Beach March 21, 2018 4 up-close encounters with sea creatures Sharks and whales and manatees—oh my! For a kid fascinated by marine life, there’s nothing more exciting than interacting with a finned friend in its natural habitat. Got a water baby in your family? Here are four encounters that let you get up-close and personal with some not-so-scary sea creatures.
Biology March 20, 2018 7 facts you didn't know about coffee production If you haven't been keeping up with NPR's Coffee Week lineup of stories, you're missing out on a whole bunch of new insight into the cup of coffee you drink every day. NPR's Coffee Week coverage is dripping with news and facts about the culture of coffee, from the journey of coffee production from fruit to cup to the threats facing coffee plant genes, and more. It's not often that we think exactly about how our coffee ends up in our cup, and it's a long, lengthy journey. As writer Dan Charles explains, the coffee exports from the "coffee belt" of the world help prop up many of the tropical countries, where exports of green coffee beans add up to $15 billion per year. And considering that one Arabica coffee tree produces only 1 to 1.5 pounds per year, it takes a lot of care to keep up with the demands of coffee drinkers (in Nordic countries, it can reach up to eight cups of coffee per day). And the complexities of the coffee bean — and the leaf rust that's threatening to wipe out coffee farms worldwide — make coffee as interesting of a crop as any other. And more importantly, as writer Allison Aubrey notes, is how third-wave coffee production is not just giving drinkers a better-tasting cup of coffee; it's allowing farmers to reinvest in their farms and provide better working conditions for those producing the coffee. From sorting and drying the beans to just getting the beans to a port to be shipped to the U.S. and other countries, the process of coffee is labor-intensive. Aubrey puts it best: "So, next time you sip on a latte, remember: It's not just the face of the barista behind those coffee beans." We asked Charles and Aubrey to share with The Daily Meal the most surprising facts they discovered about coffee production; you can click ahead to find out more eye-opening tidbits about your coffee. Let's just say, you'll appreciate your morning caffeine jolt that much more.
Green February 21, 2018 A new study just rewrote the history book on plants The arrival of plants on Earth changed the planet and its inhabitants in big ways, and a new study suggests they arrived far earlier than thought.
Green February 12, 2018 Queen Elizabeth has declared war - on plastic Queen Elizabeth II has declared war — on plastic — with a new waste plan put into place across the royal estates.
Green January 29, 2018 Cities are turning to beet juice and beer to address the dangers of road salt CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Experts who fear road salt is starting to take a toll on the nation's waterways are turning to beet juice, molasses, and even beer or cheese waste to make them safer.
PLANET EARTH November 29, 2017 Scientists call for global glitter ban to save environment Scientists have called on the globe to ban glitter due to the damage it does to the environment.
Climate September 27, 2017 The plastic we've made weighs as much as 1 billion elephants A new study puts a number on the amount of plastic the planet has manufactured in the roughly 65 years we've been cranking it out: 9 billion tons.
Oceans June 26, 2017 Great Barrier Reef's eye-popping $42B value makes it critical, report says A new report finds the Great Barrier Reef is too "critical" to fail—which is a problem since it's already failing.
Pollution May 26, 2017 Electric taxis eyed to battle pollution in Mexico City The environmentally friendly car will eventually replace part of Mexico City's more than 130,000 registered cabs.
Innovation April 17, 2017 New database gives tree scientists an important first Tree lovers, take note: A new database called GlobalTreeSearch has for the first time provided a tally of all the world's tree species.
Innovation January 11, 2017 Shellfish science: Experts eye making green bags from shrimp shells Researchers in England are working on a fishy idea that just might help the environment in Egypt.
