Guest Commentary

In most new homes there are a litany of appliances that buyers almost automatically purchase, one of which is the dishwasher. While ovens, refrigerators, washers, and dryers are used almost daily, the dishwasher is among the least-used appliances in American homes.

Dear EarthTalk: What’s new in food packaging to make it more sustainable? — E.C., Bern, N.C.

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that you shouldn’t put plastic bottle caps that are less than 3 inches wide in diameter into the recycling bin?

— Bill S., Grafton, Vt.

I found myself conflicted while honoring my son’s service. While I am proud and honored that he gave so much to the service, I am also angry for the time lost that could have been spent with friends and family. I can't help (perhaps selfishly), wondering if it in any way contributed to his untimely end.

In March 2020, Congress passed President Biden’s coronavirus bill prohibiting state Medicaid agencies from disenrolling beneficiaries until a month after the end of the public health emergency (PHE).

The Black Sea, which recently received in its depths the Russian battleship Moskva, on its way to join the battle against the Ukrainians, was anciently the setting of another Black Sea voyage that did not end well. This was the voyage of the Argo, celebrated in the third century BC epic Argonautica, composed by Apollonius Rhodius.

Today, with over 900,000 COVID-19 deaths (Feb. 4) we remain the tragic outlier in COVID public health effectiveness. We have the highest per capita death rate among the world’s 10 richest countries. Ezra Klein (NYT Feb. 6) maintains that our vast unvaccinated millions lack trust. “Public health is rooted in the soil of trust.

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true we needn’t worry about plastic pollution because nature will evolve microorganisms to break it all down? — C. Davis, Sacramento, Calif.