Better Car Labeling Could Pump Up Fuel Efficiency

Better Car Labeling Could Pump Up Fuel Efficiency

Author: Scientific American June 1, 2014 Duration: 2:49
When gas mileage cost was explicitly revealed on new car window stickers, potential consumers were more likely to choose the most efficient vehicle. David Biello reports.  

From the trusted pages of Scientific American comes 60-Second Earth, a weekly audio snapshot dedicated to the planet's most pressing stories. Each episode is a compact, carefully researched report that cuts through the noise, delivering clear insights into environmental science, climate research, and the evolving technologies that shape our energy future. You'll hear updates on everything from shifting ecosystems and conservation efforts to breakthroughs in renewable power and policy debates, all grounded in scientific rigor. The beauty of this podcast lies in its efficiency; it respects your time while deepening your understanding of the natural world. Released every Sunday, these minute-long segments are designed to fit seamlessly into your day, offering a quick but substantive dose of knowledge about the forces changing our environment. It’s the perfect way to stay informed on essential earth science without needing to block out a large portion of your schedule, making complex topics accessible and immediately relevant.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

60-Second Earth
Podcast Episodes
Future Smog Looks More Persistent [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:34
Computer models show that increased levels of greenhouse gases, along with their trapped heat, will make the atmosphere more stagnant, leading to many more days of unhealthy air. David Biello reports.
Poisoned Poor Killed in Millions by Pollution [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:44
The Global Alliance on Health and Pollution calls for a war against pollution to save the lives of more than eight million people annually. David Biello reports
Pope Francis Pleas for the Environment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:37
In a May 21 speech Pope Francis warned that despoiling the environment would come back to haunt humanity. David Biello reports
Poetry Poster Sucks Up Smog [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:50
A building-sized poem shows how billboards could help cut pollution from cars. David Biello reports
Hurricanes Move Away from Equator with Expanding Tropics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:42
Since the 1970s the locations where tropical cyclones (hurricanes and typhoons) reach their maximum intensities have shifted toward both poles at a rate of about 35 miles per decade. David Biello reports
Bumper Corn Looks Dicey in Drought [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:30
Corn plants bred to be planted very close together thrive in good weather but appear to be particularly vulnerable to the droughts predicted in the coming decades. Cynthia Graber reports
Biodiversity Survives Extinctions for Now [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:47
A meta-analysis of ecosystems finds that species losses in any given place do not yet translate to large changes in the number of different species in that place. David Biello reports
Earthquake Deflection Takes a Tiny Step [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:50
Building on light-cloaking work, physicists took a small step toward the goal of shielding cities from earthquakes by deflecting incoming energy. David Biello reports
Citizen Environmental Monitoring Could Keep Officials Honest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:39
Smartphones, cheap satellite imaging and crowdfunded enterprises have made citizen oversight possible that was undreamed of by past transparency advocates and environmentalists. David Biello reports