Southern Science
@southernscience.bsky.social
Covering environmental research, issues and advocacy in Alabama.
southern-science.com
southernsciencenews [at] gmail.com
southern-science.com
southernsciencenews [at] gmail.com
Pinned
Southern Science covers environmental issues in Alabama. Follow us for more climate, conservation and research news, or visit southern-science.com!
A fish passage project on the Alabama River is navigating some roadblocks, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and The Nature Conservancy try to create a partnership that works for both organizations.
Fish passage project ‘dammed up’ in approval process
Project would reconnect 230 miles of migratory routes
southern-science.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:26 PM
A fish passage project on the Alabama River is navigating some roadblocks, as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and The Nature Conservancy try to create a partnership that works for both organizations.
"It’s really a win-win. It’s a win for climate, it’s a win for the environment, it’s a huge win for farmers."
Read more about the Soil & Climate Initiative's work to make agriculture more sustainable in Alabama and throughout the country.
Read more about the Soil & Climate Initiative's work to make agriculture more sustainable in Alabama and throughout the country.
A new farming (re)generation
Mississippi Delta program encourages healthier soil, sustainable farms
southern-science.com
August 1, 2025 at 9:23 AM
"It’s really a win-win. It’s a win for climate, it’s a win for the environment, it’s a huge win for farmers."
Read more about the Soil & Climate Initiative's work to make agriculture more sustainable in Alabama and throughout the country.
Read more about the Soil & Climate Initiative's work to make agriculture more sustainable in Alabama and throughout the country.
A marsh restoration on Dauphin Island is creating new habitat and slowing down flooding. Now, a researcher with The Water Institute is asking whether it can make flood insurance cheaper for nearby homeowners.
southern-science.com/2025/06/05/m...
southern-science.com/2025/06/05/m...
Marsh insurance
Can shoreline restoration rein in rising flood insurance prices?
southern-science.com
June 6, 2025 at 3:07 PM
A marsh restoration on Dauphin Island is creating new habitat and slowing down flooding. Now, a researcher with The Water Institute is asking whether it can make flood insurance cheaper for nearby homeowners.
southern-science.com/2025/06/05/m...
southern-science.com/2025/06/05/m...
Native plants are the foundation of healthy habitats across Alabama. This year, endangered plant species will be included in the state's official conservation plan for the first time.
southern-science.com/2025/05/01/s...
southern-science.com/2025/05/01/s...
State prepares conservation plan for next decade
Plants, habitat “corridors” added for first time
southern-science.com
May 6, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Native plants are the foundation of healthy habitats across Alabama. This year, endangered plant species will be included in the state's official conservation plan for the first time.
southern-science.com/2025/05/01/s...
southern-science.com/2025/05/01/s...
Reposted by Southern Science
When a Trump cabinet official visited two Alabama mines last week, he didn’t mention their checkered safety record, including the 2023 death of a miner that federal officials concluded was the fault of the mine.
Trump Official Visits, Touts Alabama Coal Mine With Thousands of Federal Safety Violations - Inside Climate News
Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum visited two Warrior Met mines to emphasize the administration’s commitment to lifting regulations on the extraction of ‘clean beautiful coal.’ He did not mention ...
insideclimatenews.org
April 15, 2025 at 8:03 PM
When a Trump cabinet official visited two Alabama mines last week, he didn’t mention their checkered safety record, including the 2023 death of a miner that federal officials concluded was the fault of the mine.
Reposted by Southern Science
Despite all that's known about the threats facing freshwater mussels, the cause of a decades-long die-off in the Southeastern U.S. remains a mystery.
As Mussel Species Blink Out, Scientists Scramble for Answers
One of the most endangered animals in the world, freshwater mussels are threatened by pollution, climate change, habitat loss, and invasive species. But in the epicenter of their diversity — the South...
e360.yale.edu
April 8, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Despite all that's known about the threats facing freshwater mussels, the cause of a decades-long die-off in the Southeastern U.S. remains a mystery.
As the EPA moves its focus away from regulating and enforcing pollution standards, what does that mean for coal ash sites in Alabama?
southern-science.com/2025/04/03/c...
southern-science.com/2025/04/03/c...
Changes at EPA mean uncertainty for dealing with Alabama coal ash
Coal ash pollution looks likely to lose priority status for federal agency
southern-science.com
April 3, 2025 at 5:43 PM
As the EPA moves its focus away from regulating and enforcing pollution standards, what does that mean for coal ash sites in Alabama?
southern-science.com/2025/04/03/c...
southern-science.com/2025/04/03/c...
Why are some religious faiths less likely to trust the science of topics like climate change, while other faiths embrace environmental stewardship as an act of devotion? A Samford University professor is exploring the ways that religion influences people's views on science.
The evidence of things not seen
Samford professor explores how religious faith shapes trust in science
southern-science.com
March 14, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Why are some religious faiths less likely to trust the science of topics like climate change, while other faiths embrace environmental stewardship as an act of devotion? A Samford University professor is exploring the ways that religion influences people's views on science.
"I don’t think that you could probably find an organism that is more adapted and protected from climate change.”
Learn more about why dismalites, Alabama's own glowworms, are likely to survive as our planet warms.
Learn more about why dismalites, Alabama's own glowworms, are likely to survive as our planet warms.
‘Starlight’ survivalists
Amid climate change, ‘dismalites’ keep on glowing
southern-science.com
February 10, 2025 at 9:59 PM
"I don’t think that you could probably find an organism that is more adapted and protected from climate change.”
Learn more about why dismalites, Alabama's own glowworms, are likely to survive as our planet warms.
Learn more about why dismalites, Alabama's own glowworms, are likely to survive as our planet warms.
Most of the Alabama coast's oyster population is gone. What will it take to save them?
Pearls of wisdom
From gardens to genomes, state and conservation groups continue trying new approaches to oyster restoration
southern-science.com
January 21, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Most of the Alabama coast's oyster population is gone. What will it take to save them?
At the University of Alabama’s CONSERVE group, researchers are combining traditional academia with Native knowledge to create a digital seed bank, preserving information about the plant species that have been significant in Choctaw culture.
More value than gold
UA digital seed bank helps preserve Choctaw heritage
southern-science.com
December 13, 2024 at 3:59 PM
At the University of Alabama’s CONSERVE group, researchers are combining traditional academia with Native knowledge to create a digital seed bank, preserving information about the plant species that have been significant in Choctaw culture.
In communities across Alabama, scientists, engineers and residents are partnering to solve environmental injustices. Read more about the projects happening under the Capacity Collaborative's volunteer science hub.
‘Fight for it to be better’
Volunteer science ‘hub’ helps communities tackle environmental injustices
southern-science.com
December 2, 2024 at 2:48 PM
In communities across Alabama, scientists, engineers and residents are partnering to solve environmental injustices. Read more about the projects happening under the Capacity Collaborative's volunteer science hub.
Check out how researchers at The University of Alabama and The University of South Alabama are trying to find innovative ways to solve microplastic pollution.
Engineering microplastic solutions
With NOAA grants, two Alabama research teams take aim at microplastic pollution
southern-science.com
December 2, 2024 at 2:47 PM
Check out how researchers at The University of Alabama and The University of South Alabama are trying to find innovative ways to solve microplastic pollution.
Alabama lags behind many other states in its management of water use. As extreme heat, changing weather patterns, industry and population continue to influence the available freshwater, advocates say the state needs to do more to understand and protect its water resources.
Drop by drop
Despite plentiful resources, Alabama may need more water management
southern-science.com
December 2, 2024 at 2:46 PM
Alabama lags behind many other states in its management of water use. As extreme heat, changing weather patterns, industry and population continue to influence the available freshwater, advocates say the state needs to do more to understand and protect its water resources.
Renewable energy advocacy groups like Energy Alabama and the Southern Renewable Energy Association (SREA) are opposed to Alabama Power’s integration fee for solar and wind energy producers, which was approved this past spring.
Power dynamic
New Alabama Power fee will deter renewable energy investment, solar advocates say
southern-science.com
December 2, 2024 at 2:46 PM
Renewable energy advocacy groups like Energy Alabama and the Southern Renewable Energy Association (SREA) are opposed to Alabama Power’s integration fee for solar and wind energy producers, which was approved this past spring.
The fight between Alabama, Georgia and Florida over water resources has been a "very touchy subject" for more than three decades. While Alabama and Georgia's governors proposed a new agreement earlier this year, it still has hurdles to clear before it can bring peace to the ACF river basin.
Good rivers make good neighbors
Months after Ala., Ga. governors’ agreement, questions remain on whether it will end ‘water wars’
southern-science.com
December 2, 2024 at 2:45 PM
The fight between Alabama, Georgia and Florida over water resources has been a "very touchy subject" for more than three decades. While Alabama and Georgia's governors proposed a new agreement earlier this year, it still has hurdles to clear before it can bring peace to the ACF river basin.
“In our whole watershed, this is the only dam we have. And for nature and for the critters, free-flowing water is best.”
Learn more about the plans to remove this former hydroelectric dam from the Pea River in Elba, Alabama, and how this could impact both migrating fish and the nearby town.
Learn more about the plans to remove this former hydroelectric dam from the Pea River in Elba, Alabama, and how this could impact both migrating fish and the nearby town.
Elba dam removal offers possibilities for fish migration, community-building
Two federal grants will fund next stages of dam removal project
southern-science.com
December 2, 2024 at 2:44 PM
“In our whole watershed, this is the only dam we have. And for nature and for the critters, free-flowing water is best.”
Learn more about the plans to remove this former hydroelectric dam from the Pea River in Elba, Alabama, and how this could impact both migrating fish and the nearby town.
Learn more about the plans to remove this former hydroelectric dam from the Pea River in Elba, Alabama, and how this could impact both migrating fish and the nearby town.
When a coal mine is abandoned, it leaves safety and environmental hazards behind. See how Alabama's mine reclamation program is solving those problems and reclaiming abandoned mines for new purposes.
Dig deep
New funding to turn former mines into ecological, development opportunities
southern-science.com
December 2, 2024 at 2:43 PM
When a coal mine is abandoned, it leaves safety and environmental hazards behind. See how Alabama's mine reclamation program is solving those problems and reclaiming abandoned mines for new purposes.
Residents of the small town of Belle Mina and its neighboring communities are trying to stop the approval of a limestone quarry right next door. Opponents say there are "so many problems" with the quarry plan.
southern-science.com/2024/04/30/d...
southern-science.com/2024/04/30/d...
‘Demise’ of a community
Belle Mina residents fear proposed quarry will cause irreversible damage
southern-science.com
December 2, 2024 at 2:42 PM
Residents of the small town of Belle Mina and its neighboring communities are trying to stop the approval of a limestone quarry right next door. Opponents say there are "so many problems" with the quarry plan.
southern-science.com/2024/04/30/d...
southern-science.com/2024/04/30/d...
“After we learned that there was a lot of PFAS in our water, since then we’ve been trying to create a much more extensive testing method, so we could get a foundational baseline of what we’re dealing with,” said Lucas Allison, Coosa Riverkeeper's field manager.
New PFAS testing shows ‘forever’ chemicals throughout Coosa River basin
Expanded testing sets baseline understanding for education, advocacy on PFAS chemicals.
southern-science.com
December 2, 2024 at 2:41 PM
“After we learned that there was a lot of PFAS in our water, since then we’ve been trying to create a much more extensive testing method, so we could get a foundational baseline of what we’re dealing with,” said Lucas Allison, Coosa Riverkeeper's field manager.
Check out STEMMing the Tide, a program trying to bring innovative, community-focused science lessons into middle school classrooms in the Africatown neighborhood of Mobile.
Environment in the classroom
Program teaches kids about science, justice in Africatown by Sydney Cromwell Healing gardens. Sea kayaks. Drone soccer. They’re all part of STEMMing the Tide, a project that aims to change school c…
southern-science.com
December 2, 2024 at 2:41 PM
Check out STEMMing the Tide, a program trying to bring innovative, community-focused science lessons into middle school classrooms in the Africatown neighborhood of Mobile.
Little USA is a proposed project that would bring together solar power, agriculture, workforce development and an electric vehicle charging station on a family-owned property in Union Springs, Alabama.
Greening Union Springs
Proposed solar campus would bring job training, renewable energy to Black Belt town by Sydney Cromwell When Herb Ferrette looks at his family’s 25-acre property in Union Springs, he sees green. Rig…
southern-science.com
December 2, 2024 at 2:37 PM
Little USA is a proposed project that would bring together solar power, agriculture, workforce development and an electric vehicle charging station on a family-owned property in Union Springs, Alabama.
“I think that the climate movement, the activists that are trying to save the world and make a change, the piece that they’re missing is the faith piece,” said Rhoda Vanderhart of Gulf Coast Creation Care.
Read more about how some Alabama groups are pairing their faith with climate activism.
Read more about how some Alabama groups are pairing their faith with climate activism.
Faith for the future
Religious climate activists focus on energy, justice in the Southeast by Sydney Cromwell Climate anxiety. Crisis fatigue. Whatever you call it, spend enough time thinking and reading about the real…
southern-science.com
December 2, 2024 at 2:36 PM
“I think that the climate movement, the activists that are trying to save the world and make a change, the piece that they’re missing is the faith piece,” said Rhoda Vanderhart of Gulf Coast Creation Care.
Read more about how some Alabama groups are pairing their faith with climate activism.
Read more about how some Alabama groups are pairing their faith with climate activism.
Southern Science covers environmental issues in Alabama. Follow us for more climate, conservation and research news, or visit southern-science.com!
December 2, 2024 at 2:34 PM
Southern Science covers environmental issues in Alabama. Follow us for more climate, conservation and research news, or visit southern-science.com!