Feel Good Friday News - October 29, 2021

UK’s Largest Vertical Farm that Uses Only Sunlight Begins First Harvest

Offenham was completed in 2021, and is already producing lettuce and bok choy for sale at supermarkets, with strawberries planned for winter when the days become shorter. Even though Green reckons they can produce 2 million heads of lettuce per year, the location is just one-tenth of the size of future projects.

Offenham covers 3 acres. The Longford Vertical Farm, currently in the planning phase, will cover 32. Situated in between Glasgow and Edinburgh, with good access to major roads, Longford will include rainwater catching systems to aid with cutting energy costs, and native landscaping around the former mining area.

New non-GMO blight-resistant potato has global importance

An agricultural journalist who has waxed particularly lyrical about the new blight-resistant potato is Richard Halleron, a past chairman of the Northern Ireland Institute of Agricultural Science, as well as a former chairman of the Guild of Agricultural Journalists in Northern Ireland. Like anyone knowledgeable about potato growing in Ireland, Halloran is keenly aware of the importance of blight resistance for growers dealing with damp conditions. And in his article for Agriland, he hailed the new potato as “one of the most important breakthroughs within the field of agricultural science in living memory”.

He wrote, “What makes this development all the more memorable is the fact that it has been achieved without the use of genetic modification (GM) and/or genomic editing. It truly was a case of plant breeders seeking out the native potato strains that they needed in Peru, and taking the project on from there.”

Halleron continued, “The coming years will see if the claims made by the plant breeders for the new potato variety can be verified on a truly commercial scale in countries around the world. One of the most significant aspects to the work undertaken, has been its total dependence on the plant biodiversity that exists in Peru. If ever the world needed proof that we do away with native species and the vast diversity within the natural world that is all around us at our peril, this is it.”

Halleron, who is an agricultural chemist by background, said that the plant breeding breakthrough “flies in the face of the likes of Monsanto, which seems to think that GM is the answer to all our problems”.

And in a striking statement, he added, “In truth, I am fast coming to the conclusion that GM and all other related sciences could be creating long-term issues for humanity – many, or all of which, could prove very difficult to step back from.”

Don’t Rake Those Leaves: Good for Your Yard, and Good For the Planet

Can’t get motivated to rake those leaves off your lawn? Now you have the ultimate excuse to avoid that chore: you’d be saving the environment, as well as making your lawn more healthy.

The National Wildlife Federation says leaving leaves where they fall helps critters in your yard and contributes to a healthy ecosystem.

If you are mostly concerned about lawn health, the best thing to do is just run a mulching lawn mower right over the leaves. The smaller bits act as fertilizer. If you don’t like how that looks, attach a bagger to your mower and dump the leaf mulch on your garden beds. It looks amazing and will fertilize the beds.

20,000 Pounds of Trash Removed From Pacific Garbage Patch

“The Great Pacific Garbage Patch can now be cleaned,” announced Dutch entrepreneur Boyan Slat, the wonderkid inventor who’s spent a decade inventing systems for waterborne litter collection.

Recent tests on his Ocean Cleanup rig called System 002, invented to tackle the 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic pollution, were a success, leading Slat to predict that most of the oceanic garbage patches could be removed by 2040.

Intersections of ocean currents have created the massive floating islands of plastic trash—five slow-moving whirlpools that pull litter from thousands of miles away into a single radius.

The largest one sits between California and Hawaii, and 27-year-old Slat has been designing and testing his systems out there, launching from San Francisco since 2013.

GNN has reported on his original design for the floating device, but his engineering team improved upon it. System 002, nicknamed “Jenny,” successfully netted 9,000 kilograms, or around 20,000 pounds in its first trial.

Anti-Cancer Drug Derived From Himalayan Fungus Clears Early Clinical Trials

An Oxford University study has shown that the new drug NUC-7738—a novel chemotherapy drug, derived from a fungus—has up to 40 times greater potency for killing cancer cells than its parent compound, with limited toxic side effects.

The naturally-occurring nucleoside analogue known as Cordycepin (a.k.a 3’-deoxyadenosine) is found in the Himalayan fungus Cordyceps sinensis and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years to treat cancers and other inflammatory diseases.

However, it breaks down quickly in the blood stream, so a minimal amount of cancer-destroying drug is delivered to the tumor.

Thousands Offer to Host Tiny Homes With Homeless Residents in Their Own Seattle Backyards

A pair of non-profits are housing homeless people in tiny sustainable homes in the backyards of charitable volunteers who decide to host them.

The Seattle-born partnership hopes to replicate the “cultural shift” brought about by Airbnb to tackle the homelessness epidemic in the Pacific Northwest, as well as introduce concepts of sustainable housing to thousands of charitable residents who have offered their yards.

After befriending a homeless resident outside of his architecture studio, Rex Hohlbein transitioned his career towards helping others by starting the BLOCK Project—its name playing on the words for neighborhood, and for the shape of the tiny houses he would pioneer.

A pair of non-profits are housing homeless people in tiny sustainable homes in the backyards of charitable volunteers who decide to host them.

California Vineyards That Once Used Only Toxic Chemicals to Protect Vines Now Use Nesting Owls

Napa Valley vintners are increasingly turning towards winged-laborers for their pest control, and away from super toxic pesticides that poison everything, including their wine.

Barn owls in particular, but also hawks and other birds of prey, known as raptors, are being welcomed onto vineyards across California for their skill in rat-catching, vole-estation, and gopher-gobbling—and scientists studying the impact of these strategies are finding encouraging results.

For years, vintners in California were proud of the certain je ne sais quoi, inherent in their wines which made Napa a world class destination for growing grapes.

Napa Valley vintners are increasingly turning towards winged-laborers for their pest control, and away from super toxic pesticides that poison everything, including their wine.

For years, vintners in California were proud of the certain je ne sais quoi, inherent in their wines which made Napa a world class destination for growing grapes.

Eating Mushrooms Could Lower Risk of Depression, New Study Says

Mushrooms have been making headlines due to their many health advantages. Not only do they lower one’s risk of cancer and premature death, but new research led by Penn State College of Medicine also reveals that these superfoods may benefit a person’s mental health.

Penn State researchers used data on diet and mental health collected from more than 24,000 U.S. adults between 2005 and 2016. They found that people who ate mushrooms had lower odds of having depression.

According to the researchers, mushrooms contain ergothioneine, an antioxidant that may protect against cell and tissue damage in the body. Studies have shown that antioxidants help prevent several mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression.

“Mushrooms are the highest dietary source of the amino acid ergothioneine—an anti-inflammatory which cannot be synthesized by humans,” said lead researcher Djibril Ba, who recently graduated from the epidemiology doctoral program at the College of Medicine. “Having high levels of this may lower the risk of oxidative stress, which could also reduce the symptoms of depression.”

White button mushrooms, which are the most commonly consumed mushroom variety in the U.S., contain potassium, which is believed to lower anxiety. In addition, certain other species of edible mushrooms, especially Hericium erinaceus, also known as Lion’s Mane, may stimulate the expression of neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor synthesis, which could have an impact on preventing neuropsychiatric disorders including depression.

“STUNNING” study reveals: Making THIS simple dietary change improves gut microbiome, helps prevent inflammatory diseases

Research confirms what natural health experts have insisted for years: that the gut microbiome – the community of bacteria in the intestinal tract – plays a vital role in health. Researchers say imbalances in this microbial community – alternatively known as dysbiosis – can trigger a laundry list of unwanted health conditions, including increased risk of obesity, autism, “leaky gut,” and inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.

Now, a new Stanford School of Medicine study suggests that one simple dietary “tweak” – enriching the diet with fermented foods such as yogurt, fresh sauerkraut, and kimchi – can improve the health and diversity of the microbes (or microbiota) while reducing levels of inflammatory enzymes in the body. So let’s look at how fermented foods contribute to better health and disease prevention.

Venezuelans Turn to Gold Nuggets as the Local Currency Implodes

The Venezuelan government recently lopped off six zeros from its hyperinflating currency, the bolivar. The highest denomination currency note of 1 million bolivars, worth less than $0.25, was replaced by a one-bolivar note. At the same time, a 100-bolivar note, worth about $25.00, was introduced as the new highest denomination of the bolivar. The currency conversion was designed to spare the government the embarrassment of having to issue a 100-million bolivar note to enable people to purchase everyday items without having to carry around bundles of notes, given that the price of a loaf of bread had risen to 7 million old bolivars. Of course, the arbitrary scaling down of the denomination of the currency will not slow inflation, because the new currency notes can be printed just as cheaply as the old. The bolivar has already lost 73 percent of its value in 2021 alone and the IMF estimates the annual inflation rate will reach 5,500 percent by the end of 2021.

It is not surprising, then, that all but the poorest Venezuelans have abandoned the bolivar as a medium of exchange, let alone a store of value or unit of account. US dollars are the exchange medium of choice in Caracas and other large cities, while the Colombian peso dominates along the Colombian border, particularly in the regional city of San Cristobal. The Brazilian real is current along the southern border with Brazil and the euro and cryptocurrencies have also found niche uses.

What is wonderfully surprising is the spontaneous emergence of a pure gold currency in a remote region of southeastern Venezuela around the towns of Tumeremo and El Callao. The region abounds with precious metal ores and has a long history of luring prospectors and miners seeking their fortunes. Today, however, many of the larger mines are controlled by the government military, which is battling local gangs and guerillas. Despite the violence and lawlessness, jobless Venezuelans from far and wide are flooding into the area to work in thriving illegal mines in exchange for payment in gold nuggets. As a result, gold flakes, which are peeled off raw nuggets with hand tools, have become the currency of choice in the region with prices for commodities and services quoted in grams of gold. Half a gold gram buys you a one-night stay in a local hotel, while a meal for two at a Chinese restaurant and a haircut will cost you a quarter of a gram and an eighth of a gram, respectively.

Stoke Mandeville: Roman sculptures HS2 find astounding, expert says

Archaeologists have uncovered an “astounding” set of Roman sculptures on the HS2 rail link route.

Two complete sculptures of what appear to be a man and a woman, plus the head of a child, were found at an abandoned medieval church in Buckinghamshire.

The discoveries at the old St Mary’s Church in Stoke Mandeville have been sent for specialist analysis.

Dr Rachel Wood, lead archaeologist for HS2 contractor Fusion JV, said they were “really rare finds in the UK”.

“To find one stone head or one set of shoulders would be really astonishing, but we have two complete heads and shoulders as well as a third head as well,” said Dr Wood.

“They’re even more significant to us archaeologically, because they’ve actually helped change our understanding of the site here before the medieval church was built.”

Small Victory in Chemical War

After years of ANH and stakeholder advocacy, the feds are finally taking notice—but it’s not enough. Action Alert!

The EPA has released a plan for tackling widespread contamination by a group of toxic industrial compounds known as Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances or PFAS, which have been found in drinking water across the country. It is part of what the Biden administration announced as a multi-agency plan to address PFAS contamination. While this is a positive step, it is far from sufficient to protect Americans from this class of harmful chemicals.

There are many provisions covered in the EPA’s Strategic Action Plan. The EPA plans to:

set enforceable drinking water limits for two of the best-known chemicals of the class, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), by the fall of 2023;
complete a risk assessment for PFOA and PFOS in sludge by the winter of 2024;
publish a national PFAS testing strategy intended to deepen understanding of the impacts of categories of PFAS, including potential hazards to human health and the environment;
put in place a “robust review process” to ensure new PFAS chemicals are safe before they enter commerce, and review existing PFAS to ensure they are being used in ways that do not present concerns;
issue final new PFAS reporting requirements under the Toxic Substances Control Act to better understand the sources and quantities of manufactured PFAS in the United States.

There are many other provisions contained in the plan that can be reviewed here.

It’s good that action is being taken against these ubiquitous compounds, but critics have pointed out that they fall far short of what is necessary to really address the problem. For one, the fulfillment of these plans is contingent upon getting appropriations from Congress, which is far from guaranteed. Further, Robert Bilott, the attorney who represented 80,000 people whose drinking water was polluted with PFAS in West Virginia, told the news outlet The Intercept.

New study suggests that breastfeeding may help prevent cognitive decline

A new study has found that women over the age of 50 who had breastfed their babies performed better on cognitive tests compared to women who had never breastfed. The findings suggest that breastfeeding may have a positive impact on postmenopausal women’s cognitive performance and could have long-term benefits for the mother’s brain.

White man awarded $10 million after proving to jury he was fired to make room for diversity hires

When conservatives protest over ideas like “equity” and “critical race theory,” the average American who is uninterested in politics is left wondering what all the fuss is about.

To them, broad academic concepts like these couldn’t possibly affect their day-to-day lives.

A federal jury in Charlotte, North Carolina, seemed to disagree with that notion on Tuesday, however, when it awarded one man $10 million dollars due to discrimination via his former employer’s equity policy.

Michigan native David Duvall worked as the senior vice president of marketing and communication for Novant Health Inc., a health care system with facilities in North Carolina, up until July of 2018, the Winston-Salem Journal reported.

In a 2019 lawsuit against the company, Duvall alleged he was fired without warning and replaced by a white woman and a black woman as the company worked to institute “diversity, inclusion and equity” policies. Duvall accused Novant Health of racial and gender discrimination, a violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Novant Health contested Duvall’s claims, instead saying he was fired for his “poor leadership skills.” In addition to finding Duvall proved he was wrongfully terminated based on his race and gender, the jury also said Novant Health failed to prove it would have fired Duvall if race was not a factor.

Both Duvall and his lawyer were more than happy with the North Carolina jury’s determination.

“We are pleased that the jury agreed that Duvall’s race and gender were unlawful factors in his termination — that he was fired to make room for more diverse leaders at Novant,” Duvall’s attorney, S. Luke Largess, said in a statement released on Tuesday, according to the Winston-Salem Journal.

Largess also noted Duvall was “a strong advocate of diversity at Norvant” and that the two believe the lawsuit “is a message that an employer cannot terminate and replace employees in order to achieve greater diversity in the workforce.”