Tag: global warming

The Role of Seaweed in Reducing Methane Emissions

The Odds of Our Survival

I was listening to a podcast by Yuval Noah Harari (How humans came to rule the world) and he was saying that if he were to draw odds of survival in the wild against a lion or a zebra, he would not rate himself too highly at being in the race at all as much, but as a species we do seem to have gone above and beyond. It is true. While human-beings can be extremely frustrating , what humanity is capable of achieving is truly astonishing. The eradication of so many life-threatening diseases such as small-pox, continuing medical advances including the recent covid vaccination, and so much more.

Humanity never does seem to have a dearth of problems to solve too. Maybe it was one of the things that came out of Pandora’s Box too. This ability for every solution we create, we seem to have more problems to solve. The industrial revolution led us to climate change, increased technology and reliance on over-stimulation with social media etc is leading to increasing mental health problems. But still we persevere on. When industrialization swept the globe, many feared the end of meaningful work, but the nature of work has morphed and morphed into something our ancestors can hardly recognize as work. 

Climate Change

Take for instance all the ways in which we set about solving the climate change problem (after having caused it in the first place – true true! ) 

While talking to college going young adults, one of the majors that keeps popping up is environmental science, ecological preservation, green engineering – all fascinating fields related to tackling the increased effects and problems of climate change.

That is the redeeming quality too of our sometimes frustrating species. 

This piece of news make me rejoice in the capabilities of human-beings, and the beauty of our planet earth all at once. 

Feeding seaweed to cattle reduces their methane emissions by upto 40%. Considering that 40% of methane emissions are from cattle fodder, this is a huge step in the right direction indeed.

https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2024/12/scientists-just-took-one-step-closer-to-a-climate-friendly-cow/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email

The oceans coming to our aid again! Seaweeds – truly if there are deities in the universe, the ocean would have to be ours. 

Methane production from live fodder constitutes 40% of greenhouse gases, and if feeding cows seaweeds reduces that by 40%, we may very well have a significant dent on the problem (16% reduction in methane will be a significant dent if all cows are able to get on a seaweed diet.) 

I want a beautiful word for the interconnected-ness of the universe

Seaweeds 🙂 The beauty of it is astonishing and the more I think of all the wonders that bound us together on this small planet, the more I am astounded by it. The interconnectedness of it all sometimes has me breathless in awe. How did we get to call this planet home? 

I ramble, but it may well be tipping point for the planet.  If the doomsayers are to be believed, the breakthrough comes as a critical moment.

The Ocean Deities Defy Pandora

It is as if the ocean deities are having a laugh and teasing Pandora with this win, and and with wins right now – we should take all the logical and sensible ones while we can.

Future of Mankind: Sifrhippus or Wall-E routes?

The hedgehogs in the area are confused. They came out thinking it is Spring (apparently, hedgehogs peep out of their hibernating homes and if they see their shadow, they think it is time to get up and get busy for the Spring),and then a few days later, the skies clouded over again looking very much like Winter, and hiding the hedgehogs shadow. Just when they found their blankets and decided to snuggle up again, they found their shadows again. Quite trying for hedgehogs frankly. I don’t know what I would have done if I were one. Point is, no matter what the climate is like, one can always push out a study on Global warming to an audience waiting to lap it up. If it is cold, you say,’See this is a result of global warming. The extremities in temperature.’ Then dramatically shake your head.

Another sure shot research topic is Obesity. Watching Wall-E always fills me with an unnamed fear. What with obesity rising and our inherent entertainment choices becoming sedentary, there seems little we can do to avoid the inevitable. But there is this news item that had me soothe my frayed nerves somewhat.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/science/sifrhippus-the-first-horse-got-even-tinier-as-the-planet-heated-up.html

Apparently, the Sifrhippus horse was a hulk (compared to what it is now I mean). But as a result of Global Warming, the horse has grown tinier over centuries. On the other hand, horses ran around then and horses run around now. I mean rarely does one find a Sifrhippus strapped up to his X-box and throwing his mane about involved in the game.

If a sifr had to run a mile for fodder then, he runs a mile for fodder now. So, his reduced bulk could be related to Global Warming.

Man, on the other hand, if he had to hunt a day for filling half his stomach then, he has to click a button for half a second now before it is delivered at his doorstep. For further explanation, I see a half-witted diagram is in order.

Do you think these two effects would balance each other out for a while.