Comments on: More Kudzu Blues: Now the Invasive Vine Is Increasing Air Pollution

By: free stuff

free stuff — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 19:45:03 +0000

I was searching on yahoo for this blog and I am thankful I found it again. I originally found it on facebook posted by radjane, she really likes the stories on this blog

By: cat shop

cat shop — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 19:30:32 +0000

I am trying to figure out how to bookmark this page I want to be able to come back to this site and read this post whenever I want. How do I bookmark it in firefox?

By: Amarr Houston

Amarr Houston — Wed, 11 May 2011 01:13:16 +0000

Thanks for bringing your expertise to the table, Marc.

By: webdesigner

webdesigner — Tue, 03 May 2011 00:13:20 +0000

thanks for pointing that out marc. that should teach people not to believe everything thats on the internet.

By: Eliza Strickland

Eliza Strickland — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:02:11 +0000

Thanks for bringing your expertise to the table, Marc. I’ll correct the error.

– Eliza, DISCOVER online news editor

By: Marc

Marc — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:49:36 +0000

This post (and the Discovery News item that it cites) contains a very significant technical error: it mistakenly substitutes NITROUS oxide (N2O) for NITRIC oxide (NO). The abstract in the PNAS article clearly states that the gas in question is nitric oxide: “Its spread has the potential to raise ozone levels in the region by increasing nitric oxide (NO) emissions from soils as a consequence of increasing nitrogen (N) inputs and cycling in soils. ” and “Nitric oxide emissions from invaded soils were more than 100% higher…”

Some nitrous oxide is emitted from soil after nitrogen is added to the soil, either naturally via fixation or artificially via fertilizer. But the issue in question here is emission of nitric oxide, which is precursor of urban smog and health hazards in its own right. In the lower atmosphere, nitric oxide goes through a complex set of reactions with sunlight and other pollutants to form ozone and the other harmful gases that are normally called “urban smog”.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is relatively harmless to humans and has little smog forming potential. However, despite its locally benign nature, nitrous oxide is several hundred times more effective than carbon dioxide at keeping heat within the atmosphere, and is thus a greenhouse gas of concern.

Unfortunately, this mix-up is fairly common. I have seen it in the New York Times, the New Yorker (twice in the last few years), and many other newspapers and magazines.

By: Ian

Ian — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:06:49 +0000

At least we’ve stopped soil erosion…

By: Flange

Flange — Tue, 18 May 2010 16:10:56 +0000

It also adds nitrogen back to the soil.
We might have been grateful for that, under other circumstances.
Now, time to go grab a big balloon and a circus tent… Oooohohohohoho Yeeeeahahhahahah