PODCAST

Earth Wise

WAMC Northeast Public Radio

A look at our changing environment.

education natural sciences

All Episodes

2:00

New nuclear power for New York

Earth Wise ·

2025/07/09

Nuclear power has been around since the 1950s, but it has fallen out of favor in recent decades, in part due to a couple of traumatic disasters at nuclear power plants. In fact, only two new nuclear power plants have been built in the US in the past 30 years, and they took a very […]

2:00

Can birds outfly climate change?

Earth Wise ·

2025/07/08

As global temperatures continue to rise and ecosystems shift, animals are left with limited options. They must either adjust to the changing conditions in their habitats or relocate to cooler environments. For many species, neither choice is easy – or sometimes even possible. Ecologists had long assumed birds were among the most adaptable species in […]

2:00

More trouble from sea urchins

Earth Wise ·

2025/07/07

Sea Urchins are real troublemakers. On the West Coast, the sea urchin population exploded when the sunflower sea stars that eat them were decimated by a wasting disease. Urchins devour kelp and they ate up 96% of the region’s kelp forests. Kelp forests serve as shelter and food for a vast array of marine life […]

2:00

It’s only getting warmer

Earth Wise ·

2025/07/02

Climate science is not popular with the current administration. Phrases like “climate crisis”, “clean energy”, and “climate science” itself are prohibited from websites, reports, regulations, and other communications by government employees and federal funding recipients. Once again, the United States is turning away from climate mitigation efforts and will have a drastically reduced ability to […]

2:00

Saving birds from buildings

Earth Wise ·

2025/07/01

Researchers estimate that hundreds of millions of birds die hitting buildings every year in the United States. Striking buildings is believed to be one of the major factors behind the nearly 30% decline in North American bird populations since 1970. Chicago is one of the most dangerous cities for migrating birds based on its location […]

2:00

Advantages of vertical farming

Earth Wise ·

2025/06/19

Vertical farming has been increasingly used for leafy greens like lettuce and kale, as well as for herbs and a few fruits like strawberries and tomatoes. A recent study by the Technical University of Munich has investigated the use of vertical farming for a much broader range of foods. The study looked at the positive […]

2:00

The cicadas are coming

Earth Wise ·

2025/06/18

After hiding underground for the last 17 years, billions of cicadas are taking to the skies this summer. This batch of insects, known as Brood XIV, will cover more of the U.S. than any other 17-year brood. New York and at least 13 other states – Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, […]

2:00

Empire Wind resumes

Earth Wise ·

2025/06/17

In April, the Trump Administration issued a stop order for the Empire Wind offshore wind project in New York, pushing the $5 billion project to the brink of collapse. The project is being built by the giant Norwegian energy company Equinor. When completed, the wind farm is expected to deliver enough electricity to power 500,000 […]

2:00

Restoring oil well sites with moss

Earth Wise ·

2025/06/16

Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Canada have developed a method for restoring peatlands at tens of thousands of oil and gas exploration sites in Western Canada. A well pad is a prepared area used for drilling oil or gas wells, encompassing the site where drilling equipment, wellheads, and related facilities are located. Preparing […]

2:00

Natural solutions for disappearing islands

Earth Wise ·

2025/06/12

Atoll islands are made from sediment produced by corals, clams, snails, and varieties of algae that secrete carbonate. Under the right conditions, over time, fragments of coral skeletons, shells, and other sediments made by marine life are piled up by waves. Eventually, islands are formed – some large and some small. Atoll islands are home […]

2:00

Five amazing renewable energy projects

Earth Wise ·

2025/06/11

Worldwide investment in renewable energy topped $2 trillion in 2024. For Climate Solutions Week, we wanted to highlight some amazing projects around the world that showcase innovative technology, ambitious scale, and the commitment to a cleaner and sustainable future. In Morocco, the Noor Solar Power Station is a huge concentrated solar power facility that generates […]

2:00

Nature: An important climate ally

Earth Wise ·

2025/06/10

Nature is often seen as a victim of climate change, but it’s also one of the most powerful tools we have to fight it. Natural ecosystems, such as forests, wetlands, grasslands, oceans, and soils, absorb and store massive amounts of carbon dioxide. These ecosystems not only help reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the […]

2:00

Feeding the future

Earth Wise ·

2025/06/09

Climate change is already affecting the yields of major staple crops around the world, and researchers warn that the impacts will become more severe over time. Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events are disrupting growing seasons and reducing agricultural productivity. Addressing these growing threats requires rethinking how we grow, distribute, […]

2:00

Saharan dust and solar power

Earth Wise ·

2025/05/29

The world is a big place but even things that are far away can have serious local consequences. The effects of distant Canadian wildfires on air quality in Florida is a good example. Europe is increasingly becoming reliant on solar energy to meet its targets for climate change mitigation and energy security. According to new […]

2:00

Bees and urban wildflowers

Earth Wise ·

2025/05/23

Post-industrial cities often have large numbers of vacant lots, left behind as people have moved out of the area. Local residents are often tempted to plant wildflowers to make these deserted spaces more attractive. Wildflowers are an important food source for bees. Pollinators like bees play a vital role in food production and attracting them […]

2:00

The oceans are warming faster

Earth Wise ·

2025/05/21

A new study has shown that the rate of ocean warming has more than quadrupled over the past 40 years. The study, by researchers at the University of Reading in the UK, helps to explain why there have been unprecedented ocean temperatures in 2023 and 2024. Global ocean temperatures hit record highs for 450 days […]

2:00

Vegetation and climate change

Earth Wise ·

2025/05/20

Temperatures have been steadily rising around the world as a result of the increased greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. This warming trend has led to more frequent and intense heat waves, droughts, and other extreme weather events. Rising temperatures are also impacting human health, leading to increased risks of heat-related illnesses and a higher […]

2:00

Modeling geoengineering

Earth Wise ·

2025/05/19

As the impacts of climate change continue to mount up, there is increasing interest in radical intervention measures designed to keep a lid on rising global temperatures. Such measures are fraught with potential dangers and unintended consequences but there is no guarantee that one or another of them might still be attempted in the future. […]

2:00

The problem of mountain lions

Earth Wise ·

2025/05/05

Mountain lions – also known as pumas, cougars, and even sometimes panthers – are the most widely distributed wild land mammal in the world. They are found from Canada to South America. There are an estimated 30,000 mountain lions in the United States, mostly in the West, but there are also mountain lions from the […]

2:00

Redefining the perfect beach

Earth Wise ·

2025/04/30

The iconic image of the “perfect” tropical beach is fine white sand, a few coconut palm trees, a gently sloping beach, and unobstructed views of the blue sea. This image came about to a great extent from fascination with Polynesian scenery at the time of World War II. And because of this imagery, beach resorts […]

213 results

Earth Wise

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Science Talk

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

五分钟心理学

柠檬心理

Daily Facts

Amalia Dupray and Montgomery Jones.

Les dents et dodo

BFMTV

Veterinary Clinical Podcasts

The Royal Veterinary College