Fossil fuel debate dominates discussions at the United Nations’ recent contentious COP28 conference
As anxious citizens and activists across the globe watched the contentious 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change unfold through their phone screens, one pervading question plagued their minds: Would a fossil fuel phase-out make it into the conference’s final agreement? After a week of divisive debates and negotiations — in which a final settlement seemed almost impossible — the COP28 representatives have now concluded their talks, announcing on Wednesday, Dec. 23, a historical agreement to transition away from all fossil fuel consumption, NBC reported.
Desperate sailors turn to heavy metal music to deter orca attacks
Heavy metal music can be used in more ways than one would think. The genre is increasingly used as a killer whale deterrent off the coast of southwestern Europe, according to Focusing on Wildlife. The practice is not scientifically studied or supported but rather began as a suggested trick for sailors to prevent these large marine mammals, also known as orcas, from attacking and sinking boats sailing off the Iberian Peninsula, a Business Insider article reported.
New residents have entered dorms in the form of western conifer seed bugs
Precious Plastic MHC is turning trash into environmental optimism
In a digital world inundated with doomsday headlines and constant reports of natural disasters, it can be easy to slip into a climate anxiety-induced state of dread. One new student organization, Precious Plastic MHC, is on a mission to change this by taking the pessimism out of plastic and inspiring students to find joy in leading more sustainable lives.
Brain food might have a whole new meaning, according to new research
It’s no secret that running is exhausting, but an early-stage research paper is exploring just how much it impacts the body. According to an article by RunnersConnect, prolonged endurance running, such as marathons, may deplete the body’s carbohydrate stores, leading it to burn fat for energy. A preprint research paper recently submitted to bioRxiv suggested that the body turns somewhere unexpected to find its fat cells: the brain. The preprint reports found that brain tissue — specifically myelin — may be used as fuel in marathon running.
