Environment
Environment
Mushroom Hunters, Rejoice: Springtime Crop Benefits From Summertime Fires
Springtime means it’s morel mushroom harvesting season. Depending on where fires burned last summer, mushroom collecting could take you to different spots across the Northwest. Continue Reading Mushroom Hunters, Rejoice: Springtime Crop Benefits From Summertime Fires
Why Are So Many Gray Whales Washing Up Dead On Pacific Northwest Beaches?
The peak stranding time for gray whales in the Pacific Northwest is normally April, May and June. But the federal agency NOAA Fisheries has already logged nine dead whales washed ashore in Washington and one in Oregon. That’s on top of 21 strandings on California beaches since the beginning of the year. Continue Reading Why Are So Many Gray Whales Washing Up Dead On Pacific Northwest Beaches?
Scientists Dig Into Hard Questions About The Fluorinated Pollutants Known As PFAS
PFAS are a family of chemicals accumulating in the soil, rivers, drinking water and the human body. How much exposure to these substances in clothes, firefighting foam and food wrap is too much? Continue Reading Scientists Dig Into Hard Questions About The Fluorinated Pollutants Known As PFAS
‘On The Tipping Point’ Of The Spear: U.S. Asparagus Farmers Worry As Import Competition Grows
Growers in Washington, California and Michigan raise the majority of the nation’s domestic asparagus — and Washington’s season is on. But business in U.S. spears is noticeably dwindling due to cheaper competition from foreign markets.
That’s because there’s increasing amounts of cheaper asparagus from Peru and Mexico coming in: fresh, canned and frozen. And that’s cutting into profits for U.S. growers. Continue Reading ‘On The Tipping Point’ Of The Spear: U.S. Asparagus Farmers Worry As Import Competition Grows
Most Teachers Don’t Teach Climate Change; 4 In 5 Parents Wish They Did
As students around the globe participate in Earth Day, a new NPR/Ipsos poll finds 55% of teachers don’t teach or talk about climate change and 46% of parents haven’t discussed it with their kids. Continue Reading Most Teachers Don’t Teach Climate Change; 4 In 5 Parents Wish They Did
Is There Room For Hydrogen-Powered Cars In A Future That Looks Electric?
Today, automakers Toyota, Honda, Hyundai and Mercedes make hydrogen fuel cell electric cars in very limited numbers. None of their Pacific Northwest dealers currently stock or sell those models to local drivers. Nevertheless, Toyota is laying the groundwork to bring its hydrogen-powered vehicles to the Northwest. Continue Reading Is There Room For Hydrogen-Powered Cars In A Future That Looks Electric?
‘Our Planet’ Nature Documentary Addresses The 800-Pound Gorilla: Human Impact
The new Netflix series takes a hard look at the effects of our behavior on the natural world. Series producer Alastair Fothergill says that this is a different, more urgent type of show. Continue Reading ‘Our Planet’ Nature Documentary Addresses The 800-Pound Gorilla: Human Impact
Central Washington Utility Eager To Branch Into Hydrogen Fuel Production
The Douglas County Public Utility District operates Wells Dam on the Columbia River north of Wenatchee. The dam generates a lot of surplus electricity, especially during spring runoff. Quite a few years ago, utility managers hit on the idea of using surplus electricity to split water molecules to make hydrogen. Continue Reading Central Washington Utility Eager To Branch Into Hydrogen Fuel Production
New Plan Would Return California Condors To Northwest Skies
Federal agencies and Northern California’s Yurok Tribe have released a plan to reintroduce critically endangered California condors to the Pacific Northwest. Continue Reading New Plan Would Return California Condors To Northwest Skies
Western Washington Has A New Wolf Pack, First In Decades
There’s a new wolf pack on the western side of Washington’s Cascade Mountains. Wildlife officials say it’s the first time they’ve documented a pack there since wolves were wiped out decades ago. Continue Reading Western Washington Has A New Wolf Pack, First In Decades
Federal Judge Upholds Obama-Era Expansion Of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
An Oregon wood products company challenged the expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, arguing that President Barack Obama didn’t have the power to give monument protections to Oregon and California Railroad Lands in 2017, just days before leaving office. Continue Reading Federal Judge Upholds Obama-Era Expansion Of Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument
Study Says Growing Corn Is A Major Contributor To Air Pollution
Researchers found that corn production accounts for 4,300 premature deaths related to air pollution every year. Ammonia from fertilizer application was by far the largest contributor to corn’s air pollution footprint. Continue Reading Study Says Growing Corn Is A Major Contributor To Air Pollution
