Dow Chemical Seeks Approval for GM “Agent Orange” Soybeans and Corn
In a proposed “solution” to the herbicide-resistant weeds that have sprung up largely thanks to Monsanto's “RoundUp Ready” crops, Dow Chemical, the infamous bioengineer of Napalm and Agent Orange, is trying to get a new GMO approved by the USDA—composed of half of the ingredients of Agent Orange itself. The proposed new GM variety of corn and soybeans is...
Study: Body Size Influences Exercise Attitudes
A new study conducted by psychologists at Southwest University in Chongqing, China discovered that the brains of overweight individuals have a very different response to images of physical activity than the brains of average weight individuals. Researchers surveyed 13 healthy women of an average weight, as well as 13 women who were considered overweight or obese. At the beginning of...
American Grasslands Disappearing – Why it Matters
In a recent editorial, Dan Charles of National Public Radio (NPR) brought to light the dramatic reduction in US grasslands over the past decade. The reason for the decimation? High grain prices have farmers buying up—and mowing down—the prairies, which are essential to the health of our environment. Charles reports that in 2013 alone, 1.6 million acres of grassland was...
Study: Cruciferous Vegetables May Protect Against Lethal Radiation
The ongoing—and worsening—news about the Fukushima nuclear disaster has many people worried about radiation. In a piece of encouraging news, however, a new study has found that a compound found in cruciferous veggies protected rats against lethal radiation doses. It has been long known that cruciferous vegetables, which include cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, cauliflower and broccoli, have many...
The Powerful Nutritional Punch of Pistachios
It should come as no surprise that nuts are a healthy addition to a balanced diet. Copious amounts of research involving major cohort studies over the years have linked nut consumption with a decreased risk of heart disease. Researchers recently found a connection between avid nut-eaters and reduced instances of pancreatic cancer, the fourth most common cause of cancer-related...
Amazonian Fungus Eats Plastic!
Another reason why our planet's rainforests are so crucially important to preserve: there are fungal species that dwell in them that can greatly help us with the safe disposal of plastics. One of these species is Pestalotiopsis microspora, a fungus found growing on certain trees in rainforests around the world that has been found to decompose polyurethane (PET) plastic. Polyurethane...
Pesticides Found in Blood Linked to Alzheimer’s
Research is finding more and more evidence of the dangers of chemicals that linger in our ecosystem, even long after they are banned from use. The latest such study, performed by Rutgers University researchers and released just this past January, explores a link between DDT, a pesticide banned since 1972, and Alzheimer's disease. DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) was developed in the 1940s...
5 Foods You Can Eat All Day
Many people associate losing weight with feeling hungry all day. However, it need not be that way. There are plenty of healthy foods that you can enjoy throughout the day, foods that instead of contributing to weight gain, can actually contribute to healthy weight loss by helping you feel full, supporting your metabolism and providing a variety of important nutrients. The...
Plants Won’t Grow Near WiFi Router
A recent science experiment performed by a group of ninth-graders in Denmark has received a flurry of recent media attention, as it showed that seeds would not grow when placed near WiFi routers. Five ninth-grade students at the Hjallerup School in Denmark set out to test the effects of the radiation emitted by cellular phones on garden cress (Lepidium sativum)...
Always Beating Yourself Up? Here Are 3 Ways to Stop it for Good
When things go wrong, when you make a mistake, when you say yes when you mean NO, do you tend to think nasty things to yourself…about yourself? When you’re hard on yourself and carry feelings of anger, guilt and shame when experiencing setbacks and obstacles, it makes the journey to a healthy life all the more burdensome. Many of the women...
