Faith Lapidus

Christmas Tree Debate: Artificial vs Real

This time of year, all across the United States, empty lots are turned into miniature forests as live Christmas trees are displayed for sale. But The Christmas Tree Promotion Board worries that more Americans are opting for artificial trees as they become more realistic-looking. So Christmas tree farmers in the U.S. have launched a social media campaign to get Americans to buy real trees this season. Faith Lapidus reports.

Research Looks at Natural Fertilizer for Greener Agriculture, Cleaner Water

First Giggles, Then Cleaner Water, Greener Fields

Fertilizer is made of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. Chemical fertilizers require huge amounts of energy to produce. But there are other, natural and more readily available sources. A project at the University of Michigan is aimed at making our water cleaner and our agriculture more sustainable by capturing one of those sources … rather than flushing it down the toilet. Faith Lapidus explains.

What? Me Cheat? Gorilla Displays a Human Trait

Gorillas at a zoo in England have demonstrated a distinctly human trait while attempting to solve a puzzle: cheating.

New Projects Light Up Chernobyl's Exclusion Zone

After 32 years and the worst nuclear disaster of all time, the area around Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant is showing signs of life and industry. Faith Lapidus has details about the projects that are lighting up Chernobyl's Exclusion Zone.

Researchers Learn Lessons from Cats' Tongues

Scientific curiosity can lead to some surprising, and useful, discoveries. Consider the cat – questions about its sandpaper-like tongue led to plans for a synthetic version that could be used for household products or to dispense medicine. Faith Lapidus explains.

Study Estimates Shortage of Insulin by 2030

A new report on diabetes is warning of a future worldwide shortage of insulin because of the increasing number of people who are developing the disease's type 2 and require the hormone to stay healthy and alive. Faith Lapidus reports.

For Autistic Kids, Robots Can Be Social, Learning Study Buddy

Robots have been put to work assembling cars in factories, answering questions at conventions and hotel lobbies, moving packages in warehouses, and more. Now, a team at the University of Southern California is studying how well robots work with autistic children, to offer personalized support and learning. Faith Lapidus reports.

Aquaculture Producers Looking for New Ways to Feed Fish

Aquaculture is the world's fastest growing food industry and now accounts for more than 50 percent of the total global seafood supply, according to the World Economic Forum. But farming fish requires food for those fish, and currently, it relies on a lot of ingredients that could be feeding people, including soybean, corn, rice and wheat. Faith Lapidus reports on some new sustainable ideas about feeding farmed fish, from Norway.

Mars-Bound Rover Gets Earth-Bound Test

Scientists are putting a robotic Mars rover to the test in Spain's rocky Tabernas Desert. The European Space Agency and Russia's Roscosmos space agency plan to land a rover on the Red Planet in 2021, to search for microscopic signs of life. Faith Lapidus reports.

Rare Horse Breed Revived for Choctaw Nation

A stallion in southwest Mississippi is bringing the first new blood in a century for a line of horses brought to America 500 years ago by Spanish conquistadors. The stallion was bred by Choctaw Indians, who were later forced out of their ancestral homelands. Faith Lapidus has the story.

Extracting Nutrients from Poultry Litter Generates Profits, Eases Pollution

Large scale agriculture creates large scale pollution, especially from animal waste. The waste from poultry farms, for example, is bad for the environment, but it contains nutrients that are good for fertilizer. Faith Lapidus reports that scientists in Maryland are developing a new technology to separate the good from the bad ... and turn a profit in the process.

Croatian Vintner Ages Wines in Amphoras on Adriatic Sea Floor

Traditional two-handled ceramic jars known as amphoras were used extensively in ancient Greece to store and transport a variety of products, especially wine. These days they are more likely to be found in shipwrecks than in stores. But wine-filled amphoras are once again being found on the sea floor, not from sunken ships, but deliberately placed there by a special Eastern European winery. Faith Lapidus explains.

Antibiotic Sneaks In on Trojan Horse

Scientists Fear Non-Pest Insects are Declining

Scientists are noticing that the numbers of beneficial flying insects like bees, ladybugs, fireflies and butterflies seem to be declining. They can't be certain about what's happening, but possible reasons include habitat loss, insecticide use, the killing of native weeds, single-crop agriculture, invasive species, light pollution, highway traffic and climate change. As Faith Lapidus reports, the potential causes seem to lead back to what humans are doing to the environment.

Tiwa the Talking Monkey Uses Tech to Help Revive Nigerian Folk Tales

A stuffed toy monkey called Tiwa holds some of Nigeria's oldest folk tales and is helping to revive the traditional practice of storytelling by appealing to a younger generation. Faith Lapidus reports.

New California Bridge Designed to Provide Earthquake Data

First Human Study of Gene Editing Shows Promise

Early, partial results from a historic gene editing study in human patients that was released earlier this week give encouraging signs that the treatment may be safe and having at least some of its hoped-for effect, but it is too soon to know whether it ultimately will succeed. Faith Lapidus reports.

Scientists Search for Sustainable Solutions to Stop Fall Armyworm

Fall armyworms are on the march across Africa. Agriculture experts say the pests, the larvae of a type of moth, could cause more than $13 billion in crop losses this year. To stop them, scientists are researching pesticides, landscape management methods, and genetically modified crops. Faith Lapidus reports on an effort to find a sustainable approach that does not use pesticides.

Mobile App Helps Maasai Cattle Herders in Kenya

A new mobile phone app using satellite images is helping Maasai cattle herders in Kenya find rich pastures and water in their drought stricken terrain. The device also tells them places to avoid to reduce encounters with wild animals. Faith Lapidus has details.