It’s been a tough few weeks across the globe and I think we’re all feeling a little anxious. I hope you’re taking care of yourself and that you and your loved ones are doing well. Make sure to breathe, stay calm, and remember that we’re all going to get through this together. And if you have some extra time on your hands or want some distractions, check out the below links.
- We know that farmed animals have personalities and value their own lives. We also know that they are horribly mistreated in the factory farming industry. So why then do humans continue to eat animals and their byproducts? This is the question neuroscientist Lori Marino poses in her thought-provoking essay Eating Someone. This essay is a bit of a long read but well worth it.
- In this TED Talk, science journalist Nicola Jones discusses the noisiness of the ocean and the impacts human-made noises are having on marine life. She also shares some ways we can reduce the noise and thus cause less stress to marine life.
- Derya Akkaynak, an oceanographer and mechanical engineer, created an algorithm that essentially removes water from underwater images. This allows us to see the true colors of marine plants and animals, which is pretty cool. The algorithm will be helpful for scientists to better see the impacts climate change is having on coral reefs and other marine life.
- A silver lining of the coronavirus pandemic is the effect it is having on CO2 emissions. As people are staying home and traveling less, scientists have seen a decline in global carbon emissions. Of course, as the author of this article states, “There’s nothing to celebrate about the spread of the coronavirus, even if it does contribute to a temporary decline in greenhouse gas emissions.” It’s unfortunate that the coronavirus is the cause of lowered carbon emissions. But hopefully, this can serve as a learning opportunity and provide “insight into the ways that cascading changes in human behavior can affect carbon emissions.”
- Do you know what the most littered item in the world is? You may or may not be surprised to learn that the answer is cigarette butts. Since they’re full of toxic chemicals that can leach into the ground and water, they pose a great danger to wildlife.
- I think we could all use some uplifting stories so here’s a sweet video of a calf named Finn who escaped slaughter. He lived in the woods of a town in Connecticut until Farm Sanctuary came to rescue him. Finn now gets to live out his life in comfort with other rescued farm animals.
- If you like the song Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen (made popular by Jeff Buckley), check out this stripped-down cover by Alice Kristiansen. She has such a beautiful voice!! I’d recommend scrolling through her YouTube channel and listening to some of her other covers, too.