Category: Environment

Strategies Businesses Are Taking to Reduce Their Single-Use Plastic Use

Post author By Our Planet
Post date August 2, 2019
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Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles (e.g.: plastic bottles and much more) in the Earth's environment that adversely affects wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans. Plastics that act as pollutants are categorized into micro-, meso-, or macro debris, based on size. Plastics are inexpensive and durable, and as a result levels of plastic production by humans are high. However, the chemical structure of most plastics renders them resistant to many natural processes of degradation and as a result they are slow to degrade. Together, these two factors have led to a high prominence of plastic pollution in the environment. Single-use plastics can be convenient, but more often than not, they have a lasting negative impact on our planet. They end up in our landfills, oceans, and ecosystems creating problems for animals and plants alike. In fact, half of all plastic in the world was created in just the last 13 years, and according to National Geographic, only 9% of that plastic is actually recycled. That is 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste with nowhere to go. These plastics are then unable to biodegrade, so they just continue to break down into smaller and smaller microplastics which causes more systemic problems.

Single-use plastics can be convenient, but more often than not, they have a lasting negative impact on our planet. They end up in our landfills, oceans, and ecosystems creating problems for animals and plants alike. In fact, half of all plastic in the world was created in just the last 13 years, and according to National Geographic, only 9% of that plastic is actually recycled. That is 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic waste with nowhere to go. These plastics are then unable to biodegrade, so they just continue to break down into smaller and smaller microplastics which causes more systemic problems.

People Environment

Why Connecting With Nature Will Make Us Less Stressed

Post author By Frankie Wallace
Post date August 1, 2019
1 Comment on Why Connecting With Nature Will Make Us Less Stressed

Spending time in nature helps to relieve both stress and anxiety and can also have a positive impact on our moods. Though modern life has evolved to consist mostly of screens and time spent indoors, we still have a deep connection to nature. When we go outdoors and spend time in the woods or by a lake, we distance ourselves from the constant noises of modern-day life. The tranquility of nature is soothing and relaxing, and because we've stepped away from the constant reminders of our worries, it's easier to forget about our problems and relax for a little while. Image source: Pixabay

In today’s constantly busy world, we encounter many stressors every day. Concerns over money, careers, relationships, and health can quickly pile up, leaving us to function in a constant state of stress. But we don’t have to live that way.

Environment People

What Impact Are Vape Pens and E-Cigarettes Having on the Environment?

Post author By Frankie Wallace
Post date July 16, 2019
No Comments on What Impact Are Vape Pens and E-Cigarettes Having on the Environment?

Is vaping a safer alternative? Probably not. — While we're still developing an understanding of the environmental impact posed by e-cigarettes, the overall health implications of vaping are more clear. It's true that e-cigarettes lack the harmful carcinogens found in traditional tobacco smoke, but it would be a mistake to call vaping a "safer" alternative to cigarettes. Memory and attention can be negatively affected by vaping, and oral health can be significantly impacted as well. Nicotine from vaping may contribute to the development of gingivitis, as well as gum recession and periodontitis. What's more, nicotine can mask the symptoms of gum disease, making it more difficult to diagnose the condition.

The environmental impact of cigarettes is well documented: For more than 30 years, cigarette butts have been the most collected type of beach litter. Cigarette butts also account for approximately 38% of litter items globally and can take about a decade to biodegrade.

Global Warming Climate Environment

Massive forest restoration may help to slow global warming

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date July 11, 2019
No Comments on Massive forest restoration may help to slow global warming

According to a new study published in Science, a massive forest restoration at a global scale could help capture atmospheric carbon and mitigate global warming.

Climate Environment People

Why Environmental Damage Is Also Harming Our Veterans

Post author By Frankie Wallace
Post date July 3, 2019
No Comments on Why Environmental Damage Is Also Harming Our Veterans

Typically, environmental causes are associated with left-leaning politics, and pro-military action is publicly associated with the right. However, a large number of veterans are liberals or are willing to embrace bipartisanship when it comes to sustainability. Thus, some veterans are speaking up about environmental damage.

Earth from Space Climate Environment Global Warming Life on Earth Plants Space Exploration

GEDI: NASA’s Laser Mission to Measure Trees

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date May 2, 2019
No Comments on GEDI: NASA’s Laser Mission to Measure Trees

GEDI is NASA's Laser Mission to Measure Trees. It is attached to the International Space Station (ISS) and weighs about a thousand pounds (454 kg) and looks like a refrigerator. It has a telescope of about 80 cm (31 in) in diameter. It has three laser ports and shoots out four laser beams that are then dithered, really quickly, in between shots. It makes one laser look like two. So GEDI is a laser altimeter. We have lasers that emit pulses of light, they travel down to the Earth, they get reflected from the Earth, and then we receive the reflection. We time how long it gets there, which allows us to measure the range to the surface. When the pulse of light hits the surface, it gets distorted and stretched out by any structure that is there.

NASA’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) on the International Space Station (ISS) beams laser light down to Earth to reveal the height and density of trees and vegetation.

Environment

Brazilian Couple Plants 2 Million Trees [and Creates a New Forest!]

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date April 29, 2019
No Comments on Brazilian Couple Plants 2 Million Trees [and Creates a New Forest!]

Instituto Terra Forest — Salgados created the Instituto Terra. The institute is dedicated to a mission of reforestation, conservation, and environmental education. Since 2001, more than 17,000 people have studied there. Today, the area now holds official status as a Private Natural Heritage Reserve. It is home to an estimated 293 species of trees, 172 species of birds, 33 types of mammals, and 15 species of amphibians and reptiles, many of which are endangered.

In the early 2000s, famed Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado and his wife Lélia Wanick decided to rebuild their deserted piece of land of 600 hectares in Aimorés, Brazil. They planted more than 2 million tree saplings in 18 years.

And the result is amazing! They created a new forest, and now, the site has 293 plant species, 172 bird species, and 33 animal species, some of which were on the verge of extinction.

Environment Animals Evolution Life on Earth

It would take at least 3 million years for Earth to recover from the 6th mass extinction

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date April 18, 2019
No Comments on It would take at least 3 million years for Earth to recover from the 6th mass extinction

Elephants in Okavango Delta, Botswana — Elephants in the Okavango Delta. The area is one of the best places to see animals and birds in Africa. The area supports large concentrations of animals on both a permanent and seasonal basis. A myriad of species are found within the delta including African Bush Elephant, African Buffalo, Hippopotamus, Lechwe, Topi, Blue Wildebeest, Giraffe, Nile crocodile, Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Brown Hyena, Spotted Hyena, Greater Kudu, Sable Antelope, Black Rhinoceros, White Rhinoceros, Plains Zebra, Warthog and Chacma Baboon. Notably the endangered African Wild Dog still survives within the Okavango Delta and exhibits one of the richest pack densities in Africa. In addition to these large animals the Okavango Delta also supports over 400 species of birds and 71 recorded species of fish including Tigerfish, Tilapia and Catfish. Thanks to this wide variety of wildlife, the delta is now a popular tourist attraction.

Even if we stop destroying Earth’s wilderness today, it would take 3 to 5 million years for Earth to recover from the 6th mass extinction, scientists warn.

Planet Earth Earth from Space Environment Space Exploration

World Water Day 2019: what’s space got to do with it?

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date March 22, 2019
No Comments on World Water Day 2019: what’s space got to do with it?

Water inequality: digging for drinking water in a dry riverbed — A woman scoops water in a dry riverbed near Kataboi village in remote Turkana in northern Kenya. In 40°C heat and with no access to clean water, she resorts to collecting unfiltered water for her family in containers. The lack of rain in the arid years across the Horn of Africa results in failed crops, lack of water and death of livestock. Picture: Marisol Grandon/Department for International Development. Image source: Wikimedia

March 22, 2019, is World Water Day. Water is a basic human right. According to the United Nations, water scarcity affects more than 40% of people (40% !) around the world, and this is projected to increase with the rise of global temperatures. Providing clean water and sanitation for all is a huge challenge.

Animals Environment Life on Earth

28% of vertebrates die because of humans on the land

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date February 11, 2019
No Comments on 28% of vertebrates die because of humans on the land

Proboscis monkey — The proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) or long-nosed monkey is a reddish-brown arboreal Old World monkey with an unusually large nose. It is endemic to the southeast Asian island of Borneo and known as "the bekantan" in Indonesia. The proboscis monkey is a large species, being one of the largest monkey species native to Asia. Only the Tibetan macaque and a few of the gray langurs can rival its size. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced in the species. Males have a head-body length of 66 to 76.2 cm (26.0 to 30.0 in) and typically weigh 16 to 22.5 kg (35 to 50 lb), with a maximum known weight of 30 kg (66 lb). Females measure 53.3 to 62 cm (21.0 to 24.4 in) in head-and-body length and weigh 7 to 12 kg (15 to 26 lb), with a maximum known mass of 15 kg (33 lb). They generally live in groups composed of one adult male, some adult females and their offspring. All-male groups may also exist. Some individuals are solitary, mostly males. The proboscis monkey is assessed as endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and listed in Appendix I of CITES. Its total population has decreased by more than 50% in the past 36-40 years to 2008 due to ongoing habitat loss because of logging and oil palm plantations, and hunting in some areas due to the species being treated as a delicacy, as well as its use in traditional Chinese medicine. Text Source: Wikipedia Photo: PXHere

According to a study published in January in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography, on the land, 28% of vertebrates (including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians) die because of humans.