Monthly Archives: December 2014

Air Quality & Environmental Health: Indoor and Outdoor Impacts

Air Quality & Environmental Health: Indoor and Outdoor Impacts
Air quality affects health both indoors and outdoors. Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, where air quality is largely unregulated despite risks from mold, radon, asbestos, and other pollutants. Outdoor air is regulated through the Clean Air Act, which monitors six criteria pollutants affecting over 75 million Americans in nonattainment areas. Both indoor…
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What is Palynology? Environmental Science’s Microscopic Detective Work

What is Palynology? Environmental Science’s Microscopic Detective Work
Palynology is the scientific study of microscopic organic materials like pollen, spores, and dinoflagellates preserved in sediments and rocks. This interdisciplinary method helps researchers understand past climates, track environmental changes, identify archaeological sites, and reconstruct ancient landscapes. Palynologists work across botany, geology, archaeology, and climate science to unlock Earth's environmental history. Understanding how landscapes and…
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How Birds Support Ecosystems: 4 Essential Services Explained

How Birds Support Ecosystems: 4 Essential Services Explained
Birds provide four essential ecosystem services that benefit humans and maintain environmental health: supporting services like nutrient cycling and soil formation, provisioning services including pest control and pollination support, regulating services such as waste decomposition and seed dispersal, and cultural services like ecotourism and spiritual enrichment. These contributions generate billions of dollars in economic value…
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Nuclear Energy: How It Works, Environmental Impact & Career Paths

Nuclear Energy: How It Works, Environmental Impact & Career Paths
Nuclear energy currently generates about 9-10% of the world's electricity through over 400 reactors in 31 countries (historically contributing around 12%). It works by splitting uranium atoms in a controlled chain reaction, creating heat that produces steam to drive turbines. While nuclear power produces virtually no greenhouse gases during operation, it creates radioactive waste that…
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