A new group of strange bedfellows, including farmers, foresters, environmentalists, and politicians, wants 25 percent of America's energy to come from renewable resources by the year 2025. That means more ethanol, wind, and solar energy. Can it -- and should it -- be done? Some critics say beefing up ethanol production would be bad for the environment, wasting energy and potentially increasing emissions. This hour, we'll take a look at the "25 X25" plan and talk about America's changing energy picture.

Plus, new evidence buried over a mile beneath the ice in Antarctica suggests that a giant meteor hit the Earth over 200 million years ago. Did its impact pave the way for the dinosaurs -- or even the breakup of the Gondwanaland supercontinent? The researchers say that the 300-mile-wide crater indicates an impact significantly larger than the one in Chicxulub, thought by some to be the impact that led to the downfall of the dinosaurs. Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (3-4 Eastern). Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.

Guests:
Ralph von Frese
Geophysicist
Professor, Geological Sciences
Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio

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Reid Detchon
Executive Director
Energy Future Coalition
Washington, DC

Daniel Lashof
Deputy Director, Climate Center
Natural Resources Defense Council
Washington, DC

Daniel M. Kammen
Class of 1935 Distinguished Chair in Energy
Energy and Resources Group & Goldman School of Public Policy
Director, Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory
Co-Director, Berkeley Institute of the Environment
University of California
Berkeley, California

Books/Articles Discussed:

von Frese, R R et al. (2006), "Permian-Triassic Mascon in Antarctica", Eos Trans. AGU, 87(36), Jt. Assem. Suppl., Abstract T41A-08.

(find books discussed on previous broadcasts)

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This segment produced by Annette Heist