Blog

Fast Fashion: The Environmental & Social Issues

By Laksha Balaji

Communities across the globe are more connected than ever before, and while this interrelation has a multitude of benefits, society needs to stop ignoring the consequences. On the internet, social media platforms promote short-lived trends (think huge plastic rings, the UGG Classic Ultra Mini Platforms, and the Skims Long Slip Dress) that can last as little as a month, or even a few weeks. Users are easily susceptible to these impermanent trends, leading to unnecessary hyper-consumption. Fashion trends, for example, are very prone to change; customers blindly purchase clothing based on temporary fads, without considering the social and environmental consequences. In order for companies to put stylish clothes in American stores before trends become forgotten, off-shore production is rushed and workers’ lives are put at risk. This process has coined the term “Fast Fashion”, and it needs to end...

Urbanization’s Impact on Earth’s Waste

By Dhriti Krishnaswamy

Urbanization is a major contributor to the plastics and pollutants that Earth faces on a daily basis, however they come from many different sources. Simply put, people living in cities engage with their surroundings1; urban residents' usage of food, energy, water and land alters the ecosystem. Furthermore, the health and standard of living of the metropolitan populace are impacted by the contaminated urban environment.

Urbanization is the migration of people from rural to urban areas, and it occurs because of the unique features urban areas contain. Most of the time, people are attracted to cities in search of better job opportunities and success. 

The Critical Health Hazards of Climate Change

By Karuna Singh

Climate change continues to deteriorate the human race in many forms – affecting each individual differently. Unfortunately, vulnerable environments are more likely to witness the threats of climate change, and less likely to persevere, specifically through human health. According to the World Health Organization, 3.6 billion people in high-risk climate areas as of 2020; between 2030 and 2050, it is estimated that there will be 250,000 deaths related to climate disease per year. As climate change continues to prevail, so do impacts in health, specifically through extreme weather – causing death and illnesses.

The global temperature continues to skyrocket, causing more extreme heat. Excessive heat can lead to...

Climate Education’s Vital Significance for Action 

By: Karuna Singh

Climate change has become a global humanitarian crisis and has repelled a sustainable world. The concept of education is vital to promote taking action during this catastrophe as stated by the United Nations, “Education can encourage people to change their attitudes and behavior; it also helps them to make informed decision”. Learning “empowers” children and encourages curiosity-based inquiry. 

According to the Columbia Climate School, if 16 percent of middle and high school students from second and first-world countries are educated on climate change, a 2020 study found that around 19 gigatons worth of carbon dioxide would be cut by 2050. The younger population will find itself battling the advanced consequences of the climate crisis; they must act now...

How Climate Change is Driving Bumblebees to Extinction

By Laksha Balaji

People all over the United States hear about climate change on a daily basis, whether it’s through a poster on a waste bin encouraging less plastic, or a story on the news about the rising sea level; climate change is always present in our lives. But what we rarely stop and think about, is its everlasting impact on insects. To be more specific, its impact on Buff-tailed bumblebees. 

In the past centuries, humanity has witnessed firsthand the undeniable effects climate change has on wildlife. Numerous animal species struggle out in the prairies, rainforests, and underwater. Though it may seem like a foreign problem to most Americans, some of these endangered species are visible in peoples’ day-to-day lives, if only they took the time to stop and care...

Climate Foreign Policy  

By: Karuna Singh

Climate change contributes to the deteriorating infrastructure and economy – leading to a humanitarian catastrophe with disproportionate impacts. Multilateral cooperation between nations can strengthen the environmental sector of our planet. Policy approaches can include more sustainable energy alternatives, rather than excessive fossil fuels. Despite being a major topic, climate change is mostly at the back of the international community’s mind. When thinking about foreign policy, most individuals think about international trade, multilateral cooperation, and war. However, climate change is a contributing factor to conflict on the global scene and must be addressed. Arguably, climate change interferes with many aspects of foreign policy, especially in the United States...

Barcoding Species can Preserve Biodiversity

By Laksha Balaji

As planet Earth’s fragile biodiversity continues to take massive hits due to climate change, scientists have been scrambling to figure out a solution to this anthropogenic problem. In order to preserve the species that make planet Earth so diverse, they’ve managed to come up with an extraordinary identification method: DNA barcoding. Not only is this process capable of aiding human efforts of biodiversity conservation, but DNA barcoding can help with food production, resource management, and pest & disease control1.

While still relatively new, DNA barcoding gives humanity hope of a future filled with thriving animal populations, and that currently endangered species can start making comebacks. It works like this: scientists collect DNA samples from an animal; this can include hair, feathers, or tissue samples...

The Harmful Climate Consequences of Inhalers 

By: Karuna Singh

As of 2019, around 262 million people suffer from asthma, a lung disease caused by inflammation and narrow lung airways. One of the most common ways to treat asthma is the inhaler, which is also used for other respiratory conditions, by deflating these lung airways to reduce inflammation. According to Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, thousands of children die from the burning of fossil fuels, with higher temperatures contributing to air ozone pollution. The ozone pollutant consists of a lung irritant that drives asthma attacks. An increase in temperature leads to a persistent allergy and pollen season which can spark asthma cases. Inhalers are naturally used to prevent these attacks from happening, but these same devices have harmful climate consequences...

Addressing the Water Scarcity Issue

By Laksha Balaji

Climate change has been slowly killing our planet for decades, and with greenhouse gas emissions at an all-time high, it doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon1. Researchers are discovering more about planet Earth every day, and it’s becoming evident that climate change impacts almost every aspect of the average civilian’s life, from the clothes they buy to their commute to work. However, one of the most substantial impacts of global warming is water scarcity.

Currently, only about 0.5% of Earth’s water is safe to drink and easily accessible for humans2. But climate change is posing a huge threat to this already short supply. Terrestrial water storage (TWS) refers to the critical supply of water stored...

Wall Street and Climate Change

By: Karuna Singh

As I was doing my daily scroll through The New York Times, an article on climate change protests in the financial district of Manhattan caught my attention. The first thought that came through my head was, why? According to this source, many Wall Street giants are now pulling out of the Climate Action 100+ group, an investor-led initiative whose main goal was for these big corporations to recognize and be aware of their impact on climate change. The phrase “woke capitalism” was often used by Republican politicians on investment banks’ involvement in action on climate change. Initially, the Climate Action 100+ group goal was to publicize companies’ carbon emissions and recognize the nature of climate threats...

AI’s Potential to Save the Planet–or Destroy it

By Laksha Balaji

When specialists analyze the effects of recent AI advancements, they tend to focus on its benefits to the medical field, or its potential to reduce human error across disciplines1. This means that the average person isn’t aware of just how valuable AI can be when looking at climate change. 

According to ScienceNews.org, climate change is the largest threat to civilization2. Biodiversity, air and water quality, human health, and global temperature have all been badly affected by climate change. In fact, the global average surface temperature of Earth has risen by an average of 2° F since 1850, and with human activity as the leading cause for this increase, it is clear action must be taken to reduce climate change3.

Climate Change’s Impact On the Global South

By: Karuna Singh

Though it is a global issue, climate change has sustained a disproportionate impact on countries in the Global South. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, 76% of the 124 million people in the “crisis levels” of food insecurity face climate extremes. A Stanford University study showed that economic inequality has risen due to climate change by 25% since 1960. Noah Diffenbaugh, climate scientist, who was the lead author of the study stated, “Our results show that most of the poorest countries on Earth are considerably poorer than they would have been without global warming,” following with, “At the same time, the majority of rich countries are richer than they would have been.” ...

How Environmental Consciousness Can Help You Breathe Easier

By Laksha Balaji

As society continues to evolve, it’s clear that air pollution is quickly becoming one of planet Earth's biggest health threats: one with the potential to severely harm humanity. Air pollution in general has been associated with the deaths of nearly 7 million people per year, specifically in developing Asian countries such as India, Bangladesh, and Laos.1 Though this emerging problem is killing thousands on a daily basis, most people pay no mind to the constant threat of air pollution. This is mostly due to the fact that amounts of fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) have been decreasing throughout the United States for the past few decades. However, they have recently begun to rise after an increase in both driving and the burning of natural gas. From 2016-2018, PM2.5 levels have increased by 5.5 percent, after decreasing steadily by 25% over the past seven years.2

Up in Flames: The Wildfire Crisis and Our Urgent Call to Action

By Laksha Balaji

In 2020, our planet lost over ten million acres of land to wildfires: 10,274,679 to be exact. That’s approximately 28,149 acres per day. These numbers are sickening when compared to the mere 3,422,724 acres lost just ten years prior in 2010, but the real issue is that statistics project the number of annual wildfires – and the amount of land burned – will continue to increase–unless society does something to stop it.

Wildfires can be naturally occurring, caused by events such as lightning strikes. However, a study performed from 2000-2017 showed evidence that almost 85% of wildfires are caused by human negligence. People not disposing of cigarettes properly, leaving campfires unattended, and leaving electrical equipment in unsafe areas: these are all easily-preventable mistakes that...

Sea Otters: Climate Heros

By Karuna Singh

The first thing you might think about sea otters is that they have the thickest fur of any animal or that they hold each other’s hands when they sleep to not drift apart. However, did you know sea otters are vital to our environment? These animals are climate heroes that must be protected. Sea otters (Enhydra lutris) are mammals with a diet of ocean invertebrates like crabs, snails, urchins, and sometimes fish. They traditionally live in kelp forests, the vital habitat for many marine species, around coastal waters. To keep their high metabolism and keep themselves warm, sea otters eat around a quarter of their body weight daily...

A Biochemical Prespective on Environmentalism

In light of the escalation of environmental challenges, the intersection of biochemistry and environmentalism has become increasingly vital. Biochemistry, the study of chemical processes within living organisms, sheds light on the intricate connections between our planet's health and the chemical reactions occurring within it.

One of the most pressing environmental issues of our time is climate change — primarily driven by the increasing levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. Photosynthesis, a biochemical process, enables plants to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into oxygen and sugars.

Pollution from chemicals and toxins poses a significant threat to ecosystems and human health....

How Plants and Fungi Team Up to Survive

The natural world is full of intriguing and complex relationships that often go unnoticed by the casual observer. One such remarkable example exists beneath our own feet, hidden from view but playing a pivotal role in the health and sustainability of terrestrial ecosystems. Mycorrhizal symbiosis, the mutually beneficial partnership between fungi and plants, is a fascinating aspect of environmental biology.

Mycorrhizal symbiosis refers to the mutually beneficial relationship between certain types of fungi and plants. These fungi, known as mycorrhizae, form intricate networks of thread-like structures called hyphae in the soil. When plants and mycorrhizae come into contact, a remarkable collaboration ensues...

Heat Waves

July 2023 has been the hottest month on record. Not just the hottest July. The hottest month, period. In fact, 2023 is currently on track to replace 2016 as the hottest year since records began in 1850. The world is currently in a multiyear period of extreme warmth – the past eight years are the eight hottest on record – and unusual weather events, such as heat waves, extreme rainfall, droughts, cold spells, and wildfires, are all on the rise globally. The Southwest United States and Mexico, Southern Europe, and China have all experienced unprecedented temperatures in the past month, with temperatures over 50ºC (122ºF) in Death Valley, USA, and Northwest China. The record for the highest recorded temperature in China was broken on July 16th in Sanbao and nighttime temperatures reached unusual highs in Spain, Arizona, and the Cayman Islands....

Nature's Glow-in-the-Dark Phenomenon

Bioluminescence is one of the most captivating and enigmatic phenomena in the natural world. It refers to the ability of certain organisms being able to produce light through a chemical reaction — creating stunning displays of natural illumination. 

At the heart of bioluminescence lies a complex chemical reaction involving three key components: luciferase (an enzyme), luciferin (a light-emitting molecule), and oxygen. When these components combine in light of other factors and ions, they produce light without generating heat. This unique property makes bioluminescence a highly efficient source of cold light.

Here’s some cool animals in our animal kingdom that contribute to bioluminescence: 

Plastic Explosion

By Alex Stefani

A 1950s newspaper shows a man, woman, and child standing in a dark room. Their arms outstretched wide as an abundance of disposable plastics resides in the air. Plastic utensils, trays, cups, buckets, and plates seem like rain, filling the crevices of the image as they fall from the sky. Have they thrown these plastics or are they embracing its arrival? Perhaps both? Though either option does not change the fact that the trash can is still going to overflow. The joy on their faces proves that they do not understand the consequences...

Global Government Garbage 

By Alex Stefani

Recently in August 2022, the United States passed the largest climate bill to date. A 369 billion dollar investment in clean energy and climate change programs titled the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Though what does Inflation have anything to do with climate change? The Act does allocate money towards deficit reduction, a 300 billion dollar sum (Summary), but why keep the information misconstrued, and hidden? Citizens like myself, who are not extreme climate activists but care about our planet, will not dive deeper into the Act. Or further yet, people around the globe.....

Reflection

By Malcolm Barnard

I arrived in the back of the dingy CVS, walking past the McDonalds and the Nail Spa and Waxing Salon. The stench of the area rolled over me as I glanced around across the five or so dumpsters lined up behind the building. I looked over as it immediately caught my eye. The disgusting swirling mess of a puddle sunk into a pothole in the parking lot. The oil haphazardly dispersed throughout the water. There it sat, reflecting the blue above in its twisting, churning mirror, as if mocking the sky for its peace.... 

Lifting The Lid

By Elyse McManus

The entire point of my quest was to find trash around Worcester and photograph it. I, however, did not touch a single piece of trash the entire time. Instead, I chose to fade into the background. The smell of the trash and its unknown contents were daunting enough for me to place the responsibility on the people around me eagerly. It was much easier to let others bear the burden. My philosophy surrounding the quest drew an alarming parallel to my philosophy surrounding climate change. I chose to dissociate, as it was easier to handle. I viewed climate change as a lost cause...