By Michael Bastasch Opponents of the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal to limit carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants have labeled the rule “Obamacare 2.0” because it mandates states to alter their energy sector — much like the Affordable Care Act mandated states alter insurance markets. “Others have labeled this proposal Obamacare 2.0 — and…
Conspiracy theories have the potential to make or break any conversation. Like-minded people may discover fellow believers, while others instantly tune out the crazies. But new research conducted by the University of Chicago states that 50% of Americans subscribe to at least one conspiracy theory. Even the more controversial subjects like 9/11 have a larger…
By Michael Bastasch Headlines blared Tuesday that President Obama’s announcement of a rule limiting carbon dioxide emissions from power plants had convinced China, the world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, to impose its own cap-and-trade system. A huge victory for those hoping for an international climate agreement next year. The only problem is that China made no such…
By Michael Bastasch Mankind has an effect on the number of wildfires, but not in the way many politicians or journalists would have you think, says a forestry professor. Professor David B. South of Auburn University says that atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have nothing to do with the amount and size of wildfires. It’s largely…
By Michael Bastasch The Environmental Protection Agency’s upcoming climate rule will result in a massive decline in coal-fired power generation that will increase electricity bills and eliminate hundreds of thousands of jobs, according to a report from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The White House is preparing to unveil what could be the costliest environmental regulation ever…
By Michael Bastasch This may come as a shocker to some, but scientists are not always right — especially when under intense public pressure for answers. Researchers with the IUCN Polar Bear Specialist Group (PBSG) recently admitted to experienced zoologist and polar bear specialist Susan Crockford that the estimate given for the total number of polar bars…
(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian) President Barack Obama is set to unveil an initiative aimed at cutting carbon pollution and energize cap-and-trade policies through unilateral action. The new regulations are aimed at cutting pollution and is widely considered to be the most sweeping action ever taken in American history on climate change. But what do readers…
By Blake Neff This year’s measles outbreak is the worst in 20 years, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced Thursday. The CDC said 288 cases of the disease have been identified since January, the most in the first five months of the year since 1994. Ohio has seen the most cases with over 160, most…
By Michael Bastasch Despite hype by environmentalists and many media outlets, the slow collapse of major glaciers in western Antarctica is nothing new, according to scientists. The warming and cooling in the south pole is well in line with historical trends dating back thousands of years. The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has released two major…
By Michael Bastasch For years now environmentally-conscious people have been happily forgoing gas-guzzling cars in favor of scooters that were believed to be more eco-friendly. But new research suggests that scooters are actually more polluting than large trucks. Though the number of scooters on roads are relatively small compared to the number of cars and…