Recent Events

Winter Olympics Athletes Demand an End to Fossil Fuel Sponsorships

The Winter Olympics are here, and companies that run on fossil fuels are tagging along as well. In Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, numerous athletes have come together to send an open letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The main contents of the letter involve asking the IOC to stop creating sponsorships with fossil fuel companies. This is in hopes of the IOC better aligning with their promised mission of ensuring that the Olympic Games run on sustainability both in the present and in the future. As noted in the letter, accepting sponsorships from fossil fuel companies directly harms this initiative, and is a practice that should be stopped. 

The effects of these companies that run on fossil fuels have been on full display in recent Olympic Games. Whether it be athletes competing in record-breaking high temperatures in the Summer Olympics, or officials having no choice but to use artificial snow in the Winter Games, the negative effects that fossil fuel companies have on the environment are apparent. Athletes and fans joining together to advocate for better environmental sustainability shows how there is increased awareness towards this important topic.

Sewage Spill in the Potomac River

In January, one of the biggest sewage accidents in the history of the United States occurred when a portion of a sewage line collapsed in Maryland. This incident resulted in more than 200 million gallons of raw sewage being dumped into the nearby Potomac River. The sewage that is dumped into the river contains many pollutants. As Gary Belan, the senior director of the clean water program at American Rivers, notes, “There's a ton of nasty stuff in raw sewage. It's not just waste and bacteria, but you have all sorts of pharmaceuticals that end up in the pipe system. You have different chemicals that people pour down the sink or into drains.” Many of the contaminants in the raw sewage can have detrimental effects on nearby environments and ecosystems. Bird reproduction, fish reproduction, and insect populations are different parts of local ecosystems that face potential harm as a result of this spill.

As of right now, officials are still attempting to come up with a solution to the spill. Ultimately, though, the waste will end up in the Atlantic Ocean after washing downstream from the Chesapeake Bay. Since the area where the spill occurred is a place where the district, two states, the federal government, and DC Water work closely together, there has been a struggle to take the initiative and fully address the problem. Although sewage systems are not a topic that is talked about a lot, this current situation brings awareness to maintaining the country's infrastructure.

Why soil is able to trap carbon so effectively

Soil is one of the Earth’s largest carbon sinks, storing an estimated 2,500 billion tons of carbon. This makes soil the second-largest carbon reservoir on the planet, behind the ocean. How exactly soil is able to remove carbon from the atmosphere and keep it trapped is still a subject of debate. However, a recent study from Northwestern University has found a surprising mechanism through which ferrihydrite, a common iron oxide mineral present in soil, is able to capture and hold carbon.

Iron oxide minerals including ferrihydrite are associated with more than one third of all the organic carbon found in soils. Ferrihydrite is a mineral commonly found near plant roots and in soils rich in organic material. In a study led by Northwestern’s Ludmilla Aristilde, researchers used high-resolution molecular modeling and atomic force microscopy to precisely examine the surface of ferrihydrite. They found that, while the overall charge of the mineral was positive, the surface contains a mix of positive and negative regions. This provides an explanation as to why ferrihydrite can attract negatively charged substances such as phosphate along with positively charged particles like metal ions. The researchers then experimented with how different organic molecules such as amino acids, plant acids, sugars, and ribonucleotides interacted with ferrihydrite. They exposed these molecules to ferrihydrite, then measured how much of each compound “stuck” to the mineral and used infrared spectroscopy to examine how the substances interacted.

The results showed that ferrihydrite employs several mechanisms which allow it to bind to several different organic materials. Through electrostatic attraction, positively charged particles attach to negatively charged areas of the mineral, while negatively charged particles attach to positively charged areas. Furthermore, some molecules formed even stronger chemical bonds with iron atoms, or formed hydrogen bonds. This study proved just how adaptable ferrihydrite is in binding different forms of carbon. When organic compounds can be held for long periods in this manner, less carbon is released in the atmosphere that contribute to global warming.

The researchers plan to further explore what happens after these organic molecules bind to iron oxide minerals. Some may be converted to substances that microbes can break down, while others could become more resistant to decomposition.

Tips: How to take eco-friendly showers

Oftentimes, a warm shower or bath is taken for granted. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.7 billion people lack basic hygiene services. So why should you worry about conserving water? Showering adds up to nearly 1.2 trillion gallons of water annually in the US, so every attempt to cut down the amount of water you use can make a real difference.

Here are some tips to help conserve water in the shower:

1. Take Shorter Showers:

It may seem obvious, but cutting down shower time can drastically reduce your water intake. The average American spends 8 minutes in the shower. With a standard showerhead, that’s 16 to 20 gallons of water.

2. Use an eco-friendly or low-flow showerhead:

Standard showerheads use 2.5 gallons of water per minute (gpm). Water-saving showerheads that have earned the WaterSense label must use no more than 2.0 gpm, and must provide a satisfactory shower that is equal to or better than conventional showerheads on the market. Some options are Moen, Delta Faucet, and Kohler. The EPA states that the average family could save 2,700 gallons per year by installing WaterSense labeled showerheads.

3. Use the Shower Intermittently:

Another easy way to use less water is to turn it off when it isn’t needed, for example when applying shampoo or soap. This is known as a Navy shower, a water-saving technique where the water is turned off when not needed, typically using less than 3 gallons and lasting only 2-3 minutes. 

4. Get Rid of Plastic Containers:

Plastic containers cause lasting harm to oceans, waterways, and sea life. They are also very slow to biodegrade. The best solution is to replace plastic containers with reusable ones or to buy products using biodegradable packaging. Looks for packaging that utilizes materials like plant-based bioplastics (PLA), molded pulp, bamboo, or compostable paperboard. These products break down faster than traditional plastic and are derived from renewable resources.

5. Choose More Eco-Friendly Shower Products:

Most name-brand shower products such as Pantene—known to use sulfates, silicones, and parabens—contaminate waterways and soil, where they will continue to harm aquatic ecosystems. Instead, look for products that offer eco-friendly ingredients and specifically mention being free of contaminants.