Radon Levels Raise Concerns in Several NC Counties
January is National Radon Action Month. The gas, also known as the silent killer, is found in high concentrations in some parts of the Piedmont Triad.
Environment
'Nothing Is Fixed': Recovery Is Slow In Typhoon-Hit Philippine City
Typhoon Haiyan was one of the strongest storms ever recorded at landfall when it struck the Philippines late last year. More than 6,000 people were killed and millions more were displaced, and authorities are still struggling with clearing away debris, rebuilding houses and counting the dead.
Taking Stock Of The Northern Plains Oil Boom
Beginning next week, NPR News will be taking an in-depth look at the unprecedented oil drilling boom happening on the Northern Plains, where the state of North Dakota has fast become one of the nation's most productive drilling regions. NPR's Kelly McEvers talks with NPR reporter Kirk Siegler, back from a recent reporting trip in North Dakota for the series.
Drinking Water Not Tested For Tens Of Thousands Of Chemicals
The fact that a second contaminant in West Virginia's drinking water eluded detection for nearly two weeks — despite intense testing of the water — reveals an important truth about how companies test drinking water: In most cases, they only find the contaminants they're looking for.
Ancient And Vulnerable: 25 Percent Of Sharks And Rays Risk Extinction
"People know about the global trade in shark fins, but few know that some of the most valuable fins ... used in shark fin soup come from the sharklike rays — species like sawfishes and wedgefishes and guitarfishes," says Sonja Fordham, who contributed to a new analysis of the fisheries.
Another Round of Freezing Temperatures in the Piedmont, Mountains
Anticipated freezing temperatures could mean broken pipes for some area residents.
To Save Threatened Owl, Another Species Is Shot
The rare northern spotted owl species faces habitat loss and, now, intruding barred owls. A biologist, and the federal government, have made a difficult decision — killing one owl to ward off the extinction of another.
An Old Tree Doesn't Get Taller, But Bulks Up Like A Bodybuilder
An aging tree's girth is good for the planet, scientists say, because it helps it suck more carbon dioxide out of the air. "It's as if, on your favorite sports team, you find out the star players are a bunch of 90-year-olds," one ecologist says.
The Big Impact Of A Little-Known Chemical In W.Va. Spill
At the time of the accident, the CDC didn't have a standard for how much of the coal-cleaning chemical is safe in drinking water. So the agency had to come up with one.
The Upside Of The Bitter Cold: It Kills Bugs That Kill Trees
Scientists say that the freezing weather can help reduce the population of a beetle that harms trees, as well as other invasive species. In Minnesota, up to 80 percent of the beetle's larvae may die off, buying some time for those who feared its negative effects on the ash tree population.