In a world of conflict news stories are often overshadowed by breaking news. What’s a recent news story, good or bad, you feel went under the radar?
In a world of conflict news stories are often overshadowed by breaking news. What’s a recent news story, good or bad, you feel went under the radar?
https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/germany-climate-seagrass/
People restoring sea grass to the Baltic Sea.
https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2023/08/the-serial-killer-and-the-texas-mom-who-stopped-him
This woman stopped a serial killer.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/28/plastic-eating-bacteria-enzyme-recycling-waste
Plastic eating bacteria could change the world.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-28/quoll-thought-extinct-found-south-australia/102911364
An animal called a quoll thought to be extinct for 130 years has been rediscovered.
That’s a significant step forward from when the last time I read up on the plastic eating bacteria. Granted, I’d prefer it if it was recycled into something other than more plastic… but I’ll still take it.
I think it's highly likely there's a catch, like you have to grow 250 tons of bacteria. Usually there is with amazing advances which get a news story but not a lot of reaction from other academics.
Well, how would we change it from plastic into something else?
Don't worry, we'll invent a type of plastic immune to this bacteria and start the whole process anew!
As an aside, 'plastic eating bacteria' have been 'discovered' countless times over the past several decades.
No idea about that, but your bringing up the issue reminded me of the movie Andromeda Strain...
"Just as he has this insight, the organism mutates into a non-lethal form that degrades synthetic rubber and plastic"
Apparently there's a TV show based on the same story.
That Vanity Fair story is one of the craziest things I’ve ever read, thanks for sharing!
Isn't that bonkers? I read it twice I was so interested.
Nice! As a follow up, is there a good app/source to get more positive articles Ike this regularly?
Also enjoy this article on drive in sex boxes in Zurich, giving a new meaning to public spaces: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/aug/26/zurich-drive-in-garages-prostitutes
I tend to read Metafilter (https://www.metafilter.com/), it's not all good news but it's a weblog of really interesting content.
The quoll species in question (it is a small doglike marsupial, a carnivore, and very cute) was known to be alive and well in Queensland (a state to the north) and was only extinct in South Australia. It seems to have spread back to the southern state.
There are other species of quoll.
Oh ok sorry. Still interesting though!