Environment & Science

Spica is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. At about 5:35 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, grab your binoculars and watch it disappear.

The drought is far from over, but enough precipitation has fallen to boost the confidence of state officials when it comes to outdoor fires.

The precautionary measure across Pennsylvania comes at no cost to farmers. While the virus hasn't been reported in commonwealth cattle, other states have seen a marked uptick in cases.

Officials on Monday morning cut the ribbon on its per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, treatment plant at the Bethlehem Landfill in Lower Saucon Township. The system uses air to separate the chemicals from water.

Jared Isaacman, a Lehigh Valley entrepreneur who recently conducted the first commercial spacewalk as part of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission, stopped by Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown Sunday to answer questions about his trip.

Join Megan Frank every Friday at 9:30am and 6:30pm for Insights with LehighValleyNews.com on WLVR. This week, she's joined by Allentown reporter Jason Addy and Environment and Science reporter Molly Bilinski.

State officials announced the awards this week. Grants are earmarked for improving local parks to expanding trails and river access points, and creating more green space in local communities.

Mayor J. William Reynolds attributes the progress so far to the community’s belief in the mission and their “enormous buy-in,” stemming from 125 “Climate Action Champions” and over 30 area organizations.

It’s going to cost an estimated $100 million over the next decade to replace pipes made of lead, galvanized steel and unknown materials throughout the Lehigh County Authority’s service area.

Rodale Institute on Veterans Day celebrated $500,000 in state funding awarded for its Veteran Farmer Training program. The program draws trainees from across the U.S.

Carbon and Schuylkill are among the 43 counties that will benefit from the federal funding.

The plan uses the sale of credits for solar projects to plug oil and gas wells.

Drillers are expected to pay about $234M -- $90 million more than the year before.

Grants will go toward replacing gasoline- or diesel-fueled vehicles.

The 3-state panel is tasked with protecting resources of the Chesapeake Bay.

They don't bite or contain toxins, but they still don't have many friends in Pennsylvania.

Meeko is on a mission to save the planet from single-use plastic.

Opponents say joining RGGI will be an economic hardship on the state's energy sector.

Rep. Daryl Metcalfe has boosted fossil fuels and denied climate change.

The program is back for the start of 2022 after being canceled last year due to the pandemic.

After all but vanishing by the 1960s, the species is now self-sustaining in Pennsylvania.

Game Commission biologist Art McMorris has spent 18 years working on behalf of the winged predators.