Archives for 2014

Not so long ago, Ken Probst and his family would enjoy a leisurely summer swim in the Barnegat Bay behind their Lacey home without the fear of pain. Their neighborhood of hundreds of modest, lagoon-fronted ranch homes sits on the Forked River of Lacey,…

You know about moths, right? They destroy wool sweaters, lay eggs in the Raisin Bran, and strip bare our shade trees. What’s not to hate? Turns out, there’s a little to hate and lots to love. Most moths are good guys, serving as important pollinators in the field and garden; protein-rich food for bats, birds, frogs and predatory insects, like praying mantises; and, because of their sensitivity, indicators of environmental change…Liti Haramaty, Moth Week cofounder, says the idea grew out of informal moth nights hosted by the Friends of the East Brunswick (N.J.) Environmental Commission in 2005. Soon 50 to 60 people were showing up. “It was amazing how many people came out at night to a park to see what’s flying,” says Haramaty, a researcher at Rutgers University’s Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences.

Rugters’ researcher Michael Kennish says that storm run-off and overpopulation is killing the Barnegat Bay.

If even hearing the word “ragweed” makes your eyes water, you might be one of the nearly 45 million Americans with seasonal allergies. And allergists say the number of people with sensitivities to Ragweed and other plants is growing. As it turns out, the rise in allergies and asthma is fueled by climate change…Researchers do this kind of pollen collection all over the country, and they’ve seen trends emerge. Dr. Leonard Bielory of Rutgers University has been studying the connection between pollen levels and the throngs showing up at his office. “I saw a hidden signal in the pollen count changing over time,” he says. “And I started correlating that we’re seeing patients earlier and the volume seems to be increasing. And some who were moderate or mild in years past are now more severe.”