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What to expect with invasives and climate change

September 5, 2024

Climate change and invasive species are both huge threats to our natural resources. How are the two issues interacting? Can we expect invasive species to get worse over time due to climate change? And are these changes consistent across all invasive species?It’s difficult to know for sure, but...

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Soil carbon addresses climate resiliency for the future

August 29, 2024

Everyday Environment

Soil is more than just dirt; it is a vital component of our ecosystem. It provides nutrients for plants, supports biodiversity, and plays a crucial role in water filtration and carbon storage. Healthy soil is resilient and can better withstand environmental stresses, making it a key player in our...

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The urban forest is a climate tool for all

August 22, 2024

Everyday Environment

I’m walking through a central Illinois neighborhood in mid-May this spring. The temperature is 92 degrees Fahrenheit, one degree shy of the record, and most people still haven’t acclimatized to the heat. In broad daylight, the...

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How plants respond to rising carbon dioxide concentrations

August 14, 2024

Everyday Environment

Plants are essential to life on earth. As primary producers, they take energy from the sun and make it available for animals, like humans. So, it makes sense that we care deeply about their future, and how they will respond to the environmental factors of climate change. Let’s explore three aspects...

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Climate expert breaks down the basics of climate change

August 7, 2024

Everyday Environment

We’ve all heard of “climate change,” a term that feels so charged, but what does it really mean, and what is actually happening? Let’s break down the scientific definitions to help us really understand what researchers and climate professionals are talking about when they say “climate change.”...

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Embark on new adventures with Everyday Environment

July 18, 2024

Everyday Environment

I am always excited for a new adventure – the anticipation of looking around the bend to the next interesting feature on a trail; the view at the top of a mountain or, in Illinois, a bluff; or searching and finding a new bloom in a prairie! Everyday Environment is embarking on a new journey,...

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PFAS exposure can be reduced with simple swaps and habits

June 20, 2024

Everyday Environment

What are PFAS chemicals?Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, called PFAS (pronounced pea-fass) for short, are a group of more than 15,000 man-made chemicals that have recently made their way into the news for all the wrong reasons. PFAS is an incredibly useful group of chemicals sometimes added to...

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A man and a woman stand in a boat holding long pole nets to capture stunned fish

Master Naturalists put research into action around the state and in your backyard

April 2, 2024

Everyday Environment

What is a Master Naturalist? We get that question a lot at University of Illinois Extension. Master Naturalists are many things: Advocates, volunteers, teachers, and environmental stewards. Around the state and in your backyard,...

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What to know about the April 8 solar eclipse in Illinois

March 22, 2024

Everyday Environment

On April 8, 2024, parts of southern Illinois will darken as the moon passes in front of the sun causing a total eclipse. The eclipse has about a 115-mile-wide path cutting northeast across North America from...

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When water works – understanding nutrient pollution in Illinois

March 4, 2024

Everyday Environment

The lakes, rivers, and streams of Illinois are places of beauty. They’re also essential to life. Without clean water, there are no picnics on the beach, no fishing or taking the boat out, no geese paddling or ducks dabbling, and in worst-case scenarios, no water coming out of the faucet whenever...

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