Though we all have differences, there’s one commonality that has prevailed for all of humanity: we are all floating on a rock, flying through outer space at over a million miles an hour.
Thanks to the rapid advancement of technology in the past century, we can observe much more of the universe than we ever thought possible.
The scale and sheer size of the universe make it impossible to truly learn everything, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.
EARTH DAY 2023
Instead of exploring the happenings of the vast cosmos, this week's Cosmic Sense will focus on the planet we call home, Earth.
Earth is estimated to be about 4.5 billion years old, give or take 50 million years. Now, we don't exactly know the Earth's 'birthday,' but for the past 53 years, countries around the world have celebrated Earth Day.
Earth Day was first held on April 22, 1970 to honor our home planet, celebrate the concept of peace, and show support for the pursuit of environmental protection.
One of our most treasured and unique resources is water. Earth is the only planet known to have stable bodies of liquid water on its surface, according to NOAA.
Every living thing on Earth is supported by water, but with the increase in population and the rising demand for water, our planet is facing some serious problems. So, how can we pitch in to conserve our most precious resource?
Director of the independent Global Water Policy Project, Sandra Postel, joined this week's Cosmic Sense to help answer this question.
"I think it's critical to get kids involved as early as possible," she said.
"You know, a lot of our habits around water form when we're quite young, you know, everything is simply simple as you know, turning off the tap when we're brushing our teeth. That can save two to three gallons if we remember to do that."
Postel is a leader in promoting the preservation of water. She received the Stockholm Water Prize in 2021. She also wrote the foreword in the National Geographic Kids book WATER! Why every drop counts and how you can start making waves to protect it to help educate kids about water usage.
"It is really surprising and hard to get a grip on is just how water, because it's finite, has been circulating through the water cycle," she said.
"The water that I used to make my coffee this morning could have been drunk by a dinosaur hundreds of millions of years ago."
She also shared some things for kids to be more mindful of at home to help conserve water.
"From a water footprint perspective, what kind of food are eating? How much water does it take? Are we showering? Are we bathing? Typically, it takes less water to take a shower than to take a bath, but be mindful of, you know, how long the shower is," she said.
More fun water facts and tips on how to be 'Water Warrior' can be found in our full interview here. To learn more about Sandra and the Global Water Policy Project, click here.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
Follow us on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram