environment

A variety of fresh food products are sold wrapped in polyethylene plastic wrap, which is good for helping keep the food fresh, but ultimately bad for the environment. In an effort to cut down on plastic waste, a newly developed product from BioBag Australia uses non-GMO corn starch and other plant-sourced substances to keep vegetables fresh without problematic plastics. The environmentally-friendly product is already being used in Australia.

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If you want to help protect the environment, stop using the 'delicate wash' cycle on your washing machine, a new study suggests. Researchers with Newcastle University found the delicate wash cycle offered on most washing machines results in more plastic microfibers than other cycle options. These microfibers are flushed out of the machine in the water, ultimately entering the environment.

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Wheat is one of the world's vital crops, joining corn and rice in feeding a vast number of people around the world. Experts have been raising the alarm bell about climate change and its potential impact on these crops for years, warning that multiple crop failures in different places during a single year could devastate food production and lead to widespread famine. The latest study on this matter paints a bleak picture.

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Global warming may lead to a drastic reduction in the availability of an essential omega-3 fatty acid that is needed for brain development in mammals, among other things. Docosahexaenoic acid, more commonly called DHA, is primarily acquired from eating seafood and fish, though it can also be acquired from fatty acid supplements. The production of DHA is mostly reliant on biochemical reactions that are very sensitive to temperature changes.

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It's no secret that fast food is unhealthy and that may be true for more than just humans. A new study has found that crows located in urban environments are suffering from high cholesterol as a direct consequence of fast food consumption, mirroring the same health condition observed in many humans who frequently eat this high-fat convenience food.

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Microplastics, the tiny bits of plastic that cover everything from glitter to fibers rubbed off larger products, can be found mixed in snow in remote places that include the Arctic, according to a new study. Researchers found more than 10,000 microplastics per liter of snow in the Arctic, a surprising number that reveals even the most remote places on Earth aren't protected from humanity's plastics problem.

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Tesla may be best known for its electric cars but an important part of that equation is the battery. And for Tesla to truly become a credible proponent of eco-friendly transportation, it can't settle for just any batteries but has to make its own. Developing sustainable energy sources not just for its cars but for other projects has become just as important for Tesla as making EVs and it as just announced it biggest battery yet. With the Megapack, the company is aiming to help power up utility-scale projects quickly, efficiently, and environment-friendly.

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In the year 2018, LEGO started making SOME brings out of sustainable materials, like plant-based polyethylene. They've not exactly pointed out every single bring that's been made with this new material, as it's far more sensible to start in gradually - wouldn't want a mad rush on old LEGO bricks because they'll never exist again, would we? Now, here in 2019, a new LEGO Treehouse set (from LEGO Ideas) will appear with "all 185 plants and leaves" made of "sustainable materials sourced from sugarcane."

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Over the last several months, the constant summiting of Mount Everest has popped up in the news - almost always for reasons rather negative. This week, the summiting of Mount Everest gained some major internet attention thanks to a feature on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Today we've got both that and this: A bunch of garbage facts that should deter you and your brethren from attempting the once-awesome, now-awful climb to the world's highest peak.

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A new way to explore some of the tiniest life on the planet could have a huge impact on efforts to replace fossil fuels with green alternatives, make crops resistant to drought, and even clean up the environment, researchers have announced. Dubbed BONCAT, the technique allows scientists to better investigate the mysteries of life right under our feet, in the very soil itself.

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More than 30 microbiologists from around the world have warned that microbes are both impacted by climate change and can influence it. The scientists are calling for microbes to be included in climate change research and to increase the use of research, including innovative technologies and for improved education in classrooms.

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The issue with burning fossil fuels in vehicles is that when the fuels burn, carbon dioxide is produced and released into the air contributing to pollution. Researchers are at work on synthetic fuels that are known as carbon-neutral fuels that would be better for the environment. Chemists working on these synthetic fuels recently made a significant breakthrough.

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