Science
 

Steven Allison: Earth's original inhabitants—and their role in combating climate change

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“Every environment on the planet—from forested mountaintops to scorching deserts and even the human gut—has a microbiome that keeps it healthy and balanced. Ecologist Steven Allison explores how these extraordinarily adaptable, diverse collections of microorganisms could help solve big global problems like climate change and food insecurity—and makes the case for getting to know Earth's original inhabitants in fascinating ways.”

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Marla Spivak: Why bees are disappearing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Honeybees have thrived for 50 million years, each colony 40 to 50,000 individuals coordinated in amazing harmony. So why, seven years ago, did colonies start dying en masse? Marla Spivak reveals four reasons which are interacting with tragic consequences. This is not simply a problem because bees pollinate a third of the world's crops. Could this incredible species be holding up a mirror for us?”

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Mennat El Ghalid: How fungi recognize (and infect) plants
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Each year, the world loses enough food to feed half a billion people to fungi, the most destructive pathogens of plants. Mycologist and TED Fellow Mennat El Ghalid explains how a breakthrough in our understanding of the molecular signals fungi use to attack plants could disrupt this interaction—and save our crops.”

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Take Action Now

Shubhendu Sharma: How to grow a forest in your backyard

 

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"Forests don't have to be far-flung nature reserves, isolated from human life. Instead, we can grow them right where we are -- even in cities. Eco-entrepreneur and TED Fellow Shubhendu Sharma grows ultra-dense, biodiverse mini-forests of native species in urban areas by engineering soil, microbes and biomass to kickstart natural growth processes. Follow along as he describes how to grow a 100-year-old forest in just 10 years, and learn how you can get in on this tiny jungle party.”

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Mary Ellen Hannibal: How you can help save the monarch butterfly—and the planet

 

 

 

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"Monarch butterflies are dying at an alarming rate around the world—a looming extinction that could also put human life at risk. But we have just the thing to help save these insects, says author Mary Ellen Hannibal: citizen scientists. Learn how these grassroots volunteers are playing a crucial role in measuring and rescuing the monarch's dwindling population -- and how you could join their ranks to help protect nature. (You'll be in good company: Charles Darwin was a citizen scientist!)”

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Luisa Neubauer: Why you should be a climate activist
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“‘I dream of a world where geography classes teach about the climate crisis as this one great challenge that was won by people like you and me,’ says climate activist Luisa Neubauer. With Greta Thunberg, Neubauer helped initiate ‘Fridays For Future,’ the momentous international school strike movement that protests the lack of action on the climate crisis. She shares four first steps that anyone, regardless of age, can take to become a climate activist. ‘This is not a job for a single generation. This is a job for humanity,’ she says.”

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Renée Lertzman: How to turn climate anxiety into action

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“It's normal to feel anxious or overwhelmed by climate change, says psychologist Renée Lertzman. Can we turn those feelings into something productive? In an affirming talk, Lertzman discusses the emotional effects of climate change and offers insights on how psychology can help us discover both the creativity and resilience needed to act on environmental issues.”

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Zac Goldsmith: How to boost nature-based solutions to climate change

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“With the ongoing extinction of species, destruction of forests and melting of ice caps, one thing is clear: even with huge advances in technology, individuals alone can't restore the world's ecological systems. Lord Zac Goldsmith, the UK Minister for Pacific and the Environment, believes that while we each have a part in climate activism, governments can propel the movement even further using political will. By taking steps to preserve nature through policy, regulations and proper funding, Goldsmith shows how leaders can help reverse the dangerous cycles propelling climate change. ‘Nature can rebound incredibly quickly,’ he says. ‘It's up to us to make sure that happens.’”

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Beth Ford: What farmers need to be modern, climate-friendly and profitable

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“Farming feeds all of us—yet in rural communities, farmers are under pressure from mounting climate volatility and limited access to modern tools like the internet. How can agriculture stay resilient and grow with the times? Beth Ford, CEO of the farming co-op Land O'Lakes, shares her plan to establish broadband as a basic right nationwide and talks through an exciting range of climate-friendly innovations aimed at making farmers more sustainable and profitable.”

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Information on Glyphosate-based Weedkiller

Glyphosate-based herbicides have been around for over 50 years. Though it is still debated whether or not glyphosate products directly cause cancer in humans, it has still been deemed by many as a probable carcinogen through recent research and these products (due to the other ingredients in them) are definitely a threat to the environment, as glyphosate is non-selective and will kill most plants it comes into contact with, which would affect other organisms that depend on these plants (NPIC). 

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While large-scale farmers may face challenges transitioning to a new way to deal with weeds, the average gardener now has many alternatives to glyphosate products.

 

ConsumerNotice.org has plenty of useful information about glyphosate-based product risks, weed-management alternatives, as well as a plethora of other helpful resources on environmental health.