Tag: water
2012 in review: These PRI.org stories captured your interest most
As we ring in 2013, it's worth taking a moment to look back on 2012. These stories were the most popular on PRI.org this year — and they run the gamut. From animals to weird science, the PRI.org audience proved, again, they you all go for variety....
New U.S.-Mexico agreement promises to restore water to Colorado River delta
The Colorado River Delta runs dry before it reaches the ocean in Mexico. It's meant that a once-lush habitat has turned into a large, dry mud flat. But a new water-use agreement between the United States and Mexico seeks to change that....
Australian scientist discovers South Pacific island isn't real
If you look at a map of the Coral Sea, you might happen to see Sandy Island. But if you look at the island on Google Maps, it's merely a black blob. That's because the island doesn't really exist. It's actually just a mistake on a map, one that's been propagated for perhaps centuries....
Architect proposes natural-inspired rethink of New York City waterfront
Rather than build large, immovable concrete and steel structures to hold back rising oceans, architect Adam Yarinsky suggests we focus on shaping the shoreline how nature did, with an emphasis on green space and absorbing the rising tides, rather than just trying to push it back....
Scientist takes inspiration from natural world to create self-filling water bottle
Sometimes, nature knows the best way to solve a problem. There's a beetle that lives in a part of the world where less than .5 inches of rain fall per year. So the beetle draws water from the air, and now a businessman is trying to harness that idea to create, among other things, a self-filling water bottle....
Hurricane Sandy leaves death, destruction as it roars ashore
Hurricane Sandy broke records when it came ashore Monday night. It brought 13-foot storm surges to New York City and inundated cities along the Jersey Shore. Millions of people were left without power. Tuesday, officials there were evaluating damage while inland, people prepared for blizzard conditions....
Environmentalists to attempt lawsuit to halt alleged pollution by nuclear power plant
Environmentalists have targeted a nuclear power plant in New England, in hopes of clamping down on it and reducing what they say is excessive pollution. They're threatening a lawsuit under the Clean Water Act if regulators don't act....
Scientist uncovers species of ocean plants that flee from predators
When you think of your house plant, it would be hard to imagine it growing legs and running away when you come with the clippers. But for a species of ocean "plants," when predators approach, they literally flee for safety....
For species dependent on monsoon flooding in desert southwest, mosquitoes unwelcome competition
When the monsoon rains settle over Tucson and the rest of the U.S. southwest, they bring with them enough rain that water-dependent species go into hyperdrive. They must feed, mate, breed and create life in the shadow of a few days or weeks. But with the arrival of West Nile virus, cities are moving to rid the area of water — and breeding grounds for all kinds of animals — faster than ever....
Get ready for higher prices: Drought makes it tough for Mississippi River shipping
The persistent drought across much of the United States has another casualty, the water in the Mississippi River. One of America's primary ways for shipping commodities to markets around the world, the low water levels means smaller barges, closed stretches of the river and, eventually, higher prices for all of us....
