Month: October 2013
Pulse of the Planet Daily Audio
Hellbenders – Large Salamander
North America’s largest salamander can be as large as two feet long and weigh up to five pounds.
October 30, 2013Snapping Turtles – Ecotoxicology
By studying how contaminants in the environment influence wildlife populations, we may be able to draw some important inferences about how they effect our own reproductive processes.
October 29, 2013Snapping Turtles – Mercury
In an ecosystem polluted by toxins like mercury, do mother turtles pass these substances on to their young?
October 28, 2013Snapping Turtles – Nails
Why would anyone want to cut the toenails of a snapping turtle?
October 25, 2013Snapping Turtles – Capturing Clues
Snapping turtles are teaching us invaluable lessons about the effects of toxins on the environment.
October 24, 2013Biological Invaders – Biocontrol
The ravage of biological aliens challenge our abilities to control them effectively.
October 23, 2013Biological Invaders – Aussie Invasions
Australia has played host to unwanted visitors since the 19th century.
October 22, 2013Rain – What’s in a Raindrop
Microorganisms are part of the “recipe” for making rain, and rain not only cleans the atmosphere of microbes and airborne particles, it serves as a prime mover in stimulating microbial growth.
October 21, 2013Rain – UAVs
Unmanned aerial vehicles are helping scientists take samples of microbes in clouds, in order to learn some of the secrets of rain-making.
October 18, 2013Biological Invaders – Salvinia
Moving a species to a foreign environment may ultimately require importing another species to control the first.
October 17, 2013Biological Invaders – Ecology
Humans are largely responsible for the demise of the biological immunity of ecosystems.
October 16, 2013Biological Invaders – Adaptation
Disparate species are being unnaturally relocated without the benefit of time for adaptation.
October 15, 2013Science Diary: Redwoods – Climbing
Thinking of climbing a giant redwood? Don’t try this at home!
October 14, 2013Science Diary: Redwoods – Straw
Imagine sucking water through a 300-foot straw; giant redwoods do this, in effect, every day.
October 11, 2013Rain – Evolution in the Clouds
Why would bacteria evolve the ability to freeze cloud water at higher than normal temperatures?
October 10, 2013Rain – Pathogens
The down side of using certain types ofbacteria to seed rain clouds, is that they may be pathogenic to plants.
October 9, 2013Rain – Bacteria
A certain type of bacteria is a catalyst for producing rain in clouds.
October 8, 2013Rain – Impurities
What enables water in clouds to freeze at higher temperatures than pure water?
October 7, 2013Rain – To Freeze or Not to Freeze
In order for it rain, water must first freeze inside a cloud.
October 4, 2013Dragonflies – Cape May
Where’s a great place to watch dragonflies migrate?
October 3, 2013Dragonflies – Mating Strategy
One of the world’s most venerable insects has developed a sucessful means of reproduction.
October 2, 2013Dragonflies – Wired
Tiny transmitters may help unlock the mysteries of dragonfly migration.
October 1, 2013Dragonflies – Riding the Wind
Unfortunately for dragonflies, they’re not the only creatures who migrate riding wind currents.