Biogas from food waste can be low-carbon truck fuel

Biogas from food waste can be low-carbon truck fuel: Biogas generated from food and drink process waste offers a low-carbon commercial transport fuel for the future, a study for a leading British bioenergy company has shown.

US customs seizes two tons of marijuana disguised as lettuce.

US customs seizes two tons of marijuana disguised as lettuce. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to work at the Colombia-Solidarity International Bridge seized nearly two tons of alleged marijuana in one enforcement action valued over $740,000. “This is truly an example of our CBP officers’ hard work, experience and dedication to the CBP mission,” said Port Director Gregory Alvarez, Laredo Port of Entry. “I congratulate the officers in advancing the CBP mission and protecting the public from illegal narcotics.” .A canine, non-intrusive and physical inspection of the trailer resulted in the discovery of 5,754 packages containing a total of 3,707 pounds of alleged marijuana. more

Identifying food safety hazards in greenhouse systems.

Identifying food safety hazards in greenhouse systems. According to the United States Department of Agriculture 2012 Census of Agriculture, sales from greenhouse-grown food crops equaled around $800 million in the U.S. Crops grown included tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, and berries, with hydroponic production operations making up about 64% of the total production (cwt) (USDA Census of Agriculture, 2012). Demand for greenhouse-grown produce continues to increase, providing growers with unique opportunities to tap into this expanding market. Although greenhouse systems provide a more protected environment than field-grown systems, it is important to understand the unique food safety risks and possible sources of contamination when growing produce in these systems. Identifying food safety hazards are necessary to implementing practices that reduce the risk of contamination during the pre-plant, production, harvest, and post-harvest handling stages. more

Moms who breastfeed may have reduced risk of multiple sclerosis.

Moms who breastfeed may have reduced risk of multiple sclerosis. Mothers who breastfeed for a total of at least 15 months over one or more pregnancies may be less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) compared with those who don’t breastfeed at all or do so for up to four months, according to a study. Mothers who breastfeed for a total of at least 15 months over one or more pregnancies may be less likely to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) compared with those who don't breastfeed at all or do so for up to four months, according to a study published in online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. more

Eating more vegetable protein may protect against early menopause.

Eating more vegetable protein may protect against early menopause.Long-term, high intake of vegetable protein from such foods as whole grains, soy and tofu, may protect women from early menopause and could prolong reproductive function. Results of a new study from epidemiologists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggest that long-term, high intake of vegetable protein from such foods as whole grains, soy and tofu, may protect women from early menopause and could prolong reproductive function. Consuming enriched pasta, dark bread and cold cereal were especially associated with lower risk, while they observed no similar relation to eating animal sources of protein. A better understanding of how dietary vegetable protein intake is associated with ovarian aging may identify ways for women to modify their risk of early onset menopause and associated health conditions.The study appears in the current early edition of the American Journal of Epidemiology. Early menopause, the cessation of ovarian function before age 45, affects about 10 percent of women and is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and early cognitive decline, more

Diet rich in tomatoes cuts skin cancer in half in mice.

Diet rich in tomatoes cuts skin cancer in half in mice.This discovery builds on previous evidence of cancer-prevention benefits. A new study at the Ohio State University. has shown that daily tomato consumption appeared to cut the development of skin cancer tumors by half in a mouse. The new study of how nutritional interventions can alter the risk for skin cancers appeared online in the journal Scientific Reports. It found that male mice fed a diet of 10 percent tomato powder daily for 35 weeks, then exposed to ultraviolet light, experienced, on average, a 50 percent decrease in skin cancer tumors compared to mice that ate no dehydrated tomato. The theory behind the relationship between tomatoes and cancer is that dietary carotenoids, the pigmenting compounds that give tomatoes their color, may protect skin against UV light damage.more

'Solarsack' cleans water with heat from sunlight, cheaply and effectively.

'Solarsack' cleans water with heat from sunlight, cheaply and effectively. Two Danish students have developed have developed “SolarSack” for inexpensive and environmentally friendly water purification. The concept was tested in villages, refugee camps and slums in East Africa where it will be marketed. The product, known as SolarSack, is a special bag that is filled with four liters of water and placed in the sun for four hours. Using UVA and UVB rays, as well as heat from the sun, the water is cleaned of pathogenic bacteria. The user can then drink the water and reuse the bag for water purification. The method was approved by the World Health Organization which estimates that between 99.9 and 99.999 percent of the pathogenic bacteria in the water die. The students tested SolarSack in Kenya and Uganda with local users and organizations, and adapted it to their needs. And it's cheap. more