A new study shows that climate change is making it harder to fall asleep. The study, published in Cell Press over the weekend, shows that millions of people are already sleeping less because of higher overnight temperatures. The study looked at people in 68 countries and found that when nights were hotter than 86 degrees, people slept 14 minutes less. That averages out to over 44 hours per year. Here in the U.S., at least 30 percent of adults in most areas reported sleeping less than 7 hours per night, with as many as 43 percent in areas of the south and west. The elderly and people in low-income countries were the most impacted, with the study citing a lack of air conditioning as an issue.
MOSQUITO STUDY
Finally, a couple weeks ago we told you about the study showing that your coconut body wash might stop mosquitoes from biting you. Well now, there's new research showing that your body odor is also a major factor. The study, published in Current Biology, showed that carboxylic acids, a compound that's produced by bacteria on your skin, was the most attractive to mosquitoes. On the flipside, one subject who had higher levels of eucalyptol, a chemical found in the eucalyptus tree, repelled the mosquitoes the most. Unfortunately, these scents can be so subtle that showering or wearing stronger deodorant probably won't be enough to trick the flying pests, but this research could help develop better repellants or traps for mosquitoes in the future.
A new study has been causing a lot of buzz in the cannabis industry. Researchers from Oregon State University found that compounds in cannabis could prevent infection with COVID-19, but that doesn't mean smoking marijuana prevents people from getting infected. CV Sciences medical advisor Dr. Michael Lewis joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
A new study published in "JAMA Pediatrics" looked at how staying home impacted the mental and physical health of students during the pandemic. The results from 11 different countries found across the board that children's mental health was affected, with increased depression and symptoms of anxiety. Cheddar News speaks with clinical psychologist Eileen Kennedy-Moore on how parents can best decide on whether to send their kids back to the classrooms during the surge of Covid-19 cases.
Food waste is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Strella Biotechnology is trying to solve the problem by introducing new technology to a business that's been around for generations -- farming. The 24-year-old CEO created hi-tech sensors that interpret the shelf life of produce and alert farmers when fruits and vegetables are ready to be sent to supermarkets. The company says the process can help farmers make money, reduce food waste and increase the quality of produce. Strella Biotechnology's co-founder and CEO Katherine Sizov and co-founder and COO Jay Jordan joined Cheddar Climate to discuss.
Adele Shraiman, Campaign Representative for the Sierra Club’s Fossil Free Finance Campaign, joins Cheddar Climate, where she explains how Wall Street and climate change are related. She also elaborates on how decisions made by financial institutions are actually hurting the ability to reduce carbon emissions.
Two reports from NASA and NOAA say that 2021 was the Earth's sixth-hottest year on record, part of a seven-year streak of the hottest years reported since the data has been recorded. Meanwhile, the U.S. experienced 20 separate billion-dollar climate-related disasters, including Hurricane Ida which cost $75 billion in its aftermath. These trends are moving upward at the same time. What could be in store for 2022? Chelsea Harvey, a reporter for E&E News, joins Cheddar Climate to discuss these federal reports, the monetary impact of climate disasters, and more.
Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, a private-public fund backed by Bill Gates, is planning to invest up to $15 billion in clean technology initiatives across the U.S., UK, and European Union. It will target four key areas and help fund large projects that otherwise would not be financially possible. Bobby Hollis, Director of Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
Washington Post Climate Reporter Sarah Kaplan joined Wake Up With Cheddar to discuss a stark climate report that definitively shows the earth is getting warmer.
Chicago schools opened their doors again following a dispute between the teachers union and the city over as the omicron variant continues to surge, but the safety issues they fought over weren't just limited to the Windy City. Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, family medicine and urgent care doctor, joined Cheddar in discussing concerns of parents, teachers, and students as schools try to operate amid COVID and noted what she's been observing as the number of infections among children rises. "I am seeing them contract the illness from so many different aspects," she said. "It could be from a fellow classmate. It could be from a parent. All of those things really play in the effect of transmission as well as contracting the illness."
One startup is working to reverse climate change one seed at a time. Terraformation is a global forest accelerator that provides tools, training, financing, and business support to help scale forest restoration projects worldwide. Forests naturally absorb carbon and Terraformation says that reforestation is a safe, low-cost, and scalable solution to the climate crisis. Yee Lee, VP of growth at Terraformation, joins Cheddar Climate to discuss.
Dave Epstein, meteorologist and contributor to The Boston Globe, joins Cheddar News to discuss the arctic blast hitting the Midwest and Northeastern area.
