Subscribe Now

This is the time of year when migratory birds are on the move!  Migratory birds are traveling from their wintering grounds in Mexico, Central and South America to the U.S. and Canada, where they feast on abundant insects and plant foods during spring and summer.  How do they know when to leave and where to [...]

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 explosively and release enough new spores to sicken people. Viewer Tip: It is [...]

How much hazardous waste does the average American household accumulate in one year? The typical home accumulates over 20 pounds of household hazardous waste in just one year! Think of paints, pesticides, cleaning supplies, oil, antifreeze and other products that hide away in the basement, garage or shed. These products may contain corrosive, toxic or [...]

Are you ready for the kinds of severe weather that could impact the area where you live? National Severe Weather Preparedness Week takes place from March 3-9, 2013. This is a great time for you and your family to “Be a Force of Nature” by learning the importance of planning for severe weather events and [...]

Depending on where you live, winter can bring many different forms of precipitation, including rain, freezing rain, sleet and snow.  So what does it take for different types of precipitation to form? In the winter, precipitation usually starts out as ice or snow crystals at cloud level. The type of precipitation that falls from the [...]

Move over, Punxsutawney Phil.  Groundhogs aren’t the only animals who are known to “predict” the weather.  Phil may be the most famous, but he’s certainly not the most accurate.  Here are four animals that are known for their weather wisdom.  Some of these proverbs are true, while others are not.  Can you guess which ones [...]

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the bird feeder is so delightful.  Well, that’s what birds think, anyway.  A recent study of 18 Northeastern winter birds found that many of them flocked to bird feeders when the weather went south.  So this winter, keep your head up when the temperature goes down and watch [...]

According to AAA, more than 43 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend – and 90 percent will travel by car.  Increased traveling distance and unpredictable weather can result in hazardous driving conditions at this time of year. Here, get tips for safe and efficient travel, whether [...]

Winds, heavy rain and snow related to Hurricane Sandy took a toll on many communities along the East Coast.  Many communities are still without power and, as flood waters recede, many home and business owners will be facing cleanup activities. Viewer Tip: When the water goes down, keep these tips in mind to assess damage [...]

According to NOAA, high winds, heavy rains and snowfall related to Hurricane Sandy will impact 50 to 60 million people in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States.  Stay safe with these tips for weathering the storm. Image at right: Rainfall forecast for Hurricane Sandy as of 8:00 a.m., Sunday, October 28, 2012. Evacuations: If you [...]

Did you know the Missouri River is 2,540 miles long and the Mississippi River is 2,340 miles long?  That’s 4,880 miles of river combined – about the same distance as driving from Los Angeles to Charlotte…and back again!  The Missouri River begins in the Rocky Mountains of Western Montana while the Mississippi River begins in [...]

Looking for a new project? Fall is a great time to join a citizen science program, where you can share your own observations about nature with scientists. Citizen science volunteers can collect far more data than science researchers can alone, playing an important role in scientific discovery! Viewer Tip: Make discoveries where you live. Here [...]

A major threat tropical storms and hurricanes bring to land is flooding, which results from intense rainfall from the storms. The intensity of rainfall does not directly relate to the wind speed of the storm – some intense flooding events occur during weaker storms that slowly drift or stall over one area. The Centers for [...]

If you live by the water, you’re probably familiar with algae blooms.  You may know what causes them, too – excess nutrients, among other factors. But did you know that erosion can generate nearly as much water-borne phosphorus as farms, yards and water treatment plants?  If you answered yes, then you outsmarted a scientist!  Researchers [...]

Get your leashes ready because August 26 is National Dog Day!  Dogs across the United States will be heading outside for walks, frisbee catching and dirt digging.  While outside, these dogs will also be contributing something to the natural environment – waste!  There are over 78 million dog owners in the United States and 28 [...]

Each year, we drench our lawns with enough water to fill the Chesapeake Bay!  That makes grass – not corn – America’s largest irrigated crop.  Our nation’s lawns now cover an area larger than New York State and each year, we use about 2.4 million metric tons of fertilizer just to maintain them.  When there [...]

Everyone loves to play in the yard, but over time your foot traffic actually crushes the soil beneath your feet. This affects the health of your lawn more than you might realize.  For instance, just stepping onto wet ground even once can squash the dirt to within 75 percent of its potential “squish-ability,” if you [...]

Are you one of the millions of people making their way to the beach this year?  Beaches provide opportunities to play volleyball, run, relax, swim and do many other activities, but beach closures can put a damper on summer fun. Beach closures occur in coastal areas throughout the United States – according to EPA’s 2010 [...]

Many of our homes, buildings, roads and sidewalks are virtually waterproof – scientists believe that together, these “impervious surfaces” would cover all of France with ease!  Pollutants build up on impervious surfaces until rainwater washes them into waterways, where they can harm sensitive habitats.  Once in these ecosystems, pollutants like nitrogen and phosphorus can generate [...]

What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word summer?  Most would respond swimming, beaches and sun.  But, what about harmful algal blooms (HABs)?  North Carolina residents near Fontana Lake got more than they asked for in July.  Harmful algal blooms are a rapid growth of algae in ponds, lakes, rivers and [...]