H2oradio

Batteries Are Causing a Water Crisis. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Schools are opening in Detroit this week, but if kids and teachers get thirsty they will be drinking bottled water. Batteries contain lithium, and much of it is mined from one of the driest places on Earth. The dredging of coastal sand is causing serious harm to some poor countries. A lack of regulation is leading to ships polluting Arctic waters. "If you see me, weep."

At This Bank You Can Make Deposits, but Withdrawals…Not So Much. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. The feds are being asked to build a wall in Texas—but not to control immigration. Plastic bottles and straws have been in the news for contaminating waterways, but a new problem is coming into view. An Arizona "bank" is accepting deposits but struggling with how to arrange withdrawals. At least 100 nuclear power stations in the U.S., Europe, and Asia could be threatened by climate change. Did events in Indonesia sink Napoleon at Waterloo?

Five years ago, Bob McCormick couldn’t walk a short city block without having to sit down, the pain was so bad. But remarkably, after two hip replacements and knee surgery, he’s able to walk 20 miles a day. And that, unto itself would be an amazing story, were it not for the fact of what he’s doing now. In early August, Bob McCormick left—to walk—from Denver, Colorado, to Washington, D.C.—a distance of more than 1600 miles.

A Jury Finds Popular Weedkiller Caused Cancer. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. In a recent trial evidence showed Monsanto had suppressed and manipulated scientific literature about its Roundup® weedkiller. It’s rare for U.S. Senate races to turn on environmental issues, but this one just might. Ocean microbes will be used as a canary in a coal mine to warn about climate change. Birds have been affected by climate change in the Mojave Desert as it gets warmer and drier. Wool, I’ll be darned.

It took a supercomputer a year to compile the data, and now researchers in Boulder are warning about flooding in some areas of the West becoming more intense and frequent by century’s end, caused by warm rainstorms hitting cold mountains.

The U.S. Geological Survey keeps track of how much water flows through rivers and streams across the country to help plan for shortages—or at the other extreme—brace for floods. But there are more waterways than the agency is able to track, so recently they added a new tool that will not only help them cover more ground, but help them learn more about this precious resource—all without ever touching a drop.

“Earth Overshoot Day” Is Now August 1st—and That’s Not Good. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Tensions may be increasing among Turkey, Syria, and Iraq over water. A $3 billion battery proposal by Los Angeles is raising concerns about Colorado River flows. A new study concludes that only a little more than 13 percent of oceans can truly be considered as wilderness. According to the Global Footprint Network, humans have consumed a year’s worth of resources in just 212 days. The next victim of climate change? It could be the Internet.

Can’t Think Straight? Grab a Glass of Water. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. The interim head of the EPA, Andrew Wheeler, signed new rules that relax requirements for handling toxic waste from the burning of coal. A proposed EPA science rule rejects...science. The city of Baltimore wants compensation from fossil fuel companies for having to protect itself from the effects of climate change. What is the "Zero Hour" movement? Fish are having a tough time in the Southwest—and anglers are being asked to change their practices to help. The record-setting heat this summer has spurred a movement to protect those who work outside—particularly farm and construction workers. Georgia Institute of Technology says: "Less fluid, more goofs."

What could a Justice Kavanaugh mean for the environment? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. There are questions about whether Supreme Court nominee Kavanaugh would vote to roll back EPA rules and regulations about air and water pollution. A significant majority of the fishing industry has just agreed to protect a creature that is about as long as your pinky finger. Can rivers be left- or right-handed? Yes, and it affects sea level rise. When oil rigs at sea are past their prime, should they be removed? Not necessarily, say scientists. This country will soon be the first in the world to fully divest from fossil fuels.

Are there possible upsides with the new EPA chief? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Indigenous peoples are celebrating the designation of two new World Heritage Sites. They're far from what was normal—temperatures are soaring around the globe. A shortage of drinking water prompted people in southwest Iran to take to the streets in protest. "Forest bathing" may be the best medicine.

Wildfires have always been a part of life in the American West, but with climate change, it’s expected they will become more frequent and more intense. While some effects of wildfires are understood, its impact on water is just starting to come into focus. H2O Radio has more.

An Ocean Is Losing Its Identity. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Aridification of the Colorado River Basin is causing concern—and a warning to Arizona to get its act together. Meanwhile, under Colorado law, those with senior water rights can call on those with junior rights to curtail their usage—and one already is. Virtually the entire state of New Mexico is dry. “Atlantification” is happening at an alarming rate. A new study says there are 40 percent more rivers and streams on Earth than previously thought. This new sparkling water will be legal only in some places.

Can Fracking Make You Fat? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. The House version of the Farm Bill is criticized for being a "stunning gift" to the pesticide industry. Fracking wastes may have a surprising effect on...human waists. The government finally released the contamination report it tried to bury. EPA will no longer administer toxic coal ash disposal in Oklahoma. “It’s like finding an alien environment on Earth.” Dripping tap keeping you awake? Here's a quick hack.

Agriculture uses a lot of water. But what if that water were used for more than growing food? What if it could generate energy—renewable energy? It can, and a program in Colorado is helping farmers harness hydropower to lower costs, save time—and conserve water.

Want to Know the Weather in L.A.? Look at New Zealand. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. Antarctica’s ice sheets are melting three times faster per year than previously thought. A chemical that is used in MRIs is now accumulating in the world’s oceans. El Niño was thought to be a reliable tool for weather prediction, but this new method might be more accurate. These trees can grow to be as wide as a bus is long and live up to 3,000 years, but some of the oldest are dying—likely due to climate change. The Senate Appropriations Committee took action to force the Trump administration to release a study it buried. How to dispose of a body.

How to Find Water in the Desert. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said that carbon dioxide is not a primary contributor to climate change. Now a judge is forcing him to reveal the science he used to arrive at that conclusion. In a major victory for the chemical industry, the EPA is narrowing how it looks at risks associated with dangerous chemicals. Hawaii is crushing it on climate. Scientists put a box in a box in the backyard of a tract home in Arizona. A new report led by researchers at the University of Colorado, Boulder, shows that there are three major switches that affect wildfires. Adhesive makers are in a sticky situation that spiders can help solve.

When Being Less Gloomy Isn’t a Good Thing. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. A new analysis shows that many Californians are showering, cooking, washing, and drinking water with excessive contaminants. Less "gloom" in Southern California is increasing evaporation, leaving vegetation dried out and susceptible to fire. A new study shows that the most effective way to live sustainably is through what people eat. Climate change is putting the world’s children, particularly those in poorer areas, at higher risk of some diseases. While wildfires can be devastating, they do offer opportunities for researchers to study smoke. Sewage doesn’t lie.

Opioids Are Found in a Major U.S. Waterway. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. It was supposed to be a positive move by the EPA, but it didn't turn out that way. Mussels—good indicators of pollutants—test positive for opioids and other drugs in a major U.S. waterway. Explorers have discovered a shipwreck with riches worth as much as 17 billion dollars. Rising CO2 in the atmosphere could reduce the nutritional value of some foods. India and Pakistan are in a severe situation as a heatwave continues. Will the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster finally be solved—once and for all?

Trees—they're just like us. They sleep, they drink—and they even have a pulse. What the latest research can also tell us about whether they're stressed out.

The Trump Administration Buried a Serious Water Contamination Study. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report about water. A Trump administration aide said in an email that releasing a water contamination report would cause a “public relations nightmare.” So they buried it. The new NASA administrator does a one-eighty on climate change in stark contrast to his 2013 speech on the House floor. Greenhouse gases have been released into the atmosphere since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, but the ancient Greeks and Romans polluted, too. It's been called the "Everest of racing”—and now it's a race against time.