Triclocarban is the active ingredient in antibacterial soaps. A study at JHU found that most of the triclocarban, which ends up travelling down the drain to the waste treatment plant, was not biodegraded and persisted after the treatment process. This sludge is recycled and used as agricultural fertilizer. This compound, which is toxic when ingested by humans, may therefore be present at unknown levels in our food.

I won’t even try to say it better than the researcher who is quoted in this article: “The irony is twofold. First, to protect our health, we mass-produce and use a toxic chemical which the Food and Drug Administration has determined has no scientifically proven benefit. Second, when we try to do the right thing by recycling nutrients contained in biosolids, we end up spreading a known reproductive toxicant on the soil where we grow our food. The study shows just how important it is to consider the full life cycle of the chemicals we manufacture for use in our daily life.” (Dr. Rolf Halden)

In electronics, small is the new big. With the rising cost of fuel (and the inevitable warming of our planet), could small be the next big thing in automotive trends? Check out the new CLEVER vehicle (the acronym stands for Compact Low Emission Vehicle for Urban Transport). It is 1 meter wide, fully enclosed and can seat the driver plus one passenger. As a bonus, it runs on compressed natural gas (CNG). And it looks like something out of some sweet anime future world. Who wouldn’t want one?

The production of plant-based (vegan) foods produce significantly lower amounts of greenhouse gases than other diets. The average American diet produces an extra 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gasses. (Since methane and nitrous oxide are produced at lower levels but are stronger greenhouse gasses, they are normalized to carbon dioxide). Interestingly, both red meat- and fish-based diets were the worst greenhouse gas producers. This is mainly because many fish are harvested in a non-sustainable manner. See article.

I love this study! We all knew that vegetarianism is best for the planet, but now here is quantitative evidence that meat-based diets have a significant impact on climate change.

Another factoid in this article, did you know that the average American consumes 3,774 calories a day! Jesus F. Christ, no wonder we’re fat! On that note, I imagine that the effect of the vegan diet on greenhouse gas emissions is even larger, because this study assumes that all diets contain 3,774 calories. I seriously doubt that most vegans eat that much, unless they’re eating raw sugar and french fries all day. (I mean, you do see some fat vegans from time to time.)

Lately, I’ve been thinking of cutting out bread and cheese, which would make me essentially vegan (and hopefully 5-10 pounds lighter). This is just another great encouragement to eat fewer animal-based foods!

Warning to dietitians: looks like you’ll all be replaced by computers in the future. Okay, I might be exaggerating a little.

But people will soon be able to carry around virtual healthcare assistants with them. It’s like the opposite of a virtual pet. Instead of taking care of a little needy virtual creature, your virtual healthcare assistant will take care of a real-life needy you.

Honestly, I can see this not going very far. People will start lying to their healthcare assistants and then getting pissed off that they can't be rewarded for their “good behavior” with a heap of chili cheese fries.

Or it could become the next new thing. People will be able to analyze their piss on-the-go and in real-time to find out whether they’ve been getting enough lycopene and vitamin C. Instantly, your virtual healthcare assistant (now under the product name HeathBuddy(TM)) will recommend, “Refuel. Replenish. Rejoice. Indulge yourself in a delicious V8(R)!“

The “Magic Nano” bathroom cleansing product has been recalled in Germany after at least 77 people reported severe respiratory problems after using the product. This product claims to use nano-particles to make glass and ceramic surfaces dirt- and water-repellent. No one knows how or why the product is affecting respiratory systems. All respiratory effects have been reported as a result of using the aerosolized form of the product, which had previously been marketed safely as a pump spray (see Washington Post article).

I think that it’s clear that the nano-particles are self-assembling into human-destroying nano-robots inside of the aerosol cans. The only logical step is to collect all aerosol cans of nano-bots and send them deep into the molten core of the earth from whence they came. (Of course in NanoBots II they will return as some sort of massive molten rock giant which will try once again to take over the Earth.)

If anyone is interested in watching some Chesapeake Bay life in action, check out this webcam.

The ospreys are building a nest and should be laying eggs soon. I watched them for a few minutes - very meditative.

Vegetarians tend to weigh 3 to 20 percent less than meat-eaters, according to a review which compiled data from 87 previous studies. They also have much lower rates of heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Zero to six percent of vegetarians are obese, compared to 30 percent of the general population. This lower weight is independent of exercise, portion size or carbohydrate intake.

This is not much of a surprise, since vegetarians are following a specific diet and they more likely to be health conscious than those who may not be following any specific diet. But it is still good to know that vegetarianism, which is far healthier and more sustainable than most alternatives, pays off.