Episodes
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The Chicago Marathon is one of six World Major Marathons, and this year will host around 50,000 runners from around the world, not to mention the spectators, vendors, and volunteers. So, is it possible for an event of this magnitude to be sustainable? On this episode, Casey and Sara chat with Cat Morris, the Sustainability Manager at Chicago Event Management, overseeing the Chicago Marathon. Hear about how the Chicago Marathon became certified as an Evergreen Inspire event through the Council for Responsible Sport, how waste, from water cups to gel packets, is being diverted from landfills, and how runners and spectators can get involved!
Sara will be running the 2024 Chicago Marathon as part of Team Fox, raising funds for the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. If you'd like to donate to support the Foundation's work to find a cure for Parkinson's, you can donate through Sara's fundraising page here: https://give.michaeljfox.org/fundraiser/5270913
Resources for this episode:
Chicago Marathon Sustainability
Community Impact through Compost: Chicago Distance Series
Instagram: Tina Muir, Chicago Marathon Sustainability Ambassador
Instagram: Chicago Marathon Know Before You Go: Sustainability
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This week, Casey and Sara recap Sara's first trip to the Rocky Mountains, covering everything from road trip musings on land use to wildfires to amazing wildlife encounters!
Resources for this episode:
Natural Features & Ecosystems - Rocky Mountain National Park (U.S. National Park Service)
Moose Research in Rocky Mountain National Park
Tribal Partners - Rocky Mountain
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Episodes manquant?
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White-tailed deer may not be the first species that pops to mind when you think of conservation, especially if you live across much of North or Central America. For many of us, these animals are commonly seen around our own homes and (unfortunately) roadways. Depending on your perspective, they can be seen as a nuisance, a game species, beloved local wildlife, or all of the above. In this episode, Casey and Sara discuss the history, ecology, and conservation of one of our most recognized animals.
Resources for this episode:
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Lithium-ion batteries are found everywhere, from watches to power tools to e-bikes and electric cars. But perhaps you've heard a thing or two about these batteries that make you unsure. This week, Casey and Sara discuss some of the environmental, social justice, and safety issues associated with lithium-ion batteries and how we can look to improve moving forward.
Resources for this episode:
How Lithium-ion Batteries Work | Department of Energy
A Comprehensive Comparative Analysis: Lithium vs Alkaline Batteries - The Earth Awards
Safety Risks to Emergency Responders from Lithium-Ion Battery Fires in Electric Vehicles
EVs are being set on fire in Ottawa for NRC battery abuse research
Electric Car Fires: What You Should Know | Edmunds
Deadly fires from phone, scooter batteries leave lawmakers playing catch-up on safety
Environmental impact of direct lithium extraction from brines | Nature Reviews Earth & Environment
The Environmental Impacts of Lithium and Cobalt Mining
Potential impacts of proposed lithium extraction on biodiversity and conservation in the contiguous United States - ScienceDirect
How is lithium mined? | MIT Climate Portal
Maine Has the Lithium America Needs, But Won't Allow Mining | TIME
Society Watch: Across the globe, indigenous rights are being trampled in lithium goldrush | Reuters
What Is Thermal Runaway? | UL Research Institutes
Their batteries hurt the environment, but EVs still beat gas cars. Here's why
This electric car battery takes less than 5 minutes to charge | CNN Business
Tribes face an uphill battle to defend their sacred land against lithium mining
A fire at a lithium battery factory in South Korea kills 22 mostly Chinese migrant workers
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This week, Sara and Casey chat with conservation biologist and data scientist, Dr. Vaughn Shirey, for a wide-ranging conversation about his work in butterfly conservation and climate change. Learn what got Vaughn interested in the field, how artificial intelligence is being used in his work, and what cold climate butterfly species (yeah, that's a thing) are telling us about climate change.
Resources for this episode:
Find more on Dr. Vaughn Shirey and his work HERE
Find Vaughn Shirey on Twitter
Find Vaugh Shirey on Instagram
Vaughn Shirey - Google Scholar
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Mosquitoes are common flying insect that inhabit all continents except Antarctica. There are over 3500 species of mosquitoes worldwide, but only somewhere between 6 and 9.3% bite humans and are disease vectors. That said, mosquitos are the deadliest animal on the planet, thanks to their role as a vector for disease. So, would we be better off getting rid of this pesky insect? Casey and Sara discuss the role of mosquitos in the environment, the pros and cons of eradication, and why mosquito gut bacteria is more important than you might expect!
Resources for this episode:
Mosquitopia - NCBI Bookshelf
MOSQUITOES
Why Are Some People Tastier to Mosquitoes Than Others? | Pfizer
About Mosquitoes - CDC
Robust network stability of mosquitoes and human pathogens of medical importance | Parasites & Vectors
Can Garden Plants Really Repel Mosquitoes? - Consumer Reports.
Invasive Mosquitoes - Birds Not Mosquitoes
Aedes communis: The Pollinating Mosquito.
Millions of Mosquitoes Will Rain Down on Hawaii to Save an Iconic Bird | Scientific American
Genetically Modified Mosquitoes - CDC
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What do you think of when you hear the phrase "artificial intelligence?" Does chatGPT or Alexa come to mind? Do you imagine robots taking over the world? What might not immediately come to mind are things like biodiversity preservation, green energy optimization, and water conservation, but AI is in fact being used in all these areas and more. Casey and Sara take a look at some of the ways AI is or has the potential to be used in the conservation realm and also explore some of the challenges with AI as a conservation tool.
Resources for this episode:
A.I.’s ‘Her’ Era Has Arrived - The New York Times
Platforms - Wild Me
TrailGuard AI and Nightjar
Saving our Planet’s Biodiversity with AI | Ganes Kesari | TEDxAsburyPark
ASC Science Sundays - Tanya Berger-Wolf: AI for Wildlife Conservation
How artificial intelligence is helping tackle environmental challenges
Tackling climate change with machine learning | MIT Sloan
Artificial Intelligence to Help Prevent Extinction? | Wildlife.ai: Conservation Charity
tinyML Talks: Efficient AI for Wildlife Conservation
Seven ways utilities are exploring AI for the grid | Latitude Media
Why AI and energy are the new power couple – Analysis - IEA
AI for the grid has potential, DOE says — but comes with pitfalls | Latitude Media
How AI Is Cropping Up In The Agriculture Industry
US farms are making an urgent push into AI. It could help feed the world
Artificial Intelligence Can Prevent Enormous Amounts Of Damage And Water Loss From Building Leaks
AI and Water: Pioneering Solutions for a Thirsty Planet
AI to stop water pollution before it happens
Hundreds of sewage leaks detected thanks to AI
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Jeffrey Rissman is the Senior Director of Industry at Energy Innovation, a nonpartisan energy and environmental policy firm. He is also the author of a new book, Zero-Carbon Industry: Transformative Technologies and Policies to Achieve Sustainable Prosperity. Casey and Sara were thrilled to welcome Jeffrey to the show to discuss his ideas on cleaning up the industrial sector. Jeffrey shares policy ideas, new technologies, and simple changes that can be made to bring global industry to zero carbon within the next 50 years.
To purchase the book and get a 20% off coupon code, visit https://zerocarbonindustry.com/
Resources for this episode:
https://www.jeffreyrissman.com/
We must cut carbon from industry. Here’s how we can do it.
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Trees help give us clean air to breathe, keep us cool, and can even benefit our mental health. But not everyone has equal access to trees. In this week's episode, Casey and Sara discuss the benefits (and challenges) of urban trees and take a look at the factors involved in tree disparity across different neighborhoods.
Resources for this episode:
The Inequitable Distribution of Urban Trees
Tree Equity Score National Explorer
Public Health Benefits of Urban Trees
Urban Trees and Human Health: A Scoping Review
Green gentrification in European and North American cities | Nature Communications
Ten-Year Urban Forestry Action Plan: 2016 -2026
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With the total solar eclipse visible over parts of North America in just a few days, Casey and Sara discuss what we know about animal behavior during eclipse events. Listen to find out:
What are Baily's Beads and why does Sara like them so much?How would Casey's pets respond to a total solar eclipse?Why should we care about how animals act during an eclipse?If you are in the path of the eclipse, whether total or partial, you can join North Carolina State University's Solar Eclipse Safari project or take a look at NASA's Eclipse Soundscapes project.
And if you are viewing the eclipse, remember to do so safely! Never look directly at the sun! Total Solar Eclipse Safety - NASA
Resources for this episode:
Researchers to observe how total solar eclipse affects animal behavior | PBS NewsHour
NASA Eclipse Science
2024 Total Solar Eclipse - NASA
Total Eclipse of the Zoo: Animal Behavior during a Total Solar Eclipse - PMC
Unlocking the mysteries of animal behavior during cosmic events: IU News
Surprising Ways Animals React to Solar Eclipses - National Geographic
How Do Animals Respond to a Total Solar Eclipse? | Scientific American
Animals act weirdly during an eclipse. Help NASA find out why | CNN
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Join Casey and Sara for a discussion on the North Atlantic right whale. Learn where you can find these amazing animals, why they're called "right" whales, and what we can do to help save this incredibly endangered species.
Resources for this episode:
Reducing Vessel Strikes to North Atlantic Right Whales | NOAA Fisheries
North Atlantic Right Whale | NOAA Fisheries
We know how to save the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Why aren’t we? - Vox
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Female North Atlantic right whales growing smaller, leading to fewer births
Scientists release annual population estimate for critically endangered North Atlantic right whale amid ongoing threats - New England Aquarium
North Atlantic Right Whale Calving Season 2024 | NOAA Fisheries
Maine fishing rope found in dead North Atlantic right whale | National Fisherman
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Pulling weeds around the yard isn't most people's idea of a good time. Busting out a spray bottle of herbicide might be the easy way out, but what's the price we pay for that? Casey and Sara discuss the use of herbicides in agriculture and urban areas, including the recent news surrounding the use of dicamba.
Resources for this episode:
Protecting Pollinators from Herbicides: Rethinking Weed Management at Home
Benefits and risks of the use of herbicide-resistant crops - Kathrine Hauge Madsen & Jens Carl Streibig
How to use herbicides to safely control weeds on farms | OSU Extension Service
Different pesticides dominate in different land-use areas
Video: Herbicides: A Double-Edged Sword? What We Know about Herbicide Impacts on Pollinators
History of Weed Control in the United States and Canada
Herbicide Use in the Era of Farm to Fork: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Future Implications - PMC
New Study: Agricultural Pesticides Cause Widespread Harm to Soil Health, Threaten Biodiversity
Glyphosate-based herbicides and cancer risk: a post-IARC decision review of potential mechanisms, policy and avenues of research - PMC
Weed Management in Lawns Guidelines--UC IPMBee Precaution Pesticide Ratings
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Last spring, Casey and Sara discussed some of the ways parents might be able to make eco-friendly choices while expecting and raising a baby. Now that Casey is a mom, she's taking a look back at how things went for her and sharing some additional tips and resources based on her experiences.
Resources for this episode:
Climate change is making people think twice about having children
Environmental Impact of Feeding with Infant Formula in Comparison with Breastfeeding - PMC
Disposable Diaper - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Facts | Breastfeeding | CDC
Study: Plastic Baby Bottles Shed Microplastics When Heated. Should You Worry? : Goats and Soda : NPR
A highway paved with recycled diapers may change the cloth vs. disposables debate - The Washington Post
Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Nappies in the UK
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In this reunion episode, Casey returns to the podcast, joining Kristen and Sara in a discussion about the impact of various art forms on the environment, as well as the other ways that art and nature intersect. Nature often inspires art (and might be considered art in and of itself), art often depicts nature, and art can also be used to benefit nature and conservation!
Resources for this episode:
Physiological Benefits of Viewing Nature: A Systematic Review of Indoor Experiments - PMC
Understanding the Hazardous Environmental Impact of Paint
Painting Safety In The Arts
Sustainability of Art Supplies. Art is a powerful means of conveying… | by Libby McClough | Environmental Justice Coalition | Medium
Mindful of Its Impact on the Planet, the Art World Aims for Sustainability
Meet Abhi; The Charcoal Artist raising Climate Change Awareness | by Abhijeet Shrivastava | Medium
Quick Guide: Detox Your Art Studio | Artwork Archive
How to Create an Eco-Friendly Art Studio | Artwork Archive
Resin Art and Sustainability Backlash
How to Make Plant Paints: Zero Waste Art - Greenify Me
KaiNav Conservation Fund
Painted Dog Conservation
Washed Ashore
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Kristen and Sara discuss the threats facing coral reefs around the world, what conservationists are doing to help, and how we can all get involved!
Resources for this episode:
Visual Feature | Status of Coral Reefs of the World
What Florida’s coral bleaching means as high ocean temperatures continue - The Washington Post
Warming, acidic oceans may nearly eliminate coral reef habitats by 2100 - AGU Newsroom
Extreme Ocean Temperatures Are Affecting Florida’s Coral Reef | NESDIS
Coral on the Red List of Endangered Species | FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
Natural Threats to Coral Reefs
Crown-of-thorns Starfish - Oceana
Five fascinating facts about crown-of-thorns starfish - Great Barrier Reef Foundation
Coral Diseases – South Florida Aquatic Environments
Threats to Coral Reefs | US EPA
Coral Nurseries | Reef Resilience
Coral bleaching 101 | gbrmpa
The Truth About Corals and Sunscreen | Smithsonian Ocean
The Great Reef Census
Deepest Fish Discovered
Hydropower Map
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When we think of coral most of us probably think of giant, colorful reef structures. But there's so much more to coral! We take a deeper look at the tiny animals that make up those reefs--and that can be found beyond those reefs, as well.
Video for Weekly Challenge:
Lens of Time: Corals in Motion
Resources for this episode:
What are corals? | ICRI
NOAA CoRIS - What are Coral Reefs
All About Soft Corals - Ocean Conservancy
Coral tentacle elasticity promotes an out-of-phase motion that improves mass transfer | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Coral Polyp Anatomy - Coral Disease & Health Consortium
Did you know: How do corals form colonies?
Coral Reef Ecosystems in the Deep Sea
Red Sea Expedition: Acrobatic mushroom corals are fun-guys
IUCN: Eastern Water Dragon
National Zoo: Asian Water Dragon
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Kristen and Sara discuss the pros and cons of using water to produce electricity. Listen in to learn the three main ways we currently produce hydropower, the environmental impacts, and how hydropower might fit in to the future of energy production.
Resources for this episode:
Planning a Microhydropower System | Department of Energy
Dam that threatens orangutan habitat faces three-year delay
BATANG TORU HYDROPOWER PROJECT Factcheck and References on Key Issues
Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre: Dam Displacement
Why hydropower is the forgotten giant of clean energy
UN warns most will live downstream of ageing large dams by 2050 | Flooding | The Guardian
What Is Green Power? | US EPA
Hydropower Basics | Department of Energy
Hydropower explained - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Hydropower: US Department of Energy
Why aren't we looking at more hydropower? | MIT Climate Portal
Hydropower - IEA
Run-of-the-river hydroelectricity - Energy Education
Where hydropower is generated - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Hydro power by state in 2022 (United States)
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With all the hype around Barbie these past few weeks, Sara and Kristen decided to take a look at the environmental impact of the iconic doll--and some of our other toys, as well. Listen in as they chat about their favorite Barbies, the challenges of plastic, and how to balance our desire to give the kids in our lives the things that they want and still be a little greener.
Resources for this episode:
(From intro) Nuclear fusion breakthrough repeated by lab | Fortune
(From intro) Tour de Turtles
Barbie Sustainability | Mattel
Barbie and the Problem With Plastic - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Plastic Pollution Facts and Issues | The Problems With Plastic
In Our Real World, Barbie’s Plastic Is Not So Fantastic
Most materials are recyclable, so why can’t children’s toys be sustainable? | Yale Environment Review
Life in Plastic, It's Not Fantastic - Earth Day
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Mattel launches sustainable new Barbie Loves the Ocean range
My Kids Want Plastic Toys. I Want to Go Green. Here's the Middle Ground
Hasbro: Environmental Responsibility
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Kristen and Sara chat about one of Kristen's favorite animals, the aardvark! Learn about the behavior and adaptations of this unique African mammal, the conservation issues they face, and what on Earth aardvarks have to do with cucumbers.
Resources for this episode:
National Geographic: Aardvark
Carnegie Museum of Natural History: A is for Aardvark
ScienceDirect: Aardvark
Cincinnati Zoo: Adventures with Aardvarks
San Diego Zoo: A is for Aardvark
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With increased awareness of bee pollinators and the value of their conservation over recent years, there has been growing discussion (and controversy!) over the nature of the relationships between managed western honey bees (Apis mellifera) and wild bees. In this episode, Kristen and Sara chat with entomologist Jon Elmquist, who shares the current evidence for conflict between managed honey bees and wild bees and the implications this may have for bee conservation efforts. Along the way you'll learn how Jon got interested in pollinators and conservation, some of the differences between honey bees and wild bees, and hear about some of the amazing native bee species in North America.
Resources for this episode:
Scientific American: The Problem with Honey Bees
Floral Resource Competition Between Honey Bees and Wild Bees: Is There Clear Evidence and Can We Guide Management and Conservation?
An Overview of the Potential Impacts of Honey Bees to Native Bees, Plant Communities, and Ecosystems in Wild Landscapes
What are the 4Rs?
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