Earth Talk

Cloning has been controversial ever since Scottish scientists announced in 1996 that they had cloned their first mammal, a sheep they named Dolly. While Dolly lived a painful, arthritic life and died prematurely, possibly due to the imperfections of cloning, industry nonetheless began seeking ways to capitalize on the new technology. Meanwhile, critics bemoaned cloning […]

Should we expect to see “plug-in” hybrid cars anytime soon? Gasoline-electric hybrids now, like Toyota’s popular Prius, don’t need to be plugged in — you just fill their tanks with gasoline and the battery is charged by the internal combustion engine and by energy generated from the wheels when braking (a feature known as regenerative […]

Untitled Document How can a residential or commercial roof be modified to provide environmental benefits? Most buildings are designed to shed rain and so are built with hard, impenetrable roofing surfaces. As a result, rainwater bounces off and collects as runoff, picking up impurities — including infectious bacteria from animal waste, as well as harmful […]

What green-friendly lawn and garden pesticides are available today? Pesticides have greatly boosted agricultural yields over the last half century, so it is no wonder, given the commercial availability of many of these synthetic chemicals, that American homeowners apply 100 million pounds of the stuff each year to make their own gardens grow bigger and […]

Untitled Document What are the environmental pros and cons of corn-based plastic as an alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastic? Polylactic acid, a plastic substitute made from fermented plant starch (usually corn) is quickly becoming a popular alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics. As more and more countries and states follow the lead of China, Ireland, South […]

Untitled Document Recent NASA photos showed the opening of the Northwest Passage and revealed that a third of the Arctic’s sea ice has melted in recent years. Are sea levels already starting to rise accordingly — and, if so, what are the effects? Researchers were astounded when, in the fall of 2007, they discovered that […]

Untitled Document What’s available now in lawnmowers that’s easier on the environment — and runs on something more than human power? Traditional gas-powered lawnmowers are a public nuisance, to say the least. Using one of them for an hour generates as many volatile organic compounds — dangerous airborne pollutants known to exacerbate human respiratory and […]

Untitled Document What’s the best way to keep cool indoors without running energy-hogging air conditioners all the time? According to Harvey Sachs of the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the movement of air over the skin is what’s key to keeping the body cool. So instead of turning on the air conditioner, see […]

Untitled Document Is it true that the DEET used in most mosquito repellents is toxic? If so, what problems does it cause? And what are some nontoxic alternatives for keeping mosquitoes at bay? DEET is commonly known as the king of mosquito repellents, though not all of us are keen to slather it on our […]

Untitled Document The 2008 Summer Olympics in China is drawing a lot of attention right now for political reasons. Less known is that China has made an effort to make the event as green as possible. What’s going on in that regard? It’s true that China is using the upcoming Beijing Olympics as a sustainability […]

Untitled Document Development and urban sprawl have caused the loss of millions of acres of wetlands. What is the status of wetlands in North America? Wetlands serve as primary habitat for thousands of wildlife species — from ducks to beavers to insects — and form an important ecosystem link between land and water. They also […]

Untitled Document Where can people who are constantly traveling and on the go find healthy fast food? The latest trend in fast food is healthy and organic, and, luckily for conscious consumers, several chains offering just such fare are taking root in different parts of the U.S. One of the leaders of this small but […]