Blog entries

Indiana Wildlife Federation: Let’s can HB1265

Barbara Simpson — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:32:44 +0100

Barbara Simpson: Executive Director, Indiana Wildlife Federation

Canned hunting, the practice of hunting animals living within fenced-in areas, violates important ethical standards, impairs wildlife health, and threatens Indiana’s economy.

Hunting captive deer that cannot escape from enclosed pens is a violation of fRead More...

Solid waste management bill fails

Anthony Orozco — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:16:25 +0100

"The failure of the bill is a positive for Indiana," says IRC's Carey Hamilton.

Legislation that would have taken standards out of the hands of solid waste management districts (SWMDs) narrowly failed in the Indiana General Assembly Wednesday, Jan.1.

Senate Bill 210 – a bill aimed to collectRead More...

PANIQuiz: What symptom of lifelong exposure to lead have researchers discovered?

Jim Poyser — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:14:44 +0100

Today's question:

What have researchers discovered is a symptom of lifelong exposure to lead?

a. Stiff limbs

b. Hives

c. "Metal tongue" syndrome

d. Pessimism

e. Vulnerability to magnets

The answer will be revealed tomorrow.

Yesterday's Question:

What is threatening the native forest birds of Hawaii?

a. Japanese white-eye birds

b. The lack of forest

c. Hawaiian hunters

d. Condors

e. Flying igRead More...

PANIQuiz: What is threatening Hawaii's native forest birds?

Jim Poyser — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:10:43 +0100

Today's question:

What is threatening the native forest birds of Hawaii?

a. Japanese white-eye birds

b. The lack of forest

c. Hawaiian hunters

d. Condors

e. Flying iguanas

The answer will be revealed tomorrow.

Yesterday's Question:

What disturbing phenomenon have UK scientists discovered in the Arctic Ocean?

a. Russian scientists

b. A huge dome of freshwater

c. Predatory (i.e. conscious) icebergs

d. DolphiRead More...

PANIQuiz: What disturbing phenomenon in the Arctic Ocean have UK scientists discovered?

Jim Poyser — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:55:47 +0100

Today's question:

What disturbing phenomenon have UK scientists discovered in the Arctic Ocean?

a. Russian scientists

b. A huge dome of freshwater

c. Predatory (i.e. conscious) icebergs

d. Dolphins mating with porpoises

e. Whales mating with sharks

The answer will be revealed tomorrow.

Yesterday's Question:

Where does most of Ohio's brine come from?

a. Cleveland

b. Out of mind

c. Out of state

d. OutRead More...

Go green go: The NFL's greening of the Super Bowl

Kayleigh Lindsay — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Illustration by Shelby Kelley

Super Bowl XLVI will be powered by green energy in all six major Super Bowl facilities located in Indianapolis, Ind. this year. These include Lucas Oil Stadium, the Indiana Convention Center (site of the NFL Experience Football Theme Park), and all four of the major NFL hoRead More...

Rocking Geology at IU with Dr. McNutt

Jennifer Troemner — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:49:43 +0100

Dr. Maria McNutt is coming to IU Bloomington to speak on behalf of the earth-- and not in a metaphorical sense. She's the director of the U.S. Geological Survey, which keeps track of all things dirt and stone, providing solid scientific research to help create policies that won't screw us over.Read More...

Love-struck beetles explain evolution

Jennifer Troemner — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:50:58 +0100

Who knew that love-struck beetles were so important? The National Science Foundation definitely did, and they awarded IU's Armin Moczec more than $1 million to study them.

What's the deal with beetles? Male dung beetles have unique horns, which they use tRead More...

IDEM is calling all excellent environmentalists

Jennifer Troemner — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:19:47 +0100

IDEM wants to hear who you think deserves to win the 2012 Indiana Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence. If your first thought was "who?" that's the Indiana Department of Environment Management, and they're wanting to give credit where credit is due.

“IDEM is pleased to celebrate the 25th year of Governor’s Awards focused on environmental stewardship and innovation. Thoughtful environmental action can strengthen both the economy and the environment, Read More...

PANIQuiz: Where does most of Ohio's brine come from?

Jim Poyser — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:46:29 +0100

Today's question:

Where does most of Ohio's brine come from?

a. Cleveland

b. Out of mind

c. Out of state

d. Out of country

e. Columbus

The answer will be revealed tomorrow.

Yesterday's Question:

What does famous pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones think about climate
change?

a. It's a hoax.

b. It's dope AND dialed in!

c. It's real and moving fast.

d. It complicates the chicken salad air.

e. It incrRead More...

PANIQui: What does famous pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones think about climate change?

Jim Poyser — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:41:19 +0100

Today's question:

What does famous pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones think about climate
change?

a. It's a hoax.

b. It's dope AND dialed in!

c. It's real and moving fast.

d. It complicates the chicken salad air.

e. It increases the melonchollie.

The answer will be revealed tomorrow.

Yesterday's Question:

Why are manta rays suddenly endangered?

a. Garbage patch islands

b. Their delicious flesh

c. Acidified oceansRead More...

PANIQuiz: Why are manta rays suddenly endangered?

Jim Poyser — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:32:14 +0100

Today's question:

Why are manta rays suddenly endangered?

a. Garbage patch islands

b. Their delicious flesh

c. Acidified oceans

d. Demand for Chinese medicine

e. Womanta rays withholding sex

The answer will be revealed tomorrow.

Yesterday's Question:

What did the Canadian government not tell their citizens?

a. A mining disaster that killed dozens.

b. Their country is really owned by the Koch brothers.

c. There wRead More...

PANIQuiz: What did the Canadian government NOT tell their citizens?

Jim Poyser — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:22:25 +0100

Today's question:

What did the Canadian government not tell their citizens?

a. A mining disaster that killed dozens.

b. Their country is really owned by the Koch brothers.

c. There was radioactive iodine in their rainwater.

d. The Keystone XL Pipeline is riddled with design errors.

e. The dangers of fracking.

The answer will be revealed tomorrow.

Yesterday's Question:

How did climate scientist Michael Mann characterize the struggleRead More...

PANIQuiz: How did climate scientist Michael Mann describe the struggle between scientists and ...

Jim Poyser — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:58:17 +0100

Today's question:

How did climate scientist Michael Mann characterize the struggle
between scientists and deniers?

a. "Jets vs. Sharks"

b. "An internecine fued"

c. "Dark Ages vs. The Enlightened"

d. "David vs. Goliath"

e. "A street fight"

The answer will be revealed tomorrow.

Yesterday's Question:

What are NGOs upbeat about when it comes to China?

a. Its decision to table nuclear energy for now.

b. Its decisioRead More...

PANIQuiz: What are NGOs upbeat about when it comes to China?

Jim Poyser — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:48:15 +0100

Today's question:

What are NGOs upbeat about when it comes to China?

a. Its decision to table nuclear energy for now.

b. Its decision to annihilate planet profligates, the U.S.

c. Its decision to engage in better transparency regarding
pollutants.

d. Its decision to scale back coal fired plants.

e. Its decision to revert to "a primitive state" to reduce CO2
emissions.

The answer will be revealed tomorrow.

Yesterday's Question:Read More...

PANIQuiz: What is "driving fish crazy"?

Jim Poyser — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:44:03 +0100

Today's question:

According to researchers, what is "driving fish crazy"?

a. Sexy womanta rays

b. Disoriented sharks

c. Dissolved CO2

d. Methane chimneys

e. Fishermen

The answer will be revealed tomorrow.

Yesterday's question:

How did evangelical Christian/climate scientist Katherine Hayhoe rise to fame?

a. Through twitter.

b. Her affair with Mitt Romney.

c. She prayed to God and He told her the Apocalypse is trRead More...

1st and Green's competition ends with an impact

Jennifer Troemner — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:27:01 +0100

Image by Michael Melgar

The Super Bowl is bringing a lot of chaos to Indy, but it’s also bringing a lot of change for the good, especially through the 1st and Green program, which just finished a competitive program to bring a green mindset to Indy.

Between moRead More...

Youth grants up for grabs

Jennifer Troemner — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:23:12 +0100

In March 2011, Boy Scout Troop 202 began the first monofilament fishing line recycling program in Indiana.

Green-minded teens of Carmel take heed! You've only got until February 29 to apply for a grant to fund youth-based environmental projects on the North Side. TheRead More...

Ask Renee: How do you donate worn shoes?

Renee Sweany — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:38:01 +0100

Photo by Joe Hastings

There’s an Indiana nonprofit that is a shoo-in for your support! Changing Footprints, in Rushville, IN, collects and distributes shoes to disaster- or poverty-stricken areas here in our state, throughout the country and around the world. They have drop-off locatioRead More...

Finding foliage just got faster

Jennifer Troemner — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:24:43 +0100

Maybe you’re looking for local plants in your landscaping. Maybe your Cub Scout has some wildlife identification to do. Maybe you’re just really interested in the plant species of Indiana. Whatever your reason, Butler University has a new database just for you, filled with more than 10,000 specimens ofRead More...