H2oradio

About 120 people showed up at the Colorado State Capitol on Friday, January 4 to let their incoming legislators know they will be watching what happens during the coming session to see what lawmakers do around fracking and climate change. H2O Radio was there and files this report.

Dr. Seuss Stops a Gas Pipeline. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. “Our biosphere is being sacrificed so that rich people in countries like mine can live in luxury." What's in the new Farm Bill? Facing backlash about plastic, beverage companies are trying to develop new bottles. A critter that thrives in areas of moderate temperature, humidity, and precipitation is invading the U.S. "We trust the United States Forest Service to 'speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.'"

Experts say that in order to reach climate goals we need to move away from fossil fuels as soon as possible and get our energy from renewable sources. While most assume that will mean more wind and solar, there’s a renewable source that’s been in hiding in plain sight, but only recently became affordable to harness

Scientists Worry as Four Countries Undermine Climate Talks. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Experts are comparing it to a “speeding freight train.” This major world city is sinking ten inches a year and has already dropped about ten feet. Salt from deicers and fertilizers are creating problems beyond just causing salinity in waterways. The Trump administration will propose severe restrictions this week on which bodies of water are covered under the Clean Water Act. Gorillas want you to pick up the phone.

A New Way to Detect Pipeline Leaks. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. One pork producer says it's trying to combat climate change by covering hog waste lagoons. We may not have as much potable groundwater as we thought. There are a range of solutions being considered to save coral reefs—and some are pretty cool—literally. Fire hydrants could be used to detect leaks in water systems—using artificial intelligence. Seabirds could help researchers develop renewable energy.

Chicago Could Have Weather Like Phoenix. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. The White House is downplaying a new federal report that says the U.S. economy will be damaged by climate change. There may be another reason in addition to violence that is causing people to flee Guatemala. This group of businesses is suing oil & gas companies over climate change. There is a major effort to rescue manatees from the red tide in Florida. Whales have earwax, and that's a boon to science.

A Rainforest Vine May Stop a Deadly Cancer. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. The weed killer atrazine is in the tap water of almost 30 million Americans in 28 states. There are low-cost—or no-cost—methods that could eliminate 20 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Cape Town, South Africa, is being advised to get rid of some trees in order to increase its water supply. When this desert gets rain it devastates a form of life that's lived there for millennia. A plant that only grows in jungles of the Congo could hold the key to combating one of the most deadly forms of cancer.

Wolves Are Restoring Streams in Yellowstone. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Partly Sunny? Partly Cloudy? The forecast for the environment is mixed after the election. The effects of climate change are playing out in real time in California. In the 1990s elk were eating steam bank willows, causing erosion and damaged waterways—that is, until wolves came back. A new study says large-scale hydropower projects in Europe and the U.S. have been disastrous for the environment. This is a region you might not expect to be plagued by drought. Getting some winks may mean more drinks of not what you think...

Making Travel Plans? This Country Is Banning Sunscreen. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. A study is connecting extreme weather events with changes in the jet stream due to global warming. “We are sleepwalking towards the edge of a cliff.”—Mike Barrett of the World Wildlife Fund China, Russia, and Norway, blocked efforts last week to create a massive sanctuary five times as large as Germany. Some maritime shippers are cheating. If you step off a plane in this island nation with the wrong sunscreen after 2019, they will confiscate it. Engineers at Iowa State and the University of Florida are working on a way to help farmers manage fertilizers and minimize algal blooms. The material in your kitchen countertops may help prevent floods.

Trump’s Tariffs May Raise Your Water Bill. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. There's a major oil spill happening in the Gulf of Mexico that may not stop until the end of the century. Using dispersants to clean up oil spills could increase the chance of red tide algal blooms. Water bills might go up because of Trump's tariffs. A new study found low levels of glyphosate in dog and cat foods. Marine mammals change their tune when ships are near. These bricks are made with "liquid gold."

The UN IPCC report released in early October has sounded another alarm that drastic action is needed to avoid the catastrophic impacts of climate change. Is anyone listening? And if so, how are they reacting to a crisis that faces all of human kind? H2O Radio asked university students, who will be dealing with impacts, how they view the future

The Environment Is on the Ballot this November. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Carbon taxes, oil & gas setbacks, and protections to water from new mining—some of the environmental issues on state ballots this November. A political stunt before the midterms? Trump orders water rules to be reviewed to help Republicans and farmers. EPA considers allowing oil companies to dump wastewater into rivers and streams. Solar and wind power are faring better than coal-fired power plants through major weather events like hurricanes. Are Antarctic ice shelves singing a swan song?

On Tuesday, October 16th, the Colorado Supreme Court was packed as attorneys for seven young people battled against those representing the state and the oil and gas industry. The dispute boils down to whether public health and safety should be prioritized over oil and gas development. H2O Radio was there.

Foods Could Soon Have a 'Climate Label.' That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Global warming likely caused Hurricane Michael to intensify rapidly. Colorado River drought contingency plans move forward, but tensions still exist. The Clean Water Act works. A new study shows the 50-year-old legislation substantially reduces pollution.... ...But the Clean Water Act works only when enforced. Slaughterhouses are discharging wastewater directly into streams and rivers, violating pollution control permits. What's the climate impact of a Danish pastry? Ask the Danes.

Is the U.S. Government Weaponizing Insects? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. A new IPCC report comes out October 8. So, how are we doing? The new agreement to replace NAFTA has some of the same old environmental problems—and some new ones. Critics say the U.S. government is creating the possibility of bug warfare. Hospital sinks are a source of bacteria, but new research finds a way to contain them. Found: tin cans, a pencil, a plastic cup and spoon, cigarette butts, lots of coins, a plastic straw—and a pacifier from 1930.

The discovery of lead in drinking water systems in Flint, Michigan, and other cities around the country has motivated researchers to find new—and faster—ways to detect contamination in water supplies. One scientist who recently invented a way to rapidly test for lead in water developed her award-winning solution between swim team practice and piano lessons.

Trump Administration Admits Climate Change Is Real But Says the Planet’s Fate Is Sealed. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. The Trump administration has acknowledged that the planet is on course to warm by a disastrous 7 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century but has chosen to do—nothing. Congress has let expire a program that has been used to improve national and state parks, swimming pools, and even community centers. Scientists think they might have pinpointed the contaminant killing Coho salmon—it could be tires. Orcas are facing serious threats from things we did 40 years ago. Researchers ask ducks, "Can you hear me, now?"

This Superfood Is Even Better than We Thought. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. After a week of flooding and power outages, residents of North and South Carolina are still coping with serious health and safety issues. This plant is packed with protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals—and can thrive in conditions where other crops fail. Diversity training for forest managers could help in times of drought. Algal blooms in Florida are feeding off a surprising source hundreds of miles away. Ale's well that ends well.

Florence Fuels Fears about Hog Waste, Coal Ash, and Dams. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Even as severe storms drench the U.S. and Asia, new cities are being planned in coastal areas without climate change in mind. The ability of soils to absorb water might be reduced by climate change, possibly leading to more flash flooding and erosion. Eat well, save water.

Is it possible to make it rain in the Sahara? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Protesters took to the streets to express outrage at their government for the lack of power and clean water. The days have been hot this summer—but so have the nights. System 001 left San Francisco Bay on Saturday after five years of development and more than $30 million of funding. This idea could generate about 82 terawatts of electricity—far more than humans currently need. Sometimes seniors forget to drink, so this grandson invented water they can eat.