Environment
Rick Anderson donates family's archaeological collection to Grand Portage National Monument
-Over many years, Grand Portage resident Rick Anderson and his family collected thousands of historic artifacts near the Boundary Waters. Now, he has donated this remarkable collection to Grand Portage National Monument so it may be studied and preserved. CJ sat down with Rick recently to hear the story.
Gear up for the 17th Annual Gitchi-Gami Trail Ride Sat., Aug.19
-The Gitchi-Gami Trail Association will hold its 17th annual trail ride Saturday, Aug.
Duluth News Tribune Astrobob blogger Bob King checks in on Perseids, eclipse
-What with the Perseids happening now, and the solar eclipse on Aug. 21, we checked in with a favorite regular guest, astronomer Bob King of Astrobob fame. He gives great tips for observing the eclipse safely. Do NOT look directly at the sun; you will seriously damage your retinas and never know it, since they don't sense pain.
Adventurers Dave & Amy Freeman check in on their latest projects...and a new book in the works
-Explorers & adventurers Amy and Dave Freeman, who recently spent a year living in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, are back in Cook County for the summer. They stopped by the studio to chat with Dave about what readapting to civilization has been like, what they miss and what they don't, and much more. They're writing a book about their experience, due out this fall from Milkweed Editions.
Lindy Lind, wilderness survival and bushcraft instructor, stops by The Roadhouse
-North House instructor Lindy Lind joined CJ during Wooden Boat Show weekend to talk about bushcraft, wilderness survival, and building a bark canoe in six days during the show. You can learn more about Lindy and his work here.
Paul Huttner, MPR's chief meteorologist, talks climate change and more
-MPR's chief meteorologist Paul Huttner was in town to speak at North House, and stopped by our studios to chat with CJ. Hear what he has to say about climate change, Minnesota's shifting weather, the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate accords, and more. You can read his Updraft blog here.
Biodiversity valuable in many ways to humans and the planet
-Researchers at the U of MN's College of Biological Science say we're on the brink of mass extinction, due to habitat destruction, overhunting, the introduction of nonnative species, and more. Forest Isbell, lead author of a study published in the scientific journal "Nature," joined Dave to explain the ways biodiversity benefits us, and why it's so important for humans and the whole planet.
Alaska communities turning increasingly to renewable energy
-David Shaw is a science writer, guide, photographer, and wildlife biologist living near Fairbanks, Alaska. He joined CJ to talk about the rise of renewable energy in rural Alaska communities as a way to control costs and address climate change. He also chatted about his work as a guide and photographer--you can learn more about him here.
U of MN "Super Sponge" can clean mercury from lakes
-A research team at the U of MN has developed a sponge that can absorb mercury from a polluted water source in seconds. Dave talked with the team's leader, Prof. Abdennour Abbas, of the department of bioproducts and biosystems engineering at the U. You can learn more about his lab here.