Articles Written by Ashley Chong

It is highly likely. A GMO, also referred to as “frankenfood”, is a genetically modified organism created through the process of selecting, splicing, removing, and/or adding desired genes. There has been an increase in the amount of GMOs grown in the US, but what are the reasons? Find out about the history on the upsurge of GMOs, the benefits, consequences & latest controversies, after the jump:

You may know your neighborhood garden like the back of your hand, but do you ever out what the other neighborhoods in Philly are doing? We ventured over to West Philly to check out the University City District's latest sustainability initiatives. University City District of Philadelphia strives to promote a vibrant and safe public living and social environment. It works for the neighborhood by providing opportunities, hosting events, and shaping public places. So what is the University City District doing to stay green?

AKA the post about why I'm majoring in environmental science...  “If all mankind were to disappear, the world would regenerate back to the rich state of equilibrium that existed ten thousand years ago. If insects were to vanish, the environment would collapse into chaos.” E.O. Wilson once said the above quote, which was one of the first I heard in my environmental science class. Although I understood that humans have been negatively impacting nature and environment, I didn’t realize the magnitude of the effects. Climate change and global warming have been increasingly covered topics, but why? These questions are why I decided to study environmental science. I was interested in how living organisms, especially humans, interact with their nonliving environment. Plus, humans do more than just contribute to global warming - we cause a lot of damage. Here’s 3 ways we're destructing the Earth:

Composting.  We all hear about how great it is and that we should do it. But what is compost exactly and what are the benefits that make it worthwhile? Composting 101 Composting is organic matter that has been decomposed and can be used as fertilizer. Many gardeners are beginning to use it, but why? Here are five benefits of composting:

Don't leave your helmets at home! Tomorrow is the annual National Bike to Work Day - which is also a favorite in Philly. The League of American Bicyclists started Bike to Work Day in 1956 in hopes of showing the power of the bicycle. Riding bicycles is a healthy alternative mode of transportation and can save some gas money - and you know prices at the pump aren't getting any cheaper. Join Mayor Nutter in his 6th year and other public officials as a participant of this widely celebrated day of exercise. Here's a preview of the morning schedule for Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 17: