#Organic Pollutants Degradation

[delta-remediation]

Unleashing the Power of Biostimulation: A Blueprint to Soil Microbe Optimization for Effective Pollution Treatment

Unmasking Biostimulation

Biostimulation is a cutting-edge application in environmental science, drawing upon the potency of natural processes to rectify man-induced predicaments such as soil pollution.

Deciphering Biostimulation

The heart of biostimulation lies in augmenting the indigenous microbial population dwelling within the soil. This bioremediation process fosters the expansion and functionality of these native microbes, enabling them to degrade organic pollutants with increased efficiency.

The Biostimulation Phenomenon

The DNA of Biostimulation

Biostimulation's lifeblood is to furnish an optimum habitat for microbes. When placed under perfect conditions, these tiny organisms can skillfully dismantle pollutants.

The Biostimulation Blueprint

The biostimulation procedure springs into action with an examination of the soil, quantifying the microbial presence and the degree of contamination. Following this evaluation, a tailored biostimulation strategy is concocted and executed, typically involving nutrient enrichment or other stimulating additives.

Microbes: The Unsung Heroes of Biostimulation

Microorganisms, predominantly bacteria, are the linchpins in the biostimulation system. These minute entities, ubiquitous in the soil, possess the capability to dismantle various pollutants under favorable circumstances.

The Tools of Biostimulation

Nutrient Infusion

Like all life forms, microbes demand nutrients to prosper. Supplying them with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other essential micronutrients can amplify their populace and metabolic vigor.

Emulsified Vegetable Oils

These oils serve as a gradual carbon source, fostering sustained microbial activity in the soil.

Regulation of Moisture and Air

Microbial decomposition often necessitates water and oxygen. Therefore, moisture and air are intermittently pumped into the polluted soil to promote microbial activity.

The Upsides of Biostimulation

Biostimulation proves to be a cost-efficient and eco-friendly strategy. It harnesses nature’s own janitorial squad, thereby negating the use of damaging chemical treatments or costly mechanical extractions.

The Variables in Biostimulation

The triumph of biostimulation is hinged on numerous aspects, including the soil's properties, the contaminants' character, and the native microbial populace. This necessitates exhaustive preliminary evaluations as a universal approach would not suffice.

Biostimulation vs Bioaugmentation

While biostimulation centers on boosting the native microbial community, bioaugmentation is a complementary process that imports specialized microbes into the soil to expedite the degradation procedure.

Biostimulation in the Real World

Spotlight on Biostimulation

Biostimulation has displayed its efficacy in addressing oil spills, industrial waste leaks, and even fallout from nuclear calamities. It is also being probed in the realm of agriculture for superior soil fertility management and pest deterrence.

Biostimulation: The Road Ahead

Amid escalating environmental concerns, biostimulation harbors immense potential. Progress in research and technological advancements might soon canonize this method as a mainstream practice for soil decontamination.

Epilogue Indeed, biostimulation serves as a natural, cost-effective, and efficient antidote to soil pollution. As we journey towards a greener future, employing the prowess of microbes via biostimulation will be instrumental in safeguarding our environment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What underpins biostimulation? Biostimulation pivots on the enhancement of the soil's native microbial community to dismantle organic pollutants.

What influences biostimulation's success rate? Aspects such as soil type, contaminant nature, and the regional microbial population shape the success of biostimulation.

How does biostimulation square up to bioaugmentation? Biostimulation focuses on stimulating the existing microbial community, while bioaugmentation brings specialized microbes into the soil.

What are the common applications of biostimulation? Biostimulation has found utility in handling oil spills, industrial waste leaks, and in agriculture for maintaining soil fertility and pest control.

What lies in store for biostimulation? With mounting environmental apprehensions, biostimulation is poised to become a standard operation for soil decontamination.

[livelocalorganic]

The Impact of Your Food Choices on The Environment

More and more people are becoming aware of the impact their actions have on the environment. One area where our choices can make a significant difference is in our food consumption. The food we eat not only affects our health but also has a profound impact on the environment. As environmentally conscious individuals who value sustainable and organic farming practices, we have the power to make a…

[reasonsforhope]

"Many people know about the Yellowstone wolf miracle. After wolves were reintroduced to the national park in the mid-1990s, streamside bushes that had been grazed to stubble by out-of-control elk populations started bouncing back. Streambank erosion decreased. Creatures such as songbirds that favor greenery along creeks returned. Nearby aspens flourished.

While there is debate about how much of this stemmed from the wolves shrinking the elk population and how much was a subtle shift in elk behavior, the overall change was dramatic. People were captivated by the idea that a single charismatic predator’s return could ripple through an entire ecosystem. The result was trumpeted in publications such as National Geographic.

But have you heard about the sea otters and the salt marshes? Probably not.

It turns out these sleek coastal mammals, hunted nearly to extinction for their plush pelts, can play a wolf-like role in rapidly disappearing salt marshes, according to new research. The findings highlight the transformative power of a top predator, and the potential ecosystem benefits from their return.

“It begs the question: In how many other ecosystems worldwide could the reintroduction of a former top predator yield similar benefits?” said Brian Silliman, a Duke University ecologist involved in the research.

The work focused on Elk Slough, a tidal estuary at the edge of California’s Monterey Bay. The salt marsh lining the slough’s banks has been shrinking for decades. Between 1956 and 2003, the area lost 50% of its salt marshes.

Such tidal marshes are critical to keeping shorelines from eroding into the sea, and they are in decline around the world. The damage is often blamed on a combination of human’s altering coastal water flows, rising seas and nutrient pollution that weakens the roots of marsh plants.

But in Elk Slough, a return of sea otters hinted that their earlier disappearance might have been a factor as well. As many as 300,000 sea otters once swam in the coastal waters of western North America, from Baja California north to the Aleutian Islands. But a fur trade begun by Europeans in the 1700s nearly wiped out the animals, reducing their numbers to just a few thousand by the early 1900s. Southern sea otters, which lived on the California coast, were thought to be extinct until a handful were found in the early 1900s.

In the late 1900s, conservation organizations and government agencies embarked on an effort to revive the southern sea otters, which remain protected under the Endangered Species Act. In Monterey Bay, the Monterey Bay Aquarium selected Elk Slough as a prime place to release orphaned young sea otters taken in by the aquarium.

As the otter numbers grew, the dynamics within the salt marsh changed. Between 2008 and 2018, erosion of tidal creeks in the estuary fell by around 70% as otter numbers recovered from just 11 animals to nearly 120 following a population crash tied to an intense El Niño climate cycle.

While suggestive, those results are hardly bulletproof evidence of a link between otters and erosion. Nor does it explain how that might work.

To get a more detailed picture, the researchers visited 5 small tidal creeks feeding into the main slough. At each one, they enclosed some of the marsh with fencing to keep out otters, while other spots were left open. Over three years, they monitored the diverging fates of the different patches.

The results showed that otter presence made a dramatic difference in the condition of the marsh. They also helped illuminate why this was happening. It comes down to the otters’ appetite for small burrowing crabs that live in the marsh.

Adult otters need to eat around 25% of their body weight every day to endure the cold Pacific Ocean waters, the equivalent of 20 to 25 pounds. And crabs are one of their favorite meals. After three years, crab densities were 68% higher in fenced areas beyond the reach of otters. The number of crab burrows was also higher. At the same time, marsh grasses inside the fences fared worse, with 48% less mass of leaves and stems and 15% less root mass, a critical feature for capturing sediment that could otherwise wash away, the scientists reported in late January in Nature.

The results point to the crabs as a culprit in the decline of the marshes, as they excavate their holes and feed on the plant roots. It also shows the returning otters’ potential as a marsh savior, even in the face of rising sea levels and continued pollution. In tidal creeks with high numbers of otters, creek erosion was just 5 centimeters per year, 69% lower than in creeks with fewer otters and a far cry from earlier erosion of as much as 30 centimeters per year.  

“The return of the sea otters didn’t reverse the losses, but it did slow them to a point that these systems could restabilize despite all the other pressures they are subject to,” said Brent Hughes, a biology professor at Sonoma State University and former postdoctoral researcher in Silliman’s Duke lab.

The findings raise the question of whether other coastal ecosystems might benefit from a return of top predators. The scientists note that a number of these places were once filled with such toothy creatures as bears, crocodiles, sharks, wolves, lions and dolphins. Sea otters are still largely absent along much of the West Coast.

As people wrestle to hold back the seas and revive their ailing coasts, a predator revival could offer relatively cheap and effective assistance. “It would cost millions of dollars for humans to rebuild these creek banks and restore these marshes,” Silliman said of Elk Slough. “The sea otters are stabilizing them for free in exchange for an all-you-can-eat crab feast.”"

-via Anthropocene Magazine, February 7, 2024

[headspace-hotel]

This is approximate since calculations vary, but somewhere in the neighborhood of 20% of carbon emissions since the Industrial Revolution have come from destruction of terrestrial ecosystems—wetland destruction, deforestation, degradation of grasslands and so on

Soil, soil communities, root systems, carbonate rock, wood, living plants, and peat in wetlands—all holds carbon

Now consider what plants do for you

The mere sight of plants and trees improves mental and physical health. I won't elaborate much more upon this, the positive effects are incredible and overwhelming.

Trees and vines that shade your home and outdoor areas: reduce the cost of cooling, meaning less electricity is used. Shade reduces the risk of death in extreme heat events.

(Trees also reduce light and noise pollution)

Edible plants (many wild plants and many plants you can grow): provide you with food reducing your dependence on industrial agriculture and cars to reach supermarkets

Community gardens and orchards: creates resilience and interdependence among small local communities, reducing the power of capitalism and increasing the ability of individuals to organize and create change. Makes more sustainable and plant based diets accessible to people for whom they would ordinarily be inaccessible

Compost piles for gardening: less greenhouse gas emissions than result from waste breaking down anaerobically in landfills

No more traditional lawns: much less use of gas powered lawn mowers, weed whackers etc. which are, by themselves, significant contributions to carbon emissions and urban pollution

Crafting and creating using plants: Locally available wild plant species can be used by local crafters and creators for baskets and containers, yarn, fabrics, dyes, and the like, resulting in less dependence on unsustainable and unethical global industries

More people growing and gathering edible and useful plants and using them = larger body of practical, scientific and technological insights to draw from in order to solve future problems

In conclusion: Plants

[cow-stealin-gal]

List of Palestine Campaigns

Notes:

some or most of these are the same ones from my previous pinned post.

the owner of Amani and Eman's campaign has stopped donations

Laila Shaqqoura (€27,610 / €45,000)

@lailashaqoura

According to Ahmed Shaqquora, the organizer of the campaign, Laila is a young talented artist who planned to be a dentist and a collection artist before the genocide started. Laila's family at the time of the campaign consisted of Bassam, his wife, and their five children (Laila and Baara were among the mentioned children).

As of June 3rd, Laila and her pregnant mother had fled to Khan Younis where they continue to suffer from horrible living conditions. She started the campaign with the goal of saving her mother from the grave danger that could ultimately kill them. Their campaigns have been verified by nabulsi, fallahifag, el-shab-hussein, ibtisams, and sayruq.

https://gofund.me/f41f2b80

--

Tahani and her family ($18,193 / $50,000)

@tahanibaby

Tahani was an assistant professor at an university who studied Chemistry and Digital Marketing before she lost it once the genocide started.

As of July (and perhaps August), Tahani's family have been living in the prison of fear and despair from the constant reminders of death. From constant street killings to a siege that likely left many casualties to non-stop stomach pains from hunger to the relentless heat that burns them every day. Their mental state is degrading as I write this post.

--

Zaen and Yehya Sehab (€4,294 / €25,000)

@mohammedshehabnew1

Muhammed Sehab is a father of two sons who created a campaign to support his sick parents and to allow his family to flee Gaza from the onslaught of murder throughout the war.

However, due to the lack of donations they fear that they may die before they can escape as the bombing has killed some of their family members, loved ones, and friends. They have endured inhumane conditions, various forms of oppression, disease, pollution, lack of security and medical treatment.

They have been repeatedly displaced from various shelters, tents, and "safe zones" around nine times, which is around the number of times that many families have been displaced.

--

Siraj's Family [Stage 1: Rebuilding their home]

($28,087 / $82,000)

@siraj2024

Siraj is a father who built his family home through ten tireless years of effort that stretched for hours that broke his wallet (huge debt), and yet he also made it with the love for his family.

But it was all destroyed when the IDF unleashed their vicious bombing attacks throughout Gaza, which engulfed Siraj's family home in flames. After the traumatic experience, they had to scramble six times into various tents that barely comforted them, let alone provide safety. His children has lost their chance to enjoy their childhoods as they have no choice but to collect water over lengthy journeys and continuously clean the tents that they reside in.

Not only that, but the family has endured constant threats and evacuation orders day and night, leaving them exhausted.

As of today, Siraj had to trek around 3 kilometers (almost 2 miles) just to receive an internet signal to relay a message that gave me with a twinge of guilt. He remarks on the suffering that the families in Gaza constantly endure where many died and the stark contrast with the families living outside of Gaza, who spend quality time in comfort among themselves. He mentions a recent massacre of over a hundred people in a shelter at the Al-Tabeen School.

He continues to write as much he can with whatever internet connection he is given.

[mindblowingscience]

Leiden Ph.D. candidate Jo-Anne Verschoor discovered that nearly 20% of the bacterial strains she studied could degrade plastic, though they needed some encouragement to do so. "Bacteria are just like people," says Verschoor. Her research was published in the journal Communications Biology. Some of the world's smallest organisms could play a significant role in solving the problem of plastic pollution. Increasingly, it is being discovered how certain bacteria can break down plastic into small particles, which can then be recycled. Moreover, Verschoor's research reveals that many more bacteria than previously thought can degrade certain types of plastics. The 27-year-old Leiden microbiologist was able to use a large collection of Streptomyces bacteria, which were already available at the university as scientists use them in the search for new antibiotics.

Continue Reading.

[dandelionsresilience]

Good News - June 8-14

Like these weekly compilations? Tip me at $Kaybarr1735! And if you tip me and give me a way to contact you, at the end of the month I'll send you a link to all of the articles I found but didn't use each week!

1. Rare foal born on estate for first time in 100 years

“The Food Museum at Abbot's Hall in Stowmarket, Suffolk, is home to a small number of Suffolk Punch horses - a breed considered critically endangered by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust. A female foal was born on Saturday and has been named Abbots Juno to honour the last horse born at the museum in 1924. [...] Juno is just one of 12 fillies born so far this year in the country and she could potentially help produce more of the breed in the future.”

2. The cement that could turn your house into a giant battery

“[Scientists] at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have found a way of creating an energy storage device known as a supercapacitor from three basic, cheap materials – water, cement and a soot-like substance called carbon black. [... Supercapacitators] can charge much more quickly than a lithium ion battery and don't suffer from the same levels of degradation in performance. [... Future applications of this concrete might include] roads that store solar energy and then release it to recharge electric cars wirelessly as they drive along a road [... and] energy-storing foundations of houses.”

3. New road lights, fewer dead insects—insect-friendly lighting successfully tested

“Tailored and shielded road lights make the light source almost invisible outside the illuminated area and significantly reduces the lethal attraction for flying insects in different environments. [...] The new LED luminaires deliver more focused light, reduce spill light, and are shielded above and to the side to minimize light pollution. [... In contrast,] dimming the conventional lights by a factor of 5 had no significant effect on insect attraction.”

4. When LGBTQ health is at stake, patient navigators are ready to help

“[S]ome health care systems have begun to offer guides, or navigators, to get people the help they need. [... W]hether they're just looking for a new doctor or taking the first step toward getting gender-affirming care, "a lot of our patients really benefit from having someone like me who is there to make sure that they are getting connected with a person who is immediately going to provide a safe environment for them." [... A navigator] also connects people with LGBTQ community organizations, social groups and peer support groups.”

5. Tech company to help tackle invasive plant species

“Himalayan balsam has very sugary nectar which tempts bees and other pollinators away from native plants, thereby preventing them from producing seed. It outcompetes native plant species for resources such as sunlight, space and nutrients. [...] The volunteer scheme is open to all GWT WilderGlos users who have a smartphone and can download the Crowdorsa app, where they can then earn up to 25p per square meter of Balsam removed.”

6. [Fish & Wildlife] Service Provides Over $14 Million to Benefit Local Communities, Clean Waterways and Recreational Boaters

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is distributing more than $14 million in Clean Vessel Act grants to improve water quality and increase opportunities for fishing, shellfish harvests and safe swimming in the nation’s waterways. By helping recreational boaters properly dispose of sewage, this year’s grants will improve conditions for local communities, wildlife and recreational boaters in 18 states and Guam.”

7. Bornean clouded leopard family filmed in wild for first time ever

“Camera traps in Tanjung Puting National Park in Indonesian Borneo have captured a Bornean clouded leopard mother and her two cubs wandering through a forest. It's the first time a family of these endangered leopards has been caught on camera in the wild, according [to] staff from the Orangutan Foundation who placed camera traps throughout the forest to learn more about the elusive species.”

8. Toy library helps parents save money 'and the planet'

“Started in 2015 by Annie Berry, South Bristol's toy library aims to reduce waste and allow more children access to more - and sometimes expensive - toys. [...] Ms Berry partnered with the St Philips recycling centre on a pilot project to rescue items back from landfill, bringing more toys into the library. [...] [P]eople use it to support the environment, take out toys that they might not have the space for at home or be able to afford, and allow children to pick non-gender specific toys.”

9. Chicago Receives $3M Grant to Inventory Its Trees and Create Plan to Manage City’s Urban Forest

“The Chicago Park District received a $1.48 million grant [“made available through the federal Inflation Reduction Act”] to complete a 100% inventory of its estimated 250,000 trees, develop an urban forestry management plan and plant 200 trees in disadvantaged areas with the highest need. As with the city, development of the management plan is expected to involve significant community input.”

10. Strong Public Support for Indigenous Co-Stewardship Plan for Bears Ears National Monument

“[The NFW has a] plan to collaboratively steward Bears Ears National Monument to safeguard wildlife, protect cultural resources, and better manage outdoor recreation. The plan was the result of a two-year collaboration among the five Tribes of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition and upholds Tribal sovereignty, incorporates Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and responsibly manages the monument for hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation while ensuring the continued health of the ecosystem.”

June 1-7 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[beakers-and-telescopes]

Genetically Modified Bacteria Produce Energy From Wastewater

E. Coli is one of the most widely studied bacteria studied in academic research.  Though most people probably associate it with food/water borne illness, most strains of E. Coli are completely harmless.  They even occur naturally within your intestines.  Now, scientists at EPFL have engineered a strain of E. Coli that can generate electricity.

The survival of bacteria depends on redox reactions.  Bacteria use these reactions to interconvert chemicals in order to grow and metabolize.  Since bacteria are an inexhaustible natural resource, many bacterial reactions have been industrially implemented, both for creating or consuming chemical substrates.  For instance, you may have heard about researchers discovering bacteria that can break down and metabolize plastic, the benefits of which are obvious.  Some of these bacterial reactions are anabolic, which means that they need to be provided external energy in order to carry it out, but others are catabolic, which means that the reactions actually create energy.  

Some bacteria, such as Shewanella oneidensis, can create electricity as they metabolize.  This could be useful to a number of green applications, such as bioelectricity generation from organic substrates, reductive extracellular synthesis of valuable products such as nanoparticles and polymers, degradation of pollutants for bioremediation, and bioelectronic sensing.  However, electricity producing bacteria such as Shewanella oneidensis tend to be very specific.  They need strict conditions in order to survive, and they only produce electricity in the presence of certain chemicals.  

The method that Shewanella oneidensis uses to generate electricity is called extracellular electron transfer (EET).  This means that the cell uses a pathway of proteins and iron compounds called hemes to transfer an electron out of the cell.  Bacteria have an inner and outer cell membrane, so this pathway spans both of them, along with the periplasmic space between.  In the past, scientists have tried to engineer hardier bacteria such as E. Coli with this electron-generating ability.  It worked… a little bit.  They were only able to create a partial EET pathway, so the amount of electricity generated was fairly small.

Now, the EPFL researchers have managed to create a full pathway and triple the amount of electricity that E. Coli can produce.  "Instead of putting energy into the system to process organic waste, we are producing electricity while processing organic waste at the same time -- hitting two birds with one stone!" says Boghossian, a professor at EPFL. "We even tested our technology directly on wastewater that we collected from Les Brasseurs, a local brewery in Lausanne. The exotic electric microbes weren't even able to survive, whereas our bioengineered electric bacteria were able to flourish exponentially by feeding off this waste."

This development is still in the early stages, but it could have exciting implications both in wastewater processing and beyond.

"Our work is quite timely, as engineered bioelectric microbes are pushing the boundaries in more and more real-world applications" says Mouhib, the lead author of the manuscript. "We have set a new record compared to the previous state-of-the-art, which relied only on a partial pathway, and compared to the microbe that was used in one of the biggest papers recently published in the field. With all the current research efforts in the field, we are excited about the future of bioelectric bacteria, and can't wait for us and others to push this technology into new scales."

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Living plastics: A new solution for plastic degradation through synthetic biology

A study published in Nature Chemical Biology leverages the natural resilience of spores, which can endure extreme environmental conditions, by programming them to secrete plastic-degrading enzymes under specific circumstances. These spores are embedded into plastic matrices through standard plastic processing methods, such as high temperature, high pressure, or the use of organic solvents. In normal conditions, the spores remain dormant, ensuring the plastic's stable performance. However, when exposed to specific triggers like surface erosion or composting, the spores activate and initiate the degradation process, leading to the plastic's complete breakdown. The invention of plastics has improved our daily lives, but the massive production and improper disposal of plastic waste have made plastic pollution a major environmental issue. In 2016, Yoshida and team discovered a bacterium, Ideonella sakaiensis, in poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET)-contaminated soil near a recycling facility in Japan. This bacterium can grow using PET as its main carbon source by producing two key enzymes: PETase and MHETase.

Read more.

[rogueconservationcorp]

Ways the average person can raise awareness for World Wetlands Day!

There are several ways the average person can raise awareness for World Wetlands Day:

Share information about wetlands and the importance of their conservation on social media. Use the hashtag #WorldWetlandsDay to join the conversation and share facts, photos, and personal experiences related to wetlands.

Participate in local events and activities to raise awareness about wetlands. Many organizations host events such as educational walks, bird-watching tours, and conservation projects that are open to the public.

Write to your representatives and urge them to support wetland conservation efforts. You can also call on them to protect wetlands from development and pollution, and to support the restoration of degraded wetland habitats.

Educate others about wetlands by sharing information and resources with family, friends, and community members.

Take personal actions to protect wetlands in your own community by participating in clean-up efforts, promoting sustainable use of wetlands, and encouraging others to do the same.

Support organizations that work to protect wetlands and their biodiversity. You can donate money or time to help wetland conservation efforts.

Lastly, you can also make conscious choices that help wetlands, such as using natural fertilizer in your garden, reducing your water consumption and using water-saving devices, and choosing products that are environmentally friendly.

Remember, World Wetlands Day is not only a day to raise awareness but also to take action to protect wetlands and ensure that they are around for generations to come.

[marveltrumpshate]

Environment & Natural Disasters

As we've all noticed with increasing alarm, natural disasters are occurring with more violence and regularity. The following organizations focus on responding to the climate crisis and protecting the planet as well as groups impacted by climate issues.

For more information on donation methods and accepted currencies, please refer to our list of organizations page.

Clean Air Task Force

As we've seen for a long time now but especially this year with constant natural disasters and alarming news from all over the world, climate change is real and we need to do something about it. Over the past 25 years, CATF, a group of climate and energy experts who think outside the box to solve the climate crisis, has pushed for technology innovations, legal advocacy, research, and policy changes. Their goal is to achieve a zero-emissions, high-energy planet at an affordable cost.

Coalition for Rainforest Nations

Boasting a voluntary membership of over 50 rainforest nations, CORN provides a single voice to countries that didn’t cause the climate emergency but nevertheless feel the brunt of it daily. CORN originated the global conservation mechanism Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) to stop deforestation. REDD+ was successfully mandated in the Paris Climate Agreement (2015) and covers 90% of the world’s tropical rainforests.  

Good Food Institute 

Environmental advocates have long said that the use of animal proteins is one of the least sustainable parts of our food system and mass meat production and consumption put a large burden on the planet. GFI works to create sustainable food sources worldwide, specifically alternative protein sources such as plant-based, cultivated, and fermentation-derived meats. Through their innovation, scientific research, policy advocacy, and public and corporate education, they aim to mitigate the environmental impact of our food system, decrease the risk of zoonotic disease, and ultimately feed more people with fewer resources. 

International Rescue Committee 

Founded in 1933, the IRC is a long-standing trusted partner in supporting those whose lives have been upended by sudden violence, political or natural. They are no stranger to areas of disaster and conflict throughout the world as they currently work in 40 countries. The IRC provides emergency aid and long-term assistance, including refugee settlement, and focuses on health, education, economic well-being, empowerment, and safety. 

Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF)

Odds are you’ve heard of MSF, the global organization that sends trained medical professionals to the places they’re needed most. MSF has been working globally for over 50 years, providing medical assistance to people affected by conflict, epidemics, disasters, or exclusion from healthcare—no matter what. They’re guided by principles of independence, impartiality, and neutrality to global political policies or movements. 

Oceana

Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization for ocean conservation. To protect and restore the world’s oceans, they campaign globally for policies that stop overfishing and plastic pollution, protect habitats and the climate, and increase biodiversity. Oceana conducts its own scientific research and expeditions, is engaged in grassroots activism, and is involved in recommending and supporting policies and litigation.

Waterkeeper Alliance

In 1966, this movement was started by a band of blue-collar fishermen pushing back against industrial polluters, and their tough spirit remains intact through the 300+ local community groups that make up the global Waterkeeper Alliance today. The Alliance works to ensure, preserve, and protect clean and abundant water for all people and creatures. Their programs are diverse, spanning from patrolling waterways against polluters to advocating for environmental laws in courtrooms and town halls and educating in classrooms.

World Central Kitchen

Started by Chef José Andrés, WCK makes sure that people are fed in the wake of humanitarian, climate, and community crises. Their programs advance human and environmental health, offer access to professional culinary training, create jobs, and improve food security. WCK also teaches food safety and cooking classes to native people who live where disasters have occurred, so they may open restaurants and support the local economy more permanently. You can follow where WCK is currently on the ground assisting and feeding people affected by natural and man-made crises here.

[artofdeductionbysholmes]

We may have a problem with the so-called fiancé, @artofdeductionbysholmes I lost sight of him…

Any update on the lab results? @artofdeductionbysholmes @mollyatthemorgue

The question is: did he disappear on his own terms, or was his disappearance forced?

And yes, I just received @mollyatthemorgue Molly's lab report. See below.

[ID: 3 screenshots of a lab report

Lab Report

Subject: Examination of Paper Sample

Date of Report: June 2, 2024

Lab Technician: Hooper, Molly

Sample ID: Paper-2024-371

Introduction

The purpose of this lab report is to present the findings from the examination of a piece of paper. The analysis aims to identify the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the paper, and any potential indicators of its environment and exposure history.

Sample Description

Type: Paper 

Condition on Receipt: Intact with minor surface wear, slightly discoloured.

Methods of Analysis

Visual Inspection

Microscopic Examination

Chemical Analysis

X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

Microbiological Assays

Moisture Content Analysis

Odour Analysis

Results

1. Visual Inspection

Appearance: The paper showed slight discoloration, with faint yellowish-brown stains.

Surface Condition: Minor abrasions were noted. Some dirt and dust particles were visible.

2. Microscopic Examination

Fibre Integrity: The cellulose fibres were mostly intact, with minor signs of surface wear.

Debris: Presence of small soil particles and other unidentified debris.

3. Chemical Analysis

X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF):

Detected Elements: Trace amounts of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr).

Surface Contaminants: Minor presence of inorganic substances.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS):

Organic Compounds: Detected small amounts of hydrocarbons and other organic pollutants.

Residues: Identified residual chemicals from inks and dyes, with some degradation products.

4. Microbiological Assays

Bacterial Presence: Identified bacterial species including Bacillus and Pseudomonas spp.

Fungal Presence: Traces of fungal spores, likely Aspergillus and Penicillium spp.

5. Moisture Content Analysis

Moisture Level: Moderate moisture content of 12%.

Chemical Composition: The moisture contained slight acidic properties.

6. Odour Analysis

Detected Odours: Mild, musty odour with hints of organic decay.

Discussion

The examination of the paper sample indicates several key findings:

The physical condition and minor wear suggest it was exposed to an environment with abrasive materials and some physical stress.

The presence of heavy metals and organic pollutants detected by XRF and GC-MS indicates exposure to a polluted environment, potentially involving industrial or waste materials.

Microbial assays revealed early stages of microbial colonisation by bacteria and fungi typically associated with organic material decomposition.

The moderate moisture content and slight acidity suggest exposure to a moist environment with some chemical interactions.

Odour analysis confirmed the presence of organic decay-related gases.

The combination of physical wear, chemical contaminants, microbial presence, and environmental indicators suggests that the paper may have been exposed to a mixed waste or polluted environment. The findings are consistent with environments such as waste disposal sites, polluted industrial areas, or other locations with significant organic and inorganic contaminants.

Conclusion

The paper sample shows signs of exposure to a polluted and possibly waste-rich environment. The results indicate physical wear, contamination by heavy metals and organic pollutants, microbial activity, and environmental interactions that are typical of such conditions. Further context about the paper's origin could provide more specific insights.

Lab Technician Signature:

[signature of Molly Hooper]

Reviewed By:

Patrick Miller

/end ID]

[reasonsforhope]

"Marginal improvements to agricultural soils around the world would store enough carbon to keep the world within 1.5C of global heating, new research suggests.

Farming techniques that improve long-term fertility and yields can also help to store more carbon in soils but are often ignored in favor of intensive techniques using large amounts of artificial fertilizer, much of it wasted, that can increase greenhouse gas emissions.

Using better farming techniques to store 1 percent more carbon in about half of the world’s agricultural soils would be enough to absorb about 31 gigatons of carbon dioxide a year, according to new data. That amount is not far off the 32 gigaton gap between current planned emissions reduction globally per year and the amount of carbon that must be cut by 2030 to stay within 1.5C.

The estimates were carried out by Jacqueline McGlade, the former chief scientist at the UN environment program and former executive director of the European Environment Agency. She found that storing more carbon in the top 30 centimeters of agricultural soils would be feasible in many regions where soils are currently degraded.

McGlade now leads a commercial organization that sells soil data to farmers. Downforce Technologies uses publicly available global data, satellite images, and lidar to assess in detail how much carbon is stored in soils, which can now be done down to the level of individual fields.

“Outside the farming sector, people do not understand how important soils are to the climate,” said McGlade. “Changing farming could make soils carbon negative, making them absorb carbon, and reducing the cost of farming.”

She said farmers could face a short-term cost while they changed their methods, away from the overuse of artificial fertilizer, but after a transition period of two to three years their yields would improve and their soils would be much healthier...

Arable farmers could sequester more carbon within their soils by changing their crop rotation, planting cover crops such as clover, or using direct drilling, which allows crops to be planted without the need for ploughing. Livestock farmers could improve their soils by growing more native grasses.

Hedgerows also help to sequester carbon in the soil, because they have large underground networks of mycorrhizal fungi and microbes that can extend meters into the field. Farmers have spent decades removing hedgerows to make intensive farming easier, but restoring them, and maintaining existing hedgerows, would improve biodiversity, reduce the erosion of topsoil, and help to stop harmful agricultural runoff, which is a key polluter of rivers."

-via The Grist, July 8, 2023

[thenamesblurrito]

ask dump fourteen(? pretty sure it's fourteen)

haven't done this in a long time! for new followers, this is all questions about SNAP, my magical girl tf fan canon

lore topics this time are: pollution, spambots, the Onyx Triptych's powers, v-tubing, Depression era food, squishing Optimus, monoformers, Rodimus's flames as a shield, hero transformations, and Ariel vs boar

uhhhh probably pretty similar to what creates pollution here on Earth, just with different effects since it's not an organic ecosystem? "adapted to it" is kind of impossible to answer though, considering how many forms of "pollution" there can be. strip mining, pumping liquids or gas, and excessive drilling will end up dumping a lot of dirt and byproduct into the surrounding area, only it's less likely to be toxic. more like covering the area in rubble, runoff, or mudslides than "pollution", bc heavy metals are the norm there, and leaving large valleys, caves, or empty cavities in the crust that may make the area unsafe to navigate. one of the usual bad effects is accidentally or on purpose diverting the flow of energon in the area, or even damaging hotspots and leylines. on Earth this would be the equivalent of damming/draining a river, messing up the water table, removing citywide plumbing, or cutting power for weeks/months with no fix. their landfills aren't pollutants so much as they are recycling on a planetary level

airborne pollution is less of an issue, not bc they don't have a lot of "pollutants" in their atmosphere but bc the mixture of gasses is less important to their ecosystem than it is to ours. they've got weather control stations scattered around Cybertron (first ask here) and some of that work is air purification/atmospheric preservation. fine grit and dust can have negative effects, in the same way volcanic ash getting into machinery or blanketing roads can be detrimental, and they often have issues with heavy precipitation causing floods, so those are the usual culprits for airborne elements

probably the thing most widely considered to be pollution is rust, even tho it's a perfectly natural part of Cybertron's ecosystem. the Rust Sea is like that naturally and should be like that, but the harsh effects of rust still give it a cultural connotation of a polluted wasteland. huge patches of rust, oxidization, or other enbrittlement outside of the Rust Sea can be a sign of environmental degradation which may be caused by pollution, but not necessarily. the other big one is organic material, often fungi, molds, or bacteria that have adapted to live on metals or plastics and form big colonies that outstrip the ecological balance of the area to the point of "pollution". this can happen with invasive species from Eukaris or Caminus as well. actually speaking of which, Eukaris as a technoorganic ecosystem and Caminus with some native organic flora would be more susceptible to the kinds of pollution we're familiar with than other planets

GOD. FROID REALLY WOULD, THE LOSER AHFHGKF. i'm taking this ask as an online suspicious ad/random phone call asking for ur credit card info type of scam and not just any situation of someone lying

first of all, Soundwave and minicons would be the scammers, of course. uhhh Rodimus is p easy to dupe if it's about the right thing or if he's not paying attention. Windblade has her moments of naivety which would make her a potential scam target if her cityspeaking didn't often give her a heads up. Chromia WILL click on ragebait just constantly and really needs to invest in an adblocker for this reason. Hellscream, if he spent his time on a computer, may get suckered by beauty scams and consider buying into an MLM. Ariel can be convinced that she broke some rule or another fairly easily, but the trouble is that can't be used to scare her into participating with a scam bc she thinks breaking rules is a fun pastime

Orion is susceptible to begging and playing nice by ppl irl like Sentinel but not rly online scam stuff. Minimus would accidentally pick up the phone for an insurance scammer and then spend the next hour lecturing them about how this is not how anything works and here is every single law and procedure about it. Blitzwing would accidentally pick up the phone for an insurance scammer, realize it, and then scream and pretend to die in a car crash to freak them out. Makeshift would probably do the same

as for non heroes: Oil Slick has definitely gotten his credit card info stolen like, seven times. TG unironically believes in MLMs. Swindle is an even bigger scammer than Soundwave

could not locate the post this is quoting rip. i'm certain i mentioned this somewhere as a one off but i cannot for the life of me find it so! lemme just say it all here

the Onyx Triptych mask is primarily an othersight related relic, which is sorta a catch all term for any kind of vision-like extrasensory perception like Drift, Soundwave, Cyclonus, etc. each of the three masks can hone in on different things. Mournsong sees the trails of sparks moving thru life to death ala sunrise to sunset, and can see them going to/existing in the Well. Predator sees into those sparks, into the person they are, what they have done, the ripples they have left, and so on, and then track them that way like a bloodhound. Farsight sees… potential? or metaphors made real? or places and times and realities that aren’t this one shaped by the concept of people, in a confusing and dazzling display of Everything that (probably) means Nothing. it doesn’t matter which face Triptych is wearing at the moment, those visions are technically available to him all at once, the masks each are focusing tools that block out a “spectrum” of othersight so he can pick the right thing to look at

the way he sees sparks, dead or alive, isn’t like seeing ghosts! Drift sees them as people, faces and frames and echoes of who they were and what they did. Triptych sees literal sparks, zooming around like comets, leaving afterimages looping back and forth wherever they go like infinite comet tails. kind of like looking at a long exposure photo with those long light trails! and it’s just sight, it’s not interaction really, unlike Drift who can “feel” the ghosts in a way that lets him speak with them if they’re strong enough to sense him back. Triptych uses his othersight more to hunt down living people (or at least, the living ppl with sparks he manages to identify in all that visual noise. they’re just balls of light, they don’t come with name tags!) bc he can see where they’ve been + what they might be doing + what kind of creature they are no matter the distance. it’s handy when he shows up late to the monster of the week and has to track down the other cons

the experience of being Triptych is basically the visual equivalent of this song, and explains why he’s so… like that. even tho Blitzwing tries rly hard to be a chill guy and manages his triple fracture pretty well, it all goes out the window when he powers up and leans into the crazy. this is uhhh kind of detrimental to his mental health, and he knows it, but who said teenagers make wise decisions???

re: the ghost interview thing, that’s more likely to be a Deadlock moment, since his form of othersight and empathy is much more fitting. comparatively, he can’t actually see into the afterlife like Triptych can tho!

i mean... i guess? something about my brain means i hate watching videos that aren't movies/documentaries (and sometimes even then) so streamers and youtube in general aren't my forte. i'd imagine generating a virtual avatar for a mech is a lot quicker and the use of it a lot smoother, especially via object interface, so yeah sure! i know nothing about the world of v-tubing tho so that's kind of all i can comment on?

i missed "era" the first time i read this and really went geez what depressed person is making peanut filled onions in the depths of their apathy???

it's probably going to be just the staples of iron (and other metals) and energon in various forms, most conveniently a silted shake, and if they're lucky enough to live anywhere edible cyberflora grow, some supplemental fruits/veggies. they can mix up the form and presentation for personal preference, like crystal energon vs liquefied fuel, etc, but that's always going to be the cheapest and most necessary things to eat that are easy to acquire. heck, plenty of people who aren't poor or suffering a depression economy live exclusively off silted shakes just for efficiency

uhhh if i'm going for realism, no he couldn't survive being squashed literally flat bc that would destroy his body and rupture his spark (not that Optimus dying is a big deal tbh)

if i'm going for a funnie cartoon logic gag which would definitely fit in this magical girl anime genre, then sure! Pancake Prime roll out!

the most relevant analogue to monoformers in SNAP would be Mutacons, an actual frametype like triple-changers. people who have lost the ability to transform due to injury or the like (ala Terminus and his loss of mobility) aren't really called monoformers, they're just called disabled. or some other less savory terms, depending on if the speaker is a bigot, i suppose

considering functionism is all about sorting people according to both useful body types and social connections, people who are unable to transform get the short end of the stick by a big margin. if their function doesn't require transformation, if their support network is solid, etc, then they will probably be okay, but it won't be fun. and there isn't really a "monoformer movement" here either, for a variety of reasons. maybe surgically removing the t-cog was something that occurred in the past, maybe voluntarily or maybe at the command of a despot, idk, but it's not a thing currently

oh sure. depends on the speed/material of the projectile, but Rodimus could certainly spew enough flame to burn something away or at least change trajectory with the heat/wind/pressure. for some examples, if it's like uhh... Cheetor at top speed? no way, some fire isn't going to do anything to someone moving that fast. if it's Optimus barrelling thru in truck mode? mmmm probably not going actually stop him, it's just fire and not an actual explosion or physical force that could push Optimus back, but the heat would do some damage and the light may sour his aim. bullets? i'm actually not sure about this one, he could definitely get it hot enough that bullets melt midair but the splatter of molten metal may not be great either. nets or other capture gear thrown by Enforcers? oh sure that's a piece of cake to burn off

huh, i hadn't even thought of this before... i think they could absolutely go from kid root mode to hero alt mode, or vice versa/whatever combination thereof. considering their hero forms are, technically, straight up different bodies that they manifest and inhabit when powering up, the root and alt modes of both aren't necessarily linked (and aren't even equivalent for folks like Blackarachnia or Deadlock who become triple-changer heroes, or Makeshift who has no alt mode)

(post this is referring to)

she's kind of hardcore so she would actually try going up against a beryllium boar! would she win? debatable. her odds are much better now that she can become Elita 1. assuming she could successfully slaughter a boar, she may not know exactly what to do from there, as she's more on the violence side than the culinary skills side, but she would at least be able to stomach killing/processing/eating an animal!

[wachinyeya]

Since 2019, The Ocean Cleanup has been collecting the floating plastics for later recycling. And with a new $15 million grant from the Helmsley Charitable Trust — tied to World Ocean Day on June 8 — the group will continue its efforts to remove the garbage, a $189 million project that aims to ultimately remove 15 million pounds of plastic.

—

The latest iteration of the organization's system, funded by the Helmsley grant, involves a ship, which takes about five days to even reach the site, the largest plastic accumulation zone in the world. The ship then drags a nearly mile-and-a-half-long barrier at about walking pace to collect the plastic. AI monitoring allows the ship to steer toward the areas with the greatest plastic density, and underwater cameras monitor for any marine animal life caught in the "retention zone." If an animal is spotted, a safety hatch opens to allow the animal to escape.

"It was mind blowing," says Egger, who has completed the trip to the patch twice. "You have this pristine environment. It's a beautiful open ocean and you see a toothbrush just floating by, you see a kid's toy floating by. You realize the extent of the pollution that we caused is so vast that we created this garbage patch in the middle of the open ocean far away from human beings."

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch got its name from oceanographer Charles J. Moore, who coined the term after returning from a sailing race in 1997. About 85% of marine litter is plastic, according to the United Nations. Once these plastics enter a gyre, or an ocean vortex, they stay there until they degrade to microplastics.

"That garbage isn't going anywhere, it's staying in that location for the most part, breaking down, and entering our food system," said the trust's Panzierer. "It is so important for us to work collectively as an entire society to remove this because it has not only health problems for America, but has health problems for the entire globe."

Ocean plastics harm marine life, too. Animals often confuse the plastics for food because of their size and color, which can lead to malnutrition. Sea turtles caught in fisheries operating around the patch can have up to 74% of their diets composed of ocean plastics, according to The Ocean Cleanup.

And ocean wildlife can get caught and die in discarded fishing nets, also known as ghost nets, which make up 46 percent of the mass of the garbage patch according to the Ocean Cleanup.

In addition to the health effects of ocean plastic pollution, there are economic costs too — plastics in the ocean cost roughly $13 billion per year, including the clean up costs and financial losses to fisheries and other industries, according to the United Nations. The new funding will help the organization, which relies on donations, transition to using the new, more efficient cleanup system and scale it up.

To clean up the entire patch, Egger said, would cost billions.

The United Nations is currently negotiating a global plastics treaty that aims to develop a legally binding agreement to address plastic pollution by the end 2024.

[mindblowingscience]

The Arctic region is being actively developed by humans, but it negatively affects the environment. The fact is that Arctic soils, which contain little organic matter, are susceptible to the toxic effects of hydrocarbons that get there as a result of the use of diesel fuel for energy and technology. Pollution is complicated by permafrost conditions—hydrocarbons are "locked" in the soil. This makes it very difficult to physically remove them from the soil without damaging the permafrost.

Continue Reading.