duke energy, which is the company that spilled toxic waste into a North Carolina River last month, has released wastewater from a second site upriver, which could be illegal. There are pumps that appear to be siphoning water into a canal leading to the river. A company representative said that this was "routine maintenance" to lower the water level in the pond. The company has permits to remove excess water from the surface from rain, however if they are pumping out too much water, they take some of the impurities out along with the water. It is believed that such actions were taken so that Duke energy would have to spend less money on treating less water.
Saturday, March 8, 2014
2013 Marks Record Year for Solar Power in US
http://www.enn.com/business/article/47128
In 2013 4751 megawatts of photovoltaic cells were installed. This was a 41% increase from 2012, which shows the US, although we are way behind many countries, is moving a step in the right direction towards renewable energy. By the end of 2013 there were more than 445,000 solar energy systems that were creating renewable electrical power--enough to power more than 2.2 million average US homes. Solar energy will hopefully become mainstream in the US very soon. This is a step in the right direction for the US, however the journey towards a sustainable and renewable future is still a long one.
In 2013 4751 megawatts of photovoltaic cells were installed. This was a 41% increase from 2012, which shows the US, although we are way behind many countries, is moving a step in the right direction towards renewable energy. By the end of 2013 there were more than 445,000 solar energy systems that were creating renewable electrical power--enough to power more than 2.2 million average US homes. Solar energy will hopefully become mainstream in the US very soon. This is a step in the right direction for the US, however the journey towards a sustainable and renewable future is still a long one.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Nuclear Waste Repository Set to Reopen After Leak
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/26/us/nuclear-waste-repository-set-to-reopen-after-leak.html?ref=science&_r=0
A salt mine in New Mexico was used as to bury nuclear bomb wastes. On February 14, an air monitor sensed that there was radioactive contamination, however the ventilation system is actually believed to have 99.97% of the contamination, so monitors have told local residents that there is no health risk. There was only believed to be a very small release of radiation. The incident happened only a few days after a truck caught on fire in the mine, although the events were told to be unrelated. This mine takes nuclear wastes from many companies/areas including nuclear weapon companies. The mine has been functioning to hold nuclear wastes for 15 years without any major incidents, and some feel that the mine could store even more nuclear waste.
A salt mine in New Mexico was used as to bury nuclear bomb wastes. On February 14, an air monitor sensed that there was radioactive contamination, however the ventilation system is actually believed to have 99.97% of the contamination, so monitors have told local residents that there is no health risk. There was only believed to be a very small release of radiation. The incident happened only a few days after a truck caught on fire in the mine, although the events were told to be unrelated. This mine takes nuclear wastes from many companies/areas including nuclear weapon companies. The mine has been functioning to hold nuclear wastes for 15 years without any major incidents, and some feel that the mine could store even more nuclear waste.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
More contaminant troubles for West Virginia
http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/47039
Just a month after the chemical spill into the rivers of West Virginia, a lot of coal(more than 100,000 gallons) poured into a stream. Much of the stream turned black, and there were even traces of the coal in the Kanawha River. The spill occurred as a result of a malfunctioning valve. The coal spilled was coal slurry which is a waste fluid produced by washing coal with water and chemicals prior to shipping the coal to market. It contains a variety of substances that are likely more toxic than heavy metals, like iron, manganese, aluminum and selenium. Not only did the Patriot Coal valve fail, the alarm system also failed as the spill began to occur between 2:30 and 5:30 AM however it wasn't reported until 7:40 AM.
Just a month after the chemical spill into the rivers of West Virginia, a lot of coal(more than 100,000 gallons) poured into a stream. Much of the stream turned black, and there were even traces of the coal in the Kanawha River. The spill occurred as a result of a malfunctioning valve. The coal spilled was coal slurry which is a waste fluid produced by washing coal with water and chemicals prior to shipping the coal to market. It contains a variety of substances that are likely more toxic than heavy metals, like iron, manganese, aluminum and selenium. Not only did the Patriot Coal valve fail, the alarm system also failed as the spill began to occur between 2:30 and 5:30 AM however it wasn't reported until 7:40 AM.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Poland Hosts Climate Talks, While Boosting Coal Industry
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2013/11/131119-poland-hosts-climate-talks-and-coal-summit/
Environmental Advocates have recently been enraged by Polands decision to invite Coal Industry leaders to discuss the future of coal in future global energy use, while at the same time Poland was 1 of the 194 countries that was meeting to discuss an international treaty to address climate change. Poland is almost completely reliant on coal for energy, as coal produces 80% of its electricity. Coal plays a crucial role in energy production for a lot of the EU now and in the future, however it has devastating impacts on the environment. One of the negative impacts from the coal is that it creates a noxious air quality in Poland, "the second worst air quality in all of the European Union". This air pollution is so horrible that "Simply by living and breathing in Krakow for a year, a resident inhales as much benzopyrene, a highly carcinogenic pollutant, as he or she would from smoking 2,500 cigarettes." Overall, coal provides a lot of energy for Poland, however it proves problematic for the people's health, and influences climate change.
Environmental Advocates have recently been enraged by Polands decision to invite Coal Industry leaders to discuss the future of coal in future global energy use, while at the same time Poland was 1 of the 194 countries that was meeting to discuss an international treaty to address climate change. Poland is almost completely reliant on coal for energy, as coal produces 80% of its electricity. Coal plays a crucial role in energy production for a lot of the EU now and in the future, however it has devastating impacts on the environment. One of the negative impacts from the coal is that it creates a noxious air quality in Poland, "the second worst air quality in all of the European Union". This air pollution is so horrible that "Simply by living and breathing in Krakow for a year, a resident inhales as much benzopyrene, a highly carcinogenic pollutant, as he or she would from smoking 2,500 cigarettes." Overall, coal provides a lot of energy for Poland, however it proves problematic for the people's health, and influences climate change.
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