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Indiana Environmental Reporter

Science

Scientists to start a forest fire to better understand wildfires

A research team is planning to light a fire in a Utah forest at the end of June to clear out dead conifer trees and allow quaking aspen to regain a place in a national forest.

Impeded River Flow Damages Ecosystems, Reduces Resources

Researchers have found that half the world’s rivers are obstructed in some way, thanks to human infrastructure.

Hunting Overlooked in Climate Mitigation Efforts, Impacts Carbon Storage

Researchers have found hunting animals has a negative impact on a forest’s carbon storage, a factor that is often overlooked in climate change mitigation efforts.

Educating Kids on Climate Change May Influence Parents’ Climate Concerns

Educating children about climate change could influence the climate concerns of their parents.

Fungal Disease, Lethal to Ash Trees, Will Cost British Government £15 Billion

Ash dieback, an invasive fungal disease, is expected to kill 95% to 99% of the UK’s native ash trees if local governments do not intervene.

Fast Food Companies Begin Using Meat Substitutes

U.S. sales of plant-based meat substitutes increased 17% last year thanks in part to the fast food industry.

Synthetic Fibers in Clothing Contribute to Pollution

Clothing that contains synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon contributes to microplastic pollution, which can end up in the ocean and the seafood that humans eat.

Humans Have Been Influencing Drought for More Than a Century

Greenhouse gases and atmospheric particles produced by humans have influenced global drought since at least the early 20th century, according to a NASA study.

Thawing Arctic Soils Accelerating Global Warming

The permafrost layer in the Arctic is thawing and releasing greenhouse gases more quickly than predicted and is accelerating global warming.

Study: California Tap Water May Cause Cancer

A research team that analyzed California tap water during a five-year period concluded contaminants in the water could cause more than 200 cases of cancer each year.

Carbon Pollution to Deprive Tropical Forests of Iconic Clouds

Human-caused climate change could cause iconic clouds in tropical rain forests to disappear with the next 25 years.

Biodegradable Bags Still Hold Groceries After Three Years

A study found that biodegradable bags in soil or marine environments were still able to hold a full load of groceries after being exposed to the natural environment for three years.

Voluntary Third-party Green Certification Improves Fracking Public Opinion, Study Finds

Microplastics Found Atop Pyrenees Mountains

Science hasn't yet proven that microplastics are everywhere, but they're sure showing up in some remote places. Scientists have found microplastics far away from urban sources, atop the Pyrenees in France.

The Great Barrier Reef is Struggling to Stay Alive

According to a new study published in Nature, there is a limit to the amount of damage the reef can withstand, and the coral is not doing well.

New Online Tool Aims to Make Beekeeping Easier

Beescape site gives keepers environmental data to keep pollinators vital to Indiana’s agriculture alive

Indiana Receives Failing Grade for Protecting Children’s Drinking Water from Lead at Schools

More than 70% of reviewed states received “F” grade in new report

Fungus Causing Amphibian Extinction

This fungus has massacred frogs and salamanders around the world for decades by eating their skins alive.

Beached Whale Found with 88 Pounds of Plastic in Stomach

Air pollution Causing Millions More Early Deaths a Year Than Previously Estimated

Light Bulbs Reengineering American Energy Economy

November 28, 2018

Indianapolis Zoo Fights to Save Endangered Tigers

The zoo is home to three of the last 540 Amur tigers left in the world.

October 16, 2018

Gas Stations Emit Ten Times More Benzene Than Previously Recorded

Benzene is a toxic chemical known to be a carcinogen.

September 24, 2018

New Battery Research Could Change the Way People Think About Electric Cars

Scientists say they have discovered why popular lithium ion batteries degrade over time.

September 20, 2018

Invasive Pear Tree Threatens Indiana's Native Plants

Experts say the callery pear tree and its many varieties are crowding out native plant species.

Scientists Studying Popular Herbicide for Human Health Risks

A household herbicide has been on the market for years, but new research puts the chemical's safety into question.

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