NWI groups concerned about plastic waste share ideas
Environmentalists from Highland, Michigan City, East Chicago, Hobart and Valparaiso gathered Wednesday at Valparaiso University to start working together on ways to address the proliferation of plastic waste.
'There are others locally that are in the fight with us, that are interested in fighting with us and sharing resources,' said Ellen Kapitan, an organizer of the Plastic Reduction Alliance of Northwest Indiana.
Unlike many other materials, plastic waste can be problematic because of 'forever chemicals' that don't biodegrade.
'All this plastic is really harming our health,' said VU chemistry professor Julie Peller, a local expert on plastics.
There have been various efforts across the country to address plastic waste, but industry lobbyists have been effective in blocking them, she said. In Indiana, for example, an industry-friendly state law zip-ties local governments' hands when it comes to attempting to restrict the use of plastic bags.
That doesn't stop local nongovernmental groups from asking stores to offer discounts to people who bring their own bags, however.
Peller showed an image of plastic netting being used to hold grass seeds in place. Using plastic isn't necessary, she said.
'We're seeing a lot of neurodevelopment problems in children,' Peller said. 'We need to stop exposing our children to plastics and their additives.'
Plastic has been found in various human organs, she said.
'What we're finding is what we haven't encountered before,' Peller said. 'There's about seven grams of plastic in our brains,' researchers have found.
That's equivalent to a standard single-use water bottle without a bottle cap, she said.
'While recycling is part of the answer, it's not the main solution we need,' Peller said. The 'reduce, reuse, recycle' mantra puts 'recycle' in third place for a reason.
Even the labeling of plastics is problematic, VU chemistry lecturer Christina Davis said. The numbers that identify various types of plastic are surrounded by a triangle of arrows that would seem to indicate they can be recycled. But that's not always true, she said.
Davis has led teams of students to Marquette Park in Gary and Indiana Dunes State Park in Chesterton to gather samples of plastic waste.
Last year, it took just 15 minutes to gather 1,500 pieces of plastic at Marquette Park. This year's haul, gathered June 5, is still being counted.
'In a short time, we were able to gather a year's worth of plastic to do research on,' Davis said.
There was enough of the waste to fill at least three Mason jars and much of a fourth one.
'We found so many nurdles this year compared to last year. It was a huge increase,' she said.
Nurdles are the tiny pellets sold to plastics manufacturers to be melted down to form various products made at the factories.
The students gathered about 10 grams of nurdles in that short visit, Davis said.
VU senior Emily Broniewicz, of Hickory Hills, Illinois, helped with the collection, using a 5-micrometer sieve to let the sand drop away from the larger plastic waste being gathered.
She took Peller's introductory environmental justice course her first semester and was hooked.
The group gathered Wednesday discussed various ways to work together on addressing plastic waste.
'What can we brainstorm and do collectively?' Peller asked.
Perhaps the solid waste districts in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties could work together on a campaign to reduce the use of plastic bags. Perhaps farmers' markets could be encouraged to reduce their use. Various other ideas were thrown out, too.
'We're all about partnering and learning to grow together,' Peller said.
Sarah Tubbs, vice president of the alliance, said there will be a community cleanup of a 2-mile stretch of Porter County Road 600 N between Ind. 2 and County Road 400 E. 'We'll have cute little vests for you to wear to keep you safe,' she said.
Cleanups along roadsides typically gather waste in plastic trash bags to be picked up and disposed of afterward.
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Chicago Tribune
7 hours ago
- Chicago Tribune
NWI groups concerned about plastic waste share ideas
Environmentalists from Highland, Michigan City, East Chicago, Hobart and Valparaiso gathered Wednesday at Valparaiso University to start working together on ways to address the proliferation of plastic waste. 'There are others locally that are in the fight with us, that are interested in fighting with us and sharing resources,' said Ellen Kapitan, an organizer of the Plastic Reduction Alliance of Northwest Indiana. Unlike many other materials, plastic waste can be problematic because of 'forever chemicals' that don't biodegrade. 'All this plastic is really harming our health,' said VU chemistry professor Julie Peller, a local expert on plastics. There have been various efforts across the country to address plastic waste, but industry lobbyists have been effective in blocking them, she said. In Indiana, for example, an industry-friendly state law zip-ties local governments' hands when it comes to attempting to restrict the use of plastic bags. That doesn't stop local nongovernmental groups from asking stores to offer discounts to people who bring their own bags, however. Peller showed an image of plastic netting being used to hold grass seeds in place. Using plastic isn't necessary, she said. 'We're seeing a lot of neurodevelopment problems in children,' Peller said. 'We need to stop exposing our children to plastics and their additives.' Plastic has been found in various human organs, she said. 'What we're finding is what we haven't encountered before,' Peller said. 'There's about seven grams of plastic in our brains,' researchers have found. That's equivalent to a standard single-use water bottle without a bottle cap, she said. 'While recycling is part of the answer, it's not the main solution we need,' Peller said. The 'reduce, reuse, recycle' mantra puts 'recycle' in third place for a reason. Even the labeling of plastics is problematic, VU chemistry lecturer Christina Davis said. The numbers that identify various types of plastic are surrounded by a triangle of arrows that would seem to indicate they can be recycled. But that's not always true, she said. Davis has led teams of students to Marquette Park in Gary and Indiana Dunes State Park in Chesterton to gather samples of plastic waste. Last year, it took just 15 minutes to gather 1,500 pieces of plastic at Marquette Park. This year's haul, gathered June 5, is still being counted. 'In a short time, we were able to gather a year's worth of plastic to do research on,' Davis said. There was enough of the waste to fill at least three Mason jars and much of a fourth one. 'We found so many nurdles this year compared to last year. It was a huge increase,' she said. Nurdles are the tiny pellets sold to plastics manufacturers to be melted down to form various products made at the factories. The students gathered about 10 grams of nurdles in that short visit, Davis said. VU senior Emily Broniewicz, of Hickory Hills, Illinois, helped with the collection, using a 5-micrometer sieve to let the sand drop away from the larger plastic waste being gathered. She took Peller's introductory environmental justice course her first semester and was hooked. The group gathered Wednesday discussed various ways to work together on addressing plastic waste. 'What can we brainstorm and do collectively?' Peller asked. Perhaps the solid waste districts in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties could work together on a campaign to reduce the use of plastic bags. Perhaps farmers' markets could be encouraged to reduce their use. Various other ideas were thrown out, too. 'We're all about partnering and learning to grow together,' Peller said. Sarah Tubbs, vice president of the alliance, said there will be a community cleanup of a 2-mile stretch of Porter County Road 600 N between Ind. 2 and County Road 400 E. 'We'll have cute little vests for you to wear to keep you safe,' she said. Cleanups along roadsides typically gather waste in plastic trash bags to be picked up and disposed of afterward.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Humpback Whales Are Blowing ‘Bubble Rings' at Boats. Are They Trying to Communicate?
Humpback whales are known for their extensive use of bubbles—from powerful, aggressive bursts that prove their prowess during courtship to the bubble-net 'curtains' they produce to round up prey in a spectacle that often draws tourists from around the world. Now a new study published in Marine Mammal Science explores rare instances when humpbacks (Megaptera novaeangliae) create dramatic, doughnut-shaped vortex bubbles that look like a rolling underwater smoke ring. Video credit: Simon Hilbourne, Molly Gaughan, Karime Nicholas [Sign up for Today in Science, a free daily newsletter] Researchers at the University of California, Davis, and their colleagues at other institutions—including the SETI Institute, which is known for focusing on the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) but is also interested in nonhuman intelligences on Earth—were looking for examples of whales' general bubble behavior when they uncovered a striking video taken by videographer Dan Knaub in 1988. In the footage, a humpback called 'Thorn' blows 19 bubble structures—including 11 rings—over a 10-minute period. 'We were just gobsmacked—like, 'What the hell is going on?'' says Fred Sharpe, a whale biologist at U.C. Davis. 'For a team that's interested in assisting astrobiologists parse unusual signals coming from deep space, it just fell real neatly into our paradigm.... It's so bizarre.' Sharpe and his colleagues soon found more examples on social media and from other researchers. Study co-author Jodi Frediani, a wildlife photographer who is also at U.C. Davis, even noticed a telltale circle in a photograph a friend showed during a presentation about humpback whales. With this phenomenon on her mind, she says, 'I went, 'Gee, there's a bubble ring!'' For the study, the team recorded 12 events across the North and South Pacific and North Atlantic Oceans in which 11 individual humpbacks were seen blowing bubble rings. The researchers described 39 rings in total. 'It's not a lot in the world of whales but enough—and in multiple oceans,' Frediani says. 'It's a really fun paper,' says Syracuse University biologist Susan E. Parks, who studies bubble-net feeding in humpbacks and wasn't involved in the new study. 'It reads like a detective story that's trying to piece together information about something that's not widely studied and happens rarely.' Parks hasn't observed any bubble rings herself—as far as she knows, she says, 'I may have seen them before and never really thought anything of them.' Despite compiling so many examples of the rings, Sharpe still doesn't know what to think about their purpose. 'My guess is that this is what it's going to feel like when we first make contact with aliens,' he says. The researchers speculate that the behavior could be playful. One whale would blow a bubble ring and then swim through it or 'do a spy hop right through the middle of it,' Frediani says—when performing such a spy hop, the whale would peep its head vertically above the surface, right through the bubble ring. Or perhaps the animals' behavior could respresent curiosity toward humans: of the 12 recorded events, nine involved whales that approached the human observers more closely before they blew rings. Humpback communication quote Could the whales be trying to communicate with us? Sharpe doesn't rule this out as a possibility. He posits that the presence of humans seems to trigger bubble blowing and that humpbacks improve with practice. 'This may be a species-atypical signal that's crafted for people,' he says, 'whales reaching out to humans ... using their own parlance, their own form of communication.' Parks thinks it's plausible that the animals are putting on a display for humans, but she adds that it's too soon to tell with such a small sample size. 'They'd want a lot more [observations] before they could say with certainty,' she says. Because most of the observations were made by people, this could skew the data, she notes, although there were 'two observations from planes, so we know [the whales] do produce them [bubble rings] when people aren't present, too.' Now that more researchers know to look for these bubble rings, Parks says, reported sightings may greatly increase. With more data, Sharpe and his colleagues hope to figure out what the purpose of these swirling doughnuts of air is—and whether the rings could possibly contain information. 'We need the entire human brain trust's help deciphering this,' Sharpe says. 'It's almost like [the whales'] blowhole is a mouth, and the symbols coming out are bubbles, as opposed to sounds.' Sharpe hopes footage from the study will help people feel connected with whales and make them want to protect the animals from human threats such as ship strikes, entanglement, noise and chemical pollution, habitat loss and disruption of the food web. He says that he also wants to find a way to let the whales 'know that they've been heard.' For him, trying to decipher potential messages and find a way to respond puts the team 'in the same place you would be if you were trying to communicate with aliens—and you got a message.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
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The Best Canned Foods To Eat If You Want The Most Bang For Your Buck
With grocery prices climbing (again), I've been leaning hard on my pantry — especially canned staples like legumes, canned salmon, pumpkin and tomato — to do the heavy lifting in my kitchen. They're budget-friendly, endlessly versatile, and don't deserve the not-as-good-as-fresh reputation they often get. 'The idea that canned foods are less nutritious is a common myth,' explained Marissa Karp, a registered dietitian and the founder of MPM Nutrition. 'While it's true that some heat-sensitive nutrients, like vitamin C, can be reduced during the canning process, many other nutrients are preserved exceptionally well since the produce is typically canned at peak ripeness, right after harvest.' In fact, canned options can be just as (if not more) nutrient-dense than their fresh counterparts. A review from the University of California, Davis, found that vitamin A, vitamin E, fiber and key minerals were comparable to fresh options. With that in mind, here are the top canned goods dietitians recommend stocking for maximum nutritional (and financial) payoff. If you've never tried artichokes, let alone considered them for your pantry, Karp wants you to think again. 'They're incredibly high in fiber — more than any other vegetable,' she said. 'Just one can of artichoke hearts packs in about 5 grams of dietary fiber, which not only helps keep you feeling full but also acts as a prebiotic, feeding the good bacteria in your gut.' HuffPost Life delivers practical, reliable advice to navigate life's challenges and make informed decisions. Support journalism that empowers you — Even better? No trimming, boiling or wrestling with thorny leaves. Canned artichokes are already prepped and ready to use. Just drain and enjoy. Toss them into a salad, blend into a dip, or air-fry with a sprinkle of Parmesan for a crispy, craveable snack. (Just keep an eye on whether they were canned in water, oil or a marinade, as that can affect the nutritional content.) A protein option that's packed with benefits and doesn't break the bank? Enter: canned salmon. 'Canned salmon is a superstar, providing high-quality protein, omega-3 DHA and EPA, and vitamin D,' said Roxana Ehsani, a registered dietitian nutritionist and board-certified specialist in sports dietetics. 'Sockeye salmon contains one of the highest natural food sources of vitamin D, which is needed to support heart, immune, bone and mental health.' For the most sustainable choice, look for wild-caught, MSC-certified (Marine Stewardship Council) varieties, which ensure responsible fishing practices. Plus, the precooked protein is ultra-convenient for those meals when you just can't be bothered. 'Canned salmon is a pantry staple I always keep on hand — it's one of the most convenient protein sources out there. While many proteins require time to cook or prep, canned salmon is ready to eat in seconds,' Karp added. Another underrated vegetable that deserves more love: hearts of palm. These ivory-colored stalks come from the inner core of certain palm trees and offer a satisfyingly crisp crunch that falls between that of asparagus and baby carrots. While you can occasionally find them fresh or in jars, canned is by far the most accessible and budget-friendly version. 'What makes them even more impressive is their high content of polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that help protect your cells from damage and support long-term health by reducing the risk of chronic diseases,' Karp said. Toss them into salads, slice them into ceviche-style appetizers, or blend them into creamy dips for a plant-based twist on crab cakes or mayo-heavy spreads. If you associate beans only with elementary school fart jokes, it's time to rewrite the narrative. These are a bona fide nutritional powerhouse — rich in plant-based protein and loaded with fiber. A single cup of most types of beans contains 15 grams of fiber (60% of your recommended daily value for women and 40% for men), something most Americans are sorely lacking. 'The protein supports muscle growth and repair, while the fiber promotes healthy digestion and feeds the beneficial bacteria in your gut,' Karp shared. Not a fan of the sometimes earthy flavor or mealy texture? Start with white cannellini beans, Ehsani suggested. 'White beans are a delicious plant-based protein option also packed with essential nutrients like dietary fiber (supports gut health, healthy digestion), iron, magnesium and potassium,' she said. 'Their mild flavor makes them super versatile, and they blend into both savory and sweet dishes, which picky eaters may not even notice.' You've probably heard the phrase 'fresh is best,' but that isn't always the case, especially when it comes to fruit. Like frozen produce, canned fruit is typically processed within hours of being harvested, according to Sharon Palmer, a registered dietitian nutritionist. This locks in nutrients that might otherwise degrade during long periods of transportation or while sitting on a grocery store shelf. 'Some people think that the quality is lower,' Palmer said. 'But actually canned produce captures completely ripe, mature, delicious produce — unlike our modern system for fresh produce, which may be picked a week or more before it ends up in the supermarket.' To get the most nutritional bang, opt for varieties canned in water or 100% fruit juice rather than heavy syrup, which can sneak in extra sugar. Another great option is canned pineapple. 'This tropical fruit packs a major vitamin C punch, which is essential for supporting immune health, collagen production and iron absorption,' Ehsani said. 'Canned pineapple is also naturally rich in digestive enzyme, bromelain, which can help break down protein and support gut health. If you're looking for a shelf-stable source of vitamin C, pineapple can be your new go-to.' The 1 Grocery Item Geriatricians Avoid To Live A Long, Healthy Life Is Your Online Grocery Order Food-Safe? Here's What To Look Out For The Best And Worst 'Healthy' Drinks At The Grocery Store, Ranked By Nutritionists
