Sicily's farmers struggle through worst drought in history
The Mediterranean island of Sicily has experienced its worst drought in recent history. The effects on farmers in particular are already proving very damaging.
Environment
Wildfire smoke has been settling in the American West
After two easy-breathing summers, dreaded wildfire smoke is settling in across California and the West. Public health officials warn these megafires aren't just emitting smoke from burning forests.
Carolina Curious: Kids ask why the weather changes so often in such little time and more
Sixth graders at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Winston-Salem are curious about the weather in the area. In the latest installment of Carolina Curious, WFDD’s Amy Diaz took these questions — along with an umbrella — to the experts at the North Carolina State Climate Office.
Salmon are struggling to migrate in hot waters along their route. So they're driving
In the Pacific Northwest, some tributaries salmon travel through to spawn are so hot that it’s threatening their migration. In some places, biologists have trucked the fish to cooler water.
NC Department of Environmental Quality seeking feedback for home energy rebate programs
The state Department will host a virtual public input session to receive community input on two proposed programs.
Governor's office seeks public input on environmental justice initiative
As part of the initiative, officials created a mapping tool to make it easier for citizens to identify environmental justice issues. It charts the locations of hazardous waste sites, drought or flood-prone areas, and the rates of certain diseases by location, among other things.
We hate to tell you this, but there are leeches that can jump
Generally, we at Short Wave are open-minded to the creepies and the crawlies, but even we must admit that leeches are already the stuff of nightmares. They lurk in water. They drink blood. There are over 800 different species of them. And now, as scientists have confirmed ... at least some of them can jump!
Interested in more critter science? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to consider your animal of choice for a future episode!
Interested in more critter science? Email us at shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to consider your animal of choice for a future episode!
As the Great Salt Lake dries up, it's also emitting millions of tons of CO2
A new study found that the drying Great Salt Lake in Utah is now a major source of the gas emissions that are causing the climate to warm.
How an abandoned baby owl was rescued in a warm tortilla
When a Texas resident found an abandoned baby owl at a family barbecue, she acted fast to rescue it -- using a warm tortilla.
Park Fire in California could continue growing exponentially, Cal Fire officer says
Cal Fire has confirmed that over a hundred structures have been damaged in the Park Fire, which grew overnight near Chico, Calif. Difficult firefighting conditions are forecast through Friday night.