California Takes a Stand on Fracking
You’ve heard of fracking, or hydraulic fracturing–the process by which oil and natural gas are removed from the earth by shooting a high-pressure water, sand, and chemical mixture into the rock deep inside the earth, pushing the oil and natural gas to the surface. It’s a highly controversial drilling technique with potentially serious environmental consequences. […]
To Recycle or Not to Recycle
Recycling is great: it saves energy and helps prevent the Earth from becoming one giant landfill. Right? Unfortunately, it might not be that simple. Before you pat yourself on the back for remembering to recycle that plastic water bottle in your hand, there are a few facts about recycling that you might want to keep […]
New Plan(t) to Fight Climate Change?
The battle against climate change may feel overwhelming at times. But a company called Northwest Innovation Works LLC has come up with a plan that it thinks could help: building a new clean-energy plant in the Pacific Northwest. Here, btw takes a closer look at the proposal, the possible benefits, and some of the criticism […]
Super Bacteria?
Over the past decade or so, hand sanitizers have become a growing trend. You’ve probably seen the little bottles clipped to purses and backpacks, or given out as freebies at fairs and other events. They’re also very common in hospitals and doctors’ offices. Often, the dispensers are installed in every room so that health care […]
Wave Power
You’ve heard of solar power and wind-generated power. But what about power that comes from ocean waves? That’s right: the U.S. government is spending up to $40 million to build a new wave energy test facility six miles off the coast of Newport, Oregon. But wave-generated power may be more complicated than it initially seems. […]
Goodbye Cassini
After 20 years in space, and 13 years orbiting Saturn, the Cassini spacecraft’s mission ended dramatically last Friday. Here, btw takes a look at why the spacecraft was important, some of its key discoveries, and why it’s so hard to say goodbye. A Spacecraft is Born Cassini was launched on October 15, 1997. Named for […]
Eclipse Mania Strikes the U.S.!
In case you haven’t heard, the United States will experience a total solar eclipse on Monday, August 21. How much of it you will see depends on where you live. Already, millions of Americans are making plans to travel to parts of the country where they will get a better view of this incredibly rare […]
California Leads the Way in the Battle Against Climate Change
Back in June, Election Central brought you the story of how California governor Jerry Brown was leading a group of governors and mayors from across the country who all pledged to follow the tents of the Paris Climate Accord even after President Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement. Now, we take a […]
The Rise and Fall (and Rise Again) of the Space Coast
In 2011, NASA retired its 30-year-old shuttle program when Atlantis returned from its mission, touching down at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. This week, btw takes a look at what has happened to the area after the loss and the revival that is emerging in its place. The Space Age In a […]
Your Brain in a Digital World
Last week, btw brought you a story about what happens to the brain when you do more than one thing at a time. This week we go further, looking at the ways your brain responds to some of the things you are likely to be engaged in every day. Your Brain on Music Listening to […]