Archive for the ‘environment’ Category
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The New Yorker's George Packer
June 19
HR 2 GUEST: GEORGE PACKER The New Yorker staff reporter GEORGE PACKER examines the economic and cultural health of the United States’ last 40 years through the stories of several, varied Americans. He writes about the cost of [...]
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The Fossil Fuel Divestment Movement
June 17
Guests: Katherine Bagley, Isobel Arthen, Mindy Lubber Over the past year, the fossil fuel divestment movement has quickly and passionately spread across college throughout the U.S. Students are calling for institutions of higher learning to stop investing in [...]
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The legacy of toxic dumping in Toms River
June 12
Guest: Dan Fagin When chemical companies came to the New Jersey town of Toms River in the 1950s, the community saw good job prospects and a boom for the economy. In fact, over the next few decades, Toms [...]
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Plastic bags – should we use them or not?
June 7
HR 2 GUESTS: LOGAN WELDE, PHIL ROSENSKI Plastic bags – should we use them or not? Plastic bag fees and bag bans have been proposed and enacted in many American cities. San Francisco was the first American city [...]
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Philadelphia building collapse; Lead Wars
June 6
Guests: Elizabeth Fiedler, David Rosner, Gerald Markowitz We start out this hour getting an update on the Philadelphia building collapse from WHYY's ELIZABETH FIEDLER which killed six people and injured 14 yesterday. The four-story building at 22nd and [...]
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Oklahoma tornado recovery
May 23
Guests: Rachel Hubbard, William Coulbourne, David Martin The search for victims is over and recovery work has begun in Moore and parts of Oklahoma City after Monday’s tornado that killed at least 24 people including 10 children. With [...]
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Paine's Park and Skateboarding in Philadelphia
May 23
Guests: Josh Nims, Claire Laver, Anthony Bracali It's been over 10 years since the City of Philadelphia closed Love Park, a world- renowned skateboarding destination, to skateboarders. This left a gaping hole in an otherwise vibrant skateboarding community. [...]
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State of the Beaches in New Jersey and Delaware
May 22
Guests: Matthew Doherty, Thomas Herrington, Collin O'Mara Seven months after Superstorm Sandy ravaged the region, several beach towns in New Jersey are still picking up the pieces. Many communities are in the process of restoring boardwalks and other [...]
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Climate change milestone
May 21
Guests: Gavin Schmidt, Anthony Leiserowitz Last week carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached record levels — 400 parts per million, according to a monitoring station in Hawaii. Never in human history have carbon dioxide concentrations been that high. [...]
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Alexandra Horowitz: "On Looking"
May 3
Guest: Alexandra Horowitz [REBROADCAST] Take a walk around the block and look around — what do you see? What don’t you see? Cognitive scientist ALEXANDRA HOROWITZ says that most of us fail to see a lot of the [...]
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Michael Pollan: Cooked
April 26
Guests: Michael Pollan “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” That’s the famous advice of food writer MICHAEL POLLAN. Pollan has written a number of bestselling books exploring the problems with America’s industrialized food system and the way [...]
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Adam Rome and “The Genius of Earth Day”
April 19
GUEST: ADAM ROME Over forty years ago this month, an important political event took place that caused reverberations throughout the country. The Genius of Earth Day is the story of the first Earth Day, its significance, and how [...]
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Keystone XL Pipeline debate
April 10
Guests: Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, Amy Myers Jaffe The Obama administration is expected to make a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline expansion in the next few months. The pipeline would carry 800,000 barrels a day of tar sands crude [...]
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A conversation with Philadelphia activist and restauranteur Judy Wicks
March 18
Guest: Judy Wicks JUDY WICKS founded the White Dog Cafe on the first floor of her house along a row of threatened brownstones in West Philadelphia. Over the years she grew what began as a small muffin shop [...]
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Fishermen’s Energy & the future of wind energy in New Jersey
March 14
GUESTS: CHRIS WISSEMANN, JEFF TITTEL and STEFANIE BRAND We examine the future of wind energy in New Jersey from three different perspectives. Should wind farms come to the Garden State? First, we get an inside look from Fishermen’s [...]
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Alexandra Horowitz: "On Looking"
March 14
Guest: Alexandra Horowitz Take a walk around the block and look around — what do you see? What don’t you see? Cognitive scientist ALEXANDRA HOROWITZ says that most of us fail to see a lot of the world [...]
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Analyzing the State of the Union address and the Republican response
February 13
Guests: Ben Berger, Lara Brown and Imani Perry Last night, before Congress and the nation, President Obama addressed the state of the union and outlined his second term agenda. He focused on the middle class, pledging action on [...]
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Cats and their impact on wildlife
February 5
A new report says that outdoor cats are a major threat to wildlife. Free-ranging cats, including pets that go outside, stray and feral cats, are the leading cause of death for birds and small mammals, killing billions each [...]
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Will Obama's second term change prospects for climate?
January 24
In his inaugural speech, President Obama made climate change a central priority of his second term: “We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future [...]
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#innovateRT: Sustainable Philadelphia
January 18
In the fifth and final hour in our series on Philadelphia Innovators, we look at sustainability in the city and the effort to make Philly the greenest city in America. We’ll find out how close we are to [...]
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David Quammen on 'Spillover' of animal diseases into humans
December 28
[REBROADCAST] Avian flu. Ebola. SARS. AIDS. All of us have been exposed, at least in the media, to diseases that have migrated from animal hosts to humans, a phenomenon scientists call "spillover. That's also the name of acclaimed [...]
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Garbology: a look at America's trash habit
December 26
[REBROADCAST] Americans make a lot of trash, more than any other country in the world. In fact, each of us produces around 7.1 pounds of garbage a day, or roughly 102 tons in a lifetime. And trash turns [...]
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The Paulsboro train derailment – lessons learned
December 10
The freight train derailment on Friday, November 30, that sent 4 tank cars carrying toxic vinyl chloride into the Mantua Creek in Paulsboro New Jersey, has raised serious questions about railroad safety, regulations regarding the shipment of hazardous [...]
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The Fiscal Cliff, government subsidies, and a carbon tax
December 7
The “fiscal cliff” debate continued this week with the President reiterating that tax hikes on the wealthy must be a part of any proposal and House Republicans pressing for entitlement and spending cuts. If the two sides can’t [...]
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Post-Sandy politics of rebuilding the Jersey Shore
December 5
As New Jersey struggles with the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, we follow up our look at the science and engineering with a look at the politics of whether, how, where and who pays for rebuilding the beloved Jersey [...]
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DNREC Secretary Collin O'Mara
December 3
COLLIN O’MARA serves as Secretary of the Environment and Energy for Delaware Governor Jack Markell. He’s the chief steward of Delaware’s natural resources, including its coastal programs and shoreline efforts, and leads the state’s efforts to ensure access to [...]
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The Jersey Shore, after Sandy: To rebuild or not to rebuild
November 21
When Superstorm Sandy slammed into and through the southern Jersey Shore near Ocean City in the evening of Oct. 29, the full-moon high tide and storm surge laid waste to structures, streets and stretches of shoreline up and [...]
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What candidates are NOT talking about, Pt. 1: Climate change & infrastructure repair
October 31
Hour 1 The 2012 presidential election, for the most part, has been about the economy and more recently foreign policy. Among the issues that have received little or no attention on the campaign trail are climate change and [...]
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Hurricane Sandy: Day 2
October 30
Hour 1 Our coverage of Hurricane Sandy continues. We'll start off getting an updated weather forecast from JOE MIKETTA, warning coordination meteorologist with the Mount Holly office of the National Weather Service. Then we're joined by Drexel University [...]
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Hurricane Sandy, Day 2: Jersey Shore, Philly water, Delaware
October 30
Hour 2 Our coverage of Hurricane Sandy continues in this hour of Radio Times. We start with a live update from WHYY reporter TOM MacDONALD from the Jersey Shore, where he spent the morning touring the devastation, including [...]
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Hurricane Sandy hits the Delaware Valley
October 29
Hour 1 With Hurricane Sandy roaring into the Delaware Valley, Radio Times covers the storm’s approach, the preparations made by residents and public safety officials throughout the region, and the early word of impacts. We’ll start the hour [...]
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Hurricane Sandy: Philly & Delaware responses, weird weather & storm science
October 29
Hour 2 In our second hour examining Hurricane Sandy's impacts, we'll talk with Philadelphia Mayor MICHAEL NUTTER about the city's preparations for the storm's approach and aftermath. And we'll talk with MICHAEL LEMONICK senior science writer for Princeton-based [...]
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Fracking, natural gas & energy issues in political campaigns
October 18
Hour 1 Energy issues, including natural gas extraction in the Marcellus Shale region, are a big issue in Pennsylvania, and a factor in political campaigns across the commonwealth and the presidential race. On today’s Radio Times, we catch [...]
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Presidential debate reaction
October 17
Hour 1 With the race for the presidency is in its last few weeks and the candidates locked in a very close race, the stakes were high for last night's second debate between President Barack Obama and former [...]
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David Quammen on 'Spillover' of animal diseases into humans
October 16
Hour 1 Avian flu. Ebola. SARS. AIDS. All of us have been exposed, at least in the media, to diseases that have migrated from animal hosts to humans, a phenomenon scientists call "spillover. That's also the name of [...]
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Elephant poaching: the dramatic rise in ivory trafficking
September 27
Hour 1 Over 25,000 elephants were slaughtered last year in the growing illicit ivory trade — sometimes entire herds gunned down from helicopters. Elephant poaching in Africa reached its highest levels in 2011 since the global ivory ban [...]
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Joe Frazier — his life, career, and the City of Brotherly Love
September 13
Hour 1 Boxing legend Joe Frazier moved to Philadelphia in 1958 from rural South Carolina as a 14-year old boy and lived here the rest of his life. Despite being considered the greatest fighter in Philadelphia sports history, [...]
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Moving forward on high speed rail
September 6
Hour 2 President Obama had big plans for high-speed rail in the United States when he came into office in 2008 — it included rail projects in 31 states. But a number of governors rejected the federal funding [...]
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The Great Animal Orchestra: finding the music in nature
August 24
Hour 2 [REBROADCAST] Naturalist BERNIE KRAUSE has spent 40 years listening to and recording the natural world. He’s traveled the world, capturing the sounds of over fifteen thousand species and making four thousand hours of wild music – [...]
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Extreme weather and climate change
July 30
Hour 1 We’re in the midst of the worst drought in 50 years. The last 12 months have been the hottest on record. Heat waves, storms, floods and wildfires have been wreaking havoc this spring and summer in [...]
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The future of Philadelphia's oil refinery workers
July 12
Hour 1 The future of United Steelworkers’ (USW) jobs at local oil refineries futures looked bleak last September when Sunoco announced plans to sell or close their South Philadelphia and Marcus Hook facilities. Later that month ConocoPhillips announced [...]
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Pennsylvania's gas & energy politics
July 9
Hour 1 Energy issues continue to connect Pennsylvania politics to the global economy, and on today’s Radio Times, we’re going to catch up on several important recent developments and what they mean for our region, our wallets, and [...]
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The high cost of cheap fashion
June 20
Hour 2 Are you a clothes horse? Are your closets and drawers spilling over with shirts, pants, skirts, and shoes? It turns out Americans buy a lot of clothes — around 64 pieces a year — and that's [...]
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Red knots, horseshoe crabs & the Delaware Bay
June 18
Hour 2 Spawning season for horseshoe crabs in the Delaware Bay Estuary and Cape May shoreline is coming to a close, ending the annual natural phenomenon of beaches clogged with the prehistoric creatures, often attached in an eons-old [...]
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The buzz on beekeeping as a hobby
June 12
Hour 2 City rooftops, suburban backyards, even fancy hotels like New York’s Waldorf-Astoria and Intercontinental are buzzing with bees. Beekeeping is becoming a popular hobby across America. In recent years, bee populations across the United States have faced [...]
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Deconstructing the work cubicle
June 8
Hour 2 Do you work in a cubicle? If you do than you may know what it’s like to endure the smell of a co-worker’s stinky food, overhear a personal phone call or be interrupted by someone peeking [...]
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Visiting national parks before climate changes them
June 5
Hour 1 MICHAEL LANZA is a longtime backpacker, climber, skier and freelance writer and photographer of outdoors and wilderness. He is the northwest editor of Backpacker magazine, where he chronicled the effects of climate change on Montana’s Glacier [...]
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Young Farmers
May 29
Hour 2 Farmers markets are popping up in all around the country and many people are buying shares in CSAs for the season. But even with all the talk about eating locally and community supported agriculture, the USDA [...]
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The Great Animal Orchestra: finding the music in nature
May 23
Hour 2 Naturalist BERNIE KRAUSE has spent forty years listening to and recording the natural world. He’s traveled the world, capturing the sounds of over fifteen thousand species and making four thousand hours of wild music – insect [...]
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A conversation with Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett
May 17
Hour 1 We present a recorded and lightly edited broadcast of Marty’s Tuesday interview with Pennsylvania Gov. TOM CORBETT at The Prince Music Theater. Marty asked the governor about cuts he's made to education and public welfare programs, [...]
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Natural gas fracking: an update
May 14
Hour 1 The EPA has set the first air pollution rules for natural gas drilling, requiring gas drillers to capture toxic gases, like benzene, that are released during the drilling process. The new rules go into effect in [...]
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Ghost Factories: Lead's toxic legacy in our soil
May 2
Hour 1 In hundreds of U.S. neighborhoods, including several in Philadelphia and the surrounding area, the soil that children play in is contaminated by lead and other toxic metal particles once spewed into the air by factories that [...]
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Garbology: a look at America's trash habit
April 26
Hour 1 Americans make a lot of trash, more than any other country in the world. In fact, each of us produces around 7.1 pounds of garbage a day, or roughly 102 tons in a lifetime. And trash [...]
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Fun family getaways in NJ, PA & DE
April 20
Hour 2 With summer approaching and gas prices averaging around $4 a gallon, a lot of families are rethinking the long vacation road trip or one that involves expensive airfare. So how about taking a few smaller trips [...]
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Academy of Natural Sciences turns 200
April 10
Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences is celebrating its 200th birthday this year. The renowned Academy is the oldest natural history museum in the Western Hemisphere. Its renowned collection of 18 million plants and animals includes dinosaur fossils collected [...]
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The Race to the South Pole: Roald Amundsen vs. Robert Falcon Scott
April 6
Hour 1 [REBROADCAST] Just over a hundred years ago, Roald Amundsen and four companions were the first human beings to stand at the South Pole. Using skis and dog sleds they beat Robert Falcon Scott’s British expedition by [...]
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Scott Weidensaul on 'The First Frontier'
April 2
Hour 2 Author and Pulitzer Prize finalist SCOTT WEIDENSAUL discusses his new book, "The First Frontier: The Forgotten History of Struggle, Savagery and Endurance in Early America." Weidensaul has written more than two dozen books, including the critically [...]
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On the Delaware River waterfront, change
March 14
Hour 1 Last week, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission approved the Civic Vision for the Central Delaware, an ambitious guide for the next several decades of development along Philadelphia’s eastern waterfront. In a planning process that dates back [...]
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Gardening: It might as well be spring
March 6
Hour 2 With the unusually warm winter, many gardeners saw spring come early this year — bulbs blooming and trees budding weeks ahead of schedule. And while no one can complain about seeing blossoming flowers in what are [...]
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Why are gas prices so high?
February 27
Hour 1 Gas prices are soaring again and could bite into consumer spending and the recovering economy. High prices at the pump could also hurt President Obama’s chances at re-election. Experts think that prices, now averaging around $3.58 [...]
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Adventuring in the Modern Age
February 20
Hour 2 [REBROADCAST] What does it take to summit a mountain, traverse the poles or dive into the deepest cave? In the past it took physical prowess, good logistical skills and an intrepid spirit. Today though, technology plays [...]
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A fee with impact: Pennsylvania's shale gas tax
February 13
Hour 2 The Pennsylvania legislature has passed a bill that allows a tax on natural gas drilling. It enables municipalities to levy an impact fee on the gas industry and Governor Corbett is expected to sign it. Proponents [...]
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The Race to the South Pole: Roald Amundsen vs. Robert Falcon Scott
February 1
Hour 2 Just over a hundred years ago, Roald Amundsen and four companions were the first human beings to stand at the South Pole. Using skis and dog sleds they beat Robert Falcon Scott’s British expedition by just [...]
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The Keystone XL Pipeline Debate
January 31
Hour 1 The Obama administration recently rejected the hotly contested proposal to build a 1,700-mile pipeline from Western Canada to Texas. The Keystone XL pipeline would carry 800,000 barrels of oil from the tar sands in Alberta across [...]
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The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
January 23
Hour 2 Last year’s Japanese tsunami provoked fears of widespread radiation leaks and set off a nuclear crisis as clean up crews furiously raced to contain the damage at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Meanwhile another environmental concern [...]
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A Conversation with Dolphin Researcher Diana Reiss
December 26
Hour 2 [REBROADCAST] The ability to recognize oneself in the mirror is considered a sign of high intelligence and is relatively rare in the animal world. Humans can do it and so can great apes. But DR. DIANA [...]
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The discovery of Kepler-22b, a planet ideal for supporting life
December 7
Hour 2 On Tuesday, NASA scientists announced the discovery of a new planet outside our solar system –Kepler-22b. What is important about this find is how similar the planet is to Earth — not too hot and not [...]
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Does 'ethical shopping' make a difference?
November 28
Hour 2 On “Cyber Monday” after the frenzy of “Black Friday,” and as holiday shopping season kicks in, we examine the efforts by some consumers to have their shopping dollars reflect their values. Some opt to buy “fair [...]
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Kosher Chinese: Living, Teaching, and Eating with China’s Other Billion
November 25
Hour 2 [REBROADCAST] Writer and teacher MICHAEL LEVY describes China to his students as a country exactly like the United States in size, in cities, in the same number of rich and poor people – but add one [...]
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Eating what we don't want — invasive species — & what we do — oysters
November 11
Hour 2 Eating with the environment in mind has fueled foodie trends like eating organically, eating locally and sustainable diet trends of all kinds. On today’s Radio Times, we explore the growing fad for eating invasive species, those [...]
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Philly's Reading Viaduct & NYC's High Line
November 2
Hour 1 The Reading Viaduct soars over the neighborhood just north of Philadelphia’s Center City – some call the area “Callowhill,” others “Chinatown North,” and still others favor the “Eraserhood.” Elevated railroad tracks long abandoned and overgrown with [...]
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The 7 Billion
October 25
Hour 1 In 1900 there were just 1.6 billion people living on Earth but by the end of this month, our numbers will reach seven billion. And by 2100, the U.N. projects that the world’s population will reach [...]
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Menhaden: Fighting over an underappreciated little fish
October 25
Hour 2 Menhaden has been called “the most important fish in the sea,” but the bony little fish barely registers on most people’s consciousness. And, some fishermen and scientists say that the fish, also known as bunker, is [...]
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The use of chimpanzees in research
October 18
Hour 2 The United States is only one of two countries still using chimpanzees in biomedical research. There are over a 1000 chimpanzees kept in laboratories in the United States. Now a bill in Congress, the Great Ape [...]
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A Conversation with Dolphin Researcher Diana Reiss
October 13
Hour 2 The ability to recognize oneself in the mirror is considered a sign of high intelligence and is relatively rare in the animal world. Humans can do it and so can great apes. But DR. DIANA REISS [...]
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Adventuring in the Modern Age
October 12
Hour 2 What does it take to summit a mountain, traverse the poles or dive into the deepest cave? In the past it took physical prowess, good logistical skills and an intrepid spirit. Today though, technology plays an [...]
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Cutting-edge community design, with Teddy Cruz, Mami Hara & Beth Miller
October 10
Hour 2 The cutting edge in architecture and community design: For this hour of Radio Times, we invite three designers into the studio to discuss how they are incorporating new ideas and visions into civic and private spaces, [...]
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The state of the world's oceans with David Guggenheim
October 4
Hour 1 In his blog post on Earth Day 2011, marine scientist David Guggenheim wrote about a little known ship wreck in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean that wreaked environmental havoc around Tristan da Cuhna, a [...]
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Kosher Chinese: Living, Teaching, and Eating with China’s Other Billion
September 30
Hour 2 Writer and teacher MICHAEL LEVY describes China to his students as a country exactly like the United States in size, in cities, in the same number of rich and poor people – but add one billion [...]
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Green Burial
September 29
Hour 2 The idea of a traditional burial in this country is changing. It used to involve embalming the body and setting it in a metal or concrete casket six feet deep in the ground. But today, people [...]
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Planting and Protecting Trees
September 6
Hour 2 Trees around the country are under assault from pests and disease. There’s the Asian Longhorn beetle that’s destroying maples, Thousand-cankers fungus that attacks Black Walnuts, and the Emerald Ash Borer that’s wiping out ash trees. And [...]
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Heidi Cullen and The Weather of the Future
August 30
Hour 1 August 2011 will go down in the books as the wettest month on record in the Philadelphia area – this is before the rainfall still being counted from this weekend’s Hurricane Irene. Every state of the [...]
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Geraldine Brooks on 'Caleb's Crossing'
August 30
Hour 2 [REBROADCAST] “It’s the strong emotions that shape us, and I don’t think they change no matter what race you are and no matter what period you live in,” says Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist GERALDINE BROOKS. [...]
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Sex on Six Legs: The Social Lives of Bugs
August 24
Hour 2 If you can look past the hard exoskeleton, the antennae and the six legs, bugs and people share some surprising similarities. Although they have a brain the size of a poppy seed, insects have developed many [...]
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Christian Parenti on 'The Tropic of Chaos'
August 15
Hour 1 Parts of Somalia are gripped by the worst famine in 60 years. Conflicts over water, either too scarce or too abundant, are springing up throughout the developing AND developed worlds. Nations like Bangladesh and the Maldives [...]
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The New Car and Truck Fuel Efficiency Standards
August 11
Hour 1 The Obama administration has announced new fuel efficiency standards for the automobile industry and truck makers. Cars and light trucks will have to get 54.5 mph by 2025. Big rig trucks will have to improve fuel [...]
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Famine, war and chaos in Somalia
August 3
Hour 1 Somalia – without a functioning government for most of the last 20 years, devastated by civil war and the insurgency of al Qaeda-affiliated Al Shabab, and one of the poorest, most dangerous places in the world [...]
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Marcellus shale update: Pooling & local impacts
July 22
Hour 1 Today, Pennsylvania Governor’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley, is expected to publish their recommendations for moving forward with the burgeoning industry. Joining us to report on the Commission’s process, politics and [...]
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Tracking, predicting & planning for sea-level rise
July 8
Hour 1 The good news: The drive to the beach is getting shorter. The bad news is the time isn’t shrinking, but the distance. Scientists increasingly believe sea level is on the rise, and have rising evidence to [...]
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Saving the World's Sea Turtles
June 30
Hour 2 All the Earth’s seven sea turtle species are endangered. The United States waters are home to six of the species, including the Gulf of Mexico, where the 2010 BP oil spill devastated much of the turtle [...]
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Shoring up the Delaware River waterfront
June 23
Hour 1 The Delaware River waterfront may be rounding the last turn of a marathon planning process. The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation unveiled its new master plan (pdf) for the city’s famously underdeveloped riverfront, and it calls for [...]
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Demon Fish: Our Fear and Fascination with Sharks
June 17
Hour 2 As people flock to the beach to sun, swim and surf this summer, we thought we’d take a look at one of the ocean’s most ancient and mysterious creatures – the shark. Ever since Jaws, few [...]
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Charles Fishman: The Big Thirst
June 3
Hour 2 The Chinese government has a $62 billion plan to correct their depleted depleting drinking water supply that involves diverting trillions of gallons of water from one river to another. Philadelphia is moving along with their $2 billion stormwater [...]
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Geraldine Brooks on 'Caleb's Crossing'
May 24
Hour 2 “It’s the strong emotions that shape us, and I don’t think they change no matter what race you are and no matter what period you live in,” says Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist GERALDINE BROOKS. Brooks [...]
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New Jersey Beach Replenishment: Is it Worth It?
May 9
Hour 1 Heading down to the shore this summer? You might not realize it but it takes a lot of work and money to maintain coastal beaches. New Jersey has 127 miles of coast filled with beckoning beaches. [...]
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Wolves, Bats and Frogs: Animals Under Fire
May 4
Hour 2 The gray wolf in the United States has made an incredible comeback. In fact, it’s doing so well, that federal officials and some members of Congress want it removed from the Endangered Species list. Twenty years [...]
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Journalists discuss Marcellus Shale natural gas
April 22
Hour 1 On Tuesday, a natural gas well in Bradford County leaked fracking fluid for more than 20 hours, prompting Chesapeake Energy to suspend its drilling operations throughout Pennsylvania during an investigation. Seven homes were evacuated and a [...]
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Rose George, on shipping, pirates and waste
April 15
Hour 1 ROSE GEORGE spent much of last summer on a huge freighter ship bound for Singapore, charting pirate-infested waters and researching the state of international shipping for her next book and the online magazine Slate. She found [...]
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Great Escapes Near Philly
April 8
Hour 2 After being cooped up all winter long, a lot of us feel the itch to get out and explore the region, to shake off that cabin fever. Whether you prefer a country walk, a seaside spa, [...]
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Assessing our energy options
April 7
Hour 2 How should we get our energy? In this hour of Radio Times, we assess the viability – scientifically, environmentally, technically and politically – of the major choices for powering our planet. Last month, as the 1 [...]
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The New Yorker's George Packer June 19
HR 2 GUEST: GEORGE PACKER The New Yorker staff reporter GEORGE PACKER examines the economic and cultural health of the United States’ last 40 years through the stories of several, varied Americans. He writes about the cost of [...] -
The Fossil Fuel Divestment Movement
June 17
Guests: Katherine Bagley, Isobel Arthen, Mindy Lubber Over the past year, the fossil fuel divestment movement has quickly and passionately spread across college throughout the U.S. Students are calling for institutions of higher learning to stop investing in [...] -
The legacy of toxic dumping in Toms River
June 12
Guest: Dan Fagin When chemical companies came to the New Jersey town of Toms River in the 1950s, the community saw good job prospects and a boom for the economy. In fact, over the next few decades, Toms [...] -
Plastic bags – should we use them or not?
June 7
HR 2 GUESTS: LOGAN WELDE, PHIL ROSENSKI Plastic bags – should we use them or not? Plastic bag fees and bag bans have been proposed and enacted in many American cities. San Francisco was the first American city [...] -
Philadelphia building collapse; Lead Wars
June 6
Guests: Elizabeth Fiedler, David Rosner, Gerald Markowitz We start out this hour getting an update on the Philadelphia building collapse from WHYY's ELIZABETH FIEDLER which killed six people and injured 14 yesterday. The four-story building at 22nd and [...] -
Oklahoma tornado recovery
May 23
Guests: Rachel Hubbard, William Coulbourne, David Martin The search for victims is over and recovery work has begun in Moore and parts of Oklahoma City after Monday’s tornado that killed at least 24 people including 10 children. With [...] -
Paine's Park and Skateboarding in Philadelphia
May 23
Guests: Josh Nims, Claire Laver, Anthony Bracali It's been over 10 years since the City of Philadelphia closed Love Park, a world- renowned skateboarding destination, to skateboarders. This left a gaping hole in an otherwise vibrant skateboarding community. [...] -
State of the Beaches in New Jersey and Delaware
May 22
Guests: Matthew Doherty, Thomas Herrington, Collin O'Mara Seven months after Superstorm Sandy ravaged the region, several beach towns in New Jersey are still picking up the pieces. Many communities are in the process of restoring boardwalks and other [...] -
Climate change milestone
May 21
Guests: Gavin Schmidt, Anthony Leiserowitz Last week carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached record levels — 400 parts per million, according to a monitoring station in Hawaii. Never in human history have carbon dioxide concentrations been that high. [...] -
Alexandra Horowitz: "On Looking"
May 3
Guest: Alexandra Horowitz [REBROADCAST] Take a walk around the block and look around — what do you see? What don’t you see? Cognitive scientist ALEXANDRA HOROWITZ says that most of us fail to see a lot of the [...] -
Michael Pollan: Cooked
April 26
Guests: Michael Pollan “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” That’s the famous advice of food writer MICHAEL POLLAN. Pollan has written a number of bestselling books exploring the problems with America’s industrialized food system and the way [...] -
Adam Rome and “The Genius of Earth Day”
April 19
GUEST: ADAM ROME Over forty years ago this month, an important political event took place that caused reverberations throughout the country. The Genius of Earth Day is the story of the first Earth Day, its significance, and how [...] -
Keystone XL Pipeline debate
April 10
Guests: Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, Amy Myers Jaffe The Obama administration is expected to make a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline expansion in the next few months. The pipeline would carry 800,000 barrels a day of tar sands crude [...] -
A conversation with Philadelphia activist and restauranteur Judy Wicks
March 18
Guest: Judy Wicks JUDY WICKS founded the White Dog Cafe on the first floor of her house along a row of threatened brownstones in West Philadelphia. Over the years she grew what began as a small muffin shop [...] -
Fishermen’s Energy & the future of wind energy in New Jersey
March 14
GUESTS: CHRIS WISSEMANN, JEFF TITTEL and STEFANIE BRAND We examine the future of wind energy in New Jersey from three different perspectives. Should wind farms come to the Garden State? First, we get an inside look from Fishermen’s [...] -
Alexandra Horowitz: "On Looking"
March 14
Guest: Alexandra Horowitz Take a walk around the block and look around — what do you see? What don’t you see? Cognitive scientist ALEXANDRA HOROWITZ says that most of us fail to see a lot of the world [...] -
Analyzing the State of the Union address and the Republican response
February 13
Guests: Ben Berger, Lara Brown and Imani Perry Last night, before Congress and the nation, President Obama addressed the state of the union and outlined his second term agenda. He focused on the middle class, pledging action on [...] -
Cats and their impact on wildlife
February 5
A new report says that outdoor cats are a major threat to wildlife. Free-ranging cats, including pets that go outside, stray and feral cats, are the leading cause of death for birds and small mammals, killing billions each [...] -
Will Obama's second term change prospects for climate?
January 24
In his inaugural speech, President Obama made climate change a central priority of his second term: “We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future [...] -
#innovateRT: Sustainable Philadelphia
January 18
In the fifth and final hour in our series on Philadelphia Innovators, we look at sustainability in the city and the effort to make Philly the greenest city in America. We’ll find out how close we are to [...] -
David Quammen on 'Spillover' of animal diseases into humans
December 28
[REBROADCAST] Avian flu. Ebola. SARS. AIDS. All of us have been exposed, at least in the media, to diseases that have migrated from animal hosts to humans, a phenomenon scientists call "spillover. That's also the name of acclaimed [...] -
Garbology: a look at America's trash habit
December 26
[REBROADCAST] Americans make a lot of trash, more than any other country in the world. In fact, each of us produces around 7.1 pounds of garbage a day, or roughly 102 tons in a lifetime. And trash turns [...] -
The Paulsboro train derailment – lessons learned
December 10
The freight train derailment on Friday, November 30, that sent 4 tank cars carrying toxic vinyl chloride into the Mantua Creek in Paulsboro New Jersey, has raised serious questions about railroad safety, regulations regarding the shipment of hazardous [...] -
The Fiscal Cliff, government subsidies, and a carbon tax
December 7
The “fiscal cliff” debate continued this week with the President reiterating that tax hikes on the wealthy must be a part of any proposal and House Republicans pressing for entitlement and spending cuts. If the two sides can’t [...] -
Post-Sandy politics of rebuilding the Jersey Shore
December 5
As New Jersey struggles with the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, we follow up our look at the science and engineering with a look at the politics of whether, how, where and who pays for rebuilding the beloved Jersey [...] -
DNREC Secretary Collin O'Mara
December 3
COLLIN O’MARA serves as Secretary of the Environment and Energy for Delaware Governor Jack Markell. He’s the chief steward of Delaware’s natural resources, including its coastal programs and shoreline efforts, and leads the state’s efforts to ensure access to [...] -
The Jersey Shore, after Sandy: To rebuild or not to rebuild
November 21
When Superstorm Sandy slammed into and through the southern Jersey Shore near Ocean City in the evening of Oct. 29, the full-moon high tide and storm surge laid waste to structures, streets and stretches of shoreline up and [...] -
What candidates are NOT talking about, Pt. 1: Climate change & infrastructure repair
October 31
Hour 1 The 2012 presidential election, for the most part, has been about the economy and more recently foreign policy. Among the issues that have received little or no attention on the campaign trail are climate change and [...] -
Hurricane Sandy: Day 2
October 30
Hour 1 Our coverage of Hurricane Sandy continues. We'll start off getting an updated weather forecast from JOE MIKETTA, warning coordination meteorologist with the Mount Holly office of the National Weather Service. Then we're joined by Drexel University [...] -
Hurricane Sandy, Day 2: Jersey Shore, Philly water, Delaware
October 30
Hour 2 Our coverage of Hurricane Sandy continues in this hour of Radio Times. We start with a live update from WHYY reporter TOM MacDONALD from the Jersey Shore, where he spent the morning touring the devastation, including [...] -
Hurricane Sandy hits the Delaware Valley
October 29
Hour 1 With Hurricane Sandy roaring into the Delaware Valley, Radio Times covers the storm’s approach, the preparations made by residents and public safety officials throughout the region, and the early word of impacts. We’ll start the hour [...] -
Hurricane Sandy: Philly & Delaware responses, weird weather & storm science
October 29
Hour 2 In our second hour examining Hurricane Sandy's impacts, we'll talk with Philadelphia Mayor MICHAEL NUTTER about the city's preparations for the storm's approach and aftermath. And we'll talk with MICHAEL LEMONICK senior science writer for Princeton-based [...] -
Fracking, natural gas & energy issues in political campaigns
October 18
Hour 1 Energy issues, including natural gas extraction in the Marcellus Shale region, are a big issue in Pennsylvania, and a factor in political campaigns across the commonwealth and the presidential race. On today’s Radio Times, we catch [...] -
Presidential debate reaction
October 17
Hour 1 With the race for the presidency is in its last few weeks and the candidates locked in a very close race, the stakes were high for last night's second debate between President Barack Obama and former [...] -
David Quammen on 'Spillover' of animal diseases into humans
October 16
Hour 1 Avian flu. Ebola. SARS. AIDS. All of us have been exposed, at least in the media, to diseases that have migrated from animal hosts to humans, a phenomenon scientists call "spillover. That's also the name of [...] -
Elephant poaching: the dramatic rise in ivory trafficking
September 27
Hour 1 Over 25,000 elephants were slaughtered last year in the growing illicit ivory trade — sometimes entire herds gunned down from helicopters. Elephant poaching in Africa reached its highest levels in 2011 since the global ivory ban [...] -
Joe Frazier — his life, career, and the City of Brotherly Love
September 13
Hour 1 Boxing legend Joe Frazier moved to Philadelphia in 1958 from rural South Carolina as a 14-year old boy and lived here the rest of his life. Despite being considered the greatest fighter in Philadelphia sports history, [...] -
Moving forward on high speed rail
September 6
Hour 2 President Obama had big plans for high-speed rail in the United States when he came into office in 2008 — it included rail projects in 31 states. But a number of governors rejected the federal funding [...] -
The Great Animal Orchestra: finding the music in nature August 24
Hour 2 [REBROADCAST] Naturalist BERNIE KRAUSE has spent 40 years listening to and recording the natural world. He’s traveled the world, capturing the sounds of over fifteen thousand species and making four thousand hours of wild music – [...] -
Extreme weather and climate change July 30
Hour 1 We’re in the midst of the worst drought in 50 years. The last 12 months have been the hottest on record. Heat waves, storms, floods and wildfires have been wreaking havoc this spring and summer in [...] -
The future of Philadelphia's oil refinery workers July 12
Hour 1 The future of United Steelworkers’ (USW) jobs at local oil refineries futures looked bleak last September when Sunoco announced plans to sell or close their South Philadelphia and Marcus Hook facilities. Later that month ConocoPhillips announced [...] -
Pennsylvania's gas & energy politics July 9
Hour 1 Energy issues continue to connect Pennsylvania politics to the global economy, and on today’s Radio Times, we’re going to catch up on several important recent developments and what they mean for our region, our wallets, and [...] -
The high cost of cheap fashion June 20
Hour 2 Are you a clothes horse? Are your closets and drawers spilling over with shirts, pants, skirts, and shoes? It turns out Americans buy a lot of clothes — around 64 pieces a year — and that's [...] -
Red knots, horseshoe crabs & the Delaware Bay June 18
Hour 2 Spawning season for horseshoe crabs in the Delaware Bay Estuary and Cape May shoreline is coming to a close, ending the annual natural phenomenon of beaches clogged with the prehistoric creatures, often attached in an eons-old [...] -
The buzz on beekeeping as a hobby June 12
Hour 2 City rooftops, suburban backyards, even fancy hotels like New York’s Waldorf-Astoria and Intercontinental are buzzing with bees. Beekeeping is becoming a popular hobby across America. In recent years, bee populations across the United States have faced [...] -
Deconstructing the work cubicle June 8
Hour 2 Do you work in a cubicle? If you do than you may know what it’s like to endure the smell of a co-worker’s stinky food, overhear a personal phone call or be interrupted by someone peeking [...] -
Visiting national parks before climate changes them June 5
Hour 1 MICHAEL LANZA is a longtime backpacker, climber, skier and freelance writer and photographer of outdoors and wilderness. He is the northwest editor of Backpacker magazine, where he chronicled the effects of climate change on Montana’s Glacier [...] -
Young Farmers May 29
Hour 2 Farmers markets are popping up in all around the country and many people are buying shares in CSAs for the season. But even with all the talk about eating locally and community supported agriculture, the USDA [...] -
The Great Animal Orchestra: finding the music in nature May 23
Hour 2 Naturalist BERNIE KRAUSE has spent forty years listening to and recording the natural world. He’s traveled the world, capturing the sounds of over fifteen thousand species and making four thousand hours of wild music – insect [...] -
A conversation with Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett May 17
Hour 1 We present a recorded and lightly edited broadcast of Marty’s Tuesday interview with Pennsylvania Gov. TOM CORBETT at The Prince Music Theater. Marty asked the governor about cuts he's made to education and public welfare programs, [...] -
Natural gas fracking: an update May 14
Hour 1 The EPA has set the first air pollution rules for natural gas drilling, requiring gas drillers to capture toxic gases, like benzene, that are released during the drilling process. The new rules go into effect in [...] -
Ghost Factories: Lead's toxic legacy in our soil May 2
Hour 1 In hundreds of U.S. neighborhoods, including several in Philadelphia and the surrounding area, the soil that children play in is contaminated by lead and other toxic metal particles once spewed into the air by factories that [...] -
Garbology: a look at America's trash habit April 26
Hour 1 Americans make a lot of trash, more than any other country in the world. In fact, each of us produces around 7.1 pounds of garbage a day, or roughly 102 tons in a lifetime. And trash [...] -
Fun family getaways in NJ, PA & DE April 20
Hour 2 With summer approaching and gas prices averaging around $4 a gallon, a lot of families are rethinking the long vacation road trip or one that involves expensive airfare. So how about taking a few smaller trips [...] -
Academy of Natural Sciences turns 200 April 10
Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences is celebrating its 200th birthday this year. The renowned Academy is the oldest natural history museum in the Western Hemisphere. Its renowned collection of 18 million plants and animals includes dinosaur fossils collected [...] -
The Race to the South Pole: Roald Amundsen vs. Robert Falcon Scott April 6
Hour 1 [REBROADCAST] Just over a hundred years ago, Roald Amundsen and four companions were the first human beings to stand at the South Pole. Using skis and dog sleds they beat Robert Falcon Scott’s British expedition by [...] -
Scott Weidensaul on 'The First Frontier' April 2
Hour 2 Author and Pulitzer Prize finalist SCOTT WEIDENSAUL discusses his new book, "The First Frontier: The Forgotten History of Struggle, Savagery and Endurance in Early America." Weidensaul has written more than two dozen books, including the critically [...] -
On the Delaware River waterfront, change March 14
Hour 1 Last week, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission approved the Civic Vision for the Central Delaware, an ambitious guide for the next several decades of development along Philadelphia’s eastern waterfront. In a planning process that dates back [...] -
Gardening: It might as well be spring March 6
Hour 2 With the unusually warm winter, many gardeners saw spring come early this year — bulbs blooming and trees budding weeks ahead of schedule. And while no one can complain about seeing blossoming flowers in what are [...] -
Why are gas prices so high? February 27
Hour 1 Gas prices are soaring again and could bite into consumer spending and the recovering economy. High prices at the pump could also hurt President Obama’s chances at re-election. Experts think that prices, now averaging around $3.58 [...] -
Adventuring in the Modern Age February 20
Hour 2 [REBROADCAST] What does it take to summit a mountain, traverse the poles or dive into the deepest cave? In the past it took physical prowess, good logistical skills and an intrepid spirit. Today though, technology plays [...] -
A fee with impact: Pennsylvania's shale gas tax February 13
Hour 2 The Pennsylvania legislature has passed a bill that allows a tax on natural gas drilling. It enables municipalities to levy an impact fee on the gas industry and Governor Corbett is expected to sign it. Proponents [...] -
The Race to the South Pole: Roald Amundsen vs. Robert Falcon Scott February 1
Hour 2 Just over a hundred years ago, Roald Amundsen and four companions were the first human beings to stand at the South Pole. Using skis and dog sleds they beat Robert Falcon Scott’s British expedition by just [...] -
The Keystone XL Pipeline Debate January 31
Hour 1 The Obama administration recently rejected the hotly contested proposal to build a 1,700-mile pipeline from Western Canada to Texas. The Keystone XL pipeline would carry 800,000 barrels of oil from the tar sands in Alberta across [...] -
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch January 23
Hour 2 Last year’s Japanese tsunami provoked fears of widespread radiation leaks and set off a nuclear crisis as clean up crews furiously raced to contain the damage at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Meanwhile another environmental concern [...] -
A Conversation with Dolphin Researcher Diana Reiss December 26
Hour 2 [REBROADCAST] The ability to recognize oneself in the mirror is considered a sign of high intelligence and is relatively rare in the animal world. Humans can do it and so can great apes. But DR. DIANA [...] -
The discovery of Kepler-22b, a planet ideal for supporting life December 7
Hour 2 On Tuesday, NASA scientists announced the discovery of a new planet outside our solar system –Kepler-22b. What is important about this find is how similar the planet is to Earth — not too hot and not [...] -
Does 'ethical shopping' make a difference? November 28
Hour 2 On “Cyber Monday” after the frenzy of “Black Friday,” and as holiday shopping season kicks in, we examine the efforts by some consumers to have their shopping dollars reflect their values. Some opt to buy “fair [...] -
Kosher Chinese: Living, Teaching, and Eating with China’s Other Billion November 25
Hour 2 [REBROADCAST] Writer and teacher MICHAEL LEVY describes China to his students as a country exactly like the United States in size, in cities, in the same number of rich and poor people – but add one [...] -
Eating what we don't want — invasive species — & what we do — oysters November 11
Hour 2 Eating with the environment in mind has fueled foodie trends like eating organically, eating locally and sustainable diet trends of all kinds. On today’s Radio Times, we explore the growing fad for eating invasive species, those [...] -
Philly's Reading Viaduct & NYC's High Line November 2
Hour 1 The Reading Viaduct soars over the neighborhood just north of Philadelphia’s Center City – some call the area “Callowhill,” others “Chinatown North,” and still others favor the “Eraserhood.” Elevated railroad tracks long abandoned and overgrown with [...] -
The 7 Billion October 25
Hour 1 In 1900 there were just 1.6 billion people living on Earth but by the end of this month, our numbers will reach seven billion. And by 2100, the U.N. projects that the world’s population will reach [...] -
Menhaden: Fighting over an underappreciated little fish October 25
Hour 2 Menhaden has been called “the most important fish in the sea,” but the bony little fish barely registers on most people’s consciousness. And, some fishermen and scientists say that the fish, also known as bunker, is [...] -
The use of chimpanzees in research October 18
Hour 2 The United States is only one of two countries still using chimpanzees in biomedical research. There are over a 1000 chimpanzees kept in laboratories in the United States. Now a bill in Congress, the Great Ape [...] -
A Conversation with Dolphin Researcher Diana Reiss October 13
Hour 2 The ability to recognize oneself in the mirror is considered a sign of high intelligence and is relatively rare in the animal world. Humans can do it and so can great apes. But DR. DIANA REISS [...] -
Adventuring in the Modern Age October 12
Hour 2 What does it take to summit a mountain, traverse the poles or dive into the deepest cave? In the past it took physical prowess, good logistical skills and an intrepid spirit. Today though, technology plays an [...] -
Cutting-edge community design, with Teddy Cruz, Mami Hara & Beth Miller October 10
Hour 2 The cutting edge in architecture and community design: For this hour of Radio Times, we invite three designers into the studio to discuss how they are incorporating new ideas and visions into civic and private spaces, [...] -
The state of the world's oceans with David Guggenheim October 4
Hour 1 In his blog post on Earth Day 2011, marine scientist David Guggenheim wrote about a little known ship wreck in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean that wreaked environmental havoc around Tristan da Cuhna, a [...] -
Kosher Chinese: Living, Teaching, and Eating with China’s Other Billion September 30
Hour 2 Writer and teacher MICHAEL LEVY describes China to his students as a country exactly like the United States in size, in cities, in the same number of rich and poor people – but add one billion [...] -
Green Burial September 29
Hour 2 The idea of a traditional burial in this country is changing. It used to involve embalming the body and setting it in a metal or concrete casket six feet deep in the ground. But today, people [...] -
Planting and Protecting Trees September 6
Hour 2 Trees around the country are under assault from pests and disease. There’s the Asian Longhorn beetle that’s destroying maples, Thousand-cankers fungus that attacks Black Walnuts, and the Emerald Ash Borer that’s wiping out ash trees. And [...] -
Heidi Cullen and The Weather of the Future August 30
Hour 1 August 2011 will go down in the books as the wettest month on record in the Philadelphia area – this is before the rainfall still being counted from this weekend’s Hurricane Irene. Every state of the [...] -
Geraldine Brooks on 'Caleb's Crossing' August 30
Hour 2 [REBROADCAST] “It’s the strong emotions that shape us, and I don’t think they change no matter what race you are and no matter what period you live in,” says Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist GERALDINE BROOKS. [...] -
Sex on Six Legs: The Social Lives of Bugs August 24
Hour 2 If you can look past the hard exoskeleton, the antennae and the six legs, bugs and people share some surprising similarities. Although they have a brain the size of a poppy seed, insects have developed many [...] -
Christian Parenti on 'The Tropic of Chaos' August 15
Hour 1 Parts of Somalia are gripped by the worst famine in 60 years. Conflicts over water, either too scarce or too abundant, are springing up throughout the developing AND developed worlds. Nations like Bangladesh and the Maldives [...] -
The New Car and Truck Fuel Efficiency Standards August 11
Hour 1 The Obama administration has announced new fuel efficiency standards for the automobile industry and truck makers. Cars and light trucks will have to get 54.5 mph by 2025. Big rig trucks will have to improve fuel [...] -
Famine, war and chaos in Somalia August 3
Hour 1 Somalia – without a functioning government for most of the last 20 years, devastated by civil war and the insurgency of al Qaeda-affiliated Al Shabab, and one of the poorest, most dangerous places in the world [...] -
Marcellus shale update: Pooling & local impacts July 22
Hour 1 Today, Pennsylvania Governor’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley, is expected to publish their recommendations for moving forward with the burgeoning industry. Joining us to report on the Commission’s process, politics and [...] -
Tracking, predicting & planning for sea-level rise July 8
Hour 1 The good news: The drive to the beach is getting shorter. The bad news is the time isn’t shrinking, but the distance. Scientists increasingly believe sea level is on the rise, and have rising evidence to [...] -
Saving the World's Sea Turtles June 30
Hour 2 All the Earth’s seven sea turtle species are endangered. The United States waters are home to six of the species, including the Gulf of Mexico, where the 2010 BP oil spill devastated much of the turtle [...] -
Shoring up the Delaware River waterfront June 23
Hour 1 The Delaware River waterfront may be rounding the last turn of a marathon planning process. The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation unveiled its new master plan (pdf) for the city’s famously underdeveloped riverfront, and it calls for [...] -
Demon Fish: Our Fear and Fascination with Sharks June 17
Hour 2 As people flock to the beach to sun, swim and surf this summer, we thought we’d take a look at one of the ocean’s most ancient and mysterious creatures – the shark. Ever since Jaws, few [...] -
Charles Fishman: The Big Thirst June 3
Hour 2 The Chinese government has a $62 billion plan to correct their depleted depleting drinking water supply that involves diverting trillions of gallons of water from one river to another. Philadelphia is moving along with their $2 billion stormwater [...] -
Geraldine Brooks on 'Caleb's Crossing' May 24
Hour 2 “It’s the strong emotions that shape us, and I don’t think they change no matter what race you are and no matter what period you live in,” says Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist GERALDINE BROOKS. Brooks [...] -
New Jersey Beach Replenishment: Is it Worth It? May 9
Hour 1 Heading down to the shore this summer? You might not realize it but it takes a lot of work and money to maintain coastal beaches. New Jersey has 127 miles of coast filled with beckoning beaches. [...] -
Wolves, Bats and Frogs: Animals Under Fire May 4
Hour 2 The gray wolf in the United States has made an incredible comeback. In fact, it’s doing so well, that federal officials and some members of Congress want it removed from the Endangered Species list. Twenty years [...] -
Journalists discuss Marcellus Shale natural gas April 22
Hour 1 On Tuesday, a natural gas well in Bradford County leaked fracking fluid for more than 20 hours, prompting Chesapeake Energy to suspend its drilling operations throughout Pennsylvania during an investigation. Seven homes were evacuated and a [...] -
Rose George, on shipping, pirates and waste April 15
Hour 1 ROSE GEORGE spent much of last summer on a huge freighter ship bound for Singapore, charting pirate-infested waters and researching the state of international shipping for her next book and the online magazine Slate. She found [...] -
Great Escapes Near Philly April 8
Hour 2 After being cooped up all winter long, a lot of us feel the itch to get out and explore the region, to shake off that cabin fever. Whether you prefer a country walk, a seaside spa, [...] -
Assessing our energy options April 7
Hour 2 How should we get our energy? In this hour of Radio Times, we assess the viability – scientifically, environmentally, technically and politically – of the major choices for powering our planet. Last month, as the 1 [...]

