Today in Squirrel News, India has set an example for reducing preventable child deaths, fewer UK children need surgeries because of swallowed objects, and Canadian scientists have created a stir stick that turns pink at the tip if a drink is spiked.
Mortality in India of children under five down 70% in the last 25 years
A UN report released last week cited India among five countries as exemplary in reducing child mortality, saying they are “bringing the world closer to an end to preventable child deaths”. India credits its investment in the healthcare system.
Number of surgeries in UK children who swallow objects drops considerably
The movement to cashless payment systems is undoubtedly a major factor in the reduction of swallowed foreign objects, as coins used to account for 75% of foreign objects swallowed by children under 6. An increase in childproof packaging is another likely contributor.
With Helsinki coal plant closure, Finland is heading fast to full coal phase out
The Salmisaari plant in Helsinki was decommissioned Tuesday, putting Finland four years ahead of its schedule to phase out coal energy production. Having doubled in production since 2020, wind power already fills a quarter of the country’s energy needs.
Creating sustainable shipping fuel from biogas at German sewage plant
Using “breakthrough technology” a pilot project in Mannheim combines carbon capture with methanol synthesis to create a uniquely sustainable shipping fuel from sewage biogas. The process is carbon neutral, relying entirely on electrical power from renewable sources.
US states shift funding for roads to bicycle and transit infrastructure
As green projects are being defunded at the national level, many US states are working to fill the gap. Seven states have joined forces to form the Clean Energy Network. Others are reassessing highway projects and, instead, directing funds to alternative transportation and decongestion initiatives.
New stir stick developed in British Columbia to see if your drink is spiked
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have created a stir stick that looks quite ordinary but can detect two of the most common drugs used for spiking within 30 seconds. The idea is that they could easily be handed out at bars, parties and festivals, as they cost less than a dollar to make.
Map helps people forage for edible plants in urban spaces worldwide
Urban settings have not been thought of as places of abundance in wild edible foods. FallingFruit.org, an interactive, open-source, global map, is changing that perception by allowing people to look for and share information about these lesser-known natural resources.
Vacant church land becomes urban garden feeding the community
Mission Mary was started by lay Catholics in Dayton, Ohio, to solve two persistent problems: abandoned city land and lack of access to fresh food. With a combination of public, private, and church funding, they created a co-op with farm shares and rented garden plots that donates 60,000 pounds a year of healthy produce to those in need.
Seed banks save Central American farms and ensure future of biodiversity
Keeping seeds is an age-old indigenous practice. Seed bank projects in Central America are following this path, helping farms to recover after natural disasters and preserving a biodiverse future with climate-resistant native seeds.
Bees are helping Kenyan farmers protect their crops from elephants
Elephants moving into farmland for food can be dangerous to farmers and elephants alike. In the early 2000s, elephant conservationists determined that elephants hate and avoid bees. Now Kenyan farmers are using beehives to successfully keep elephants out of their fields.
