Environment

China's Air Pollution: Is The Government Willing To Act?

11:55am May 24, 2013

by Frank Langfitt

There is some political willingness, but because China is highly decentralized politically, the Communist Party has only limited influence over provincial governments and how they regulate their dirty factories. The powerful state-owned oil companies have also resisted pressure to produce cleaner-burning fuel.

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Storm Chasers Seek Thrills, But Also Chance To Warn Others

6:33pm May 21, 2013

by Steve Mullis

When disaster strikes, our natural instinct is to take cover and seek shelter. But in severe weather, especially the type that breeds tornadoes like we saw in Oklahoma and parts of the Midwest this week, there are those who ride toward the storm.

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Climate Change Takes Flight in New Novel

3:11pm May 21, 2013

Writer Barbara Kingsolver is one of a handful of novelists with a science background, and she puts it to use in her new novel Flight Behavior. Kingsolver discusses the book and why she chose to look at the the issue of climate change in a fictional work set in rural Tennessee. This interview was originally broadcast on November 9, 2012.

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Robert Ballard: 50 Years Exploring Deep Waters

3:10pm May 21, 2013

Deep-sea voyager Robert Ballard has discovered everything from 10-foot-tall tube worms to the Titanic on his ocean expeditions around the world. Ballard discusses his underwater finds and how new robotic technology allows scientists to explore the sea from ashore. This interview was originally broadcast on July 3, 2009.

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Forecasters Had Chance To Warn Moore, Okla., Before Tornado

9:27pm May 20, 2013

Melissa Block talks to Jon Hamilton about the science of tornadoes.

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Environment

Calif. Law To Require Ships To Cut Pollution

5:28am May 20, 2013

by Kirk Siegler

California is about to become the first state to require shore power at its ports. A new law mandates at least half of a shipping line's fleet to shut down their diesel engines and plug into shore-side electric power when they unload their cargo. It's part of a larger effort to cut pollution at the state's busiest ports, but costs have been a sticking point.

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This map, from the United States Geological Survey, shows the age of bedrock in different regions of North America. Scientists found ancient water in bedrock north of Lake Superior. This region, colored red, was formed more than 2.5 billion years ago.

Water Trapped For 1.5 Billion Years Could Hold Ancient Life

9:25am May 16, 2013

by Adam Cole

Scientists have discovered water that was sealed in Canadian bedrock for nearly half of Earth's history. It may contain the descendants of ancient microbes. The discovery could give scientists new insights into early life on Earth and inform the search for life on other planets.

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Crew members unload a catch of sockeye salmon at Craig, Alaska, in 2005. Researchers say fish are being found in new areas because of changing ocean temperatures.

Go Fish (Somewhere Else): Warming Oceans Are Altering Catches

7:39pm May 15, 2013

by Richard Harris

Fish are moving away from the equator and toward the poles to maintain their preferred water temperature. That means, for example, that fishermen are seeing swordfish normally found in the Mediterranean swimming near Denmark. But in the tropics, there are no fish to replace the ones that are leaving.

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Environment

Pilot Program Invites Triad Residents to Join Residential Composting Effort

5:33pm May 15, 2013

by Keri Brown

A Winston-Salem business is starting a residential composting program this summer.

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Michigan Apple Orchards Blossom After A Devastating Year

8:20pm May 14, 2013

by Noah Adams

The apple trees are heading for full blossom in Michigan after a disastrous 2012 crop, when only 15 percent of the apples survived. But this year's harvest is expected to rebound.

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