Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that biologists want to bring African and Asian wildlife to roam free in North America to help restore natural ecological balances here? If so, what are the implications for biodiversity and our environment? – Naturegirl, Victorville, CA A group of biologists and environmentalists is advocating just such a plan to [...]

Dear EarthTalk: The soil beneath our feet is a critical resource we often take for granted. But I have heard that there are many threats to soil. What are they and how do we make things right? – J. Lyons, Andover, MA Even among the ecology-minded, soil falls well below the radar of important causes. [...]

Dear EarthTalk: I want to give my baby fresh, organic food but I don’t have the time to make her special meals. What options are out there? – Marie L., via e-mail Babies deserve the best possible start in life, so giving them nutritious food is a must, not only for good health but also [...]

Dear EarthTalk: What would be the feasibility of having hybrid cars run on E85 or biodiesel? Wouldn’t this solve multiple problems? –Bob Pendergrass, Broken Arrow, OK Environmental advocates would love to see carmakers mass-produce a biofuel-electric hybrid. From a technology standpoint, it’s a no-brainer: Major automakers already turn out vehicles that can run on E85, [...]

Dear EarthTalk: What is the issue with the Gulf Stream in relation to global warming? Could it really stop or disappear altogether? If so, what are the ramifications of this? – Lynn Eytel, Clark Summit, PA Part of the Ocean Conveyor Belt—a great river of ocean water that traverses the saltwater sections of the globe—the [...]

Dear EarthTalk: What is the status of the land mines issue popularized by Princess Diana and Paul McCartney’s ex-wife, Heather Mills? How many mines have been removed? How many are left? What is being done?                                                                                – Jonas Schultz, via e-mail Land mines were first widely used in World War II and have since [...]

Dear EarthTalk: How is it that flushing cat litter down the toilet has negatively affected sea otters? What is the responsible way to dispose of cats’ waste? – Margo Boss, San Dimas, CA According to Dr. Melissa Miller of the California Department of Fish and Game, cat feces can contain Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that [...]

Dear EarthTalk: I read that hybrid cars are actually less green-friendly than even Hummers, because they have two motors and very environmentally damaging batteries. Is this true? – Renee Sweany, Indianapolis, IN The claim you read about was from "Dust to Dust: The Energy Cost of New Vehicles from Concept to Disposal," a controversial study [...]

Dear EarthTalk: How do I find a Styrofoam recycler in my area? My company receives huge sheets of the stuff on a regular basis and it just gets thrown straight into the trash. What can a business do to get this stuff recycled economically and efficiently?                                   – S.R.M., Mesa, AZ  Known within the packaging [...]

Dear EarthTalk: Artificial turf has been popular on sports fields for decades for a variety of reasons, but is it also a good environmentally friendly option for residential lawns?                                                                                      – Sharon Chinchilla, Ft. Lauderdale, FL The use of artificial turf for residential lawns is a growing trend across America, notably in regions where water [...]

Dear EarthTalk: Bottled water companies would have us all believe that tap water is unsafe to drink. But I’ve heard that most tap water is actually pretty safe. Is this true? – Sam Tsiryulnikov, Los Angeles, CA Tap water is not without its problems. The nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) in 2005 tested municipal water [...]

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that there is a lot of waste associated with tampons and sanitary pads and their packaging? Are there any environmentally friendly alternatives out there?

Dear EarthTalk: I visited New York City recently and could not believe the number of taxicabs on the streets. Are there any efforts to “green up” these vehicles? They must be real gas-guzzlers, considering all the idling and stop-and-go traffic they face.

Dear EarthTalk: How do I learn how to build an all-around "eco-home?" My wife and I have some land in Delaware and would like to build a state-of-the-art green home on the site. – Zachary Jahnigen, Frankford, DE There are many ideas as to what constitutes an "eco-home," depending upon how pure one wants to [...]

Here’s what’s happening this month, from our friends at E – The Environmental Magazine As concerns mount over what to do about global warming, the nuclear power debate is again poised to take center stage. The July/August 2007 issue of E — The Environmental Magazine (now posted at: www.emagazine.com) looks at all the pros and [...]

Dear EarthTalk: What is the status of Sea Turtle protection efforts? Don’t many of them die in fishnets and, as a result, are threatened with extinction? – Matthew Lieberman, Wellesley, MA Given their tenuous existence, sea turtles are considered by many environmentalists as ambassadors for the world’s troubled oceans. They have graced the seas for [...]

Dear EarthTalk: Are mothballs safe to use? If not, are there any environmentally friendly alternatives? – Anna Wiener, Dearborn, Michigan Even though they are not as popular as they once were, mothballs are still used by many people to keep stored clothes, furniture and carpets free of hungry pests like moths. But the very ingredients [...]

We may not realize it, but we need honey bees. They are responsible for many of the fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains we consume daily. However, suddenly American beekeepers are finding their colony populations dwindling down. This article originally appeared in PLoS Biology, the peer-reviewed biology journal of the Public Library of Science. It has [...]

Dear EarthTalk: Is there any proof linking human breast cancer to exposure to chemicals in the environment? Or do researchers think most cases of breast cancers are genetically inherited? – Bettine Carroll, New York, NY A groundbreaking research study coordinated by the non-profit Silent Spring Institute and recently published by the American Cancer Society found [...]