Richard Harris  

 

Topics by Richard Harris

Environment

Greenland's Ice Melting Slower Than Expected



By Richard Harris
A new study says the runaway meltdown of Greenland's ice isn't happening as some had feared. This means a "worst case scenario" of six feet of sea level rise by the end of this century is unlikely, a polar researcher says.
Around the Nation

In Northwest Town, A Local Fight Against Global Coal



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By Richard Harris
Plans are afoot to build new coal terminals on the West Coast to ship the lucrative commodity to China. But the mayor and activists in Bellingham, Wash., want to keep the city's green image and move beyond its industrial past.
Space

Here Come The Suns: New Planet Orbits Two Stars



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By Richard Harris
NASA's Kepler mission has found a new solar system where a Saturn-like planet spins around twin stars 200 light-years away from us. It's the first direct observation of such an arrangement, and astronomists say they're not sure why the planet is there.
World News

Fighting Decline, Micronesia Creates Shark Sanctuary



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By Richard Harris
Micronesian islands have declared vast areas of the Pacific Ocean to be a sanctuary for sharks. The predators are losing numbers because they are being over-fished – mostly to feed an insatiable appetite for shark-fin soup in Asia.
World News

What Went Wrong In Fukushima: The Human Factor



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By Richard Harris
Japanese officials already have concluded that the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant was not designed to withstand the 40-foot tsunami that hit it on March 11. But different decisions early in the crisis might have reduced the accident's severity.
Environment

Losing, But Slowly, In Struggle To Fight Back The Sea



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By Richard Harris
A fierce battle is under way in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in North Carolina to secure habitats that are quickly crumbling because of encroaching seas. It's these coastal areas — some of the nation's most important ecosystems — that are going to disappear as sea level continues to rise.
Environment

Japanese Officials Warn Against Eating Produce



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By Richard Harris
The government is asking people not to eat spinach parsley, and other produce grown near the damaged nuclear power plant because some is tainted with radiation. This is putting some farmers, many of whom are destroying whole crops, in a bind.
Environment

Scientists Tune In To The 'Voices Of The Landscape'



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By Richard Harris
The new field of "soundscape ecology" eavesdrops on the sounds of the natural world — from the trumpeting of elephants to the chirping of ants — to monitor environmental health, species interactions and human impact.
Science

Earthquake Science



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By Richard Harris
Japan's northeastern coast was slammed by a strong earthquake and tsunami Friday. NPR's Richard Harris and Renee Montagne discuss the science behind the natural force of an earthquake and tsunami.
Business

Battles May Cripple A Weakened Labor Movement



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By Richard Harris
Anti-union efforts are cropping up in many states. And with Republicans in the ascendancy in many statehouses, they have the upper hand against unions, which are traditionally allied with Democrats.
Environment

Deep Below Antarctic Ice, Lake May Soon See Light



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By Richard Harris
Russian scientists on Antarctica are drilling down to reach a lake that's buried beneath more than two miles of ice. But some are concerned that rushing to explore the lake might disturb a primitive ecosystem that has been untouched for millions of years.
Environment

Last Year Was The Warmest Year On Record (Again)



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By Richard Harris
The year 2010 tied 2005 with the warmest year on record. That makes 34 consecutive years where the global temperature is higher than the average temperature in the 20th century. Last year was also the wettest.
Environment

Study Finds Bacteria Ate Most Methane From BP Well



WATCH FRONTLINE'S THE SPILL
By Richard Harris
Some scientists contest the conclusions of a new study that claims that methane from the BP was eaten by bacteria. But they agree that it does not seem to have caused lasting damage to the ecosystem.
Science

Did 'Shrooms Send Santa And His Reindeer Flying?



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By Richard Harris
Long ago, shamans -- and reindeer -- in the Far East were known to eat red and white mushrooms. And then hallucinate. A Harvard biologist asks, is it possible this is the source of the "jolly" man in the red and white suit and his "flying" reindeer?
Space

Supernova Shines Light On Black Hole Formation


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By Richard Harris
Astronomers believe they have glimpsed the birth of a nearby black hole, which could explain how black holes form and evolve over time. The story began in 1979, when a Maryland man discovered a star in the throes of a violent explosion.
Environment

Oil Spill Panel Tells A Complicated Tale


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By Richard Harris
If you're looking for a tidy explanation of the Gulf disaster, expect to be disappointed. The first attempt to outline a narrative pits BP against Halliburton -- and highlights the complexity of the operation.
Environment

Conservation Efforts Face Uphill Struggle


FULL ARTICLE
By Richard Harris
A study to be published in the journal Science shows that the effort to preserve species is still strongly in the wrong direction. It shows the trend is especially pronounced for mammals like humans, birds and amphibians—all vertebrates.

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