Paul Smiths, NY, Feb 28, 2013 — Solar weather does more than create light shows at polar latitudes. When the sun acts up, the effects can range from communications interference on earth to lethal doses of radiation for unprotected astronauts. Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager talk about heavenly weather.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Feb 21, 2013 — Martha Foley and Dr. Curt Stager talk about the timberline, the usually abrupt termination of forest growth above a certain altitude. While it results from a combination of unfavorable factors, the final straw seems to be the length of time free of hard frost. When the growing season is too short to overcome damage from the harsh climate, the trees die out.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Feb 07, 2013 — During the last Ice Age North America was home to many varieties of "super-sized" mammals, megafauna. Giant beaver, 'possums, bears, sloths and other creatures joined the more familiar wooly mammoth in the land bridge migration. Dr Curt Stager and Martha Foley look at the question, "Why so big?"  Go to full article

Lake Placid, NY, Feb 04, 2013 — A dog is a man's best friend, as the saying goes, and a Lake Placid pilot is doing his best to return the favor.

When he's not working on his patients' teeth at High Peaks Dental in Lake Placid, 48-year-old D.J. O'Neill takes to the skies in his single-propeller airplane - a red and white Cessna 185 Skywagon I, to be exact - to rescue dogs from animal shelters in other parts of the U.S.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Feb 04, 2013 — Starting seeds indoors is a mid-winter routine that gives gardeners a nice taste of the coming season: potting mix on the fingers, the fragrance of moist soil. Mostly, the trays and boxes of little seedlings are destined for the vegetable garden.

Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy has suggestions this week for starting flowers, perennial, that is, from seed as well.

She tells Martha Foley that starting perennials from seed is generally a more forgiving project than getting vegetable seedlings ready to go. Timing for the getting young flowers ready for transplanting isn't so crucial. One caveat: the timeline to maturity is longer.  Go to full article

Clintonville, NY, Feb 01, 2013 — After record-high temperatures and damaging winds in much of the region the past few days, winter is back. Fire departments and highway crews answered calls all day Thursday - reports that the wind had blown off roofs, knocked down trees and power lines.  Go to full article

Troy, NY, Feb 01, 2013 — Seesawing temperatures, melting snow and rain, heavy winds...and that's just the latest few days of weather extremes. New research may help explain why patterns are changing. It suggests that even if you live thousands of miles away from a major city, it could still be playing a role in your local weather.  Go to full article

Keene Valley, NY, Jan 31, 2013 — The National Weather Service has posted flood watches and warnings across the region. Early this morning NCPR's Adirondack Bureau Chief, Brian Mann, called in with a report from the swollen Ausable River where it pushes along Rt. 73 through Keene Valley.

He spoke with Martha Foley.  Go to full article

Paul Smiths, NY, Jan 24, 2013 — With the collapse of the population of the European honeybee, introduced to North America in colonial times, many growers are looking for aids in pollinating their crops. But the honeybee may not be the most effective bee. Bumblebees and other native pollinators do a better job on crops like blueberries and cranberries. Martha Foley and Curt Stager discuss.  Go to full article

Plattsburgh, NY, Jan 21, 2013 — Watering houseplants the right way can be a life-or-death proposition, for the plant.

Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy tells Martha Foley poor watering practice is the number one killer of houseplants. Her advice: pay close attention, and remember every plant is different.  Go to full article