Subscribe Now

Did you know that most humans would operate on a 25-hour cycle without exposure to sunlight? Instead, we operate on a 24-hour cycle, following the 24-hour cycle of the sun.  Humans are “diurnal” animals, sleeping during the night and being active during the day, as opposed to “nocturnal” animals which are active at night.  When [...]

The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) organizes volunteers in communities throughout the United States to collect and measure precipitation — rain, hail and snow — in their communities. Citizen volunteers are trained how to measure precipitation using a rain gauge and hail pad, record their data and report their measurements online. Data [...]

Did you know that it takes 500 to 1,000 years to build just one-inch of soil? Soils form slowly and continuously, thanks to a number of factors, including: Climate: Temperature, wind and water “weather” or break down rocks and minerals that form soils. Life: Burrowing animals, plant roots, tiny bacteria and fungi mix soils and [...]

Thermal pollution and thermal shocks are caused by increasing or lowering the temperature of water, which can harm aquatic life.  Many aquatic animals depend on a particular temperature to reproduce and survive, and they can die even if temperatures change even slightly. Warmer water can also decrease dissolved oxygen levels, making it difficult for some [...]

Nationwide, Americans use more than seven billion gallons of water per day to water lawns and gardens.  That’s enough water to fill more than 10,700 Olympic-sized swimming pools!  Look for drought-tolerant plants to help reduce your outdoor water use. Water Guzzlers: Plants with dark, glossy, large leaves tend to require more water because more leaf [...]

Is your air conditioner working overtime?  Bust these AC myths to stay cool while saving energy and money this summer. Myth: It takes more energy to cool down a warm home than to maintain a consistently cool home. Fact: Running the AC on full blast does use more energy initially, but leaving your unit on [...]

Did you know that you can have a big impact on water and energy use by upgrading bathroom fixtures in your home? Faucets: Installing WaterSense labeled faucets or faucet aerators in your bathrooms could reduce your household’s annual water use by more than 500 gallons and save 70 kilowatt-hours of electricity used for heating the [...]

Summer is a prime time to spot buzzing bees, but did you know that the weather can impact bee behavior?  Rain: Bees collect nectar and pollen during the daylight hours, sometimes visiting between 50 and 100 flowers in one day.  But, rain in the forecast can slow them down significantly by chilling bees’ flight muscles [...]

Have you ever wondered how animals stay cool when the weather heats up?  Check out these creative ways to beat the heat: Pelicans, cormorants and other birds create “internal fans” by rapidly fluttering their throat pouches. Pigs wallow in mud to cool off – evaporative cooling occurs as the mud dries; mud also protects pigs’ [...]

Everyone knows that hot, dry weather can be a killer in the garden.  Conserving water isn’t just for desert gardens or times of drought, though – it’s something you can do in any part of the country at any time of the year. Viewer Tip: The National Wildlife Federation offers these tips to conserve water [...]

“Heat islands” around urban areas form as vegetation is replaced by asphalt and concrete for roads, buildings and other infrastructure. These hard, dark surfaces absorb rather than reflect incoming heat from the sun, causing overall urban temperatures to rise. During hot weather spells, the heat island effect can raise urban temperatures by two to ten [...]

Did you know that more water is used in July in most states than any other month? The U.S. EPA estimates that up to 50 percent of water used for outdoor irrigation is wasted due to evaporation, wind or overwatering.  Some homes can lose up to 70 gallons per day! Viewer Tip: July is Smart [...]

In a typical year, more fires are reported on Independence Day than any other day – fireworks account for at least half of those fires.  In 2006, an estimated 32,600 reported fires were caused by fireworks, including 1,700 structure fires, 600 vehicle fires and 30,300 fires outdoors. Viewer Tip: Nearly all of Hawaii is currently [...]

Mold spores are naturally present in the air at harmless concentrations, but with added moisture can grow to levels that spur allergies and asthma in susceptible individuals.  After heavy rains or when leaks or flooding dampen homes, dormant mold spores can grow expolsively and release enough new spores to sicken people. Viewer Tip: It is [...]

A special danger during hot weather is a hot car.  With cracked windows, temperatures inside a car can rise by 20 degrees Fahrenheit in the first 10 minutes. After 60 minutes, that temperature can be as much as 43 degrees warmer – in the shade.  Even on a 70 degree day, car interiors can be [...]

Rain in the forecast creates ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes, which lay their eggs in standing water.  About 200 species of mosquito have been identified in the U.S., and while not all prefer to get their meals from humans, many mosquito species will breed – and bite – in your backyard. Viewer Tip: Even the [...]

Did you know that an average of 1,500 Americans die each year from excessive heat?  This number is more than the deaths from hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and lightning combined, making heat waves America’s most deadly type of hazardous weather.  Heat causes harm by overloading the body’s heat removal system.  When heat gain becomes greater than [...]

Some beneficial insects help farmers and gardeners by pollinating crops, while others prey on destructive pests, keeping their numbers so low that they don’t damage valuable crops and gardens. Attracting beneficial insects to your field—and keeping them there—requires the right plants to feed and house them. “Farmscaping” is the use of hedgerows, insect-hosting plants, cover [...]

In most of North America, over 50 percent of residential water used is applied to landscapes and lawns. But, think of all the woodland flowers you saw thriving last summer during the drought – no one was watering them! If you are planting flowers, shrubs or trees this year, try choosing native plants that are [...]

Groundwater, used by many Americans for household use and drinking water, is replenished mostly by rainwater and snowmelt.  But what if rainwater is acidic?  Most acidic rainwater is neutralized or “buffered” by rocks and soil as it soaks into the ground, but the process is not always completely successful.  Rocks with high amounts of calcium, [...]