For Sticky Situations, Vermont Ambulances Keep An Emergency Supply of Maple Syrup

Is maple syrup nature’s medicine? Rescue organizations in Vermont seem to think so. In fact, EMTs in the Green Mountain State have been allowed since 2014 to administer small amounts of pure Vermont maple syrup to patients who have low blood sugar. Of course, having a big jug of maple syrup in an ambulance isn’t the most appealing way to offer the sweet amber goo to patients. Obviously, it could create a sticky situation if the cap wasn’t screwed on tight enough. That’s why rescue organizations have turned to Slopeside Syrup in Williston, Vermont, which offers maple syrup in one-ounce packets through its UnTapped brand. The packets of syrup were originally created for use by athletes to keep up their energy during competitions, but they’re the perfect size to keep in ambulances. These days, UnTapped sells maple syrup packets to just over a dozen rescue organizations in Vermont. 

 

 

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Common Vegetable Extract Found to Remove Microplastics from Water

Microplastic particles have become widespread environmental pollutants in the last 50 years. They’re produced during industrial processes or when plastic debris breaks down in the environment. A growing body of research warns that exposure to microplastics — in particular their collection in human tissues — may lead to adverse conditions like stroke and several types of cancer. Scientists have been attempting to develop methods to effectively remove these tiny fragments from the environment, as well as from the human body. Now they have found that the natural polymers that make okra slimy and give fenugreek (a plant of the pea family) its gel-like texture can trap most of these microplastic particles in water. In fact, the two substances have been shown to remove microplastics from ocean water, freshwater and groundwater. Researchers have also optimized a process for making okra and fenugreek extracts into powder. Just a gram of either powder in a liter of water was found to trap microplastics effectively, removing 90% within an hour. Researchers are confident that these plant-based extracts in water treatment will remove microplastics and other pollutants without introducing additional toxic substances to the treated water, thus reducing long-term health risks to the population.

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Severe Weather Drops Mysterious Dome on Indianapolis Road

Severe weather that swept through Indianapolis left something unusual in its wake: a mysterious dome-shaped object. Residents in the area of 19th Street and North Pasadena Street said the dome was spotted on the road after a storm swept through the area on Wednesday. The strange structure drew crowds of onlookers, who tried to offer guesses as to what it was. Some suggested that the object could be a radome — a weatherproof enclosure that protects radar systems from weather. V2X Technology confirmed that the structure was a radome from their business, but were puzzled by how it made it all the way down to Pasadena Street. “I think it probably got turned over and caught in the wind, and unfortunately flew away,” said Andrew Belush, a V2X Technology executive. The radome had reportedly not been in use and was sitting on the side of a V2X Technology building prior to the storm. “We’re really thankful no one got hurt or injured,” said Belush, who added, “I can confirm it’s not an alien satellite or spaceship.”

 

 

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How Big Oil Misled the Public Into Believing Plastic Would Be Recycled

After months spent digging into internal industry documents and interviewing top former officials, investigators found that the oil industry sold the American public on the idea that plastic could be — and would be — recycled, all while making billions of dollars selling the world new plastic. In reality, less than 10% of all plastic has actually been recycled. The industry’s awareness that recycling wouldn’t keep plastic out of landfills and the environment dates back to the recycling program’s earliest days. One industry insider wrote in a 1974 speech: “There is serious doubt that recycling plastic can ever be made viable on an economic basis.” Yet the industry spent millions encouraging the public to recycle, even if it wasn’t true. “If the public thinks recycling is working, then they’re not going to be as concerned about the environment,” said Larry Thomas, former president of the Society of Plastics Industry. The basic problem is that all used plastic can be turned into new things, but picking it up, sorting it, and melting it down is expensive. Plastic also degrades each time it’s reused, so it can’t be reused more than once or twice. While television commercials carried the distinct message that recycling was a good thing, plastic was buried, burned, or in some cases wound up in the ocean. Analysts now expect plastic production to triple by 2050.

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