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It’s time for the energy industry to think like Apple
Shawn Smajstrla Science & TechnologyWhen the iPhone debuted in 2007, its impact was immediate. Since then, the iPhone and other smart devices like it, have changed the way we work, play, shop, communicate — the way we live. What made the iPhone so revolutionary, though, wasn’t its touchscreen, camera or user interface. What truly made the iPhone a breakthrough was how it utilized a convergence of digital technologies. Meanwhile, the energy grid that powers our connected lives continues to function largely as it has for more than a century.
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ANWR drilling threatens Porcupine caribou — and vice-versa?
Michelle R. Matisons Natural ResourcesIf you follow the U.S. debate about oil drilling, then you have no doubt heard of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). This is because it is probably some of the most hotly contested oil-rich land in the United States, and it now looks as if oil development is inevitable there after a decades-long battle over the Refuge’s oil reserves. Unless the fate of the beloved Porcupine caribou halts the oil development.
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Adidas joins recycled plastics trend
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalWhile initiatives to eliminate single-use plastics are helpful, it will make a bigger impact if more companies begin replacing them with recycled versions. When larger companies step up to the plastic ban plate, it sends a clear message that the issue is important and more sustainable business practices are possible. Take the case of Adidas, the world’s second largest sportswear company. Currently, 50 percent of all Adidas products are made from plastic. But that’s about to change. By 2024, Adidas plans to only use recycled plastic in its products. By 2019, Adidas clothing lines will feature 41 percent recycled polyester.
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Going underground: America’s most amazing cave tours
Dave G. Houser Recreation & LeisureWith more than 50,000 caves within the United States, there’s a mysterious and intriguing world to explore beneath the surface. Natural caverns reveal spectacular geologic formations like you’ll never see on the surface. For some, the prospect of venturing underground is exhilarating. For others it is frightening. But as noted author and mythologist Joseph Campbell once wrote, "The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek." So, strike your best Indiana Jones pose — and let’s go spelunking!
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Uncertainty reigns: Iran, the US and oil sanctions
Seth Sandronsky Natural ResourcesAfter President Trump pulled the U.S. out of a nuclear pact with Iran in May, the White House is now threatening Iran with oil sanctions that would take effect in early November. What is at stake in and out of the U.S.? And how would this affect the European Union, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany, which remain in the Iran pact? A brief look back can be instructive, according to Trita Parsi, founder and president of the National Iranian American Council in Washington, D.C.
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Endangered Species Act faces energy-friendly rollbacks
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalThe late 1960s and ‘70s were times of immense change in the U.S. The catalyst was the Vietnam War draft that caused the young people of that generation to question everything about the American lifestyle. This included attention to the large-scale destruction of the natural world, which launched the modern environmental movement. The first Earth Day was in 1970, and three years later, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) was born. Today, the ESA faces dramatic changes under the Trump administration, leaving animal and plant lovers everywhere concerned for our collective future.
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TPWD now accepting drawn hunt applications for 2018-19 season
John McAdams Recreation & LeisureThe Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) is now accepting applications to its drawn hunts program for the 2018-2019 season. All told, TPWD is offering more than 9,000 permits in nearly 50 different hunting categories and more than 100 different geographic hunting areas within the Lone Star State this year. In addition to native big-game species, hunters may also apply for permits to hunt exotic species like feral hogs, axis deer, sambar deer, gemsbok, and scimitar-horned oryx.
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Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias reopens after massive…
Dave G. Houser Recreation & LeisureYosemite National Park’s most popular attraction finally reopened to the public June 14. The historic Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias — home to more than 500 mature giant sequoias — had been closed since 2015 to undertake a landmark project to protect the grove and re-establish the area’s natural serenity. The $40 million renovation began in July 2015 to replace the grove’s paved trails with natural surfaces and to relocate parking lots and visitor services to improve access to the famous 209-foot-tall Grizzly Giant and the California Tunnel Tree.
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California judge rules in oil companies’ favor in climate change…
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalRecently, a California District Court judge threw out a lawsuit introduced by San Francisco and Oakland against the five largest oil companies: Exxon, BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Royal Dutch Shell. This case was closely watched by local governments that struggle to pay for necessary infrastructure changes. For those who strategized that the judicial branch may be a successful ally in the fight against climate change, this recent ruling comes as a demoralizing blow.
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Identifying plants during your travels
Cindy Belt Recreation & LeisureTraveling the country gives you a unique chance to increase your knowledge in plant identification. The plants can include wildflowers, weeds, epiphytes, cactus, trees, and edible plants. Every location has a slightly different habitat, so there are constantly new plants to learn. The following are some methods to increase your knowledge of plants.
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