# data[].attributes.body
Jennifer Collens
Hunter and trappers had nearly wiped out the population of grizzles living on mainland America by the late 1800s. By 1975, they were listed as an endangered species when as few as 136 were thought to roam the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The protection and conservation of the species ans surrounding ecosystem as led to the species' remarkable recovery. There are now thought to be 700 living in the area, the estimated carrying capacity of grizzlies. They have now been removed from the endangered species list.

# data[].attributes.headline
Recycling has huge impacts on the environment  

# data[].attributes.subject
Recycling has huge impacts on the environment  

# data[].attributes.body
Niraj Patel
The benefits of recycling include reducing landfill waste, conserving natural resources, and it also saves forests and other habitats. Recycling among civilians has increased in the last couple of decades and will continue to increase. More products will be made of recycled materials and biodegradable materials.
https://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/How_Does_Recycling_Affect_the_Environment

# data[].attributes.body
MaKynzee Gaddy
Barack Obama was criticized by the republicans after Protests led by the Sioux Tribe for delaying construction. Donald Trump ordered a quicken review of the pipeline which was later approved by the Army. Later a federal judge ordered an environmental review regarding the flow of the oil. The pipeline may continue to work, but the owners have to provide a spill plan.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/10/05/climate/trump-environment-rules-reversed.html

# data[].attributes.body
Madison Baker
Now that the Spring time is here, it puts an end to most snowy days. The temperature becomes warmer, there is more daylight, and the birds come back! Along with they birds coming back, the leave on trees come back too.  The spring time means you can go outside again. It helps bring out our creative sides. http://mentalfloss.com/article/55573/15-scientific-reasons-spring-most-delightful-season

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/20/africa/last-male-white-rhino-dies-intl/index.html

Last week, the world's last male white rhino passed away, laying a path for what would appear to be only more widespread extinction. However, his death has served as a wake up call for many people, and upon further exposure to the media, we have to the potential to bring about one of the larger environmental changes in history, especially considering the fact that 2018 has been the best year for protests and reform yet. On top of this, the two remaining female white rhinos were successfully fertilized using the remaining male white rhino's genetic material. While the hope for one white rhino has ended, hope for a subspecies and other endangered species is on the rise.

Gideon

# data[].attributes.headline
The oceans are finally getting the attention they deserve Britney Lewis

# data[].attributes.subject
The oceans are finally getting the attention they deserve Britney Lewis

# data[].attributes.body
Oceans are finally being treated from over-fishing. President Barack Obama expanded the Papahānaumokuākea, a marine life national monument, and it is now one of the most ecologically protected area, in the world.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/12/28/it-wasnt-entirely-bad-news-here-are-five-positive-environmental-stories-from-2016/?utm_term=.e52bb89070f5

# data[].attributes.headline
U.S. sub-national delegations bypass Trump and commit to keeping America’s Paris goal - Gigi

# data[].attributes.subject
U.S. sub-national delegations bypass Trump and commit to keeping America’s Paris goal - Gigi

# data[].attributes.body
http://cees.wfu.edu/2017/11/20/u-s-subnationals-shoulder-climate-role-bonn-trump-sidelined/

U.S. governors, mayors, business and religious leaders paid for, and opened, an unofficial pavilion dubbed “America’s Pledge: We Are Still In”. As of now, 15 U.S. states, 455 cities, 1,747 businesses and 325 universities, have proclaimed their commitment to the Paris Agreement on behalf of the American people. Although it is  no longer a national program, states and the american people have taken initiative to help protect the environment. Additionally, Trump has said he may reconsider American's withdrawal because, as he says , "we are very strong on the environment. I feel very strongly about the environment".

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.positive.news/2018/environment/30961/how-to-save-the-rainforest-build-a-health-centre/
AlEx FoNtChA
Save the people, save the forest. In rural Indonesia, a pioneering clinic is showing how the health of people and forests could and should be intertwined. Ex-loggers have left their chainsaws with ASRI in exchange for farms, fish ponds and cafes. Forest regrowth, even when aided by tens of people planting hundreds of thousands of seedlings, cannot be rushed.

# data[].attributes.body
Julia Reece
http://www.wwf.de/earthhour/?area=Textlink1&newsletter=Kampagnennewsletter%2FHausliste%2F2018%2F03%2F23%2FEarthHour%2FReminder%2F355444&utm_source=Kampagnennewsletter&utm_medium=Newsletter&utm_campaign=EarthHour&ecmId=2MXIIMSJ-103NYMM&ecmEid=2NBDY5BT-2MXIIMSJ-8Z617UE&ecmUid=2MBL3AF7-I6IH22
The Earth Hour of 2018 happened on the 24th of March from 8:30-9:30 at night. The main point the WWF was trying to make was about climate change and the species threatened by the rise in temperatures. Millions of people (mostly in Europe) participated and turned off all electricity for an hour.

# data[].attributes.headline
EPA proposes cutting carbon dioxide emissions from coal plants 30% by 2030-JP Hynes

# data[].attributes.subject
EPA proposes cutting carbon dioxide emissions from coal plants 30% by 2030-JP Hynes

# data[].attributes.body
http://www.greatnewsnetwork.org/index.php/news/article/epa_proposes_cutting_carbon_dioxide_emissions_from_coal_plants_30_by_2030/

The projected cut of coal emissions is estimated to be 30% from 2005-2030. The EPA would allow states and utilities to go about this in four different ways. These options include energy efficiency, shifting from coal to natural gas, investing in renewable energy and making power plant upgrades. It is a significant step taken by the federal government to curb the nations greenhouse gas emissions and reduce climate change.

# data[].attributes.body
Bees are dying in increased numbers, especially honeybee colonies. Japanese scientist, Eijiro Miyako has come up with a creative solution to the problem. Miyako has created a prototype for an insect sized drone that can artificially pollinate. The prototype is still in the early stages of the design process, but these tiny drones could eventually be useful to the pollination process worldwide. The drones are coated in an eco-friendly gel that picks up the pollen off of plant life. Right now the drones are pricey, about 100 dollars commercially, but with advancements in the design of the tiny drones, the bees could end up being less costly. I really like that innovations in technology are helping with the pollination problem at hand. These drones won't bring bees back, but they help to pick up the slack on the pollination process.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Near Esparto, in the beautiful Capay Valley region of central California, 1,400 young almond trees flourish in a century-old orchard overlooking the hills. Since November, they've stood in perfect rows without a hint of foliage - resting, naked and dormant, for the upcoming growing season. Their branches now swell with bright pastel blooms in preparation for pollination.

Like most almond growers, Brian Paddock, owner of Capay Hills Orchard, relies on bees to provide this important aspect of crop development. "No bees, no almonds. It's that simple," he says.

Often considered pests, frightful little creatures with a nasty sting, bees play a critical role in agriculture and the pollination of countless crops. Without them, many varieties of fruits and vegetables would come to an end. It's an agricultural doomsday scenario that has Paddock worried.

Bee deaths have been on the rise, with losses outpacing colonies' ability to regenerate. Last year, the U.S. lost 44 percent of all honeybee colonies - a species essential to commercial pollination in this country. Other species of bees have neared mass extinction, including the rusty patch bumble bee and seven species of Hawaiian yellow-faced bees.

A world without bees may seem far-fetched, but experts are looking for ways to help plants survive without them. Eijiro Miyako, a researcher at Japan's National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, has designed what he believes could one day be a partial solution: an insect-sized drone capable of artificial pollination. Coated with a patch of horse hair bristles and an ionic liquid gel, these pint-sized robots can collect and transfer pollen from one plant to another.

The project stems from a serendipitous moment. Miyako had previously experimented with using the specialized gel for electrochemical applications. When the gel performed poorly, he tucked the bottles away in a drawer and forgot about them - until he moved out of his lab two years ago. As soon as he rediscovered the gel, he thought about the pollination crisis and honeybee decline.

Conventional gels, Miyako explains, are mainly made of water and lose their stickiness over time. But his ionic liquid gel, by contrast, is a substance with a long-lasting "lift-and-stick-again" adhesive quality - ideal for moving pollen from one plant to the next.

"The continued adhesiveness and non-volatility of the ionic liquid gel was exciting," says Miyako.

The team first tested the biocompatibility and eco-friendliness of the gel against ants (which are also pollinators) and cells from mice, and found that it had no harmful effects after three days. And when a drop landed on the floor and attached to an ordinary piece of dust, he was sold.

Miyako performed additional tests on living samples. In one experiment, he placed ants in a box of tulips. One subset of the insects had the gel applied to their backs, while the others remained untouched. Those with the sticky residue collected pollen from the flowers.

Another experiment, involving houseflies ( Musca domestica), showed that the gel had a camouflage effect, changing color with different sources of light, which could help the pollinators avoid predators. (Yep, houseflies are pollinators, too.)

With the live-model tests deemed a success, Miyako turned his attention to drones. He settled on a bee-sized, four-propeller drone, commercially available for around $100 each. He and his colleagues found that the gel alone was not enough to hold the pollen, so they added horse hair to mimic the fuzzy exterior of bees and provide an electric charge to keep the grains attached. Using fluorescent microscopy, the team observed pollen glowing in test tubes - offering strong proof that fertilization was successful.

Although artificial pollination is already possible, it's a tedious, time-consuming process. When done by hand, using a brush to apply the pollen, a person can pollinate five to 10 trees a day, depending on the size of the trees. Tackling thousands of trees takes major manpower and a hefty budget.

But even if cost were no object, an army of pollinating robot bees would face myriad obstacles.

"There are 1 million acres of almond trees in California," says Marla Spivak, a MacArthur Fellow and entomologist at the University of Minnesota. "Every flower needs to be pollinated to set the nut. Two million colonies of bees are trucked in to pollinate the almonds, and each colony has between ten and twenty thousand foragers. How many robots would be needed?"

She notes there are 20,000 species of bees in the world, each with unique flight patterns and body sizes to get into different flowers. Bumble bees, for example, are far better pollinators for tomatoes, while leafcutter bees are aces at alfalfa. The diversity of bees and flight patterns leads to more efficient and effective pollination.

Although Spivak is skeptical about using drones for fertilization, she believes robots could be beneficial in delivering pesticides - which can harm bee health - in a very precise way to reduce drift and overuse.

Miyako's current robo-bee prototype is still very much a work in progress, far from a real-world field test. For one thing, it's not autonomous. The drones must be remote-controlled, by humans, and can be difficult to maneuver. "It was hard to control the robotic pollinators so that they would precisely hit the target sites," says Miyako. He's looking into incorporating artificial intelligence, GPS, and a high-resolution camera in future prototypes.

Quinn McFrederick, an entomologist at the University of California, Riverside, sees some potential for eventually using drones to pollinate commercial crops, especially if programmed with artificial intelligence. But he, like many experts, says it makes much more sense to protect our natural pollinators than to develop new technology.

"On top of more practical arguments, such as costs to smaller farms," he says, "I would not like to live in a world where bees are replaced by plastic machines. Let's focus on protecting the biodiversity we still have left."

Miyako acknowledges the skepticism about his project, but notes that he sees his drones not as a replacement for bees, but as a potential future ally in the face of extinction.
Crystal Ponti is a science, technology and health reporter based in Augusta, Maine.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Rise Of The Robot Bees: Tiny Drones Turned Into Artificial Pollinators

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Near Esparto, in the beautiful Capay Valley region of central California, 1,400 young almond trees flourish in a century-old orchard overlooking the hills. Since November, they've stood in perfect rows without a hint of foliage - resting, naked and dormant, for the upcoming growing season.

# data[].attributes.headline
African Women Adopt Smart Solutions For Climate Change 

# data[].attributes.subject
African Women Adopt Smart Solutions For Climate Change 

# data[].attributes.body
By: Domaybe Okonkwo

Climate-smart agriculture practices are helping to counter the devastating conditions faced by farmers in Africa in recent years. Sithembile  Mwamakamba believes that women are key the forefront of farmers’ efforts to build resilience to climate change. Women representing a greater percentage of the agricultural labor force in African Countries. Recommends using the Chameleon Soil Water Sensor, the device measures how hard it is for plants to suck water out of the soil

http://www.cta.int/en/article/2018-03-06/african-women-adopt-smart-solutions-for-climate-change.html

# data[].attributes.headline
Landfills: A future source of raw materials - Natalie Temple

# data[].attributes.subject
Landfills: A future source of raw materials - Natalie Temple

# data[].attributes.body
Scientists are suggesting that landfill mining can be a useful way to create a circular economy. Much of the waste deposited in landfills can be recylced as energy or reused as raw materials in different industries. Yahya Jani, a doctor of environmental science and engineering, developed a method for extracting and recycling glass waste and metals. Jani also used chemical extraction to recycle materials from a mixture of glass waste and soil materials. Jani shows that the extraction of valuable materials could aid in reducing the overuse of natural resources on Earth and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. This research presents a new way of viewing trash as a secondary resource that can be used to benefit the world. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180323090958.htm

# data[].attributes.body
Xavior Lewis
https://www.ucsusa.org/su17-first-principles-keeping-alive-the-goals-and-spirit-of-the-paris-climate-agreement#.Wrj4CGinG00
Since the United States left the Paris Climate Accords the  goals of decreasing carbon emissions in the United States have grown exponentially. Led by California governor, Jerry Brown and former New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, almost 500 cities and nearly 900 businesses have agreed to reduce emissions. This new agreement has been speculated to lead to a reduction on par with what the Paris Climate Accords.

# data[].attributes.body
logan hunt
As most know, many species throughout time have become endangered and even extinct. The organization WWF decided to take action upon this problem. WWF fights to secure a future for those animals facing extinction. Some animals they are currently focusing on helping are rhinos, polar bears. tigers, orangutans, and marine turtles. I think the steps WWF are taking are vital to our future because each species are important and play a role on our planet.

https://www.worldwildlife.org/initiatives/protecting-species

# data[].attributes.headline
Scientists Successfully 'Breed' Section of Great Barrier Reef Back to Health

# data[].attributes.subject
Scientists Successfully 'Breed' Section of Great Barrier Reef Back to Health

# data[].attributes.body
Alex Jahn
Coral bred in one part of the Great Barrier has been successfully transplanted into another. Researchers collected large amounts of coral spawn and planted them in damaged areas of the reef. When they returned about 8 months later, the coral had survived and grown into juvenile coral . These first trials were said to be a success and that the next step is to develop broader technology to help the entirety of the reef.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Scientists Successfully 'Breed' Sections of Great Barrier Reef Back to Health

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"The success of this new research not only applies to the Great Barrier Reef but has potential global significance," says one of the researchers.

# data[].attributes.headline
Large Marine Reserves were Created- Kaity Allen

# data[].attributes.subject
Large Marine Reserves were Created- Kaity Allen

# data[].attributes.body
Niue created a marine reserve that covered 40% of their economic zone they hope to protect its fish stocks and help reduce overfishing of threatened fish species. Chile announced they created a 740,000-square-kilometer marine reserve around Easter Island, which is home to 140 species found no where else on earth. they do not allow fishing or any other activity. Mexico  announced the expansion of the Revillagigedo marine park to create the largest marine reserve of its kind in North America to protect sharks, rays, whales, turtles and other important marine species.

https://news.mongabay.com/2017/12/top-10-happy-environmental-stories-of-2017/

# data[].attributes.headline
Researchers create new low-cost, sustainable material for reducing air and water pollution- Ahilyn Aceves

# data[].attributes.subject
Researchers create new low-cost, sustainable material for reducing air and water pollution- Ahilyn Aceves

# data[].attributes.body
There is a new class of low cost and sustainable hybrid materials. This new material has the ability to to cut down pollutants in air and wastewater with more success than activated carbon. Compared with activated carbon, production of the hybrid material consumed less energy ("embodied energy") while leaving a much lower carbon footprint. I think this is groundbreaking in environmental science. This kind of discover can lead to healthier living. Right now the world is suffering from pollution and other harming toxins, and this can reduce some of it. Anything helps to save the environment, as long as we all participate.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
from research organizations

A new class of low-cost and sustainable hybrid materials could possibly displace activated carbon as the preferred choice for reducing wastewater and air pollution. The material, described in Frontiers in Chemistry, is synthesized inexpensively from solid wastes and a naturally abundant polymer -- and can cut down pollutants in air and wastewater with more success than activated carbon, the current gold standard adsorbent.

"This paper shows the simple synthesis of a new porous hybrid material, obtained by using low cost and by-product materials," says the lead author, Dr. Elza Bontempi from the University of Brescia, Italy. "The material was designed on the basis of The European Commission's request to develop an affordable, sustainable and innovative design-driven material solution that can reduce the concentration of particulate matter in urban areas."

Particulate matter -- solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air and emitted from power plants, industry, automobiles and fires -- is ubiquitous in cities and even the countryside. Moreover, millions of tons of industrial effluents are released into the world's waters every year. Both particulate matter and organic dyes are highly toxic to ecosystems and to humanity.

Activated carbon is the most common adsorbent used to reduce both atmospheric and wastewater pollution -- but is expensive to produce and regenerate. The challenge has been to find an economical alternative.

In the new study, researchers combined a naturally abundant raw material, sodium alginate (a polysaccharide that can be extracted from seaweed and algae) with a high-volume industrial by-product, silica fume (a by-product of ferrosilicon or silicon metal alloy processing) to produce a "green" adsorbent that is better than activated carbon.

"The article reports preliminary results about the new material's capability to capture particulate matter," says Dr. Bontempi. "It can also be used for wastewater remediation. In particular, its ability to replace activated carbon is demonstrated."

The synthesis method is simple and easy to scale up. Taking advantage of the gelling properties of alginate, the researchers combined it with the decomposition of food-grade sodium-bicarbonate (baking soda) to consolidate the material. Testing of wastewater pollution was performed using methylene blue dye as a model pollutant. The hybrid material adsorbed and removed the dye, even at high concentrations, with 94% efficiency.

Analyses revealed that, compared with activated carbon, production of the hybrid material consumed less energy ("embodied energy") while leaving a much lower carbon footprint. The material also demonstrated encouraging capabilities for trapping diesel exhaust fume particulate matter.

The material can be applied as a coating, used for spraying or brushing, and used for 3D-printing. This means it could be used to cover external building surfaces to remove particular matter, as well as to design water filtration units.

This versatility is an exciting new addition to humanity's toolkit for reducing air and water pollution.
Story Source:
Materials provided by Frontiers. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Alessandra Zanoletti, Ivano Vassura, Elisa Venturini, Matteo Monai, Tiziano Montini, Stefania Federici, Annalisa Zacco, Laura Treccani, Elza Bontempi. A New Porous Hybrid Material Derived From Silica Fume and Alginate for Sustainable Pollutants Reduction. Frontiers in Chemistry, 2018; 6 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2018.00060

Cite This Page:

Below are relevant articles that may interest you. ScienceDaily shares links and proceeds with scholarly publications in the TrendMD network.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
materials science; nanotechnology; organic chemistry; graphene; air quality; pollution; air pollution; environmental science

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Researchers create new low-cost, sustainable material for reducing air and water pollution: A new 'green' material made from solid wastes and natural polymers promises better results than activated carbon in adsorbing pollutants in wastewater and air

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A new class of hybrid materials shows promise as an affordable and sustainable product for reducing particulate matter in air and organic pollutants in wastewater. The material, produced inexpensively from an industrial waste by-product and naturally abundant polymers, performed more efficiently than activated carbon, the current gold standard.

# data[].attributes.body
Jack LAngle
A new field instrument developed by a collaborative team of researchers can quantify methane leaks as tiny as 1/4 of a human exhalation from nearly a mile away. The machine is precise and autonomous and provides the ability to locate and contain methane leaks faster in order to prevent disasters.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A new field instrument developed by a collaborative team of researchers can quantify methane leaks as tiny as 1/4 of a human exhalation from nearly a mile away. CIRES, NOAA, CU Boulder, and NIST scientists revamped and "ruggedized" Nobel Prize laser technology-turning a complex, room-sized collection of instruments into a sleek, 19-inch portable unit to tote into the field near oil and gas operations. The instrument collects precise, nonstop data, providing game-changing information critical for safe industry operations and controlling harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

The team, funded by an ARPA-E grant focusing on "high risk/high reward" science, published their research his week in the journal Optica along with a companion paper on the leak-finding routines in the journal Atmospheric Measurement Techniques.

Detecting methane and other gas leaks from oil and gas operations has traditionally been hampered by high costs and technological constraints, which have limited efforts to provide continuous monitoring. The new technology, which relies on a laser system called a dual frequency comb spectrometer, provides a much-needed solution: extremely efficient, accurate data collection at a fraction of the cost of previous technologies.

"This instrument is particularly special because it's precise, autonomous, and continuous," said Caroline Alden, CIRES researcher and a co-lead author of the study. "Other technologies like aircraft flybys or physically traveling to sampling sites pose a problem-if a leak occurs between sampling events, you missed it."

Read more at University of Colorado at Boulder

Image: The laser-based instrument collects precise, nonstop data, providing game-changing information critical for safe industry operations and controlling harmful greenhouse gas emissions. (Credit: University of Colorado Boulder)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A new field instrument developed by a collaborative team of researchers can quantify methane leaks as tiny as 1/4 of a human exhalation from nearly a mile away. CIRES, NOAA, CU Boulder, and NIST scientists revamped and "ruggedized" Nobel Prize laser technology-turning a complex, room-sized collection of instruments into a sleek, 19-inch portable unit to tote into the field near oil and gas operations.

# data[].attributes.headline
Rapid Decrease in Teen Pregnancies  -Dubem Okonkwo

# data[].attributes.subject
Rapid Decrease in Teen Pregnancies  -Dubem Okonkwo

# data[].attributes.body
Teens are using contraception more often and more effectively then in previous years. Not only do these wise choices put a stop to pregnant teens it also puts a stop to abortions and birth rates. The increase of contraception used have created teen birth rates and abortion at an all time low. Also the change of teaching in classroom also of preaching of safe sex instead of abstinence decreased teen pregnancies. "Wrap it Up" -Kodak Black

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The teen pregnancy rate in the United States declined 25 percent from 2007 to 2011. The decline can be seen in all states and among all racial and ethnic groups, although some groups experienced greater declines than others.

According to a new study, "Understanding the Decline in Adolescent Fertility in the United States, 2007-2012" , adolescent pregnancy rates declined even as sexual activity by adolescents (ages 15-19) remained steady:

"There was no significant change in adolescent sexual activity during this time period," says lead author Dr. Lindberg . "Rather, our new data suggest that recent declines in teens' risk of pregnancy - and in their pregnancy rates - are driven by increased contraceptive use."

This is great news. Teens are not only using contraception more regularly, but they are using more effective methods of contraception as well. The report found that there were "significant increases" in the use of any method of contraception, multiple methods of contraception, and highly effective methods of contraception.

The increase in contraceptive has led not only to decreasing teen pregnancy rates but also to decreasing abortion and birth rates. Teen pregnancy rates, abortion rates, and birth rates in the United States have all reached their lowest levels in four decades.

The is quick to note, however, that although these declines are substantial, the United States continues to have higher adolescent birth and pregnancy rates than other developed countries . The adolescent pregnancy rate in the U.S. is 52 per 1000 females. This is more than as high as Switzerland (8 per 1,000) and more than twice as high as France (25 per 1,000). In these and other European countries , there is a comfort, openness, and willingness to discuss sexual activity and governmental support for pragmatic policies that ensure comprehensive sexuality education.

The of teen pregnancies are unintended. In other words, teens have sex and they want to be able to protect themselves from pregnancy, so we need to make sure they're given the information and access to tools to make the best decisions for their bodies and lives.

Far too much of sex education in the United States is of the "just say no" variety. We know that preaching abstinence doesn't keep young people from having sex - and it definitely doesn't keep young women from getting pregnant. In fact, it's just the opposite. States with abstinence-only education have the highest teen pregnancy rates in the country.

Progressive social policies including greater access to educational opportunities for young women and the legalization of abortion contributed to declining adolescent pregnancy and birth rates in the the United States and Western Europe throughout the second half of the 20th century.

So if we want to continue to drive U.S. teen pregnancy rates and risk down, we need to keep up the pressure and push for evidence-based policies that actually help young people, as Heather Boonstra, Guttmacher's Director of Public Policy :

Teens' increased use of contraceptives indicates their increased commitment to protecting themselves from risk. Policy discussions should focus on supporting teen contraceptive use generally, including ensuring access to a full range of contraceptive education, counseling and methods.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Teen Pregnancy Rates Decrease Because of More Contraception (Not Less Sex) - Our Bodies Ourselves

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The teen pregnancy rate in the United States declined 25 percent from 2007 to 2011. The decline can be seen in all states and among all racial and ethnic groups, although some groups experienced greater declines than others.

# data[].attributes.body
Sean TInner
Over 150 Countries made a commitment to slash their carbon emissions. These countries account for 90% of the global emissions. Some to the largest cities in the US have set emission reduction goals of 80% by 2050. 62 cities are on track to exceed emission targets set by the federal government. This will cause a reduction of carbon dioxide by at least 328 million tons per year which is the same as 45 million homes switching to solar power

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There is no question that the climate crisis is here right now. But there is good news: every day we see more individuals, organizations, businesses, and governments responding to the crisis.

# data[].attributes.body
Kayler Smith
2017 was a year of rediscovery of lost species. At a recently created amphibian reserve in Guatemala researchers spotted a Jackson's salamander, a species that hasn't been seen for 40 years. Dozens of other species were rediscovered this year. This challenges the pressure we put on the extinction of species. The species that go extinct don't amount to the new species or thriving species that still exist.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Top 10 HAPPY environmental stories of 2017

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The past year may have seemed like doom and gloom for the environment, but there was plenty to be thankful for. So once again, we bring you some of the...

# data[].attributes.headline
California takes action to phase plastic straws out of regular use.                               Grace Shillcutt

# data[].attributes.subject
California takes action to phase plastic straws out of regular use.                               Grace Shillcutt

# data[].attributes.body
Assembleyman Ian Calderon proposed a bill which requires sit down restaurants in California to ask customers if they want straws before providing them. While it would not affect fast food restaurants, he says that it is a simple step in the right direction towards changing business and customer attitudes about plastic straws. "How long have people known that plastic is  harmful to the environment? Still we all use it. This is a measured approach that helps change behavior," Calderon on Twitter.
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/last-straw-california-latest-take-action-single-use-plastic-straws/