A new study reveals how, by cultivating fertile soil for farming, ancient Amazonians locked away thousands of tons of carbon that have stayed in the ground for centuries. While the Amazon rainforest is rich in plant life, its soils are poorly suited to growing crops. In a few places, however, archaeologists have uncovered patches of black, fertile soil where ancient […]
Six out of the world´s nine planetary boundaries have been crossed
Some scientists worry that the West Antarctica ice sheet could soon enter a phase of being destabilised. Photo credit: TiPACCs / Ronja Reese. By Anders Lorenzen The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), founded in 1992, has identified that six of the world’s planetary boundaries have been crossed. The Institute is led by Prof Johan Rockström who specialises in […]
Smart Questions for Shoe Shoppers
Chances are the shoes you are wearing took a long journey to reach your feet. China produces more than half the shoes made in the world. In a perfect world, our shoes would come from a local maker. And if your town still has a cobbler, that’s undoubtedly your best eco-friendly bet. For the rest of us, choosing shoes made […]
Testing Sustainable Options for Your Product and Company: Paving the Path to Profitable Impact
Imagine a world where business not only thrives but also nurtures the planet we call home. A world where sustainability isn’t just a buzzword but a powerful driver of profits and purpose. With a few changes to typical business practices, you can begin to practice sustainable entrepreneurship, a way to measure success that goes hand in hand with making a […]
Best of Earth911 Podcast: Clean Earth Rovers CEO Michael Arens on Cleaning Waterways and Bays
Some of the dirtiest, plastic-polluted waters lie at the heart of major cities, in ports, marinas, and where wastewater enters the environment. They are hard to keep clean because of constant activity that adds new waste to waterways. The work is wet, cold, and dirty, which makes port and marina cleanups an ideal job for robots. Meet Michael Arens, co-founder […]
New EVs Under $40,000 for 2023 and 2024
Although new electric vehicles (EVs) have had a higher sticker price than gasoline-powered cars, new EV prices are falling. Research from Kelley Blue Book shows that new EV prices are down almost 20% from June 2022. With EV sales accounting for 7% of U.S. car sales this year, going electric is more affordable than ever. EVs offer clear environmental and […]
We Earthlings: Protect Your Skin and the Environment
Earth911 brings the circular economy to life by connecting the world to brands, products, and services to live sustainably. We help millions of people find local end-of-use options for products and packaging using the largest curated directory of reuse, donation, and recycling locations, municipal curbside collection programs, and mail-in recycling options. We educate and inform consumers, businesses and communities to […]
Road Hazard: Evidence Mounts on Toxic Pollution from Tires
For two decades, researchers worked to solve a mystery in West Coast streams. Why, when it rained, were large numbers of spawning coho salmon dying? As part of an effort to find out, scientists placed fish in water that contained particles of new and old tires. The salmon died, and the researchers then began testing the hundreds of chemicals that […]