H2oradio

How Air Conditioners Could Save the Planet. That Story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Forest fires in the West are causing snow to melt earlier—and that could affect water supplies and trigger even more fires. As global warming melts sea ice in the Arctic, it's also heating up geopolitics. Hippos act like conveyor belts and their poop plays a vital role. The FDA is failing to act about recent reports of arsenic in bottled water. Crowdsourcing "crowd oil" might be a cool way to combat the climate crisis.

Migrating Trees and Beneficial Fleas on H2O Radio’s Weekly News Report About Water. It's been a rough time recently for those who look to the federal government to protect the country's water quality. There is much interest in building wind farms off the coast of California, but it's technically challenging. Some kids in the U.S. are not drinking enough water. Warmer winters and drier summers are threatening forests. Humans are trying to help them adapt. This tiny crustacean—about the size of a grain of sand—could one day help save lives.

Good News this Earth Day—Sustainability Is Within Reach. The details on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. A new study concludes that it's highly realistic for the entire world to transition to 100 percent clean, renewable energy by 2050. A recent poll of Americans revealed top priorities for the president and Congress. A new device can create electricity from...snow. This change is the biggest in shipping since the maritime industry moved from coal to heavy oil more than 100 years ago. The UN acknowledged the “FlipFlopi” on World Creativity and Innovation Day.

In Defiance of Congress, Trump Defunds a Conservation Program. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. The Trump administration has withdrawn funding for a large and successful conservation program. Trump signed two executive orders that will make it easier for oil and gas pipelines to avoid regulatory hurdles. Want to know if there will be a heat wave in California's Central Valley? Check the weather in the Indian Ocean. Congress approved the Colorado River drought agreement, but planning for aridification in the basin is far from finished. These dogs do hunt—and they could save your life.

This Country is Warming Twice as Fast as the Rest of the World. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. 20 million people in Venezuela have experienced widespread water shortages. Runoff in the upper Missouri River Basin during March far exceeded the previous record set in 1952, and the consequences could be felt for a long time. Dead Christmas trees bring life to a wildlife refuge. Canada is warming up from climate change at twice the rate of the rest of the world. Airplane bathrooms suck, both literally and figuratively, but help is on the way, dear travelers.

A Car Powered by Seawater? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Flooding last week in the Midwest caused permanent loss of topsoil and could cost billions of dollars in lost homes, crops, and livestock. A judge blocked oil and gas drilling in Wyoming, which could affect the Trump administration's plans for other public lands. This threat could affect California’s economy ten times more than extreme wildfires or earthquakes. Permafrost may be thawing in other places besides the Arctic, releasing greenhouse gases that have been trapped for centuries. Electric vehicles can help reduce CO2 emissions, but there’s another potential option for clean transportation—and its only byproduct is water. Who's making house calls? Dr. Toilet.

Thomas Edison became a household name for inventing the first practical incandescent light bulb. But because of what happened in a small town in Colorado, his bitter rival Nikola Tesla won the bigger prize to electrify our modern grid. Over a century later, could revenge be in the offing?

Coal Plants Are Changing the Weather. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Much of the West is covered by pine forests, but when those trees are struck by wildfire they might not grow back due to climate change. Modern coal plants are the largest source of ultrafine dust particles, which can impact rainfall patterns on a local to regional scale. This state could be the first to ban plastic foam cups and food containers. Dangerous sewage pathogens and agricultural runoff have been found hitchhiking on "nurdles." The U.S. is being accused of blocking a proposal to fight plastic litter in the oceans. Dams on rivers can have highly destructive effects on coastlines and their habitats. A climate expert warns about more intense "bomb cyclones."

Ocean Heatwaves Are Acting Like Wildfires. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Heatwaves bring to mind searing temperatures in cities, but they're also happening in oceans with devastating effects. There have been a high number of avalanches in Colorado. Is climate change playing a role? The last three months were the wettest on record for the contiguous United States. Will that reduce the risk of wildfires in California? In Australia, where everyone is required to vote there are critical choices on the ballot. South Korea is looking to unusual—and wet ways—to clean its air.

Climate Change May Make Some Clouds Disappear. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. You've heard of fracking, but what about "cracking"? The process will contribute to climate change—and worsen our plastic pollution problem. An ingredient that has been used to kill germs may instead be making them stronger and able to survive antibiotics. These types of clouds could vanish if carbon dioxide levels continue to rise at the current pace. This river won a legal battle—and got a respirator. Tweets show how we are normalizing severe weather.

The pesticide Roundup® is the most commonly used weedkiller in the world. While its main ingredient glyphosate has uncertain toxicity, the chemical is showing up in foods—and according to a new report—drinks we consume, compounding our exposure. What to do when your favorite beer or wine contains more than just excess calories?

Is Your Brand of Toilet Paper Contributing to Climate Change? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. There are many reasons for the crisis in Venezuela, from low oil prices to corruption, but one factor not often mentioned is the country's drought. The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case from Maui that could have implications for waterways across the U.S. Garbage in San Francisco Bay has pitted one agency against another. A new report says major toilet paper brands are destroying ancient boreal forests to produce their tissue. The scientist who coined the phrase "global warming" has died.

A Victory for Public Lands. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Recent large storms in California are being measured in feet—and also on a new scale of 1 to 5. EPA announced a new "Action Plan" for PFAS chemicals, but critics says it's too little and too slow. Puerto Rico, still reeling from Hurricane Maria, is now facing...drought. U.S. demand for fruits and vegetables is shrinking Mexican aquifers and reducing river flows. The Senate just passed sweeping conservation legislation that will protect land and rivers.

Capturing Deadly Gases from a “Killer Lake.” That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Last week climate change received more attention on Capitol Hill than it may have ever—and some was from Republicans. Sand mining is a massive industry worldwide and might be among the most corrupt and environmentally destructive operations—especially to rivers. Partly in an effort to avert disasters, some of the gas in this lake has been captured to generate electricity. The blue and green colors of the ocean will become even bluer and greener because of climate change. Tiger sharks to hammerheads could soon be happy if they live in Hawai'i.

Thousands of miles of waterways across the U.S. are threatened by contamination from different chemical sources. A new report is calling for major actions to protect them, as the Trump administration moves to weaken safeguards.

The EPA May Continue to Allow a Widespread Contaminant in Drinking Water. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. The Bureau of Reclamation has begun the process to manage the Colorado River unless California and Arizona meet a new deadline. Sources say the EPA may not regulate two chemicals linked to cancer. Research suggests that changes in the jet stream caused by climate change along with melting sea ice sent the polar vortex south into the U.S. Midwest. Rising temperatures from global warming may increase the number of babies born with congenital heart defects. These creatures took advantage of the government shutdown to grab new beachfront property.

"Rapid 'Ōhi'a Death" has killed over 135,000 acres on the Big Island of Hawai'i, and disappearance of Ōhi'a forests could have serious ramifications for watersheds and ecosystems in the state. But for native Hawaiians, who along with their ancestors revere the tree, vanishing Ōhi'a could mean the loss of a heritage that developed long before they had a written language.

There’s Good News for an Endangered Species. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. The feds may step in to allocate the Colorado River if drought contingency plans aren't finalized by January 31. Greenland’s enormous ice sheet is melting so fast that it may have reached a point of no return, according to a new study. Florida governor, Republican, Ron DeSantis has emerged as a champion of the state’s waterways and beaches, surprising many. A new climate model says we can solve the crisis within a single generation—and nature is key. Right on. This endangered species was spotted with new babies.

A New Global Treaty to Reduce Greenhouse Gases Goes into Effect—Without the U.S. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. The U.S. refrigerant industry is in favor of a treaty to reduce emissions, as are Republicans, but the U.S. would not sign. Carbon dioxide releases in the U.S. rose in 2018 by almost 3.5 percent. The Trump administration is meeting significant opposition, some of it bipartisan, to its plans to open nearly all offshore areas to oil and gas development. Oceans are heating up 40 percent faster than what was estimated five years ago. NREL: Floating solar panels on reservoirs could generate 10 percent of the nation’s electricity needs. Forget about rakes—"Goat Fund Me."

Trump’s Shutdown Stops Science But Not His Plans for Arctic Drilling. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Because of the government shutdown, labs have closed, scientists have left the field, and data collected from satellites is not being analyzed. Brazil's new president, in office only a few days, has already acted against environmental protections and indigenous people. There may be a new eco-friendly way to make plastics for bottles, bags, and packaging. Climate change may be having an effect on whether baby sea turtles become male or female. Your old Christmas tree could have a second act as mouthwash, adhesives, or even paint.