Latest Articles
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E.O. Wilson chats about his new book on the intersection of science and religion
E.O. Wilson. Photo: Jim Harrison In 1967, E.O. Wilson coauthored the book that founded island biogeography, a new field of scientific study. He could have retired then with a distinguished record. Instead, in the ensuing four decades, he’s gone on to discover hundreds of new species, generate major advances in entomology, win the National Medal […]
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Did You Mean: Solar Power?
Google to install more than 9,000 photovoltaic panels at its HQ Google Inc. is converting six buildings at its headquarters in the San Francisco Bay area to run on up to 30 percent solar power. The project, one of the largest solar endeavors undertaken by a U.S. company, will require installation of 9,212 solar panels, […]
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Hormones and Groans
Endocrine disruptors in everyday products may trigger early puberty Some doctors worry that children as young as preschool age are facing a higher risk of early-onset puberty — including breast growth and pubic-hair development — due to the increasing prevalence of certain cosmetics, prescription drugs, and environmental contaminants containing endocrine disruptors or hormones. In rare […]
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Two’s Company, 300 Million’s a Crowd
U.S. population hits 300 million This morning at 7:46 eastern daylight time, the 300 millionth American was either born or crossed the border. Person 300 Million is here just in time for bitter pre-election immigration debates: 40 percent of the U.S. population growth rate is attributed to immigration, and immigrants make up the largest proportion […]
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The state of China’s student activist movement
“Watch out.” That’s what one student leader, Hu Kunzhu, told us in a sweltering university dining hall in Xi’an this August. We were in this ancient capital of China for the College Environmental Groups Forum, which brought together students from more than 60 universities across the country. These included representatives from the far-flung wealthy provinces […]
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An interview with environmental scientist and evangelical leader Calvin DeWitt
No one has worked longer at the intersection of environmental science, evangelical ethics, and practical activism than Calvin DeWitt. Calvin DeWitt. A respected scientist with advanced degrees in biology and zoology, DeWitt spent over 25 years as director of the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies, where he worked to help college students learn the […]
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The WSJ touches on energy conservation
The Wall Street Journal ran a special section today devoted to energy conservation, "Less Power to the People," which included such tips as inflating your tires properly to reduce gas mileage; purchasing low-energy light bulbs; and watching the ticker on those hot ethanol stocks. (Unfortunately, a subscription is required to read it online.)
Let's be grateful to lead author Rebecca Smith. First, for being straight in her introduction:
Conservation seems a much more feasible solution than quickly building dozens of new power plants to add generating capacity -- especially if reducing emissions is a goal.
And, second, for going to bat with her editors to run the darn section.
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It’s easy if you try
Everyone should check out this amazing piece on New Scientist: "Imagine earth without people."
I'm not one of your humans-are-a-cancer greens. That kind of talk is philosophically vacuous and pragmatically disastrous. But even an I Heart People enviro like me can take a moment to marvel at just how much better the earth's ecosystems would be without us.
The piece is not just casual people-bashing. It goes into quite a bit of depth, tracing the cascading effects of our sudden absence. As it says, "The humbling -- and perversely comforting -- reality is that the Earth will forget us remarkably quickly."
Also of note in the same vein is this graphic from The Times.
