ecology news stories on Newser

Street Lights Change Insect Ecology

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:10:50 CDT

If you're not a fan of bugs, you may not want to hang out near street lights: A new study finds that insects are more numerous in the areas under such lights, even during the day, when they're not on. The study suggests that street lights significantly influence the ecology...

How Bug Warfare Could Save the Baseball Bat

Kevin Spak — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 11:42:05 CDT

The mighty baseball bat could soon be brought low by bugs—unless a USDA plan to instigate some bug warfare succeeds. Meet the emerald ash borer, or EAB, a beetle that recently began infesting New York’s forests and feeding on its ash trees. And since roughly 50% of major leaguers...

Obama on Gulf Coast: 'BP Will Be Paying the Bill'

M. Morris — Sun, 02 May 2010 16:07:10 CDT

President Obama visited Louisiana this afternoon, seeing for himself the effects of the continuing oil spill and promising an "all-hands-on-deck" reaction, the Times-Picayune reports. "BP is responsible for this leak. BP will be paying the bill," he said. "But as president of the United States, I will spare no effort...

Google Doodle Celebrates Earth Day

Mary Papenfuss — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 04:51:00 CDT

The Google doodlers are at it again, this time with a vividly green Avatar-like image of a magical woodland to celebrate Earth Day. Clicking on the image on the Google search page calls up everything connected to Earth Day. The doodle marking the green day, founded in 1970 by a...

Right-Wingers Go Ballistic Over Avatar

Mary Papenfuss — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 07:55:06 CST

Here's one more thing that's sure to rocket hyper-popular Avatar to even greater heights: right-wingers hate it. America's "prickly cadre of political conservatives" can't stand its eco message, negative portrayal of vicious military contractors and its "can't-we-all-get along counterculture vibe," writes Patrick Goldstein in the Los Angeles Times .

Bottled Water Sales Head Down the Drain

Kevin Spak — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:05:00 CST

Bottled water sales are sinking, and environmentalists point triumphantly to their hard-fought campaign against the wasteful industry. Consumption is expected to drop 2% this year, following a 3.2% drop last year, MSNBC reports. But industry executives say it’s just a natural result of the economic downturn, noting that sales...

Team Counts on Birds to Sing Their Population

Mary Papenfuss — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:43:05 CST

The intensity of birdsong can be used to accurately calculate bird populations, scientists have discovered. Researchers are using recordings from microphones placed in woods to count birds using mathematical equations. The method is expected to revolutionize the monitoring of other species. Counting animals is extremely time consuming, and many species,...

In Eco-Terms, Dog = Hummer

M. Morris — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:50:49 CST

A dog has about the same impact on the planet as an SUV, according to a study out of New Zealand. The authors of Time to Eat the Dog? The Real Guide to Sustainable Living claim the environmental footprint of a Toyota Land Cruiser is smaller than the ecological impact...

Biofuel Boom Runs Out of Gas

Drew Nelles — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:49:02 CDT

Once considered a win-win for the environment and energy independence, America’s biofuel industry is sputtering to a halt, the Wall Street Journal reports. Thanks to the recession, lower oil prices, and government delays, two-thirds of American biodiesel refineries—dozens of plants—are idle, and companies across the country are shutting...