Category Archives: environment

At the New England Aquarium

Thanks to Mike C. Common Estimate: The widely cited odds of finding a blue lobster are approximately 1 in 2 million. Comparison to Other Rare Colors Interestingly, blue lobsters are not the rarest color variation: Color Estimated Odds Red (uncooked) … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Education, environment | Comments Off on At the New England Aquarium

Lahaina Celebrates Recovery of Historic 151-Year-Old Banyan Tree That Survived Devastating Maui Wildfire

Thanks to Pam P. The August 2023 Maui wildfires were devastating for the Hawaiian island’s people, wildlife and flora, including a century-and-a-half-old banyan tree in the beach community of Lahaina. The historic town is celebrating the landmark’s recovery, as parts of the 151-year-old banyan tree have begun to … Continue reading

Posted in environment, Plants | Comments Off on Lahaina Celebrates Recovery of Historic 151-Year-Old Banyan Tree That Survived Devastating Maui Wildfire

The best bidets of 2024, tested by editors (CNN)

Ed Note: Bidet toilets are nearly universal in Japan where the best selling Toto brand was established in 1917. As of January 2023, 72% of Japanese households have a bidet-style toilet, also known as a washlet, which is a brand name … Continue reading

Posted in environment, Health | Comments Off on The best bidets of 2024, tested by editors (CNN)

The first zero-emission hydrogen-powered hybrid train in the U.S. just arrived in California

By Kevin Tidmarsh (thanks to Pam P.) The train, known as a zero-emission multiple unit or ZEMU, is also sized to fit on regular train tracks, as opposed to other similar environmentally-friendly models that run on narrower ones. Currently, Metrolink’s Arrow … Continue reading

Posted in environment, Transportation | Comments Off on The first zero-emission hydrogen-powered hybrid train in the U.S. just arrived in California

Let’s honor the past but bid farewell to the Blue Angels

By Breck Lebegue Special to The Seattle Times It’s time to salute and say goodbye to the Blue Angels at Seafair. Although we need skilled fighter pilots to defend our nation and our allies from enemies, these airshows cause significant health … Continue reading

Posted in Climate, Entertainment, environment, Health, Military | Comments Off on Let’s honor the past but bid farewell to the Blue Angels

Recycled bottle tops and tables made from shuttlecocks – the greenest Olympics?

Ciaran Varley and Dave Lockwood, BBC Sport journalists, Published23 July 2024 Thanks to Pam P. The organising committee of Paris 2024 has vowed to make it the greenest Games in Olympic history, with half the carbon footprint of London 2012 … Continue reading

Posted in environment, Sports | Comments Off on Recycled bottle tops and tables made from shuttlecocks – the greenest Olympics?

Are offshore wind turbines in Washington’s future?

If voters decide in November to keep the cap-and-invest program, the state has plans that could bring the technology to its coastal waters. by John Stang in Crosscut/ July 23, 2024 In an August 2016 photo, three wind turbines from Deepwater Wind … Continue reading

Posted in Climate, energy, environment, Government | Comments Off on Are offshore wind turbines in Washington’s future?

West Coast Seafood Watch Guide

Thanks to Kate B. and Mel B. As you see such menu choices as Chilean Sea Bass or Orange Roughy, please consider this very important guide — CLICK HERE

Posted in Animals, Cooking, environment, Food | Comments Off on West Coast Seafood Watch Guide

A new report found that renewables will officially surpass coal in energy production next year

Thanks to Pam P. Global electricity demand is rising at its fastest rate in two decades, but solar is on course to meet half of demand growth, says the IEA. Global electricity demand is forecast to grow by around 4% … Continue reading

Posted in Climate, Economics, environment, technology | Comments Off on A new report found that renewables will officially surpass coal in energy production next year

WA ballot initiative would cut $848.6M of environmental programs

If passed, Initiative 2117 would repeal the state’s new Climate Commitment Act, which has raised more than $2B for projects like electrifying transit. by John Stang in Crosscut The M/V Guemes crosses the channel between Anacortes and Guemes Island. The 45-year-old vessel is scheduled … Continue reading

Posted in Climate, environment, Taxes | Comments Off on WA ballot initiative would cut $848.6M of environmental programs

“Leaves” of Monarchs bend the branches

Thanks to Mike C. The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve World Heritage property protects key overwintering sites for the monarch butterfly. The overwintering concentration of butterflies in the property is a superlative natural phenomenon. The millions of monarch butterflies that return … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, environment, Nature | Comments Off on “Leaves” of Monarchs bend the branches

Researchers Have Found a Creative Way To Save Forests: They’re Letting Trees Tweet

From Good Good Good. Thanks to Pam P. In July 2018, a century-old red oak went live on Twitter. The account @awitnesstree, tweeting from the Harvard Forest in Petersham, Massachusetts, introduces itself in its bio: WITNESSING LIFE AS A TREE IN A CHANGING … Continue reading

Posted in Climate, environment | Comments Off on Researchers Have Found a Creative Way To Save Forests: They’re Letting Trees Tweet

No AC but the ‘greenest’ ever Games? Inside Paris’ landmark Olympic Village

By Joshua Berlinger, CNN (Thanks to Pam P) Air filters line a street in the Olympic Village in Saint-Denis. Nathan Laine/Bloomberg/Getty Images When Paris last hosted the Summer Olympics 100 years ago, organizers were so keen to bring athletes under the same roof … Continue reading

Posted in Climate, environment, Housing, Sports | Comments Off on No AC but the ‘greenest’ ever Games? Inside Paris’ landmark Olympic Village

New York University will divest from fossil fuels in win for student activists

From the Guardian – thanks to Pam P. New York University plans to divest from fossil fuels, the Guardian has learned, following years of pressure from student activists. The move from one of the US’s largest private universities, whose endowment … Continue reading

Posted in Business, environment, Finance | Comments Off on New York University will divest from fossil fuels in win for student activists

Duwamish: The River Seattle Forgot

by David Brewster in the Post Alley Newsletter Seattle, unlike most American cities, is not a river-mouth city, located (like Portland and St. Louis) at the mouth of a major river that drains a resource hinterland. Seattle’s forgotten Duwamish River … Continue reading

Posted in environment, Essays | Comments Off on Duwamish: The River Seattle Forgot

Twice as tall as the Cascade Tower

Just what we need?! At the corner of Marion and Terry, this monster 46 story apartment building is planned. It will certainly dominate the sky. The Cabrini Tower is 19 stories. First Hill Plaza is 33 stories.

Posted in environment, In the Neighborhood | 1 Comment

The Lethal Details Left out of “Oppenheimer”

By Dan Chasan in the Post Alley Newsletter – (Independent Writing and Editing Professional. Harvard University. Vashon, Washington) The blockbuster release of the popular film Oppenheimer gives Americans a chance to re-visit the complicated history of this nation‘s development, testing, and use … Continue reading

Posted in environment, Essays, Government, Law, Military, Morality, Movies, War | 2 Comments

Bird flu outbreak stokes fears for Washington’s wild birds

A new strain of avian flu has killed dozens of birds on a small Puget Sound island. Cases have turned up elsewhere as well. Officials are trying to better understand the disease’s spread. BY: LAUREL DEMKOVICH – in the Washington State Standard … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, environment | Comments Off on Bird flu outbreak stokes fears for Washington’s wild birds

Montana moves toward a greener future

From Heather Cox Richardson’s newsletter In 1972, after a century of mining, ranching, and farming had taken a toll on Montana, voters in that state added to their constitution an amendment saying that “[t]he state and each person shall maintain … Continue reading

Posted in environment | 1 Comment

The first cargo ship running on green methanol is setting sail

Thanks to Pam P BY ADELE PETERS As a new container ship sets sail this week, it’s the first to ever run on green methanol—made from methane captured from food waste at landfills. Maersk, one of the world’s largest shipping companies, … Continue reading

Posted in environment, Transportation | Comments Off on The first cargo ship running on green methanol is setting sail

José Andrés Is the First Chef to Serve Good Meat’s ‘No-Kill’ Chicken in the U.S.

by Tierney Plumb  in Eater-Washington DC Thanks to Pam P. Culinary superstar José Andrés just made history by selling Good Meat’s cell-cultivated chicken for the first time in the U.S., right here in D.C. The chef and global humanitarian hosted the landmark … Continue reading

Posted in Business, environment, Food, Health | Comments Off on José Andrés Is the First Chef to Serve Good Meat’s ‘No-Kill’ Chicken in the U.S.

Canada Offers Lesson in the Economic Toll of Climate Change

Wildfires are hurting many industries and could strain households across Canada, one of many countries reckoning with the impact of extreme weather Thanks to Mike C. By Lydia DePillis in the NYT Canada’s wildfires have burned 20 million acres, blanketed Canadian and U.S. … Continue reading

Posted in Climate, Economics, environment, Essays, Health | 1 Comment

Big Business: Washington now 1000 Wineries Strong

By Junius Rochester in the Post Alley Newsletter Wine growing has evolved into one of Washington State’s major industries. Our corner is second in the nation (after California) for wine production and boasts more than 1,000 wineries. Up to the … Continue reading

Posted in environment, In the Neighborhood | Comments Off on Big Business: Washington now 1000 Wineries Strong

Mayor Harrell releases blueprint to ‘activate’ Downtown Seattle

By Josh Cohen in Crosscut The laundry list includes ideas for denser housing and expanded homeless outreach — along with some Space Needle-level swings. What does Mayor Bruce Harrell want to do to help Downtown Seattle recover? A little bit … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Business, Crime, Economics, environment, Government, In the Neighborhood | Comments Off on Mayor Harrell releases blueprint to ‘activate’ Downtown Seattle

Fixing Seattle’s Downtown: First, Do No Harm

by David Brewster By David Brewster in the Post Alley Newsletter June 26, 2023 Many are the chefs in the kitchen, cooking up a recipe for the revival of Seattle’s downtown — Downtown Seattle Association, Mayor Bruce Harrell, Markham McIntyre … Continue reading

Posted in Advocacy, Business, environment, Government, In the Neighborhood, Politics, Traffic, Transportation | Comments Off on Fixing Seattle’s Downtown: First, Do No Harm