Farmers in India cut their carbon footprint with trees and solar power

Good News Notes: “In 2007, 22-year-old P. Ramesh’s groundnut farm was losing money. As was the norm in most of India (and still is), Ramesh was using a cocktail of pesticides and fertilizers across his 2.4 hectares in the Anantapur district of southern India. In this desert-like area, which gets less than 600 millimeters of…

Plant-Based Diet Rich in Olive Oil, Tomatoes Lowers Heart Disease Risk

Good News Notes: “Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the US. To avoid it, a mostly plant-based diet is your best bet, according to a meta-analysis published July 6 in Cardiovascular Research.  Researchers from the University of Naples reviewed nearly 100 studies on the relationship between heart disease risk and dietary habits. They focused on…

Study suggests bacteria in cow’s stomach can break down plastic

Good News Notes: “Bacteria found in one of the compartments of a cow’s stomach can break down plastic, research suggests. Since the 1950s, more than 8bn tonnes of plastic have been produced – equivalent in weight to 1 billion elephants – driven predominantly by packaging, single-use containers, wrapping and bottles. As a result, plastic pollution is all-pervasive, in the…

6 Vegetables That Are Healthier Cooked Than Raw

Good News Notes: “As counterintuitive as it may seem, some fruits and vegetables get a nutritional boost upon cooking. Most of us have all too many un-fond memories of vegetables cooked into a soggy gloppy mush. With their taste and texture and vibrancy cooked out of them, it’s no wonder that so many of their…