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Summer 2013
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Energy Storage Wars
Compressed air technology is an underdog to watch
There Goes the Neighborhood
A surprising wildlife comeback sets off new nature wars
Life Is Short
If you are a swallow with long wings
Heating and Cooling Costs
Chilly cities demand more energy than balmy ones
iTree
Calculate the value of the urban forest
Rough Ride
Climate change will increase turbulence on transatlantic flights
Holding Water
A cabinet modeled after snowpack data
June 19, 2013
Route Closed
How will animals dodge cities and roads as they outrun climate change?
When climate change forces animals to trek to cooler regions, these species will run into obstacles such as roads, cities, and farms. Now scientists at the University of Washington have mapped the most common paths that animals will likely take as they search for more hospitable habitat while avoiding highly-developed land.
This won’t be the […] Read More »
June 18, 2013
Tangled Up
Vine infestations reduce forests' carbon storage
Vines that choke tropical trees have cut some forests’ carbon storage by more than half, according to a study in Biology Letters.
Lianas are parasitic woody vines that prey on trees. In infested forests, trees don’t grow as big and are more likely to die. As tropical forests become fragmented, lianas have flourished and can […] Read More »
June 17, 2013
Dream Team
Mid-sized groups outperform small and big teams at forest conservation
Protecting the environment demands teamwork. But what group size is the most effective? According to a study in China, mid-sized groups of people are the most successful at conserving forests.
The study took place in China’s Wolong Nature Reserve, which houses one-tenth of the world’s wild giant pandas. As part of a conservation program, more […] Read More »
June 14, 2013
Crossing Over
Grizzlies rely on wildlife corridors to get around
Many grizzly and black bears are using wildlife crossings in a Canadian national park, researchers report. The animals probably rely on the corridors to avoid busy roads and seek out food.
The effectiveness of wildlife corridors “remains surprisingly unknown,” the study authors write in Conservation Biology. The crossings are intended to help animals navigate fragmented […] Read More »
June 13, 2013
Bigger Isn’t Better
When it comes to carbon emissions, large cities aren't more efficient
“Are larger cities more energy and emissions efficient than smaller ones?” asks a group of researchers in a new PLOS ONE study. That pattern would make sense; after all, big cities often enjoy economies of scale. But after analyzing hundreds of US urban areas, the team concluded that carbon dioxide emissions per person don’t drop […] Read More »
June 11, 2013
Unfair Trade
China’s coastal provinces outsource emissions to inland regions
China’s wealthy coastal cities are outsourcing their carbon dioxide emissions to less developed inland regions, researchers say.
Rich countries often import products associated with high CO2 emissions from poor countries. The study authors wanted to find out of this trend applied to regions within a country as well. So they studied trade patterns for 57 […] Read More »
