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PICKS are stories from many sources, selected by our editors or recommended by our readers because they are important, surprising, troubling, enlightening, inspiring, or amusing. They appear on our site and in our daily newsletter. Please send suggested articles, videos, podcasts, etc. to picks@whowhatwhy.org.
How a Wind Industry Giant Plans to Solve Its Plastic Waste Problem (Maria)
The author writes, “One of the world’s biggest wind turbine manufacturers says it has a potentially groundbreaking solution for the industry’s enormous plastic waste problem. Last week, Vestas announced that it found a novel way to break the plastic in turbine blades down into virgin-grade material. That way, instead of cluttering landfills, it can be recycled to make new turbines. Here’s why that’s a tall order — like, literally colossal.”
Avian H5N1 (Bird) Flu: Why Experts Are Worried — And What You Should Know (Sean)
From Forbes: “The bird flu outbreak is the deadliest one in almost 10 years — which has helped cause egg prices to steeply rise — and while infection in humans is rare, some experts are gravely concerned it could eventually make the leap and spread among humans.”
‘Hypocritical’: Environmental Groups Blocking Union Efforts, US Workers Say (Laura)
From The Guardian: “Workers at some of the top environmental organizations in the US are calling out their managers as ‘incredibly hypocritical’ as they argue the progressive non-profits are fighting workers’ efforts to unionize. A wave of unionization efforts has swept the non-profit sector as part of a renewed national enthusiasm for unionization. Shortly into the Covid-19 pandemic, workers at 350.org, Sunrise Movement, the National Audubon Society, Defenders of Wildlife, Greenpeace USA, the Public Interest Network and the Center for Biological Diversity unionized. But workers at many of these organizations say they have experienced aggressive opposition and alleged retaliation in the lead-up to unionizing and through bargaining efforts for a first union contract.”
Mushrooms Magnify Memory by Boosting Nerve Growth (Mili)
The author writes, “Professor Frederic Meunier from the Queensland Brain Institute said the team had identified new active compounds from the mushroom, Hericium erinaceus. Researchers have discovered lion’s mane mushrooms improve brain cell growth and memory in pre-clinical trials. ‘Extracts from these so-called”’lion’s mane” mushrooms have been used in traditional medicine in Asian countries for centuries, but we wanted to scientifically determine their potential effect on brain cells,’ Professor Meunier said.”
Valentine’s Day Chocolates: ‘Slack-Fill’ Is the New Shrinkflation (Russ)
The author writes, “Consumer advocates say Valentine’s Day candies may have fallen victim of the deceptive practice of ‘slack-filling,’ where companies deliberately over-package products.”
Charles Silverstein, a Psychologist Who Helped Destigmatize Homosexuality, Dies at 87 (Al)
From NPR: “Charles Silverstein, a psychologist and therapist who played a key role in getting homosexuality declassified as a mental illness, died Jan. 30 at 87. He had lung cancer, according to his executor Aron Berlinger. ‘Before I came out, I was not very brave. When I came out, I came out all the way, not just sexually but politically,’ Silverstein told the Rutgers Oral History Archives in 2019.”
Bailey the Dog Was Lost in El Paso. Then She Found Her Old Shelter and Rang the Bell. (Dana)
The authors write, “A rescue dog named Bailey is back home safe after figuring out how to ring the doorbell of the Texas shelter where she went up for adoption. A family had adopted the friendly husky mix from the Animal Rescue League of El Paso last month. At some point soon after, Bailey got loose and ended up running away, said Loretta Hyde, founder of Animal Rescue League of El Paso. The shelter immediately posted an urgent plea on Facebook asking anyone in the area to call them if they found her. A few people reported Bailey sightings but none were able to catch her. What happened next still has the animal shelter stunned.”
