Emily Makowski

From avocado drinks to repurposed lard: Using creativity and culture change to tackle Philly food waste

From avocado drinks to repurposed lard: Using creativity and culture change to tackle Philly food waste

Nearly 20 percent of people in Philadelphia are food insecure. We visited the researchers, restaurateurs, and entrepreneurs changing this by rethinking food waste.

PHILADELPHIA—Sheetal Bahirat was making a big batch of guacamole when she realized her leftover avocado seeds were food waste.

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BPA substitutes linked to obesity in children and teens
Credit: Jekyll Island 4H Center/Flickr

BPA substitutes linked to obesity in children and teens

Two chemicals used as substitutes for bisphenol A (BPA) may contribute to childhood weight gain and obesity, according to a study published today in the Journal of the Endocrine Society.

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Balancing palm oil and protected forests to conserve orangutans
Credit: WWF Malaysia/William Joseph

Balancing palm oil and protected forests to conserve orangutans

Orangutan populations have decreased in fragmented forest areas near palm oil plantations, but they have remained fairly stable in protected forests, giving conservationists some hope for the species' future amid continued decline, according to a new study.

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Monoculture farming is not good for bees: Study
Credit: Martin Husemann

Monoculture farming is not good for bees: Study

As agriculture has expanded over the last few decades, global dependence on pollinator insects has increased. But crop diversity hasn't increased nearly as much – and this disparity spells trouble for many regions, especially parts of South America and Asia, according to a new study.

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What climate change means for globe-traveling Saharan dust
Saharan dust blows over the Atlantic Ocean in 2016. (Credit: NASA)

What climate change means for globe-traveling Saharan dust

Reddish-brown spots show up on cars after a brief rain shower. A ring of mud appears in a white bucket put outside to collect rainfall. Sunsets might look more vivid, but the sky is hazier.

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Soggy springs, scorching summers: Higher temperatures taking toll on US staple crops
Donn Teske, president of the Kansas Farmers Union. (Credit: NCR-SARE/flickr)

Soggy springs, scorching summers: Higher temperatures taking toll on US staple crops

Donn Teske has fully planted his 900-acre farm for the season, and now, like other farmers, he'll hope the rest of the season cooperates.

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phthalates parabens personal care products

Get phthalates, parabens out of the bathroom drawer to reduce breast cancer risk: Study

Women who switched to paraben- and phthalate- free shampoos, lotions, soaps and deodorants had fewer cancer-associated changes to breast tissue cells.

environmental justice

LISTEN: Robbie Parks on climate justice and mental health

“It’s not just moving people around that’s going to solve public health disasters.”

WATCH: Are plastics a threat to national security?

WATCH: Are plastics a threat to national security?

Pete Myers explores the troubling link.

plastic waste

Every stage of plastic production and use is harming human health: Report

New report recommends the United Nations Global Plastics Treaty significantly reduce plastic use through aggressive bans and caps, and closer examination of toxic ingredients.

Adrift: Communities on the front lines of pesticide exposure fight for change

Adrift: Communities on the front lines of pesticide exposure fight for change

Rural communities of color and farmworkers are disproportionately exposed to some of the most dangerous chemicals used in agriculture.

environmental justice reporting

We're hiring: Texas Environmental Health Reporter

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