H2oradio

Data Centers…in the Sky? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: There were protests on the Mexican side of the U.S. border, not over migration but over water. COP30 copped out on transitioning away from fossil fuels, so frustrated countries are creating a new conference to accelerate action. Researchers are working on building flying data centers—blimps that would operate in the stratosphere to be more sustainable. If you had a cherry pie at Thanksgiving, thank a kestrel.

Climate Change Is Making Food Less Nutritious. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: The COP30 climate summit ended without an agreement to phase out fossil fuels. The Trump administration announced it will proceed with oil and gas leases off the coasts of Alaska, California, Florida, and in the Gulf of Mexico. Climate change is making our food less nutritious—and more fattening. Cracking a murder mystery—with flies.

Planes Could Soon Run on Garbage. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: COP30 has been promoted as the “Indigenous peoples’ COP.” Will it deliver? States that rely on the Colorado River missed a deadline to divvy up water. Now what? Beaver wetlands are creating a buzz. How trash—from food and plastics to paper and metals—can fuel your next flight.

A Major World City Could Run Out of Water. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: As the COP30 climate summit got underway in Brazil last week, notably absent were the U.S., China, India and Russia. Tehran, Iran could reach “Day Zero” within two weeks—and if no rain falls, the city might need to be evacuated. Voters in last week’s election were energized…by their electric bills.

How Whales Can Help Humans Live Longer. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: Hurricane Melissa, which struck the Caribbean last week, was one of the strongest ever in the Atlantic. A new study says that heart rates sync up among people fishing together. Ranchers are facing a new threat with climate change—black vultures. Thanks to bowhead whales, researchers might have solved a puzzle called “Peto’s Paradox.”

Your Computer Could One Day Run on Mushrooms. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: Scientists have calculated the “carbon hoofprint” for every city in America. The shiitake mushrooms you enjoy in recipes can also be sustainable ingredients to feed computers. Iceland minus ice equals... mosquitoes? Researchers working to save coral reefs are feeding them “baby food.”

How “Liquid Air” Could Help Solve the Climate Crisis. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: A major storm that recently hit small communities in western Alaska may have been made worse by Trump administration cuts. Good news! Green sea turtles have rebounded and are no longer an endangered species. “Liquified air” could be a game changer for getting off fossil fuels faster. How billiard balls once helped to save elephants.

Suppose They Gave a Coal Auction and Nobody Came. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: For the first time ever, renewables have overtaken coal as the world’s biggest source of electricity. Trump wants to resuscitate the fossil fuel. Data centers are starting to use PFAS gas, worrying scientists about a new source of harmful “forever chemicals.” “The Blob” and La Niña have never occurred simultaneously—until now. What does that mean for this winter’s weather?

A New Silk Road Through the Arctic. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: How the government shutdown could leave lasting damage to the environment. A cargo ship left China last week along a new “Polar Silk Road”—a route most consider too risky. Researchers discover ancient “road signs” that told desert travelers where to find water.

Your Dog’s Carbon “Paw Print.” That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: Global investment in renewable technology grew in the first six months of this year, despite Trump’s efforts to promote fossil fuels. A new report says that seven out of nine critical limits for Earth’s health have now been breached. Heat waves are now happening in...rivers. Do you know your dog’s carbon “paw print”?

A High Five for the High Seas. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: Last week, the High Seas Treaty that seeks to protect marine biodiversity cleared its final hurdle to become international law. A new report by six water experts said immediate steps need to be taken to substantially reduce water consumption from the Colorado River. The Salmon River in Alaska was once described as having "the clearest, purest water." Now, it runs orange because of climate change. Seaweed could make flatscreen TVs project sharper, cleaner pictures with more vibrant colors.

From cuts to the National Weather Service to the EPA attempting to rescind the “Endangerment Finding” that determined that greenhouse gases were dangerous to the public, there have been unsettling developments around water, climate, and the environment. However, there have also been many positive news stories. Listen to some recent segments from our newscast that we think stood out.

How Sharks Could Lose Their Fearsome Bite. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: Climate.gov—the federal source of information about climate science—will no longer be updated, so its ex-employees are building their own site. How the polluted Tijuana River is polluting the air in San Diego. Oft-maligned prairie dogs are a resource to fight wildfires. How climate change is taking a bite out of shark teeth.

How “Def Con Franklin” Is Defending Water Utilities. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: Arizona cities are banding together to fight for their state’s share of a shrinking Colorado River. Feeling stressed? Why a new study says that drinking enough water could help. “Hacker-volunteers” are stepping up to defend U.S. water systems against cyberattacks. What if you could pay for a meal at a restaurant not in cash but in trash?

How Tariffs Could Strain Water Supplies. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: A judge says construction must temporarily stop at “Alligator Alcatraz” to review its environmental impacts on the Florida Everglades. The Trump administration wants to revise the National Climate Assessment, the foundation of U.S. climate science. Tariffs are being used as a tool to grow the U.S. semiconductor industry. Is there enough water to support making more chips? Why the Eiffel Tower gets taller and leans in the summer.

How a Doorbell Camera Can Save Water. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: The Trump administration released a new climate report that’s been widely criticized by scientists for being full of errors. Fewer animals in a forest weakens its ability to mitigate climate change. Your doorbell camera could now run your sprinklers to save you water. How do you spell potato? T-o-m-a-t-o, according to new research.

Watering Down Water Protections. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headines: The EPA wants to reverse the scientific finding that greenhouse gases endanger people. The courts banned the herbicide dicamba twice. Now, the Trump administration wants to make it legal. Funds for thousands of people in a California farming region whose water is contaminated with pesticides are being withdrawn. A new study found that penguins have a secret strategy for finding their way home after swimming far from land.

Did National Weather Service Cuts Worsen the Disaster in Texas? That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: After the devastating floods in Texas, questions have been raised asking whether cuts to the National Weather Service contributed to the disaster. A new study says melting glaciers could trigger explosive volcanic eruptions globally. The war in Ukraine has sparked a clean energy revolution in the country. Integrating Indigenous knowledge can improve solar power forecasts.

Fireflies are nature’s flash mob—appearing briefly to dazzle and glow before dying. That makes the charismatic creatures, which are crucial to ecosystem health, challenging to study, but a team of scientists is learning more about them by appealing to their romantic side.

How Norway Achieved a Nearly 100 Percent Recycling Rate. That story and more on H2O Radio’s weekly news report. Headlines: The Trump administration announced it was rescinding the “Roadless Rule” that stops some National Forest land from being developed. For the first time, scientists have observed whales that live in the Salish Sea “allokelping.” Relief from achy joints or a headache might soon come from plastic waste. Would you recycle a bottle if it entered you into a lottery to win $1,000?