Radical Overhaul Needed to Halt Earth’s 6th Great Extinction Event
Life has existed on Earth for roughly 3.7 billion years. During that time we know of five mass extinction events — dramatic episodes when many, if not most, life forms vanished in a geological heartbeat. The most recent of these was the global calamity that claimed the dinosaurs and myriad other species around 66 million […]
To the Moon and Back Will Be Short in 2016
If it’s not the pale moon that excites us, then it must be the nearness of it. And it will be – literally – when the moon orbits closest to Earth thrice this year. When that happens, the moon will shine brighter and appear bigger than it has in the last 70 years, thus making […]
Our Genetic Cousins Are on Life Support
What a sad legacy we are leaving! The Eastern Gorilla, the largest remaining primate, is now critically endangered with a 70% decline in numbers over the past 20 years. There are now less than 5,000 left. They join the western gorilla, Bornean orangutan and Sumatran orangutan who had already been declared as critically endangered. Four […]
There’s a Good Side to El Niño!
There can be no question that the current El Niño – the worst on record – is having a devastating impact. Large parts of Asia, the Americas and Australia are experiencing extreme drought. So how, I hear you ask, can there be a good side to El Niño? The answer is sugar and palm oil! Less of […]
Have We Overshot Earth’s Carrying Capacity?
Human population growth has followed the trajectory of a typical invasive species, says a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature, and that suggests there may be a looming global population “crash.” Is Earth’s Carrying Capacity a Thing of the Past? “The question is: Have we overshot Earth’s carrying capacity today?” said Elizabeth Hadly, a professor […]
There’s Life in Your Coffee!
Have you ever pondered life over a coffee? It turns out there may be more to life or your coffee than you imagined! Not yours, but entire bacterial communities of it. And they’re in your coffee. A study conducted at the Universitat de València in Spain on coffee waste and coffee machines, has found communities […]
The Case of the Disappearing Bee
Can you imagine breakfast without coffee or life without chocolate? No apples or pears, citrus, watermelon, tomatoes or berries? No grapes for the table or your wine? You may have to because nature’s pollinators are under significant threat of extinction. When most of us think of bees, we think of the honey bee shown above. But the […]
Why Coffee Pods Might Be Paving the Road to Hell
Build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door. That’s exactly what John Sylvan, inventor of the K-cup of the coffee-in-a-pod system and co-founder of Keurig, did. Or so he thought. He designed the single-serve coffee pod. It makes coffee preparation convenient and fast, with no waste. His invention proved to […]
How to Make a Vertical Garden in 8 Easy Steps!
Many contemporary gardening approaches deviate from traditional norms, and among these captivating concepts, vertical gardening stands out as particularly intriguing. While an abundance of detailed ideas awaits you on the web, this concise guide will introduce you to the fundamental essence of vertical gardening and illustrate how seamlessly it can harmonize with your existing gardening […]
Nine Reasons You Need to Get Rid of Your Lawn!
I’ve been a ‘no-lawn’ advocate for at least the last 25 years. If the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, why do so many millions of us get out every weekend and mow our lawns? OK, if you’ve got young children, you’re excused for […]