Environment

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in various stages of development displayed in Brazil in 2016.

To Shrink Mosquito Population, Scientists Are Releasing 20 Million Mosquitoes

4:51pm July 21, 2017

by James Doubek

Scientists plan to release millions of sterile, male bacteria-infected mosquitoes in California, to breed with wild females. They're hoping for a "steep decline" in the species that carries Zika.

World Faces Global Sand Shortage

7:49am July 21, 2017

The world is running out of sand. So much so that some countries have banned exports of sand, and there is a thriving black market for it. David Greene talks to freelance journalist Vince Beiser.

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Al Gore is back with "An Inconvenient Sequel."

Al Gore: Climate Change Issue Will Be A 'Much Bigger Political Plus' For Democrats

7:49am July 21, 2017

by Steve Inskeep

Former Vice President Al Gore tells NPR the partisan divide over climate change is fading. Politicians, he says, are told by their pollsters to focus on other issues, but "that's changing."

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A pump jack at work in 2016, near Firestone, Colo. The American Exploration & Production Council, which represents oil and gas exploration firms, is one of many industry groups supporting the HONEST Act, which was passed by the House and is now with the S

GOP Effort To Make Environmental Science 'Transparent' Worries Scientists

4:56pm July 20, 2017

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

There's a push in Congress to rewrite how science gets used in regulation — and that has researchers worried. The industry-backed bill would let business nitpick raw data and ignore valid results.

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A Ugandan baboon sits in a farmer's jackfruit tree.

Is It A Good Idea To Pay Villagers Not To Chop Down Trees?

4:30pm July 20, 2017

by Angus Chen

Governments dole out millions each year. Researchers debate whether the payouts actually work. A new study from Uganda offers some answers.

After He Spoke Out On Climate Change, Scientist Says He Was Demoted

8:23am July 20, 2017

David Greene talks to Joel Clement, a former top climate policy official about why he was reassigned to a job in the accounting office at the Department of Interior.

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Piles of plastic waste are pictured on the seaside in the coastal town of Khalde, south of the Lebanese capital Beirut, on September 22, 2016.

Plastic Is Everywhere And Recycling Isn't The End Of It

5:30pm July 19, 2017

by Christopher Joyce

A researcher tallied how much has been manufactured since plastic's invention: "Eight point three billion metric tons of plastics produced so far. That's just really a staggering amount."

Environment

Creativity And Partnerships Contribute To Fundraising Success For Piedmont Land Conservancy: Greg Keener

2:42pm July 19, 2017

by Reese Sizemore

Greg Keener is the Development Director for Piedmont Land Conservancy. Radio Camper Reese Sizemore talked with him about what inspires him in his job.

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The Detwiler Fire burns in the hills above Mariposa on Tuesday. It has burned more than 45,000 acres and is just 7 percent contained, as of Wednesday morning local time.

'Extreme And Aggressive' California Wildfires Force Thousands To Evacuate

1:14pm July 19, 2017

by Laurel Wamsley

The Detwiler Fire has already burned approximately 45,000 acres and is just 7 percent contained. "I haven't seen these conditions in a long time," said a Cal Fire spokesman.

Environment

Want To Slow Global Warming? Researchers Look To Family Planning

7:40am July 19, 2017

by Tori Whitley

A recent study shows that the biggest way to reduce climate change is by having fewer children, but, says one of its authors, the report isn't meant to tell people how to plan their futures.