Spent grain makes for healthy eco cookies while Chilean zoo celebrates birth of uncommon Southern White Rhino Calf - 33rd Issue

Buin Zoo in Santiago, Chile, celebrates the rare zoo birth of a southern white rhino calf, Silverio, the latest member of the near-endangered species.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed the southern white rhino as a near-endangered species, with a population of slightly over 10,000. The species' population was severely threatened by poaching, but thanks to ongoing conservation efforts, their numbers are slowly increasing, offering a glimmer of hope for the future of this majestic species. 

A majority of the southern white rhino population is in the zoo, and efforts to spark romance between pairs are not always successful. Hannah and Oliver are a pair of southern white rhinos in Buin whose thriving courtship defies the odds and gives hope for conservation efforts on the continent. The zoo is calling the arrival of their third calf, Silverio, a “big achievement.”

Conservationists are working with zoos to raise the population of southern white rhinos in captivity, though more needs to be done to remove the species from the endangered list and end poaching. 

Hurricane Beryl intensified into a category 5 Atlantic Hurricane after it made landfall on windward Caribbean islands, leaving destruction in its wake. The Prime Minister reported that Carriacou island was flattened in just half an hour, and other areas like Petite Martinique were also devastatingly destroyed.

The rapid strengthening of Hurricane Beryl is linked to climate change. Its winds increased by 35 mph (about 56 kph) within 24 hours, surpassing speeds of 157 mph (about 253 kph). Due to climate change, the Caribbean water is warmer, and these higher temperatures energize storms, causing them to develop into superstorms.

A warmer atmosphere naturally absorbs more moisture from the ocean surface and other water systems, eventually resulting in intense rainfall. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is warning that mudslides and flash floods are expected in mountainous regions.  

As the ocean gets warmer, we might witness severe and frequent superstorms like Beryl, Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and Hurricane Maria in 2017.

The Supreme Court temporarily suspended the Environmental Protection Agency's “Good Neighbor” plan to ensure factories and utilities reduce ozone emissions.

The Midwestern and Western states, such as Ohio, Virginia, and Indiana, use coal to produce electricity, and the Good Neighbor plan would help ensure factories reduce harmful emissions that spill over to the Eastern states. The plan would also benefit the management of fisheries and natural resources.

The Supreme Court ruling is a non-permanent stay that sends the verdict back to courts of appeal for their determination. The most significant blow was struck when the court later overruled the Chevron Doctrine that compels federal courts to yield to federal agencies’ interpretation of complex issues that the agencies are mandated to administer. Policy rulings are now up to a judge’s preference. 

Research done through a randomized control trial has found that biscuits made from brewer’s spent grain (BSG) have multiple health benefits, like regulating blood sugar and body insulin for people with metabolic syndrome (MetS) while helping reduce food waste.

BSG is a beer-brewing by-product that accounts for 85% of the industry waste and is rich in proteins and fiber. When the BSG is fermented with tempeh mold, Rhizopus oligosporus (RO), its protein, soluble fiber, and antioxidant content increase significantly.

Biscuits are a commonly consumed snack, but they are made with refined grains that cause a rise in blood sugar levels, which is postprandial glucose response (PPGR). Biscuits made from Fermented BSG have a fiber that moderates digestion, regulates the hormone glucagon that controls glucose levels, and enhances insulin release. Fermented BSG biscuits are turning beer industry waste into nutritious snacks.