Topic Reading-Vol.3678-5/7/2022

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Lab-grown meat and insects 'good for planet and health'

Cultured meat, or lab-grown meat, is genuine animal meat that is produced by cultivating animal cells directly. It is made of the same cell types arranged in the same or similar structure as animal tissues, so the sensory and nutritional profiles are the same as conventional meat. However, since the production method eliminates the need to raise and farm animals for food, it uses much less water and land and emits little carbon emissions compared with ordinary meat. Also, there are over 1,000 insect species for human consumption, such as beetles, butterflies, bees, grasshoppers, locusts, and crickets. They could be eaten as a whole or processed into a non-recognizable form, like powders or flour. Insects are richer in protein and more nutrient-efficient compared to other meat sources. Furthermore, they grow without consuming as much natural resources as meat. Scientists in Finland who studied the nutritional profile of some of these products say switching meat, dairy, and other animal products for alternative foods could reduce environmental impacts by more than 80% while providing a more complete range of essential nutrients than a purely vegetarian or vegan diet. Should we switch to lab-grown meat and insect diet, or just add them to our menu? Whichever the way might be, it’ll be a more sustainable diet in the future.

Enjoy reading the article and think if you want to be more environmentally friendlier while keeping the nutritious balance.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-61182294

Topic Reading-Vol.3677-5/6/2022

Dear MEL Topic Readers,

Nearby star system hosts two planets and 30 exocomets

A light-year is a distance that light travels in a vacuum in one year, or 365.25 days, which is equivalent to approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers. It takes 94,6 billion hours to travel the distance if you drive at 100 kilometers per hour, or 10.8 million years. But if you got on a light-speed spaceship, it would take just one year to cover the distance. Now, there is a very young solar system that is developing only about 63 light-years away from ours, called Beta Pictoris. It is believed to be just 20-some million years old, which is much younger than our 4.5-billion-year-old solar system. At least two planets have been confirmed orbiting the young star. Now, scientists have observed our neighboring system for over 150 days and discovered 30 exocomets and the approximate sizes of their nuclei, the heart of a comet, which range between three and 14 kilometers in diameter. As some of the water on Earth is believed to have originated from comets, scientists want to learn about the impacts of comets on planets. Indeed, it’s like studying a newly forming solar system by time-traveling over four billion years.

Enjoy reading the article and learning about this newly-forming solar system.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/29/world/exocomet-discovery-beta-pictoris-scn/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3676-5/5/2022

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  
Australia election: Why is there compulsory voting?
Australia is one of the democratic countries that mandate voting. Compulsory voting is a legal obligation, and all eligible and registered Australian voters are required to vote either at a polling booth or by mail. Anyone who hasn’t gets a fine of 20 Australian dollars. Though it is not a significant amount, it certainly makes people vote. In fact, in the 2019 federal election, 92% of the 16.4 million registered voters cast votes. This means that the election results reflect the voices of not only opinionated people but also the general public, which helps avoid more populistic results, such as the UK’s Brexit referendum or the US’s presidential elections (you-know-who). Australia’s compulsory voting has been supported for nearly a century. And the nation is likely to have over 90% turnout in the upcoming general election on May 21. Since many democratic countries are getting more divided in general or presidential elections, higher voter participation seems to be needed more than ever before.  
Enjoy watching the video and think if voting should be mandated in your country.

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-australia-61186402

Topic Reading-Vol.3675-5/4/2022

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Why singles are 'pre-screening' their dates

The coronavirus pandemic seems to have affected in many ways how we meet with others in business practices and private lives. Many business meetings are taken place by video conference, including job interviews. Even after the ease of travel or gathering restrictions, people aren’t simply getting back to the old normal. Two years seems to be long enough for many to review and evaluate what is more or less important than other activities and spending. For example, instead of meeting with a stranger in a bar or restaurant for a first date, more people are now taking pre-meeting screenings through video meetings or voice notes. Nowadays, matching apps and SNSs provide opportunities to find someone you may be interested in meeting. But as meeting in person becomes a more extraordinary opportunity for many after the pandemic, it might be quite natural to be more selective about who to meet with.

Enjoy reading the article and learning about a newly arising norm to meet with someone.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20220421-why-singles-are-pre-screening-their-dates

Topic Reading-Vol.3674-5/3/2022

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

One in five reptiles is threatened with extinction

Reptiles are animals that produce eggs for reproduction and use the heat of the sun to keep their blood warm. They include turtles, crocodiles, lizards, and snakes. The earliest known reptiles originated over 300 million years ago during the Carboniferous period. Although they aren’t as popular as mammals or birds when it comes to animal conservation, reptiles play an important role in the balance of life. In fact, reptiles help control pests like insects and rodents.

A recent study found that one in five reptiles is threatened with extinction. For example, over half of crocodiles and nearly two-thirds of turtles feared extinction. The causes of such threats include habitat destruction from farmland, urban development, and logging. Also, hunting and global warming threaten the lives of crocodiles, turtles, and inhabitants on islands. We should be aware that the diversity of life on our planet today is the result of evolution for over three billion years.

Enjoy reading the article and learning about the situation of cold-blooded animals.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-61242789

Topic Reading-Vol.3673-5/2/2022

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

30 classic Italian dishes that everyone should try

Italian dishes are loved by many people beyond borders, cultures, and races. There are not only so many popular foods like pasta, pizza, and risotto but also a wide variety of dishes, such as Spaghetti, Arrabbiata, Lasagna Bolognese, Macaroni Bianchiverdi, Cannelloni di Carne, Pizza Margherita, and Calzone Pizza only to name a few. And of course, there are antipasto, soups, salads, fish and meat dishes, and desserts. What is your favorite dish?

Check out these 30 Italian dishes recommended by CNN Travel.

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/classic-italian-dishes/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.3672-5/1/2022

Dear MEL Topic Readers,  

Whisky generates a lot of waste. It could soon help fuel your car

Biofuels, such as renewable electricity, biogas, or liquid biofuels, account for just 3% of the fuel used in global transport. They are mainly made from corn, soya beans, or sugarcane, and are regarded as a low-carbon substitute for fossil fuels. While their environmental benefits are well recognized, it still takes a substantial amount of land to produce. This could give significant impacts on biodiversity, carbon storage, and food security. For example, corn is produced to feed humans and pigs as well as to produce biofuel. To harvest more corn to produce more biofuel, you’ll need more land or sell more to biofuel producers, which could destroy more forests or sacrifice the food supply. But what if the waste to produce some other product is used for biofuels? A biofuel scientist came up with an idea to convert the waste to produce whisky into biofuel. Surprisingly, a substantial amount of waste and by-products are created to distill whiskies, such as draff, pot ale, and lees. It seems like a good attempt to use the waste to produce something that many people crave. Will that biofuel make the car drunk or alcoholic?

Enjoy reading the article and learning about how whisky waste could be turned into biofuel.

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/25/business/whisky-waste-biofuel-climate-celtic-renewables-scn-hnk-spc-intl/index.html