Science & Environment

[spaminator]

What is Lyme disease, the condition Justin Timberlake was diagnosed with?
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Victoria Bisset, The Washington Post
Published Aug 01, 2025 • 3 minute read

As he wrapped up his Forget Tomorrow Tour, singer Justin Timberlake shared that he’s had some recent health challenges – including a diagnosis of Lyme disease.


It’s a condition that can be debilitating, and one that experts say is on the rise. But what is Lyme disease and what causes it?


What did Justin Timberlake say about Lyme disease?
“If you’ve experienced this disease or know someone who has – then you’re aware: living with this can be relentlessly debilitating, both mentally and physically,” Timberlake wrote on Instagram on Thursday.

“When I first got the diagnosis I was shocked for sure,” he continued. “But, at least I could understand why I would be onstage and in a massive amount of nerve pain or, just feeling crazy fatigue or sickness.”

The Grammy-winning singer said the diagnosis forced him to consider stopping touring but added: “I decided the joy that performing brings me far outweighs the fleeting stress my body was feeling. I’m so glad I kept going.”


During the tour, Timberlake rescheduled a number of shows due to health issues.

Other celebrities have also spoken about their experience with Lyme disease, including pop star Justin Bieber and rock singer Avril Lavigne.

What is Lyme disease and what is it caused by?
Lyme disease is spread by bacteria from the bites of infected black-legged ticks. It’s named after Lyme, Connecticut, where the disease was first identified in the United States in 1975.

In the United States, around 476,000 people across the nation are diagnosed and treated for the disease every year, according to recent estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While ticks that carry the bacteria most common in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and upper-Midwest, those who work or spend time in grassy areas where ticks live are more likely to be at risk, as well as those who have pets such as dogs that can bring them home.


The disease is also common in Europe and in south-central and southeastern Canada.

What are the signs and symptoms of Lyme disease?
For many people with Lyme disease, a common early sign is a rash, which may look like a bull’s eye and can itch or feel warm to the touch.

Other symptoms include fever, headache, fatigue and joint stiffness.

If it’s not treated, Lyme disease can cause more serious conditions including joint infection, nervous system diseases and inflammation of the heart.

Some people may also suffer from post-Lyme disease syndrome, which can cause ongoing nerve pain, fatigue and memory problems.

Lyme disease can be confused for other health conditions, and vice versa, so it’s important those who have symptoms speak to a health care provider.


Is there a cure for Lyme disease?
Most people who get Lyme disease make a full recovery after a few weeks of antibiotics. But there are no vaccines against Lyme disease – one shot approved in the United States was discontinued in 2002, with the producer blaming low demand.

But Pfizer and French pharmaceutical company Valneva are carrying out human trials for a new vaccine that could protect against North American and European strains of Lyme disease; Pfizer said last year that participants had received three doses and would be monitored until the end of the 2025 Lyme disease season.

The University of Massachusetts Medical School’s MassBiologics is also working on a seasonal preventative shot for the disease.

How can you prevent Lyme disease?
To avoid being infected with Lyme disease – or any of the other potentially serious diseases such as Babesiosis that ticks can transmit – it’s important to avoid getting bitten in the first place. That means wearing repellent, walking in the middle of trails and avoiding brushy areas where possible.


The Mayo Clinic also advises choosing light-colored clothing to help you see any ticks, avoiding open-toed shoes or sandals, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants and tucking clothing in.

After a walk, you should check yourself and your dog for ticks (You can find more information on avoiding tick bites and what to do if you find a tick on yourself or your dog here.)

It’s important to take precautions even if you’ve had Lyme disease before, as you can get it again.

What is Lyme disease, the condition Justin Timberlake was diagnosed with?

It's a condition that can be debilitating, and one that experts say is on the rise.

torontosun.com

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

But what is Lyme disease and what causes it?

So. . . the question is basically "What makes it tick?"

 

[Taxslave2]

Not a nice thing to deal with.

 

[spaminator]

Canada has its 1st case of West Nile this year. Here’s what to know about the virus
Author of the article:Canadian Press
Canadian Press
Nicole Ireland
Published Aug 02, 2025 • Last updated 10 hours ago • 3 minute read

Confirmation of the first human case of West Nile virus acquired in Canada this year arrived just in time for the August long weekend.


The Public Health Agency of Canada said Thursday that an adult in Toronto with no travel history has been infected with the mosquito-borne virus. There had previously been two people with West Nile virus in Canada, but they were infected while travelling outside the country.


Here’s what you need to know about West Nile virus as you head outdoors this weekend.

WHAT IS WEST NILE VIRUS?
The first human case of West Nile virus appeared in Canada in 2002.

The virus was originally identified in the West Nile region of Uganda, said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious diseases specialist at the University Health Network in Toronto, but was carried to many places around the world by migratory birds.

When mosquitoes bite infected birds, they in turn become infected and then can pass on the virus to humans and other animals when they bite them.


The type of mosquitoes that transmit West Nile virus usually bite around dusk and at night, Bogoch said.

Human infections usually occur in mid to late summer, petering out as the temperature cools down.

The Public Health Agency of Canada says humans don’t spread the virus to other humans, except for very rare cases including blood transfusions, organ or tissue transplants, mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
“The vast majority of people who are bitten by a mosquito harbouring West Nile virus will have no symptoms whatsoever,” said Bogoch.

For the 20 to 30 per cent of people who get sick, most will have a few days of symptoms that resolve on their own.

Symptoms usually begin between two and 14 days after the mosquito bite. They can include fever, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, skin rash, swollen lymph glands and a stiff neck.


The concerning part of West Nile virus is that up to two per cent of people infected will get neuroinvasive disease, including encephalitis or meningitis, Bogoch said.

Encephalitis is inflammation of the brain and meningitis is inflammation of the area around the brain and spinal cord.

In “very rare” cases, people can also develop paralysis, he said.

Although anyone can get these severe West Nile virus infections, they tend to happen more in older adults, Bogoch said.

HOW IS WEST NILE VIRUS TREATED?
There is no antiviral medication to treat West Nile virus. Most people won’t need medical attention and can manage aches and pains with over-the-counter acetaminophen, rest and fluids.

For the rare cases of neuroinvasive diseases, hospitals provide supportive care, including fluids and electrolytes, and provide rehabilitation if needed.


IS THERE A VACCINE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS?
There is no vaccine for West Nile virus.

HOW CAN I PREVENT WEST NILE VIRUS?
The best way to prevent West Nile virus is to avoid being bitten by a mosquito in the first place.

Using insect repellent is “very effective,” Bogoch said.

Both Bogoch and the Public Health Agency of Canada recommend using bug sprays and lotions containing the chemicals DEET or Icaridine. Health Canada says those products should not be used on infants under six months old and parents can use mosquito nets over cribs or strollers when babies are outside instead.

Wearing long sleeves and long pants, socks and a hat can also protect against mosquito bites. People can also wear mosquito nets over their hats. Choose light-coloured clothing, because mosquitoes are attracted to dark colours.


Making sure all open windows have screens to keep mosquitoes and other bugs out is important.

Getting rid of any standing water around your home or cottage also helps because that’s where mosquitoes lay eggs. Drain buckets, planters, old tires, pool covers, wading pools and other objects where water accumulates.

HOW COMMON IS IT?
The number of reported cases annually varies greatly since PHAC started tracking domestic infections in 2003, ranging from a handful of cases per year to a peak of 2,401 cases in 2007.

In 2024, there were 166 reported cases, according to PHAC’s preliminary data.

“For most Canadians, the risk of getting infected is low because relatively few mosquitoes in Canada are infected with West Nile virus,” said Mark Johnson, a spokesperson for PHAC, in an email Friday.

Canada has its 1st case of West Nile this year. Here’s what to know about the virus

Confirmation of the first human case of West Nile virus acquired in Canada this year arrived just in time for the August long weekend.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

What to know about bladder cancer, which is more common in men, after Deion Sanders revelation
Smoking is the biggest risk factor for the disease, the American Cancer Society says

Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Devi Shastri
Published Jul 29, 2025 • Last updated 4 days ago • 3 minute read

Colorado football coach Deion Sanders was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer earlier this year, had surgery to remove the organ and is now considered cured by his doctors, the Pro Football Hall of Famer said Monday.


Sanders said he is upbeat and plans to coach the Buffaloes this fall.


Bladder cancer is the 10th leading cause of cancer death in the United States. But recent advancements in its treatment have improved outcomes for people who are diagnosed, according to the American Cancer Society.

The 57-year-old Sanders shared the details of his diagnosis and treatment, which involved surgeons reconstructing a section of his intestine to function as a bladder, and said it “was a fight, but we made it.”

Here’s what you should know about bladder cancer.

What is bladder cancer?
This cancer starts when the cells in the bladder, which stores urine, grow out of control and form tumors. In some cases, the cancer spreads to other parts of the body.


The most common symptom for bladder cancer is blood in the urine, which can cause urine to look orange, pink, or rarely, dark red. The color change can come and go, the American Cancer Society says, and early tumors may not cause pain.

Pain or burning while urinating, weak stream, frequent urination or urge to go when the bladder isn’t full can also be signs of bladder cancer. Symptoms of advanced bladder cancer can include an inability to urinate, bone pain, loss of appetite, weakness, swollen feet and lower back pain on one side.

If you have symptoms, it is worth getting checked out, because all of those symptoms might be from other health issues. Blood in the urine is most often from an infection, a benign tumor, a kidney stone or bladder stone or other benign kidney disease, the American Cancer Society said.


Sanders said during a news conference on Monday that the cancer was found when he went for a precautionary annual CT scan; he has a history of blood clots in his legs.

How common is bladder cancer?
Bladder cancer is more common in men than women.

The American Cancer Society estimates there will be nearly 85,000 new cases in 2025, with more than 65,000 in men.

The incidence rate for bladder cancer has decreased by 1% per year in recent years. Death rates have stayed relatively stable, declining by 1% per year since 2013.

What can cause bladder cancer?
Smoking is the biggest risk factor, the American Cancer Society said. The recent decline in incidence rates are likely due to fewer people smoking.

Other risk factors include working in jobs that expose you to chemicals — like painters, metal and leather workers, miners and firefighters. People who use a urinary catheter for a long time are also at higher risk.



What is the outlook for bladder cancer patients?
Outcomes for bladder cancer patients improve based on if and how much the cancer has spread.

The five-year relative survival rate is 72% to 97% if the cancer has not spread outside the bladder, but drops to 40% if the cancer has spread to lymph nodes or other nearby parts of the body, and 9% if it has spread further.

Treatment can include surgery to remove the tumor, parts of the bladder or the whole bladder; radiation; chemotherapy; targeted drug therapy and immunotherapy.

What to know about bladder cancer, which is more common in men, after Deion Sanders revelation

Here’s what to know about a disease that’s more common in men

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

underwater robot livestream captivates Argentines
Author of the article:AFP
AFP
by Fernando LAGARRETA, with Leila MACOR in Buenos Aires
Published Aug 02, 2025 • 3 minute read

The broadcast of this dark, cold, and vibrant underwater universe has gone viral
The broadcast of this dark, cold, and vibrant underwater universe has gone viral Photo by Handout /Schmidt Ocean Institute / ROV SuBastian/AFP
MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina — A robot explores the dark, cold, deep sea floor of the South Atlantic, transmitting images of vibrant coral and fish never seen before as scientists give live commentary via YouTube. And Argentines can’t get enough of it.


The Argentine-American scientific mission is for the first time exploring the Mar del Plata canyon, a submarine gorge which plunges nearly 4,000 metres (13,000 feet) deep, off the coast of the seaside resort of the same name.


The awed conversations between scientists leading the expedition and the explanations they give to viewers allow the public a rare insight into the hidden wonders of marine biology.

In one instance, the camera on the SuBastian underwater robot shows a weird-looking, little white animal. One of the scientists on the team can be heard asking her colleagues, “Do we want it?”

The conversations between the scientists allow amateur enthusiasts a rare insight into the wonders of marine biologyHandout/Schmidt Ocean Institute / ROV SuBastian/AFP
“Yes, yes, we want it!” reply dozens of messages in the livestream chat before the image shows the suction device being activated to suck up the specimen for study.


“Oh, I love these little creatures,” says one user. “I’m obsessed!” comments another. “Don’t take the little one away!” pleads a third.

The livestream began a week ago and exceeded one million views per day since Thursday, when it also began to be broadcast on television.

“There are cold-water corals with the same colours as those in the Caribbean. How can that be? At a depth of 3,000 metres!” Pablo Penchaszadeh, a marine biologist and painter who is on board the expedition as an artist, told AFP.

Patrick Star
The 20-day expedition involves 25 scientistsMISHA VALLEJO PRUT/Schmidt Ocean Institute/AFP
The 20-day expedition “Underwater Oases of the Mar del Plata Canyon” involves 25 scientists — most of them from the Argentine research agency CONICET.

Part of the GEMPA deep sea study group, with support from the U.S. Schmidt Ocean Institute, it will end on Aug. 10.



Aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s “Falkor (too)” ship, scientists remotely operate the robot, which can descend to a depth of 4,500 metres (14,700 feet).

They collect biological samples with its robotic arms and other instruments, and send back high-definition images.

“The fact that anyone can connect from home and see what we are seeing live is a unique opportunity,” explains expedition leader Daniel Lauretta in a statement.

“Science is no longer something distant or inaccessible, but becomes part of everyday life.”

This week, social media users were delighted when an orange starfish with two symmetrical bumps resembling buttocks appeared on the livestream. It quickly prompted comparisons with Patrick Star, from the popular animated series SpongeBob SquarePants.

Scientists operate a robot to collect biological samples from the seafloorHandout/Schmidt Ocean Institute / ROV SuBastian/AFP
Memes circulated joking that “Patrick is Argentine,” marine biology became a trending topic on social media, and the broadcast reached the screens of hundreds of thousands of captivated viewers.

“I came to see the big-bottomed star, is it here?” asked one user upon entering the YouTube chat.

Spectators also gave other sea creatures nicknames: a king crab was dubbed “Drag Queen,” and sea cucumber was fondly called “Sweet Potato.”

‘Beacon of light’
This is the first time that human eyes — albeit remotely — have seen this underwater oasis in real time, where the cold, nutrient-rich Malvinas current and warm, salty Brazil current converge.

The confluence is “one of the most energetic regions in our global Ocean,” according to the website of the Schmidt Institute, with the temperature difference creating an area teeming with marine wildlife and flora.

This is the first time that human eyes — albeit remotely — have seen this underwater oasis in real timeHandout/Schmidt Ocean Institute / ROV SuBastian/AFP
“We are already seeing incredible things: animals that have never been recorded in this area, underwater landscapes that look like something from another planet, and behaviors that surprise even the most experienced scientists,” said Lauretta.

But funding for such expeditions is under threat in Argentina.

CONICET, the government’s scientific research arm, has been severely underfunded by libertarian President Javier Milei, who has implemented draconian cuts to public spending with his infamous “chainsaw.”

Its budget fell by 21% last year, salaries have plummeted by 35% since the Milei took office in December 2023, and the cuts have led to an exodus of scientists.

As a result, in between “oohs” and “aahs” of wonder, messages of support are flooding the livestream’s chat: “Long live Conicet!”

CONICET, the government’s science research arm, has been severely underfunded by libertarian President Javier MileiHandout/Schmidt Ocean Institute / ROV SuBastian/AFP
“Seeing people being passionate about their job is attractive,” said Tomas Atilio Luppi, a biologist at the CONICET-affiliated marine and coastal research institute in Mar del Plata, who is not directly involved in the campaign.

“This is happening at a very difficult time,” he told AFP of the popular broadcast. “Science is in a very complicated position, both financially and in terms of support and human resources.”

“The fact that this craze is happening is like a beacon of light.”

Patrick Star and 'Drag Queen' crab: underwater robot livestream captivates Argentines

Argentines can't get enough of it can't get enough of the livestream from a robot exploring the deep sea floor of the South Atlantic.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

B.C. researchers now know what's causing billions of sea stars to die
Sea star wasting disease — which causes them to lose their arms and disintegrate into goo — killed off 90 per cent of sunflower sea stars.

Author of the article:Tiffany Crawford
Published Aug 04, 2025 • Last updated 10 hours ago • 4 minute read

UBC and Hakai Institute researcher Alyssa Gehman diving in Burke Channel. B.C. researchers have discovered what's causing billions of sea stars to die from a wasting disease.
UBC and Hakai Institute researcher Alyssa Gehman diving in Burke Channel. B.C. researchers have discovered what's causing billions of sea stars to die from a wasting disease. Photo by Bennett Whitnell/Hakai Institute
B.C. researchers have unlocked the mystery of why billions of sea stars have died over the past decade from B.C. to Alaska and to Mexico.


An international study, published Monday in Nature Ecology and Evolution and led by researchers at the University of B.C., the B.C.-based Hakai Institute, and the University of Washington, found that sea star wasting disease is caused by a strain of the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida — one that is related to cholera in humans. Other vibrio species can cause disease in corals and oysters.


Sea star wasting disease is considered one of the largest marine epidemics documented, said Alyssa Gehman, senior author of the study and a marine disease ecologist at the Hakai Institute and UBC.

Gehman said they estimate about six billion sunflower stars have been lost, and that’s just one of 26 species of sea star affected by the disease.


sea stars
UBC and Hakai Institute researcher Alyssa Gehman at Marrowstone marine field station in Washington state. Photo by Kristina Blanchflower/Hakai Inst
She said the four-year investigation into the cause was challenging because scientists understand very little about sea stars and what types of pathogens they carry.

“The other big challenge is that right after this disease outbreak, it killed many, many sea stars. And to do the type of work that we did, you need to have animals that don’t have the disease, and particularly in sunflower stars, right after the big outbreak there were several years where most had died,” she said.

“We lost 90 per cent of the global population of sunflower stars.”

She said sunflower stars, now considered a critically endangered species, used to be abundant in B.C. and could be found in places like the waters off Stanley Park.

“Now there’s very little chance you will see them.”


sea stars
Photos show sunflower sea stars with wasting disease off Calvert Island. Photo by Grant Callegari/Hakai Institute
sea stars
Photos show sunflower sea stars with wasting disease off Calvert Island. Photo by Grant Callegari/Hakai Institute
It’s a disease that sounds like something out of a horror film. The sunflower stars start twisting their arms before they deflate, said Gehman.

“They can kind of look like a partially deflated balloon. They’ll have wrinkles in their in their skin, you can sometimes get lesions, or sort of like holes in their dermis, where their organs will fall out … and then the next stage is they’ll lose an arm,” she said.

“The arm will sort of walk away from the body, it’s really horrifying.”

Then, they will lose the rest of their arms and begin to disintegrate.

“They sort of end up just being a goopy pile of former sea star. It’s horrible,” she said.

Sea stars are important to the ocean ecosystem because they are what scientists call a keystone species, keeping nature in balance.


With the loss of sea stars, one of their main food sources — sea urchins — began to thrive and when that happened urchins munched on kelp forests, decimating some of these important carbon sinks.

Kelp forests also provide habitat for an abundance of marine life and protect coastlines from storms.

urchin barren
Urchin barren in Hakai Pass. With billions of sea stars dying from a wasting disease, urchins thrive and destroy kelp forests. Photo by Grant Callegari/Hakai Institute
The team of scientists discovered the bacteria was the cause by conducting a series of challenge studies, where they collected healthy sea stars and quarantined them for two weeks to ensure they were disease free. Then they would collect some from the wild showing signs of the start of the disease and conduct experiments on how it was transmitted.

sea star bacteria
Vibrio bacterium on the plate. B.C. researchers have discovered the cause of billions of sea stars dying from a wasting disease. Photo by Toby Hall/Hakai Institute
Now that scientists have identified the pathogen that causes the wasting disease, they can start to look into where it came from and what’s causing it.


“It’s exciting that we have the opportunity to actually look into that. And there’s lots of different ways for us to start to piece together what happened, but at this point, we don’t actually know where it came from,” said Gehman.

Gehman said they believe there is a link between rising ocean temperatures and wasting disease because other species of vibrio are known to thrive in warmer water.

Also, she said there have been “refuge areas” where the outbreaks haven’t been as bad and they are in cooler water, such as B.C.’s Central Coast.

“So if the sea stars are in cooler water, it seems like consequences of the disease is lower,” she said, adding more research is needed to understand how temperature plays a role in the wasting disease.


The team can also start to look into a cure. Gehman said there has been success with coral in using probiotics to fight off disease so that might be one avenue for exploration with sea stars.

She said scientists in the U.S. are breeding and raising sunflower stars in the lab in an attempt to try to find stars that are resistant to this pathogen.

“If we find resistant stars, and we’re able to raise them, maybe we can help the populations survive into the future,” she said.

sea stars
Pycnopodia sea stars in Burke Channel. B.C. researchers have discovered what’s causing billions of sea stars to die from a wasting disease. Photo by Bennett Whitnell/Hakai Institute
The study was also in collaboration with the Nature Conservancy, the Tula Foundation, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Western Fisheries Research Center, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

ticrawford@postmedia.com

B.C. researchers now know what's causing billions of sea stars to die

Sea star wasting disease — which causes them to lose their arms and disintegrate into goo — killed off 90 per cent of sunflower sea stars.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Massive rat ‘almost the size of a small cat’ found inside home
Author of the articleenette Wilford
Published Aug 04, 2025 • Last updated 10 hours ago • 2 minute read

Giant rat in a clear plastic bag measuring at more than 22 inches found in England home.
Giant rat in a clear plastic bag measuring at more than 22 inches found in England home. Photo by David Taylor and Stephen Martin - Eston Ward Councillors /Facebook
A gargantuan rat that measured a whopping 22 inches was found inside a residence in London, England.


Eston Ward Councillors David Taylor and Stephen Martin posted about the alarming discovery made in a North Yorkshire neighbourhood — along with a photo of the enormous rodent that resembled the creatures Westley and Buttercup encounter in the Fire Swamp in The Princess Bride.


In the July 28 post titled, “Shocking Size — And A Growing Problem,” the councillors wrote: “This massive rat over 22 inches long from nose to tail was found inside a local home this weekend.”

They continued: “It’s almost the size of a small cat. And it’s not a one-off.”

The men shared a photo provided by the homeowner of the colossal creature in a clear, plastic bag after pest control made the jaw-dropping discovery.

They went on to list how “rats are being spotted more and more” in the area, but this may be the first time a rodent of this size was found inside a home.

“The longer this is ignored, the worse it will get,” they concluded. “We need action — not just advice.”



In an Aug. 3 follow-up, they noted that this is not the first time their area has experienced a rodent problem, noting that effective actions were taken “two years” ago.

However, “now, the rats are back, and in even greater numbers,” they wrote.


They also shared a photo of “rat holes” found at one home, as a fairly large dog curiously hovered over them.

In another update, Taylor and Martin noted their hopes of something being done as their community’s rodent problem has gone viral.



“Despite the national headlines, no one from the Council’s Labour administration has been in touch but we will push forward this week,” they wrote.

“It affects all our wards or our lives and it’s time for action.”

David Taylor and Stephen Martin - Eston Ward Councillors

Rat Update As many of you have seen, the rat infestation we raised has now made national headlines. What started with 100 comments on social media has grown to nearly 1,000 on Teesside Live, and now...

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Councillors Paul McInnes, Paul Salvin, and Curt Pugh - Normanby Ward

🐀 Rat Update As many of you will have seen, the rat infestation in Normanby has now made national headlines. It’s an issue that has been allowed to escalate, and it demands urgent action. This...

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https://www.facebook.com/EstonMatters/posts/723517247325239

Massive rat ‘almost the size of a small cat’ found inside home

A gargantuan rat that measured a whopping 22 inches was found inside a residence in London.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

There’s another risk to your heart that’s getting new attention
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Laurie McGinley, Alix Pianin
Published Aug 07, 2025 • Last updated 12 hours ago • 6 minute read

Shortly after finishing breakfast six years ago, Brian Farrington felt some discomfort and thought it was heartburn. He popped a few Tums but hours later began perspiring profusely and experiencing chest pain.


The next morning, Farrington, who was 53 and seemingly healthy, headed to the hospital and was shocked to learn he had suffered a heart attack. He had several blockages in his right artery. Previously, Farrington had been told his cholesterol was “borderline high” but did not require medication.


As the resident of Columbus, Ohio, recovered, he considered a nagging question: Why was there so much premature heart disease in his family? His grandfather and three great-uncles had died of heart disease in their 40s, and his father had gotten a stent in his 60s. He decided to dig deeper.

Farrington eventually discovered he had a heart threat that he – and many other people – had never even heard of: High levels of a fatty particle called Lipoprotein(a). The molecule is similar to LDL, the “bad” cholesterol that circulates in the blood and can promote coronary plaque, increasing the risk of heart attacks.


But Lp(a) carries an extra protein that makes it an even bigger cardiac risk factor than LDL, studies have shown. Higher-than-normal levels encourage the development of blood clots as well as plaque, sharply raising the risk of stroke, heart attack and other severe problems – even among younger people with normal levels of LDL, doctors say.

The condition “can cause an acceleration of vascular disease,” said Kristin Thomas, an internist in Washington. People with higher-than-normal Lp(a) might develop plaque in their arteries “in their 40s and 50s, rather than in their 60s and 70s.”

Under the radar
For decades, Lp(a), first detected more than 60 years ago, has flown under the medical radar. Most patients are not familiar with it. Even many doctors don’t know much about it and don’t realize it’s a major risk factor, experts say.


Testing has been uncommon, in large part because it has not been clear how to treat elevated Lp(a). Unlike with LDL, the levels of Lp(a) are set almost entirely by genetics and not affected by diet and exercise, or by statins or other cholesterol drugs on the market.

The picture, however, is starting to change. In clinical trials, several experimental drugs have been shown to slash Lp(a) levels by as much as 94 percent by deactivating the gene responsible for the molecule.

Now scientists are testing whether the drugs reduce heart attacks and strokes. If so, the treatments will be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for approval. It’s possible the first drug for Lp(a) will be available within two years, scientists say.


In the meantime, patients should take steps to improve their heart health – chiefly by reducing other risk factors, especially LDL cholesterol, doctors say.

Testing for all?
The importance of getting an effective Lp(a) treatment “cannot be overestimated,” said Steven Nissen, a cardiologist at Cleveland Clinic and academic leader of several trials involving the experimental drugs. At least 20 percent of the population – 65 million people in the United States and more than 1.5 billion worldwide – have elevated Lp(a), according to estimates.

Lp(a) levels are detected by blood tests that measure the number of particles in the blood, or nanomoles per liter. A level below 75 is normal, while a reading between 75 and 125 indicates a moderately increased risk. A level above 125 suggests a high risk, according to the Florida-based National Lipid Association, whose members specialize in lipid disorders. The test for Lp(a) is not included in the conventional cholesterol test and must be ordered separately.


Lp(a) was identified in 1963 by the renowned Norwegian medical geneticist Kare Berg and linked to heart disease in the early 1970s.

Over the years, scientists have learned that elevated Lp(a) disproportionately affects certain demographic groups, including Black people of African descent. But the genetic condition cuts a wide swath across racial and ethnic groups.

Because of that, many specialists say that everyone’s Lp(a) levels should be tested. In Europe and Canada, guidelines call for such universal testing. The National Lipid Association in Florida agrees. But the official U.S. guidelines for cholesterol, developed primarily by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, are more conservative, recommending testing only for certain patients, including those with a family or personal history of heart disease.


Those guidelines are set to be updated in the first quarter of next year. A spokeswoman for the American Heart Association said the group did not have details about any possible revisions.


Michelle O’Donoghue, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and academic leader of a trial testing an Amgen Lp(a) drug, said there are several reasons people should be tested. For one thing, she said, parents and children of individuals with elevated Lp(a) should be tested to see if they have the condition, too. And people who are affected might decide to take part in a clinical trial.

Some researchers say that patients with high Lp(a) levels should try to reduce their heart risks by lowering their LDL cholesterol to below 55 through lifestyle changes and perhaps medication. Some patients are eligible for apheresis, a procedure similar to dialysis, in which a machine removes Lp(a) and LDL cholesterol from the blood. But the method is expensive and not used much.


‘What else can I do?’
For C. Michael Gibson, heart health has always been a priority, in part because his grandfather had a heart attack in his 40s. For years, Gibson, a cardiologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, took a statin and another cholesterol medication to keep his LDL at about 70, generally considered a healthy level. So he was surprised when a heart scan a few years ago showed a potentially damaging buildup of plaque in his arteries. A subsequent blood test showed he has a high level of Lp(a), which he has concluded is the culprit.

Since then, Gibson has moved aggressively to lower his cardiac risks, he says. He has lost 30 pounds and added a third cholesterol drug, driving down his LDL to 27. But his Lp(a) remains high, and he is eager to try one of the treatments in development.


“I have taken control as best I can,” Gibson said. “But what is always in the back of my mind is: What else can I do?”

Most of the drugs in development for Lp(a) are injections that go just under the skin, like insulin shots. A pill is also in the works.

Scientists say the therapy that is furthest along is pelacarsen. A trial showed the drug reduced Lp(a) levels by up to 80 percent. Researchers are now testing whether a monthly shot reduces adverse cardiovascular events in people who have heart disease. Results are expected early next year.

Another drug, called lepodisiran, made news in March when a study found that a single injection lowered Lp(a) levels by nearly 94 percent for six months. Results aren’t expected until 2029, though, on whether the therapy reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks.


Seven years ago, Don Kosec, now 61, thought he was in great shape – until he experienced shortness of breath while traveling. Three weeks later, the Stow, Ohio, resident underwent quintuple bypass surgery for blocked arteries. He found out later that he has elevated Lp(a) levels, a disorder he had never heard of.

“I was dumbfounded,” Kosec said. “At some point, I would have had a heart attack, and who knows whether I would have survived.” He takes a statin and a baby aspirin but his Lp(a) remains high.

Katherine Wilemon, who has two genetic cholesterol conditions, including elevated Lp(a), had a heart attack at 39. She later founded a nonprofit, the Family Heart Foundation, to draw attention to the disorders and encourage screening. She is encouraged about the potential for effective Lp(a) therapies but worries that it could take a long time to change medical practice.

Thomas, the internist in Washington, agrees: “We are behind on this and it is time to catch up.”

There’s another risk to your heart that’s getting new attention

Shortly after finishing breakfast six years ago, Brian Farrington felt some discomfort and thought it was heartburn.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Czech zoo welcomes 4 rare Barbary lion cubs whose population is extinct in the wild
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Karel Janicek
Published Aug 07, 2025 • 2 minute read

Three of four Barbary lion cubs, that were born recently at the Safari Park Dvur Kralove, play with each other at their enclosure, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.
Three of four Barbary lion cubs, that were born recently at the Safari Park Dvur Kralove, play with each other at their enclosure, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.
DVUR KRALOVE, Czech Republic — Four Barbary lion cubs were born recently in a Czech zoo, a vital contribution for a small surviving population of the rare lion that is extinct in the wild.


The three females and one male were seen playing in their outdoor enclosure at Dvůr Kralove Safari Park on Wednesday, enjoying themselves under the watchful eyes of their parents, Khalila and Bart.


That will change soon. As part of an international endangered species program that coordinates efforts for their survival in captivity, the cubs will be sent to other participating parks, including the Beersheba zoo in Israel.

Chances are that might not be the end of the story for the animal.

Dvůr Kralove Deputy Director Jaroslav Hyjanek said that while preliminary steps have been taken for a possible reintroduction of the Barbary lion into its natural habitat, it’s still a “far distant future.”

The majestic member of the Northern lion subspecies, the Barbary lion once roamed freely its native northern Africa, including the Atlas Mountains.


A symbol of strength, they were almost completely wiped out due to human activities. Many were killed by gladiators in Roman times, while overhunting and a loss of habitat contributed to their extinction later.

The last known photo of a wild lion was taken in 1925, while the last individual was killed in 1942.

It’s believed the last small populations went extinct in the wild in the middle of the 1960s.

Fewer than 200 Barbary lions are currently estimated to live in captivity.

Hyjanek said that after initial talks with Moroccan authorities, who have not rejected the idea of their reintroduction, a conference of experts has been planned to take place in Morocco late this year or early 2026 to decide whether it would make sense to go ahead with such a plan in one of the national parks in the Atlas Mountains.

Any reintroduction would face numerous bureaucratic and other obstacles. Since the lion has not been present in the environment for such a long time, the plans would have to ensure their protection, a sufficient prey population and cooperation and approval from local communities.

Hyjanek said such a move is still worth trying if it turns out to be sustainable.

“It’s important to have such a vision for any animal, ” he said. “Without it, the existence of zoos wouldn’t make sense.”

Czech zoo welcomes 4 rare Barbary lion cubs whose population is extinct in the wild

The three females and one male were seen playing in their outdoor enclosure at Dvůr Kralove Safari Park on Wednesday.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Eating too many French fries could increase risk of Type 2 diabetes: Study
Author of the articleenette Wilford
Published Aug 08, 2025 • 2 minute read

Apparently, there is such a thing as too many French fries.


And it’s also not just about the amount of fries you could be eating in one sitting but also how many times a week you consume the tasty taters a week that could increase an individual’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.


According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, eating three or more servings of fries each week can increase the chance of developing the chronic condition by 20%, while eating fries five times a week can increase the chance by 27%.

“Our findings underscore that the association between potato intake and type 2 diabetes risk depends on the specific foods used as replacement,” the researchers said.

“The findings also align with current dietary recommendations that promote the inclusion of whole grains as part of a healthy diet for the prevention of type 2 diabetes.”


The researchers did note that eating similar amounts of potatoes cooked other ways — boiled, baked or mashed, for example — does not substantially increase the risk, only reducing it by 5%.

“The high starch content of potatoes, leading to a high glycemic index and load, combined with possible loss of nutrients and possible health risks resulting from various cooking methods, could contribute to adverse health outcomes,” the study explains.

More than 22,000 cases of Type 2 diabetes were documented during the 37-year time period.


“Potatoes can be part of a healthy diet, but it’s how we prepare them that makes the difference,” Dr. Kawther Hashem, a lecturer in public health nutrition at Queen Mary University of London and not involved with the study, told the Guardian.


“Boiled, baked or mashed potatoes are naturally low in fat and a source of fibre, vitamin C and potassium,” Hashem continued.

“But when we deep fry them into French fries, especially in large portions and with added salt, they become less healthy with their high-fat, salt and calorie content that’s much more likely to contribute to weight gain and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes.”

For the study, an international team of researchers examined the diets of more than 205,000 adults in the United States who had their eating habits documented every four years between 1984 and 2021.



“Not all potatoes are created equal,” lead author Seyed Mohammad Mousavid, a research fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, told NBC News.

“Even a small amount of french fries, less than one serving in the week, is associated with a higher risk of Type 2 diabetes.”

Replacing potatoes with whole grains, on the other hand, lowers the risk of diabetes by 8%, and if grains are eaten instead of fries specifically, that cuts the risk by 19%.

White rice, however, had a stronger association with diabetes.

A salty twist: Diabetes risk study says french fries are a culprit

Weekly servings of boiled, baked or mashed potatoes weren’t associated with an elevated risk of Type 2 diabetes — but french fries were.

nbcnews.com

Eating chips three times a week raises type 2 diabetes risk by 20%, study finds

Baking, boiling or mashing potatoes raises risk by 5% and replacing with whole grains lowers risk significantly

theguardian.com

Eating too many French fries could increase risk of Type 2 diabetes: Study

Apparently, there is such a thing as too many French fries.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Chinese docs baffled over woman who can't stop having orgasms all day long
Author of the articleostmedia News
Published Aug 10, 2025 • Last updated 11 hours ago • 2 minute read

Medical specialists in China are dumfounded over the case of a young woman who experiences uncontrollable orgasms multiple times per day, leaving the turned-on 20-year-old in a perpetual state of arousal.
Medical specialists in China are dumfounded over the case of a young woman who experiences uncontrollable orgasms multiple times per day, leaving the turned-on 20-year-old in a perpetual state of arousal.
O-no!

Medical specialists in China are dumfounded over the case of a young woman who experiences uncontrollable orgasms multiple times per day, leaving the turned-on 20-year-old in a perpetual state of arousal.


“The sexual arousal symptoms are characterized by recurrent and spontaneous orgasmic experiences,” wrote Jing Yan and Dafang Ouyang of the Peking University Sixth Hospital in Beijing, in a study of the curious case published in AME Case Reports, per the New York Post.

The unnamed woman has for the past five years experienced sexual stimulation out of the blue, leading doctors to presume that she suffered from persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD), PsyPost reported.

On the surface, this situation might be amusing to some, constant pleasure can be a pain, causing “significant impairment in psychosocial well-being and daily functioning,” the study said.

In this particular case, the patient reportedly experienced immense distress and was unable to attend school or work, or maintain relationships.


She wasn’t diagnosed in good time.

Her symptoms first popped up when she was 14, initially manifesting as an “electric” sensation in her abdomen accompanied by pelvic contractions resembling orgasms.

This was around the same time that the youngster also started displaying increased sensitivity coupled with strange beliefs such as thinking that others could read her thoughts, which led to her being hospitalized one year later and treated for depressive and psychotic symptoms.

The patient’s symptoms persisted despite various remedies including anti-epileptic and psychiatric medications, leading her to believe that her ongoing climaxes were cause by external stimuli.

When she reported to the hospital, her condition worsened to the point that she could barely explain her symptoms without being interrupted by an orgasm.


Neurologists ruled out epilepsy through EEG monitoring and other tests, while physical exams showed no structural abnormalities in her brain or reproductive organs that might have triggered her pleasure responses.

Eventually, doctors diagnosed the patient with PGAD after a regimen of antipsychotic drugs appeared to mitigate both her big moments and delusions.

Following several weeks of treatment, her condition improved, and she was able to return to work and have a social life.

However, whenever she stopped treatments, her symptoms would return.



PGAD flies under the radar. It was first formally described in 2001. It affects a projected 1% of women in the U.S. but remains underdiagnosed, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Potential causes include everything from nerves, blood flow, and antidepressant medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

It has also been linked to an imbalance of dopamine, a neurotransmitter involved in the brain’s arousal and reward system.

There is no cure as of this time.

Young woman can’t stop having orgasms — and doctors can’t figure out why

Come again?

nypost.com

Chinese docs baffled over woman who can't stop having orgasms all day long

Medical specialists in China are dumfounded over the case of a young woman who experiences uncontrollable orgasms multiple times per day.

torontosun.com

 

[spaminator]

Walmart knew about explosion risk in water bottles for 7 years before recall
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Todd C. Frankel, The Washington Post
Published Aug 10, 2025 • 5 minute read

081025-Walmart-Bottle-Recall
This image provided by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission shows Walmart's "Ozark Trail 64 oz Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottles," which Walmart is recalling on Friday, July 11, 2025, because the lid can "forcefully eject" and unexpectedly strike consumers. (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission via AP) AP
It sounded like Walmart was moving quickly.


The retailer said last month the public should immediately stop using its Ozark Trail 64-ounce stainless-steel water bottles because the plastic lid “can forcefully eject,” which led to three injuries, including to two people who said they were partially blinded by flying bottle caps. Walmart said it voluntarily decided to stop selling the product and was offering $15 refunds to remove the 850,000 bottles already on the market, according to a July 10 notice posted on the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.


“The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority,” the company said in a statement that traveled widely across social media.

But this was not a new problem, according to a review of CPSC documents and lawsuits.


Walmart had known about the danger since 2018. That detail wasn’t mentioned in the recall notice. The company and regulator confirmed the information following Post inquiries.

In fact, all three injuries noted in the CPSC warning had occurred within months of one another seven years earlier, starting in March 2018 when a couple outside Atlanta tried to share some homemade beef and pepper soup stored in an Ozark Trail bottle. A subsequent lawsuit alleged that after the lid seemed stuck the man held the bottle while the woman twisted the screw-on cap.

“It literally exploded. The cap blasted her eyeball,” the couple’s attorney, Ben Locklar, said in an interview. The case was eventually settled.

The decision to recall a product is rarely a straightforward calculation. There often are behind-the-scenes negotiations and liability concerns, as shown in other recalls and litigation. Some companies resist. Some balk at the proposed remedy. There can be disagreements over whether the problem is a defective product or consumer misuse.


Companies face reputational risks whatever they decide, and recalls can land in unexpected ways. Research has shown that markets and consumers can punish companies both for being too aggressive or not aggressive enough in addressing dangerous products. One path looks like panic. The other looks like indifference.

“I do suspect that there’s a measure of risk tolerance that’s being discussed” when a company makes a recall decision, said Kevin Mayo, a business professor at Washington State University who has studied how companies make recalls.

Most companies want to avoid ending up in a position like Peloton, the home exercise company that in 2021 faced fierce consumer backlash when it was revealed the company had been fighting the CPSC’s request to recall its Tread+ treadmills after the product was tied to one child’s death and other injuries.


Only about 300 or so consumer product recalls are announced each year. That is in part because the CPSC, the nation’s product safety regulator, lacks the authority to force a recall in most cases without a court order. It usually needs a company’s cooperation.

“A company can think about burying it under the rug and think, if it blows up, we’ll take that hit,” Mayo said.

The public is unlikely to know a company delayed a recall “unless someone does the digging,” he said.

Walmart said it wasn’t trying to hide or delay anything.

Ozark Trail is a Walmart-owned camping and outdoors brand. Walmart began selling the Ozark Trail 64-ounce insulated bottle in 2017. The bottle featured a wide mouth and carried twice the amount of liquid as a 7-Eleven Big Gulp. It was a low-cost entry into the burgeoning reusable bottle category, which includes brands such as Yeti, Hydro Flask and Stanley.


The retailer said it promptly reported the three injury incidents to the CPSC in 2018, as required by law.

Walmart could have decided to announce a recall then, but the CPSC didn’t ask for one, according to a Walmart official familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly about the company’s internal processes.

The CPSC declined to comment directly on what actions it took in response to Walmart’s notifications over the years.

A statement from an agency spokesperson at first blamed the lack of a recall in 2018, when the problems first appeared, on President Joe Biden’s administration when the “CPSC pursued other agenda priorities while declined to secure recalls for product with known defects.” But in 2018 the president was Donald Trump and the head of the CPSC was a Republican. Today, Trump is again president, and the new CPSC head is also a Republican. A follow-up CPSC statement said the agency “cannot speak to decisions made” or delays under previous administrations.


Walmart said it believed the problem was not with the bottle’s design but with “consumer misuse of the product,” the Walmart official said. “Our position is that when the water bottle is used to hold water, it is safe.”

The woman injured in Georgia used the bottle to store hot soup.

The next incident, in August 2018, involved a man in Washington state who had left hard apple cider inside the bottle for several days. As he struggled to twist off the lid, “it was projected with tremendous force,” according to a subsequent lawsuit.

“The impact ruptured his left eyeball,” the suit said.

Two months later, a woman outside Boston tried to open her bottle filled with mango juice and was blasted in the face by the lid, according to another lawsuit. The complaint alleged she suffered “massive damage” to her jaw and face.


Walmart struck confidential settlements in the three court cases. At least one of the cases involved a protective order restricting what details could be shared. Attorneys for two of the cases did not respond to requests for comment. Locklar, the attorney for the Georgia case, said he was limited in what he could discuss.

His case was settled before his team could definitively identify the cause of the Ozark Trail incidents, he said, although he believed a small pressure-release valve or different threading on the bottle’s lid could have prevented the injuries.

“I had no idea that these things can become like bombs,” he said.

Two years after the injuries, in 2020, Walmart began to include new caution inserts with the bottles. They added warnings against using the bottles to store any liquid besides water, such as milk or fermenting beverages, which “may cause pressure buildup and lead to lid failure and spills” and cause injuries, according to the label.

“It seemed to work,” the Walmart official said. The company said it received just one report of an exploding bottle after that, and no one was injured. That was in 2024. Walmart reported the new incident to the CPSC.

This time the agency did ask Walmart to remove the product.

That is what led to the July recall.

“The health and safety of our customers is always a top priority and (we) maintain that this product is of a conventional design and safe when used for water, as intended,” Walmart spokeswoman Annie Patterson said in a statement.

Walmart knew about explosion risk in water bottles for 7 years before recall

It sounded like Walmart was moving quickly.

torontosun.com

 

[bill barilko]

It's all about you baby nobody but you (and your friends of course)

Biochar from human waste could solve global fertiliser shortages, study finds
Excrement contains nutrients needed for crop growth and a new source of them could cut farming’s huge CO2 output

Charcoal made from human waste could help solve fertiliser shortages as well as reduce pollution and energy use, a study has found.

Biochar is a form of charcoal made from organic matter treated at high heat, which is often used on farming soil as a fertiliser. The process also removes carbon from the atmosphere, making it a useful carbon sink.

The study estimated that biochar made from solid human excrement could provide up to 7% of the phosphorus used around the world each year. Although the biochar process converts only solids, nutrients taken from urine could be added to it, and the researchers found this could provide for 15% of annual phosphorus application, 17% of nitrogen, and up to 25% of potassium.

Treated sewage sludge is already spread on farmland, but its use is controversial as it often contains microplastics, heavy metals, Pfas forever chemicals, pathogens, and pharmaceuticals.The researchers say biochar can avoid this problem by separating the waste at source.

The study estimated that the biochar process could decrease both the weight and volume of solid excrement by up to 90%, which represents a significant gain in efficiency when compared with transporting sewage sludge, due to the latter’s high water content.

The biochar production process also allows nutrient proportions to be adjusted according to the needs of individual crops. This can address problems associated with fertiliser use such as weed growth and eutrophication – when excess nutrients leach into groundwater, causing rapid growth of algae which depletes oxygen availability and reduces the sunlight available for underwater ecosystems.

Dr Johannes Lehmann, a professor of soil biogeochemistry at Cornell University and lead author of the study published in the journal PNAS, said: “Talking about sewage is not as glamorous as renewable energy, but preventing resource wastage by creating a circular economy is also key to the green transition.”

Agriculture accounts for 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. As demand has increased on global agricultural systems to provide enough food for all, so too has its appetite for fertiliser to replenish soil nutrients.

Synthetic fertilisers deliver three main nutrients to soils – nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus – and all three involve energy-intensive and often environmentally destructive production processes. Nitrogen is fixed from the air to make ammonia via the Haber process, and turning this into nitrogen fertilisers emits an estimated 2.6 billion gigatonnes of CO2 a year – more than global aviation and shipping combined.

Strip mining phosphate rock for phosphorus permanently scars natural landscapes and processing it into fertiliser also leads to radioactive phosphogypsum as a byproduct. Potash mining for potassium contributes to soil salinisation and freshwater contamination due to its large amounts of waste salt byproduct.

According to Lehmann, “the implications [of biochar resource recovery] go beyond just agriculture, and involve economics and geopolitics. As finite mineral resources become more scarce, countries without significant reserves could become dependent on those with for their agricultural needs and food security. For example, Morocco holds 70% of the entire world’s reserves of phosphates.

“Instead, an alternative future where nutrients are recycled through a circular economy could empower countries to produce food without relying on imported fertilisers, redressing issues of environmental justice across the global south by potentially mitigating climate migration, one of the main drivers of which is agricultural failure.”

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

So. . . "Eat shit!" is actually good advice?

 

[petros]

So. . . "Eat shit!" is actually good advice?

Not really.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Not really.

Well, there's a few intervening steps in the process.

Which, when you come to think on it, is also true of the process of converting food into shit.

 

[petros]

Well, there's a few intervening steps in the process.

Which, when you come to think on it, is also true of the process of converting food into shit.

I'm using less and less fertilizer every year. I don't grow grain, proteins or oil seed. I grow soil that grows grain, proteins and oil seed.

 

[Taxslave2]

And yet in BC there are people opposed to spreading biochar on the forests. Because? Well its yucky. Or something.

 

[bill barilko]

And yet in BC there are people opposed to spreading biochar on the forests. Because? Well its yucky. Or something.

They're opposed now but it's coming as sure as shit there really is no alternative in the long run.