Scientists have predicted the future…and it’s not looking good
Global temperatures are expected to rise in the coming years, which is bad news for people with underlying heart conditions. A paper published in the journal Circulation estimates that up to five thousand people will experience a cardiovascular death over the next four decades due to extreme heat. Researchers advise focusing on helping high-risk communities to ease these effects of climate change (University of Pennsylvania).
Farm to table may soon be a thing of the past
Scientists have figured out how to produce synthetic dietary fats, which could make some crops like sugar obsolete. Research published in Nature Sustainability shows how this method could reduce water use and the risks of weather-related food shortages. Would you be able to taste the difference between oil made in a lab instead of a field? (UC Irvine).
Another tick-borne illness is on the rise in America
Babesiosis is a disease that infects and destroys red blood cells. It’s mostly spread by deer ticks, which are the size of a sesame seed and are active as long as the weather stays above freezing. Babesiosis has similar symptoms as the flu, but vomiting or diarrhea may reveal a more severe infection. Luckily it can be treated with antimicrobial drugs if caught early, but you might need a blood exchange transfusion if it’s progressed (Tufts University).
Is the agriculture industry as harmful as wildfires?
It’s no secret that the smoke from wildfires can wreak havoc on our lung health, but it may have longer-lasting effects on our brain. A new study in Environmental Science & Technology Letters shows that air pollution emissions from farming and wildfires can make us susceptible to dementia later in life. Scientists are still in the early stages of researching this connection but hope this evidence can guide policymakers to reduce these emission exposures (Duke University).
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