The Trail- Volume 14 Issue 2

The Trail

A Letter From the leadership crew...

Hi Everyone!

As spring approaches, The Trail staff is very excited to present to you another refreshing publication. From plant-based proteins to garden groundhogs, we have another set of interesting topics for you all to read. We hope you catch a sight of the lovely cherry blossoms while they’re still out!

If you are interested in working with the Trail, please contact us at epibtrail@gmail.com.

From Natalia, Sarah, Mia, and Anna

The Ukraine-Russia Conflict through the Lens of Climate Crisis

An Op-Ed

By Enya Laumbach

On its face, and in the current state of news coverage, the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict seems like a resurgence of the Cold War politics of old. East clashing with West anew, but with lines being drawn along democracy and authoritarianism rather than capitalism and communism this time around. However, this twodimensional perspective of the ongoing conflict, one that treats it as just an ideological struggle between superpowers, fails to address that there are added dimensions to this conflict, mainly climate change, and additional players, like a Europe asserting its independence.

How is climate change motivating this conflict? For one, Russia has everything to gain from global warming and little to lose. In fact, it is in Russia’s geopolitical interests to maintain the current trend of global warming and promote continued use of fossil fuels and climate change skepticism by any means necessary. Russia mainly produces and exports oil and natural gas, and wishes to sustain a market for these products. Its massive military industrial complex needs wars to supply fighting nations with weapons, and an increasingly climate insecure world means increasingly likely wars over resources, especially water. Melting ice will likely open a passage for shipping through the Arctic, cheaper than the current route from Asia to Europe through the Suez,

which Russia will control most of and profit off of enormously. Warming temperatures means more of Russia will be habitable while the rest of the world becomes uninhabitable, meaning that they will control a large part of where people can even live; as in a world just 4 degrees warmer, the area around the equator will become inhabitable (Wallace Wells, 2020). With that, Russia will also begin to control most of the world’s arable land and food, as it will become one of the few places not struck by desertification. All of this points to a future dominated by Russia if present trends continue and inaction on climate change continues, and that is exactly what Putin is banking on. However, Russia is not content to just sit back and let it play out; renewable energies, rising gas prices, even cordial diplomacy, all pose too great a risk for Putin and threaten his ideal possible future; so Russia’s geopolitical goals are to ensure that the Europe and the world remain divided, especially on the issue of climate change.

How does Ukraine factor into these geopolitical goals? Ukraine is part of Russia’s larger strategy to divide and conquer. It seeks to secure its eastern border, shifting the balance of power in Europe back to the Warsaw Pact era. A Russia that controls Ukraine has a defensive line along the

Edge of Moscow. However, in their invasion, Russia is gambling on a Europe that will not act on the conflict due to their reliance on Russian natural gas. The timing of this move against Ukraine, during the winter months, when energy use by Europe is higher than average, and the productiveness of their renewable wind and solar is lower than average, is strategic on Russia’s part (Lavelle, 2022). They have already throttled how much gas they are sending to Europe in an attempt to squeeze them into submission, and send the message that siding with America and any sanctions will result in higher gas prices and be felt in the outrage of their citizens. “Part of what happened is Russia just did not send as much gas to fill up storage in Europe; they just kind of sent the bare minimum,” said Nikos Tsafos of the energy security and climate change program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “So the backdrop to what’s happening in Ukraine is that the natural gas price has just been at an insane level incredibly elevated, and governments are feeling it and consumers are going to feel it,” (Lavelle, 2020). Russia seeks to divide Europe from America and to divide Ukraine from Europe, as Ukraine has the potential to act as a counterweight to some of Russia’s future dominance. Ukraine has 25-30% of the world’s reserves of black earth, some of the most productive soil in the world, with 41.5 million hectares of agricultural land, covering 70 percent of the country (FAOSTAT, 2012); its status as the breadbasket of Europe will only grow as agriculture elsewhere falls to desertification and volatile weather, and thus it will threaten Putin's dreams of a Europe reliant on Russian agriculture. Additionally, Ukraine’s position between Russia and Europe means that gas and oil gets to Europe most efficiently

when it flows through Ukraine, which has motivated Russia to circumnavigate Ukrainian pipelines and the high tariffs associated by constructing the Nordstream pipeline through the baltic sea, those this project is currently stalled as the invasion unfolds. Ukraine also has its own natural gas reserves which threaten Russian hegemony. Russia has already moved on this with its annexation of Crimea, the region which holds half of Ukraine’s natural gas reserves and allowing them to project control over the offshore sources which are within Ukraine’s exclusive economic zone (Lavelle, 2020). The invasion of the Donbass is further colored by Russia’s desire to control Ukrainian fossil fuels and circumvent Ukraine from being able to extract it and displace Russia’s role as an energy producer within the EU. Dominating Ukraine will mean Russian energy and food will reign supreme in a climate insecure future for Europe.

How does the USA factor into this conflict through a climate lens? The interesting thing is that when viewing the conflict as one between the USA and Russia through a climate lens, the dichotomy falls apart. Indeed, both are the major arbiters of increasing global warming and both have much to gain from its continued proliferation. The US also has vested interest in seeing a continued use of fossil fuels, with lobbying from industries like oil and influencing climate denial even among the government’s legislature, and is a nation who just elected notable climate denier Donald Trump to the highest office in the land just 6 years ago. The USA’s military-industrial complex is even larger and more profitable than Russia’s, and has much to gain from everincreasing wars over resources. Finally, the US has its own potential Arctic passage’s opening up through Alaska, as well as Alaska becoming

Makes it more habitable and allows for easier exploitation of the oil, gas and minerals there that remain under ice. However, unlike Russia, the USA’s gains are only in the short term in a warming world, with the benefits being far outweighed by the negatives. The USA currently is a massive agricultural producer, but with climate change, desertification will hit the US hard, and we may see another, more massive Dust Bowl. In a world just 4 degrees warmer, it is predicted the entirety of the lower 48 United States will become an uninhabitable desert, and that is not even taking into consideration the millions who live on the nation's coastal cities who will see their homes go underwater (Wallace Wells, 2020). Yet, climate denial and the politicization of climate change mean inaction or viewing the threat of global warming in the long term seems impossible in any meaningful sense; even as Biden has rejoined the Paris Climate Accords, there still fails to be any significant green energy and cohesive climate bill passed in Congress (Wallace-Wells, 2020). America is shooting itself in the foot on climate change and Europe (and honestly, the rest of the world) is taking notice. For Europe, the lack of action on climate change might then make it seem like the tug of war really has only one future, America in decline and Russia on the come up. That pessimism is what Putin is betting on.

But what will Europe’s response really be? While America continues to waffle on a transition to green energy, Putin’s throttling of gas to Europe as a form of punishment for siding with the west and as a warning for the future may just serve as the push Europe needs to actually pursue greater green energy. “The whole idea that Europe wouldn’t be in this mess if it wasn’t for the energy transition, that’s crap,” said Samantha Gross, director of the energy security and climate initiative at the Brookings Institution. “More renewables actually insulates economies from problems like these. It doesn’t cause them,” (Lavelle, 2022). Putin’s strategy may then have backfired. I predict that, if Ukraine can hold out, whatever settlement is reached, Europe will realize that it cannot

rely on either party for its future. The result, then, can only be a third stance, one of a unified Europe and European Union acting in its own vested interests, not content to stay a puppet of America or become one of Russia. In this same vein, a Europe seeking independence from either power will naturally align with Ukraine over Russia; not over ideological grandstanding, but due to the realization that securing Ukrainian agriculture and fuel is paramount to securing European independence from Russia. In short, Putin may have overplayed his hand, and unraveled his entire vision of placing Europe within his orbit by taking a proactive, antagonistic stance rather than letting the dice fall as they may. Heavy economic sanctions have already sent the Russian economy into free fall; Russia’s initial invasion has been slow and costly, while the Ukrainian people are in high morale; their president Volodymyr Zelensky fights with his citizens in Kiev and enters talks with the EU for weapons and immediate admission as a member state. Whatever the result of this current conflict, a Russian century seems less and less likely, and one where nations like those of the EU, take the climate crisis into their own hands, and promote green energy even more as a means to break free from this duopolistic global order, even more likely.

Works Cited:

FAOSTAT (2012) ‘FAO Statistical Database’. Rome: FAO, available at: https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#country/230

Lavelle, M. (2022, January 28). Howclimateandthenord stream2pipelineundergirdstheUkraine-Russiastandoff. InsideClimateNews.RetrievedFebruary16,2022,from https://insideclimatenews.org/news/30012022/climate nord-stream-2-russia-ukraine/

Wallace Wells, D. (2020). Cascades. In The uninhabitableearth:Lifeafterwarming(pp.3 36).essay,TimDugganBooks.https:// www.crisrieder.org/thejourney/wpcontent/ uploads/2019/05/TheUninhabitableEarth WallaceWells.pdf

Food Waste in America

By Priyal Patel

Food waste has become a big issue in the last 100 years. As more food has become available for consumption in developed countries, more food gets added to the trash piles. We waste about "40 million tons or 30 40 percent of the entire U.S. food supply" every year in America alone. Why does this happen? Food waste in America is increasing, mainly due to Americans' lack of knowledge about their trash and its impact on the world. We do not get taught about what happens to food waste in school. It is not adequately integrated into curriculums nor taught to the community members. Regulations are just posted on a site and are meant to be read. In general, Americans and people in developed countries are used to one-use products and throwing things away out of convenience. They do not like messing with the sticky. When people see the "best by" date, they believe they should dispose of the item because of misconceptions of the term. "Best by" is used to express "the recommended date for the best flavor or quality. Even if the date has passed on a product someone has at home, it should be safe to consume if stored and handled properly." To add to this, once we consume the food, we dispose of it into the trash but do not know where it will end up. Many people do not even know their options between recycling or composting and properly disposing of items.

What can we do? As a nation, we can improve our education. The U.N. has helped push this conversation through with

implementing their sustainable development goals, which includes multiple topics like "zero hunger and food security, quality education, and responsible production and consumption." By looking into these sustainability goals, more nations and communities can implement regulations that can help create sustainable and healthy practices. For example, the new composting laws that have been implemented in California require the state to provide organic waste collection bins and require residents to separate their organic waste from other garbage. Organic waste can include food scraps, vegetables, meat bones, compostable products, and biosolids. Senate Bill 1383 has also helped California pass another law to lessen food waste and food insecurity. It requires grocery stores to donate excess food to homeless shelters and food banks before it gets thrown away. This can help the community in multiple ways. Grocery stores will cut down on the excess amounts of food they supply not to lose money to donations or provide for the community and help those in need by taking proper actions and donating food as soon as it becomes available. The U.N.'s sustainability goals are widely applicable, and we must start somewhere. California took six years after the Senate Bill 1383 to start up these new laws, but now their progress can hopefully inspire others.

What are we doing at Rutgers? Here at Rutgers, we have the Rutgers Composting club with compost collections every couple of weeks. The club is currently working with Rutgers SEA (students for environmental awareness) to increase the composting initiative across campus. They discuss ideas with the dining hall staff and are very passionate about them. Rutgers SEA

teaches the Rutgers community about composting through infographics located on their Instagram page @rutgers.sea.

Food waste in America is a big issue; however, there is so much that we can all do to decrease the amount of food waste. Many communities would benefit from following California's example. With clubs like Rutgers Composting and Rutgers SEA, we can still push the university to make a difference.

Works Cited Blodgett, Tim. “New California law requires food to be donated, not tossed.” CBS 8, KFMB TV, 1 January 2022, https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/new california law looks curb food waste/509 fdfeff2e a34a 40d9 a198 fa75336f5e53. Accessed 11 February 2022.

Cohen, Ervin. “New California Compost Law Goes into Effect | Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP JDSupra.” JD Supra, Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP, 5 January 2022, https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/new california compost law goes into 3245289/. Accessed 11 February 2022.

Klemm, Sarah. “Understanding Dates on Food Labels.” Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 4 April 2019, https:// www.eatright.org/homefoodsafety/safety-tips/food-poisoning/understanding-food-labels. Accessed 11 February 2022. rts. “Food Waste in America in 2022: Statistics & Facts | RTS.” Recycle Track Systems, rts, https://www.rts.com/ resources/guides/food waste america/. Accessed 11 February 2022.

United Nations. “THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development.” Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations, https://sdgs.un.org/goals. Accessed 11 February 2022.

Water Conservation and Diet

letting a faucet run while you brush your teeth can save a few gallons a day, taking shorter showers, or even replacing one meat in your day for a protein substitute.

By Angel Tello

Water is considered a basic building block of life; it covers more than twothirds of our planet, but this seemingly abundant resource has to be preserved. Although it may seem plentiful, most of the water on earth is not drinkable. 3% of the earth's water is fresh, 2.5% of the earth's freshwater is unavailable: locked up in glaciers, polar ice caps, atmosphere, and soil; highly polluted; or lies too far under the earth's surface to be extracted at an affordable cost. This leaves only .5% available to us to drink, use for crops, and other activities where salt water and polluted water just won’t do (Bureau of Reclamation). Are you aware of how much water you use daily? The amount of water you use can be calculated, but for most it’s a burden on time to figure it out, so many choose to ignore it. People choose to claim ignorance when a simple task like not

Meat, surprisingly, is one of the most water-demanding goods. A single pound of beef takes 1,847 gallons to produce, a pound of chicken takes 518 gallons to produce, and an ordinary egg takes 53 gallons to produce (Delynko). In order to preserve our most prized resource, it seems likely meat production will have to be regulated, or at least new production methods will have to be researched to reduce how much water is wasted in the process. Cows need land, and that land has to be watered constantly in order for them to eat the grass. Also, cows, like most living organisms, require water to survive. Their daily intake of water, multiplied by how many years they take to mature is accounted for, which gives us the absurd number of 1,847 gallons of water per pound of beef. Our obsession with meat has been instilled into us by the “oversimplification of our nutritional needs in primary school thanks to the food pyramid” (Stampfer) , a grossly flawed tool we have grown to use as the standard of health and nutrition for our nation’s youth. It was determined that there are too many variables to consider when creating a healthy diet, and that it was easier for scientists to simply decide what foods are good and bad and lump them into categories, emphasizing some groups morethanothers.

All over the world we have seen examples of entire countries that refuse to consume beef and turn to tofu, insects, lentils, and fish. Many claim they need meat in their diet or that a vegetarian diet is too expensive and doesn’t yield enough nutrients. But after speaking to a few fellow students who happen to be vegetarians, I found that not only is this lifestyle cheaper than most people think, it is also sustainable. Most of them find their

protein in lentils, nuts, and wheat protein, as well as protein shakes and bars. Their nutrients are mostly filled in due to the amount of fruits and vegetables they eat. The only thing they were deficient in was iron, which can be fixed by taking a pill a day.

Like many things, conservation requires patience and some research and there are wrong ways to do it and right ways to do it. It’s important to do your own research and find what best benefits you and make sure you are getting all the essential nutrients. If you are able to adjust your habits to accommodate the need to conserve water, even if it’s a minor adjustment, these small feats of conscious preservation will stack over time. Water is not necessarily scarce, but being that it is so essential to life, it seems almost irresponsible to not treat it as so.

Works Cited

California Great Basin, Bureau of Reclamation. “Central California Area Office.” Water Facts - Worldwide Water Supply | ARWEC| CCAO | Area Offices | California Great Basin | Bureau of Reclamation, 4 Nov. 2020, https://www.usbr.gov/mp/arwec/water facts ww water sup.html#:~:text=0.5%25% 20of%20the%20earth's%20water,for% 20each%20person%20on%20earth.

Stampfer, Meir J. “Rebuilding the Food Pyramid.” Scientific American, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2006, https:// www.scientificamerican.com/article/ rebuilding the food pyramid/ #:~:text=After%201992%20more%20and% 20more,complex%20carbohydrates% 20good%20for%20you.

Delynko, Kristi. “What's the Beef with Water?” Denver Water, TAP, 14 Feb. 2019, https:// www.denverwater.org/tap/whats beef water#:~:text=It%20takes% 20approximately%201%2C847% 20gallons,the%20way%20to%20the% 20top.

The Sixth One

By: Michelle Delemarre

From species long extinct to species which have yet to be discovered, countless organisms have called this beautiful planet home. The earth is over four billion years old, and became the host of life about three billion years ago. It now holds an estimated 8.7 million species, according to a report done in 2011 by Camilo Mora and colleagues. But it turns out that 99% of the four billion species which once roamed this earth have unfortunately bitten the dust. (Barnosky, 2011). A lot of them met their untimely demise as a result of a mass extinction event. There have been five over the course of hundreds of millions of years. They are defined “as about 75% of the world's species being lost in a 'short' amount of geological time - less than 2.8 million years.” (Begum, 2021).

reference to the Ice Age movies). It is being caused by humans. We’ve only been around for some hundred thousand years, yet to say humanity is destructive would be an understatement. Edward O. Wilson, an entomologist from Harvard, speculated “that the human presence in the last 12 millennia produced an average extinction of one species every 20 minutes.” (Pievani, 2013). And that doesn't even cover the species we don’t know about yet.

There is no way of sugarcoating this: we are headed towards the sixth one. The sixth mass extinction event. And it isn’t being caused by an asteroid. It isn’t being caused by a volcanic eruption. It isn’t being caused by a small rodent who desperately wants an acorn (for those who may be confused, this is a

Through habitat fragmentation, the overexploitation of resources, and the pollution of our atmosphere, humans have created a “perfect storm,” in which multiple drivers converge and amplify one another. According to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, “Threequarters of the land-based environment and about 66% of the marine environment have been significantly altered by human actions.” Humans are further responsible for the degradation and contamination of ecosystems through our overuse of resources on which animals depend. We have also hunted many species to extinction, or to the brink of extinction. The cherry on top: climate change. The mass emissions of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere has caused sea levels to rise, droughts, wildfires, ocean acidification, and Michelle

Delemarre,

I’m not just saying this because I’m an environmentalist, I’m a realist. Biodiversity, or the variety of species on earth, is something that is quite literally irreplaceable. We depend on a multitude of species, plants and animals alike, for ecosystem services. Ecosystem services include many things, from little pollinating insects to entire coastal wetlands which act as a natural flood barrier and water filter. Human impact is not just harmful to biodiversity; it is harmful to us humans.

We are in the dawn of the sixth mass extinction. In just a few centuries humanity has caused destruction on par with the catalysts of the previous five mass extinction events, which took millions of years. We have altered our environment, our world, so much that it is becoming more inhospitable with every passing year. It is imperative that we continue in our efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and conservation of ecosystems, for the sake of all of us.

Arghamanyan.

(2011,

Michelle Delemarre, 10 18 2020

Michelle Delemarre, 01 15 2020

The Potential of Plant-Based Proteins

It may surprise you that around the world, plant based proteins constitute a greater percentage of total protein intake than all animal based proteins. This may seem odd from our American perspective, but globally nearly 60% of protein intake is from plant-based proteins (FAO, 2017). As the United States looks to create more environmentally sustainable food products, the flood of new plant-based products will continue.

However,are westillgaining thenutritional value we need from these plant based sources? The answer is yes! But there are some key differences between plant and animal based sources that must be considered when building new diets. Today we’ll be looking at one main macronutrient: proteins.

The main difference between plant based and animal-based proteins is their differing amino acid structure. To put it in layman's terms: Proteins are made up of amino acid chains. You and I need 20 amino acids to be healthy. Luckily for us, our body naturally makes 11 out of 20 amino acids. However, we need to consume the remaining 9 essential amino acids through our diets. Once we eat protein sources that contain these essential amino acids, our body breaks the proteins back down into their amino acids. With our 20 amino acid “building blocks,” our body then synthesizes protein for our personal growth,development,andotherfunctions.

There is also an important distinction between complete versus incomplete proteins that must be addressed. Complete proteins naturally contain all the essential amino acids that we need. Animal based proteins, like whey and meat, are complete proteins. On the other hand, plant based proteins are incomplete proteins. They do not contain all the essential amino acids we need. Luckily, this is not a problem! There is a wide range of plant based proteins that allows us to consume these essential amino acids in combination. What really matters is how we consume these plant basedproteins.

So let’s talk about bioavailability. Essentially, this means: how “available” are these proteins to be digested,absorbed, and assimilated? If we had a scale from 0 to 100, animal proteins are near the top of the scale (100). Around the 75 to 50 mark plant proteins start to appear on the scene. This is because plant proteins have a few limitations to digestion and absorption. (Note: this does not mean that plant proteins are not as good; they have the same amino acids, just in different combinations.)

Limits to absorption are mostly due to structural issues. Plant proteins have many more “protective” folds than animal proteins. These folds block digestive enzymes trying to break down the protein molecule. Additionally, there are other chemicals in plants that inhibit digestive

enzymes. Because of these factors, plant proteins are better suited for oxidation ratherthanproteinsynthesis.

But there is a solution to this: we can prepare plant proteins in different ways to make plant proteins more bioavailable. For instance, cooking and heating your fruits and veggies helps with enzyme inhibition. We can also soak nuts, seeds, and certain beansto get rid ofphytic acid,which makes plant proteins less bioavailable. On the other hand, there are also more technical plant protein modifications that could work, such as blending multiple plant-based protein sources, combining plant and animal based protein sources, fortifying plant based proteins, and selective breeding.

So, as we try to switch to a more plant based diet in an attempt to be more climate conscious, keep in mind that increasing protein intake and variety, as well as using different methods of cooking, may be what you need to meet your nutritionalgoals!

Works Cited

Berrazaga, I., Micard, V., Gueugneau, M., & Walrand, S. (2019). The Role of the Anabolic Properties of Plant versus Animal Based Protein Sources in Supporting Muscle Mass Maintenance: A Critical Review. Nutrients, 11(8), 1825. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu1108182

Day, P. (1996). The Biology of Plant Proteins. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 36:sup001, 39 47, DOI: 10.1080/10408399609527758

FAO. (2017). FAOSTAT food balance sheets. The Natural Athletes Clinic. (2020, June 30). Plant Based Protein Vs. Animal Based Protein Biochemical Differences in Absorption and Utilization [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/S4y1rOWpDQI.

Climate Change

By Mia Weinberg

and Snowfall

Waking up on winter day to a shimmering, white landscape outside of our windows is the essence of winter here in the northeastern United States. Businesses and schools shut down as the snow places our society on hold until we can access roads and vehicles again. This was a memorable and exciting part of growing up in New Jersey for many. However, as anthropogenic climate change continues to alter our planet’s weather systems, it is hard to ignore the changes in snowfall in New Jersey and the broader Northeast region. These changes can be attributed to a number of factors, and are not as simple as an annual decline in snowfall. The effects of shifting snowfall patterns will affect not only our winters but the ecosystems of countless organisms, and surprisingly, the temperature of our planet. As global temperatures continue to rise by about 0.32°F each decade, the rate at which temperatures are rising is also increasing (Lindsey, 1). Across the United States, winters are the fastest warming season. With this comes a reduction in days below 32°F, and a predictable decrease in precipitation falling as snow. In New Jersey, this decrease in snowstorms, especially major ones, has been noticeable during the last several winters. However, in many parts of the Northeast the very opposite is being observed.

Over the past several years, many cities in the Northeast have seen record breaking levels of snowfall even in the face of annual temperature increases. This can be attributed to climatic changes in Arctic regions. The Arctic is experiencing the most rapid rate of warming, at almost three times the average global rate (WWF, 1). This is affecting a force known as the polar vortex, which is a strong jet stream of cold air encircling the North Pole that keeps the cold from escaping to lower latitudes. As temperatures between the North Pole and North America are become closer together, the polar vortex the cold spells and unusually large snow storms observed in New England and southern New Jersey this year. The seemingly contradictory nature of rising global temperatures and freezing polar temperatures moving to North America are creating an unusual cocktail of snow patterns in our region.

When the polar vortex is more stable, we can expect to see less snow, just as we have in many regions of New Jersey. This, in turn, accelerates climate change because snow itself has a cooling effect on the planet. This is due to a property called albedo, or the ability of a surface to reflect sunlight. Grassland has a relatively low albedo, typically reflecting about 10 to 25% of solar radiation, and absorbing the rest, which warms the surface of the planet (Dobos, 1). Snow, especially when it is

freshly fallen and deep, reflects 80 to 90% of incoming sunlight back into the atmosphere, which helps to balance Earth’s energy systems and cool the planet (NSIDC, 1).

Another beneficial property of snow is that it insulates the ground below. This is because fresh and uncompacted snow is comprised of up to 95% trapped air, reducing heat transfer both inside of the snow and below it. This is why many animals burrow into snow to hibernate and stay warm during the brutal winter. Below a fresh layer of snow, the insulating properties can protect the ground from freezing over, which allows the soil to stay moist and allows for important chemical exchanges to continue to take place between the soil and the atmosphere (NSIDC, 2).

Snow is a powerful climatic force, but it cannot escape the ever worsening effects of climate change. As we turn the corner of the coldest portion of winter and enter spring, observing the predictably unpredictable patterns of snowfall will be a telling sign of climate change’s effects on our weather moving forward.

References

Arctic climate change. WWF Arctic. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https:// arcticwwf.org/work/climate/

Dahlman, L. A., & Lindsey, R. (n.d.). Climate change: Global temperature. Climate Change: Global Temperature | NOAA Climate.gov. Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https:// www.climate.gov/news features/understanding climate/climate change global temperature

Dobos, E. (n.d.). Albedo. University of Miskolc. Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https:// www.uni miskolc.hu/~ecodobos/14334.pdf

Feuerstein, J. (2022, February 2). Climate change may be fueling increase in major northeast snowstorms. The Washington Post. Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https:// www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2022/02/01/northeast snow storm climate/

National Snow and Ice Data Center. Snow Characteristics | National Snow and Ice Data Center. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https://nsidc.org/cryosphere/snow/science/ characteristics.html

Report: The case of the shifting snow. Climate Central. (2020, February 3). Retrieved February 16, 2022, from https://www.climatecentral.org/news/report the case of the shifting snow

Image by Caterina Sanders on Unsplash

Ever imagine yourself becoming the personal chef for some hungry wildlife in your backyard? That became a reality for Jeff, an experienced gardener of 20 years, after he noticed some unusual digging activity and half-eaten vegetables in his garden. He decided to install a motion detection camera to investigate, and initially found small critters such as squirrels, and chipmunks. Eventually, he saw a large groundhog eating some vegetables as it looked directly into the camera. He

By: Sarah Ekenezar

named it Chuck and installed a high fence around the garden with logs and wood under it to discourage any more burrowing. To make matters more interesting, Jeff later discovered Chuck’s mate, whom he named Nibbles. The pair went to work in his garden, making sure to sample as much as they could, serving as the professional food critics they are.

Via: The Dodo

After some time, Chuck and Nibbles went into hibernation for the winter and Jeff decided he would have a mini garden prepared for their return. He understood that the limited produce from his garden would not be sufficient for both himself and the groundhog couple. So, he secured his own garden and worked on theirs alongside it. He considered the vegetables they liked based on their previous preferences and eagerly waited for them to wake up. The couple emerged from their slumber and were welcomed with a completed garden, and they quickly broke their fast. Just a few weeks later, they had three pups Chip, Chibbles and Nugget. Even then, the two new parents weren’t keen on sharing

anything they found in their exclusive garden. With time, Jeff started to enjoy the groundhog family’s company and found humor in his newfound position as their personal chef. “If I can do a job to protect them and keep them safe, prolong their life…I’m all for it. I’m just the gardener here and they’re the wildlife that enjoys it,” he says. He anticipates more pups being born in the following year and looks forward to expanding the groundhog garden for them as well.

Works Cited

“

Guy Builds Veggie Garden For Family Of Groundhogs.” (2021). The Dodo. Youtube.Retrieved fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNdts2P-djg

Bucket List for the Traveler: Central Restaurant—Lima, Peru

Peru ’s capital city of Lima is home to a bustling metropolis, a rich colonial history, and long stretches of Pacific beaches. To add to its extensive list of appeals, Lima has been detected on the gourmet food radar and has been added as a renowned “foodie” destination. Located in the heart of the colorful Barranco District of Lima, is Central, the best restaurant in Latin America and the 6th best restaurant in the world, according to

the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy (Central).

Brainchild of new age chef Virgilio Martínez, Central provides an extremely unique some say, bizarre gastronomic experience for its diners (Gilbert, 2018). His restaurant, sous cheffed by his wife, is a shrine to Peru and its wide variety of ecosystems (Central). In

By Jeremy Lewan

Owner and executive chef of the 6th best restaurant in the world, Virgilio Martínez.

fact, because of its great variation in elevation, Peru contains 84 of the 103 ecosystems and 28 of the 32 climates in the world, making it “the most ecologically diverse country in the world” (Klopp, 2019). Virgilio and his wife have scoured the entire country to obtain interesting ingredients from the land, sea, and mountains.

In order to provide a truly inclusive menu, they showcase the biodiversity of Peru in an elaborate $130, elevation organized, 17-course tasting menu (Gilbert, 2018). The individual appetizers, main courses, and desserts are derived from the exotic flora and fauna in all of the Peruvian ecosystems, and are presented as mini works of art (Gilbert, 2018).

Each plate is meant to be eaten in one or two bites, bursting with extraordinary and indescribable flavors and textures, and encompassing the very essence of the representative elevation. The morsels are expertly crafted and placed perfectly, never leaving the customer in wanting (Gilbert, 2018).

staples like potatoes and corn, but add an unusual twist (Gilbert, 2018). Although steeply priced, having the Central experience can be as priceless as attending a concert or a sporting event. Being able to taste the entirety of the Peruvian flavor and texture profile in 17 thoughtfully crafted bites, is an extraordinary experience and will open up the palette to eccentric cuisine never encountered before.

Sources

This is one of the courses, served as a 3 part trifecta on ice cold stone slabs and pieces of wood.

For example, the first course, called Rock Molluscs (a representation of the elevation -10 meters), consists of a sea snail, a mussel, sargassum seaweed, and a limpet, artfully served in a rock bowl (O’Malley, 2019).

Another course, called Humid Green, representative of 3700 meters, puts together caigua (a hollow, thin walled, cucumber like fruit), cushuro (small orbs of edible bacteria harvested from Peruvian lakes), and tiny flecks of chaco clay (O’Malley, 2019).

Central. (n.d.). Retrieved January 27, 2022, from https://www.theworlds50best.com/the list/1 10/Central.html

Gilbert, B. (2018, July 10). I ate a 17 course tasting menu at one of the world's best restaurants -here's what it was like. Retrieved January 27, 2022, from https://www.businessinsider.com/central restaurant lima photos 2017 4

Klopp, G. (2019, January 20). The Best Time to Visit Peru. Retrieved January 27, 2022, from https:// www.acanela.com/blog/2019/1/17/the best time to visit peru

O'Malley, N. (2017, May 25). I ate at the No. 5 restaurant in the world so you don't have to. Retrieved January 27, 2022, from https:// www.masslive.com/food/2017/05/

By Anna Forsman

By Anna Forsman

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By Anna Forsman