Introduction  Approximately 1.05 billion tonnes of food are wasted each year globally. The food that people are wasting does not go away, but instead is being dumped and sitting in landfills. That food is rotting and creating problems in the environment. It creates methane, which is a greenhouse gas that is 25 times as strong as carbon dioxide at heating the atmosphere, contributing to global warming. In addition to that, a more scary statistic is that researchers and scientists have found that for every kilogram of food protein wasted, 15 to 750 kilograms of CO₂ are emitted into the environment […]

Introduction Climate change is arguably the defining challenge of our time. Despite overwhelming scientific evidence that global warming threatens ecosystems, economies, and human well-being, public conversations often emphasize the role of individuals: these conversations mention reducing meat consumption, refusing single-use plastics, biking to work, or recycling at home. These actions areo obviously good, as they build awareness, create responsibility, and allow people to feel like they are contributing to a solution. However, while personal choices can reduce individual carbon footprints, they do not address the systemic drivers of climate change: fossil fuel dependence, industrialized agriculture, inefficient urban planning, and global […]

Introduction What is vitamin D? Vitamin D is a nutrient the body needs, along with calcium, to build bones and keep them healthy. The body can absorb calcium only if it has enough vitamin D. Calcium is a major part of bones. Vitamin D also has many other uses in the body. It supports immune health and helps keep muscles and brain cells working. In many cases it has been shown that there is a low amount of vitamin D among the population but especially in athletes. In Figure 1, the diagram by Gatorade Sports Science Institute identifies the base […]

Figure 1: Vertical Farming Facility Audio Blog Overview: Introduction: In 2050, the world population will be around 10 billion, which is 1.8 billion higher than today. Currently, the world struggles to face the issues of overpopulation, which, as a result, has led to food insecurity, homelessness, and rising climate problems. Furthermore, Figure 2, a 2023 pie chart provides more detail on the idea, stating that roughly 9% of families with kids struggle with food insecurity. In fact, when 47 million Americans struggle with food insecurity and they “don’t have the access to an adequate supply of nutrients,” it’s clear that […]

Introduction Since the first colony ship arrived at Jamestown, the United States has suffered from a horrific rate of environmental change brought on by our reckless systems of agriculture, extraction of natural resources, and urban expansion, with one of the most notable impacts being a massive drop in national biodiversity due to habitat loss.  This issue has only worsened in the past half-century as we have continued to expand in industry, agriculture, and housing in order to keep up with a growing population, and begun to feel the effects of human-induced climate change (Rosenberg et al., 2019). So while we […]

Introduction The gut is a vital component of the human body and is one of the most complex portions of the body.  It is often referred to as the second brain because of the correlations it has with other body parts.  Systems like the gut-brain axis, the gut microbiome, and the digestive tract are all contained within the gut and regulate common bodily functions.  Most importantly, the gut microbiome is home to a large number of microbial colonies that are responsible for keeping one healthy and in peak performance.   Health of the microbiome is determined by the microbes themselves which […]

A World on Fire The planet is dying. Dramatic statements like this have become commonplace in public discourse, news headlines, and even government debates. But what exactly is killing the planet? There are many ways to answer this question, but climate change is often the first response. Nearly every day, news reports surface of ravenous wildfires tearing across North America, polar ice sheets splitting from their shelves and sinking into the ocean, or studies showing yet another rise in global temperatures. Faced with these seemingly apocalyptic conditions, what are we supposed to do? After all, if the billions, if not […]

Regenerative farming is often portrayed as an idealistic alternative to conventional agriculture. However, it has major scientific, economic, and social foundations that make it a realistic and scalable path toward global food security, provided it receives sufficient investment, policy support, and innovation. Regenerative agriculture seeks to rebuild soil health, increase biodiversity, and reduce reliance on synthetic inputs like fertilizers. This method of farming creates a more resilient and sustainable food system. Some critics argue that yields may decline or that scaling such systems is impractical. Yet these objections overlook the major inefficiencies in modern agriculture and the potential that regenerative […]

Introduction On numerous playing fields in my neighborhood and elsewhere in the nation, I observe this same crossroads. There are those who demand playing fields that are open almost year round and can withstand an entire day’s worth of games without becoming muddy. Then, there are those concerned with the prospect of being expected to play and play games on turf so hot it might as well be a frying pan and potentially filled with chemicals we are currently trying to extract from our drinking water. The decision to go with grass fields versus turf is no longer simply about […]

Audio Summary Introduction Electric Vehicles (EVs) are an emerging alternative to gas-powered vehicles, prompting questions about which is more sustainable overall. Are electric or gas cars better for the environment, economy, and consumers? This issue is important because transportation is a significant contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, which harm the environment and human health. Costs and implementations also affect everyday drivers, the government, and companies. There are many issues surrounding the use of Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, and EVs could reshape our world today in terms of economics, environment, and social impact.  What Are Electric Vehicles? Electric vehicles […]