H2oradio

How Thunderstorms Can Make Your Allergies Worse. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Dam failures in Michigan point to a larger problem with aging infrastructure and climate change. Urban street trees are declining and one reason might be leaky natural gas pipelines. Bumblebees have a hack to get plants to bloom. People with hay fever might hope that rainstorms will wash away pollen, but that's not what happens. A restaurant in Italy may soon be in Switzerland—without budging an inch.

Could a Textile Coating Repel COVID-19? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. The EPA will take no steps to regulate a water contaminant that presents serious health risks to as many as 16 million Americans. The 1987 Montreal Protocol got rid of dangerous CFCs—but their replacement has unintended consequences. A fabric coating has been able to repel viruses—and might be effective against COVID-19. A retreating glacier in Alaska is creating a dangerous situation that could trigger a tsunami. Scientists are making sure that moisture isn't silencing The Scream.

This Week in Water for May 10, 2020 by H2ORadio

Richard (Rick) Bacon talks about the WAVES Project, which helps wounded veterans to heal.

When veterans retire from the military—whether voluntarily or from injury—it can be a difficult transition. Gone is the camaraderie that gave their lives structure and often lost is a sense of purpose. A partnership with the National Park Service is helping wounded warriors to heal and restore connections by giving them a mission underwater.

Kristopher (Kris) Moorehead talks about scuba diving with the WAVES Project, which helps wounded veterans to heal.

Will COVID-19 Make Wildfires Harder to Fight? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Critics say the Trump administration's new plan to mine for uranium near the Grand Canyon could threaten water supplies. How the coronavirus pandemic could complicate fighting wildfires. Ninety-nine percent of plastic in the oceans ends up in these hotspots. How do koalas, which live high up in treetops, get their water? A surprising discovery. This aquarium would like you to talk to its lonely eels.

The Latest Threat to Oceans? Face Masks and Gloves. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. In a win for environmentalists, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s position on groundwater pollution. Could the coronavirus make the beer industry go flat? Changes in snowmelt threaten farmers in the West. Gloves, masks, and sanitizer bottles are being left in parks, on sidewalks, and in streets—and ending up in waterways. Without proper planning, the threat of hurricanes combined with COVID-19 could be a recipe for disaster. A scuba diving group is turning trash into treasure.

When Schools and Offices Reopen, Will the Water Be Safe? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Buildings that have been shut down for weeks could have contaminated water in their pipes. The American West is suffering from a "megadrought"—something that has not occurred for about 500 years. Flooding that used to occur once every 50 years could happen daily by the end of the century. New evidence suggests that former Republican governor Rick Snyder knew about the water crisis in Flint and lied about it. Throwing shade to save the Great Barrier Reef.

The Coronavirus Is Leading to Fruits and Vegetables Rotting in the Fields. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Farmers are dumping milk, throwing out eggs, and plowing under crops because of reduced demand from restaurants. There's a slowdown in commercial fishing due to the coronavirus and that could allow some species to flourish. A new study speculates that a group of monkeys crossed the Atlantic on a raft. Pandemic models don't monitor ships—but the vessels have played a role in the spread of disease. Want to reduce the amount of toilet paper you buy? Try this.

The Time Has Passed to Shut Down Wet Markets. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Wet markets are known for selling dead and living animals—and are ripe for infection that can jump to humans. How coronavirus spreads may depend not only on social distancing but also on our indoor environments. "Blue energy" has increased tenfold in the last decade and is set to go higher. There’s an ancient underwater forest off the coast of Alabama that could hold a treasure trove of new medicines. Social distancing will slow the spread of the coronavirus if lobsters are any guide.

Tracking the Coronavirus Through...Sewage. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. The EPA announced that due to the coronavirus it’s suspending the enforcement of laws that protect air and water. Some people in the U.S. can’t wash their hands to protect themselves from COVID-19. Crowded refugee camps around the world are breeding grounds for the coronavirus because of a lack of soap and water, and food. A company is developing a kit that will provide a real-time map of COVID-19 as it spreads, without the need for testing individuals. Want a healthy heart? Take a bath.

Vaccines We Need May Be Threatened by Mining. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Seabed mining could threaten a source for a possible coronavirus vaccine. A new species found in the deepest part of the ocean was named after the plastic found inside it. In the midst of the current health crisis, officials all over the world are pleading with the public not to flush wipes. Pro Tip: When snacking on sugary foods during the health crisis, drink more water. Reindeers to the rescue!

Not to Worry—Your Tap Water Is Safe from the Coronavirus. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Congress is urging utilities across the country not to shut off water to customers with delinquent accounts in the face of the COVID-19 crisis. Dissolved organic carbon will be a problem for half of the world's population. Los Angeles is looking to the Navajo to provide electricity from wind and solar. Noisy ocean vessels leave crabs too stressed to hide from danger. This singer just got a bug named after her. It was "born this way."

Coke and Pepsi Are Being Sued for Lying. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Houston, we have an infrastructure problem. The largest carbon sink you've never heard of is threatened by oil development. Ocean gyres have been creeping toward Earth's poles by about a half mile each year since the 1980s. A new lawsuit claims that companies like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Nestlé knowingly polluted the oceans while misleading the public. The “doomsday” vault got a new, big deposit.

Are Potty Habits Spreading the Coronavirus? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. The rapid spread of COVID-19 is believed to be through coughing and sneezing, but new research suggests it may also be transmitted through human poop. JP Morgan Bank, the single biggest funder of fossil fuel companies in the world, is freaking out about climate change. The small snapping shrimp creates a crackling noise that sounds like sizzling bacon—and it's getting louder as oceans warm. Poll: Nearly 60 percent of respondents say they would be more likely to support candidates who favor the Green New Deal. Why do whales migrate? It could be they want a spa day.

Could the East Coast Start Looking Like the West Coast? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Groundwater is drying up all across the U.S.—and the East may take it the hardest. “This is your captain speaking. We are changing altitude to save the planet.” The loss of nature will have a huge global economic price tag. Boris's Brexit bridge could bomb—literally. How you wash your dishes might affect climate change.

Wastewater Could Power All American Homes. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Scientists warn that environmental threats to the planet could cascade, leading to a global systemic collapse. Bumblebees are having a hard time taking the heat as the planet warms—but you can help. Municipal wastewater contains valuable minerals, nutrients—and energy. Wildfires can increase snowpack—but there's a downside. Dogs may save your orange juice.

Farmers Are Being Paid to Stop Climate Change. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Scientists have revealed an alarming problem at the so-called “doomsday glacier” in Antarctica. The EPA has made two controversial decisions: re-approving the use of glyphosate and making it easier for cities to dump raw sewage into rivers. U.S. mayors rank water infrastructure projects as their top choice to get funding, ahead of roads and broadband. Startup companies are helping farmers to get paid to sequester carbon. Study: Buildings can become a global CO2 sink if made out of wood instead of cement and steel. What's the best treatment if a child gets a burn? It's not aloe vera or butter.

Fifty Years of Protections...Gone. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. In what is seen as a victory for fossil fuel producers, farmers, and real estate developers, the Trump administration strips away water protections. Could your smartphone one day run on seawater? Australia's marine life is suffering from the bushfires, too. UN: The climate crisis must be considered in asylum applications. Tossing out food fuels the climate crisis.