Microplastics in the soil point to another potential ecosystem collapse

When these particles are eaten by earthworms, the results are not good.

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  • New research from Anglia Ruskin University states that microplastics in soil are causing earthworms to lose weight.
  • Soil affected by microplastics produces less crop yield due to less productive earthworms and lower pH levels.
  • If this trend continues, our entire agricultural system could be compromised.
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plastic waste environment pollution agriculture farming plastic

Serious problem found with gene-edited celebrity cows

The FDA calls out creators of genetically tweaked hornless bulls.

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  • Hornless bull clones turn out to have questionable genomes.
  • Scientists were so confident they didn't even look for transgenic DNA.
  • No one's sure what to do with the offspring.
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biotech farming food microbes synthetic biology cattle cows hornless bull fda genetics

Why synthetic chemicals seem more toxic than natural ones

Some pesticides are about as toxic as table salt.

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Many people believe that chemicals, particularly the man-made ones, are highly dangerous.

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environment agriculture farming public health chemistry

Vodka for your post-apocalypse wingding

It's made from Chernobyl water and rye. What could possibly go wrong?

Image source: Chernobyl Spirits Company/lux3000/Shutterstock/Big Think
  • 33 years later, parts of the exclusion zone may be ready to be reclaimed.
  • The beverage similar to Ukrainian vodka will soon be available.
  • Raise a glass to the renewable Earth.
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agriculture sustainability nuclear energy pollution environment farming biosphere chernobyl disaster

By 2040, 60% of ‘meat’ won’t come from dead animals

Experts say two emerging meat alternatives will challenge the conventional meat industry.


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  • "Novel vegan meat alternatives" and cultured meat will likely become competitors to traditional meat products, the report says.
  • The report was conducted by the consulting firm A.T. Kearney and was based on expert interviews.
  • Cultured meat isn't yet on the market, but could be by 2021.
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technology innovation future biotech farming