Tonight, the Perpetual Notion Machine looks back on some of our best shows for the year 2020. We don’t usually do this for our last show of the year, but this year has been so debilitating, caustic, and just plain pathetic. Maybe, starting tomorrow, things can change, even for just a little bit. During this […]
Republican Lawmakers Cut Out Parts of PFAS Emergency Rule
Republican state lawmakers have repealed several key provisions from an emergency rule meant to regulate contamination of PFAS, a toxic family of forever chemicals, from firefighting foam. Republican lawmakers argue the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is overstepping its authority. Democrats on the other side of the aisle say it’s essentially gutting the rule altogether. […]
Some wildlife can’t be rehabilitated during pandemic
The virus that causes COVID-19 in humans can also be carried by some animals, although there’s still a lot more to learn about zoonotic transmission and illness. In the spring, when the pandemic first started, the Wisconsin DNR put a moratorium on rehabilitation services for some animals that could potentially be susceptible to coronavirus. The […]
Committee Hears About PFAS Regulations Process
Tonight, a City of Madison water quality committee heard about the State’s process for developing groundwater standards for PFAS, a toxic forever chemical, and other unregulated contaminants. During the meeting, the state health agency and the state department of natural resources will suggest standards to combat toxic chemicals in groundwater. , Adam DeWisse is the […]
Remote Sensing Wildlife and Snapshot Wisconsin
Tonight, the Perpetual Notion Machine learns how new advanced technology helps in gathering data on wildlife diversity and the health of ecosystems. Will Cushman welcomes Phil Townsend, professor in forest and wildlife ecology at UW-Madison, as his guest. Phil explains that for any ecosystem to remain healthy and vibrant depends on a wide range of […]
New UW Study: Killing Wolves is not the Answer
For many years, conservationists with the state and federal governments in the upper midwest have been divided about what to do with so-called “problem wolves.” Although gray wolves do not attack humans, they do sometimes prey on livestock — hey, who would turn down such an easy meal? When wolves kill horses or cows, farmers […]
