Nearly half of the nation’s tap water is thought to contain one or more kinds of chemicals called PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances. This finding comes from a recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Believe it or not, there are over 12,000 different types of toxic PFAS, but we […]
Category: Human Impact
Can We Save the Vaquita, the World’s Most Endangered Marine Mammal?
The vaquita is a very shy porpoise and the most endangered marine mammal in the world. There are only about 9 or 10 vaquitas left, and they will go extinct unless we completely stop using gillnets in their habitat. In 2023, the International Whaling Commission sent out its first-ever “extinction alert” to warn people that […]
Plastic Pollution is Ick!
Plastic pollution is a big problem for our planet. From tiny plastic bits to large, large pieces floating in the ocean, plastic waste is everywhere—and it’s causing a lot of harm to our health, wildlife, and ecosystems. The vast majority of plastic is made from fossil fuels—crude oil, coal, and natural gas. What is Plastic […]
Palm Oil: The Hidden Problems Behind It
I always dreamed of seeing orangutans in the wild. I knew that they are probably the most intelligent of all the great apes because of their ability to innovate and problem-solve. However, problems with palm oil production greatly threaten their habitat. In 2007, I finally scraped together the money to travel to Borneo. Little did […]