The rule in driving these days seems to be that bigger is better, with
light trucks and sport utility vehicles overtaking the road. But as
automakers bask in their high profits from the pricey vehicles, a new
challenge looms…how to make them more fuel efficient. The trucks guzzle
substantially more gas and emit more pollutants than passenger cars and
the government is putting pressure on automakers to clean them up. Now,
an unlikely candidate is emerging to solve the problem. The Great Lakes
Radio Consortium’s Julie Edelson Halpert reports:
Tag: study
Is Algae the Pollution Solution?
A Sea Grant researcher in Ohio has genetically engineered a
single-celled algae to work as a pollution solution. The algae binds
with heavy metals in lakes and then is harvested. The metals are removed
with the algae. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Aileen LeBlanc has
the story:
Exotic Species Conference
Zebra mussels are the best known exotic species, but a whole host of
other nuisance invaders are causing headaches around the Great Lakes.
At a conference this week (April 26-30) in Duluth, scientists from
around the world will share recent research and strategize about how to
deal with exotic species. The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Stephanie
Hemphill reports:
Warmer Winters Drive Songbirds North
Each year, many of us look forward to the return of familiar birds at
the feeder. But a new study has found warmer temperatures are causing
birds like chickadees and larks to find new homes. The Great Lakes Radio
Consortium’s Karen Kelly reports:
Landfill Bioremediation Shows Promise
A new method for dealing with old landfills may mean good news
for the environment… and for local governments’ bottom lines. The Great
Lakes Radio Consortium’s John Roberts reports:
Talking to the Chameleon
Chameleons are known for the signals they send with their bodies. In
just 30 seconds, they can change dramatically. But chameleons don’t hear
well. And scientists thought they didn’t communicate with sound. As the
Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Karen Kelly reports, an amateur pet owner
has proved them wrong:
Nuking Nuclear Waste
Finding a way to safely dispose of nuclear waste has been a problem that
has plagued the nuclear industry since the Cold War. But as the Great
Lakes Radio Consortium’s Suzanne Elston has discovered, a physicist from
Boise, Idaho has plans to give nuclear waste a taste of its own
medicine.
New Study on Highways and Sprawl
What role do new highways play in development? That’s the question to
be answered by a study that’ll start soon at the University of Iowa.
The Great Lakes Radio Consortium’s Herb Trix reports:
New Alternative to Road Salt
Snowy, icy roads are a fact of life around the Great Lakes. For years,
de-icing salt has been the weapon of choice to keep roads passable
during the winter months. But the runoff from road salt can pollute
surface and ground water, contaminating wells and causing problems for
fish populations. So researchers have been looking for alternatives.
And now, there’s a new one that looks promising. The Great Lakes Radio
Consortium’s Wendy Nelson reports:
Bird Repellant
Birds roost in nooks and crannies of ornate buildings such as the Illinois capitol. Cleaning up their droppings and repairing damage they cause costs tens of millions of dollars each year.
Armed with spikes, electronic devices, cages, and cannons… building
maintenance supervisors across the nation try to protect their buildings
from being invaded. If they fail, the cost could be damage to the
building or to property inside. The Great Lakes Radio
Consortium’s Lester Graham reports: