If there is an example of how humans are altering ecosystems in their lifetime, consider the Aral Sea in Central Asia. Once considered the fourth largest lake in the world, it has shrunk to a mere 10% of its original size over the past sixty years. The lake bed has turned into a desert. Earlier this month, violent salt storms damaged crops, affected livestock farms, and caused respiratory problems in people living in the region. Where is the Aral Sea and what led to the current situation? The Decline Of The Aral Sea The Aral Sea is located in Central Asia between Kazhakstan and Uzbekistan,...

What is the most eccentric dish you have ever tried? In countries across the world, odd dishes such as tuna’s eyeball, fried spiders, or kangaroo are prevalent on the dinner table. In Japan, whale meat is often found in supermarkets or restaurant menus. Despite new laws prohibiting whale hunting, or whaling, Japan continues to send whale hunters to Antarctica in search of Minke Whales to kill. In a recent report, it was discovered that 333 Minke Whales were killed under Japanese expeditions with 122 being pregnant whales and another 114 being young whales. These facts have once again sparked...

Did you know that humans make up just 0.01% of all living things on our planet? Yet we are responsible for the loss of 83% of wildlife and 50% of plants! Let us think about this for a minute... 82% of life on Earth are plants 13% are bacteria, and 5% are all others (insects, fish, mammals, and the rest). Of this 5%, 0.01% are humans. This is why scientists are calling this era the "Anthropocene Age" where human activity is directly impacting the environment. This is an age defined by nuclear activity, pollution by plastics, and the spread of domestic chicken. In fact, of all mammals on Earth...

Did you know that bees pollinate 70% of the crops that feed the world? Without bees, many crops and ecosystems would collapse- including our food supply. However, in the past few decades, the bee population around the world has been on a steady decline. Their dwindling numbers have had farmers and even the government very worried. Recently, members of the European Union have voted to almost completely ban the use of neonicotinoid insecticides in hopes of protecting bees and the important environmental services they provide. What Are Neonicotinoids? An insecticide is a toxic substance used to...