For the first time since 2019, fish contaminated with high levels of radioactive cesium have been caught off the coast of the Fukushima Prefecture in Japan on Feb. 22, according to local public broadcaster NHK. Laboratory tests revealed that black rockfish caught at a depth of 24 meters (m) nearly 8.8 kilometers (km) off the coastal town of Shinchi … Continue reading Fish off the coast of Fukushima show high concentrations of radioactive cesium
FDA approves genetically engineered pigs for food and medicine
Genetically engineered pigs will soon be introduced into the American food supply. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just approved the first-of-its-kind, intentional genomic alteration for domestic pigs. The experiment takes animal farming to an entirely new level, introducing genetic alterations that could cause genetic ripple effects for decades to come. The genetically engineered GalSafe pigs will … Continue reading FDA approves genetically engineered pigs for food and medicine
Higher plant biodiversity may help discourage the use of pesticides, reveals study
Plant biodiversity serves as a natural method for controlling pests and can potentially reduce the need for environmentally harmful pesticides, according to a recent study. Researchers from the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) revealed in their report that plant communities with diverse species support insect predator populations while depriving the pests themselves of their preferred food sources. Their findings … Continue reading Higher plant biodiversity may help discourage the use of pesticides, reveals study
Federal court nixes FDA’s approval of genetically engineered “Frankenfish”
In a major win for wild salmon, the Court for the Northern District of California ruled on Nov. 5 that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ignored potential environmental consequences in its approval of genetically engineered salmon produced by the Massachusetts-based AquaBounty Technologies. District Judge Vince Chhabria also said that the FDA violated the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and … Continue reading Federal court nixes FDA’s approval of genetically engineered “Frankenfish”
“Eco-friendly” glitter just as damaging to the environment as conventional glitter, study finds
“Eco-friendly” glitter has become increasingly popular these days, fueled in part by the need to find alternatives to conventional polyethylene terephthalate (PET) glitter, a known environmental risk. However, a new study reveals that so-called eco-friendly glitter is just as damaging to the environment, causing ecological damage to rivers and lakes, as its plastic variant. The report, published in … Continue reading “Eco-friendly” glitter just as damaging to the environment as conventional glitter, study finds
Report: Lead exposure linked to uptick in annual heart disease deaths in the US
Lead exposure may be driving cases of heart disease in the United States, a study published in the Lancet said. The study, which analyzed data on 14,000 adults, noted that the heavy metal contributed to as many as 412,000 premature deaths each year in the United States – a number estimated to be 10 times larger than the figures mentioned in … Continue reading Report: Lead exposure linked to uptick in annual heart disease deaths in the US
Plants can sense, think and communicate, says Italian scientist
Talking to plants is neither an uncommon habit among gardeners and plant enthusiasts, nor is it a modern notion. Strange as it might sound or appear to an onlooker, people talk to their plants for a host of reasons. Some do it as a form of social interaction. Others might talk to their ailing plants … Continue reading Plants can sense, think and communicate, says Italian scientist
Long-term exposure to chemical ingredients in sunscreen is lethal to freshwater organisms, warn scientists
For a lot of people, beach trips and lake excursions are never complete without a tall bottle of sunscreen to smother their skin with before going off for a swim. However, a recent report found that chemical ingredients in sunscreen that leach off of the skin while swimming might be detrimental to freshwater organisms. In a … Continue reading Long-term exposure to chemical ingredients in sunscreen is lethal to freshwater organisms, warn scientists
Scientists warn that microplastics are harming earthworms, plant health and soil pH
Researchers from the Anglia Ruskin University found that microplastic can curb the growth of earthworms, potentially affecting plant and soil health. Earthworms play an important role in the soil ecosystem as they dramatically alter soil structure, nutrient dynamics, water movement and plant growth. But the presence of microplastics is harming earthworms, according to the findings published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. “The … Continue reading Scientists warn that microplastics are harming earthworms, plant health and soil pH
Trees talk to each other – science explains how
It turns out, “talking trees” exist beyond science fiction, says actual science. The idea of trees talking – and humans understanding them – is a hot topic in environmental science. But for Suzanne Simard, a biologist and a pioneer of inter-plant communication research from the University of British Columbia, the idea that trees talk isn’t up for debate. In her 1997 doctoral … Continue reading Trees talk to each other – science explains how
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 