Environment

Farms outside Baghdad as seen from a U.S. Army Blackhawk helicopter. Much of Iraq's soil has a high salt content because of flooding and poor drainage.

Who Should Pay To Fix The World's Salt-Damaged Soils?

6:01pm October 28, 2014

by Alison Bruzek

The area of land no longer suitable for farming because of salt degradation is rising quickly. Scientists argue the private sector should help fund efforts to reverse it since it relies on the crops.

These pomegranates are about an inch smaller than the typical size, but they're packed with antioxidants.

Why California's Drought-Stressed Fruit May Be Better For You

1:36pm October 27, 2014

by Sasha Khokha

Is California's severe drought hurting the nutrient content of fruit? No, preliminary data on pomegranates suggest. The fruit may be smaller, but packed with more antioxidants, tests show.

The San Luis Reservoir in central California is the largest "off-channel" reservoir in the U.S. It is currently at less than 30 percent of its normal capacity.

Coping In A Drier World: California's Drought Survival Strategy

7:44pm October 22, 2014

by Kirk Siegler

The dearth of water in this state is showing no signs of easing. Officials have introduced plans to revamp the water rationing and distribution systems until the rains come. If they ever come.

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Why Are The Great Lakes On The Rise?

6:03pm October 20, 2014

Host Audie Cornish talks with Drew Gronewold, a hydrologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, about why water levels in lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron are rising.

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Researchers say there's plenty the beef industry can do to use less land and water and emit fewer greenhouse gas emissions. But producers may need to charge a premium to make those changes.

Do We Need A New 'Environmental Impact' Label For Beef?

4:49pm October 20, 2014

by Eliza Barclay

Labels like "organic" and "grass-fed" don't capture the beef industry's true environmental impact, researchers say. Why not have a label that assesses water use, land use and greenhouse gas emissions?

The restoration's goal is to put as much of the Kissimmee as possible back to the way it was. This photo shows the river after restoration.

The Kissimmee: A River Re-Curved

3:19pm October 20, 2014

by Amy Green

In Florida, a key river is undergoing the largest environmental restoration effort in the world. But when complete, a looming water shortage means the river's waters still face an uncertain future.

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Workers drill for oil in the Bakken shale formation outside Watford City, N.D., an area experiencing an oil boom.

Predictions Of 'Peak Oil' Production Prove Slippery

12:52pm October 18, 2014

by Marilyn Geewax

Just a few years ago, authors were predicting production would soon hit a peak and then decline. But since then, supplies have surged. So are the forecasters now slapping themselves in the head?

New Jersey cities and towns are planning for future storms and counting on federal dollars to jump start massive flood defense projects.

N.J. Braces For Future Disasters By Fleeing, And Fortifying, The Coast

12:58pm October 17, 2014

by Franklyn Cater

Federal funds are supporting two different disaster-prevention approaches — coastal retreat, or people leaving flood zones, and coastal defense, or building infrastructure to protect at-risk areas.

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Corn farmer Jerry McCulley sprays the weedkiller glyphosate across his cornfield in Auburn, Ill., in 2010. An increasing number of weeds have now evolved resistance to the chemical.

New GMOs Get A Regulatory Green Light, With A Hint Of Yellow

7:01pm October 15, 2014

by Dan Charles

Farmers will be able to plant types of corn and soybeans that can tolerate doses of two weedkillers. It may be one of the most significant developments the world of weedkilling in more than a decade.

SXSW Eco attendees at the welcome dinner at Springdale Farms in East Austin on Oct. 6.

SXSW Eco, Hub Of Environmental And Foodie Fervor

1:24pm October 15, 2014

by Eliza Barclay

Like its parent music, film and interactive festival, this conference is all about networking, which means parties. The young crowd takes full advantage of Austin's food trucks and bars.