Squirrels, particularly species like the Eastern gray squirrel, play an unintended but valuable role in forest regeneration.

During autumn, they engage in scatter-hoarding, a behavior where they bury nuts and seeds in various locations to retrieve during winter.

However, they don't always recover all their caches, either due to forgetting or dying before retrieval.

These unretrieved nuts, especially acorns and other tree seeds, often germinate and grow into trees, contributing to natural forest growth.

Ecologists recognize this process as a form of passive seed dispersal, making squirrels important—even if accidental—agents in reforestation and biodiversity maintenance.

This phenomenon has been observed in multiple forest ecosystems across North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.

Squirrels’ role, though unintentional, helps maintain tree populations, especially oak, beech, and hazelnut trees.

Researchers at the RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science, in collaboration with the University of Tokyo, have developed a groundbreaking biodegradable plastic that offers a dual benefit: it dissolves in seawater and enriches soil.

This innovation was led by Dr. Takashi Nishikawa and his team in Japan, and it represents a major step forward in addressing plastic pollution while also supporting agricultural sustainability.

The plastic is made using a novel combination of sodium hexametaphosphate, a food-safe additive, and guanidinium-based monomers.

These components create salt bridges that hold the plastic’s structure together until exposed to seawater.

Once submerged, the material begins dissolving within hours, leaving behind no microplastic residue. In soil, it breaks down completely in about ten days and releases nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, which are key to promoting plant growth and boosting soil fertility.

What makes this material particularly promising is its non-toxic, non-flammable, and carbon-neutral decomposition process. Unlike conventional plastics, it contributes positively to the environment rather than causing harm.

In tests, up to 91% of the additive compounds and 82% of the monomers could be recovered and reused, aligning with the principles of a circular economy.

The plastic’s versatility opens the door to a wide range of applications. In agriculture, it can be used for biodegradable mulch films and seed coatings.

In marine environments, it offers a sustainable alternative for fishing nets and ropes that would otherwise contribute to “ghost gear” pollution.

It also holds promise for consumer products such as food containers, disposable cutlery, and eco-friendly packaging.

This innovation by Japanese scientists could significantly reduce global plastic waste and usher in a new era of biodegradable, recyclable, and nutrient-rich materials, with real potential to transform both environmental cleanup efforts and sustainable farming practices.

Korean BBQ Chicken Wings

Sticky Korean BBQ Wings with Sesame and Scallions

Ingredients:

2 lbs chicken wings, split and tips removed

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

For the Korean BBQ Sauce:

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons rice vinegar

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon gochujang (Korean chili paste)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon grated ginger

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon water

Garnish:

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

2 green onions, thinly sliced

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil and place a wire rack on top.

Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels. Toss with salt, pepper, cornstarch, and vegetable oil until evenly coated.

Arrange wings on the rack in a single layer and bake for 40–45 minutes, flipping halfway, until crispy and golden brown.

Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium heat, combine soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, sesame oil, gochujang, garlic, ginger, honey, and water.

Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5–7 minutes until thickened slightly.

Remove wings from oven and toss in the warm Korean BBQ sauce until well coated.

Return wings to the oven for 5 minutes to caramelize.

Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve hot.

Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cooking Time: 50 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour
Kcal: 420 kcal | Servings: 4 servings

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Sticky, spicy, and bursting with flavor – these Korean BBQ Chicken Wings are oven-baked to crispy perfection and coated in a luscious gochujang glaze!

China’s military is pushing the limits of biomimicry with fully weaponized bird drones that mimic the look and movement of real birds. These advanced devices are capable of silent flight with flapping wings, making them nearly undetectable to radar or visual observation.

Reports suggest these drones can conduct surveillance missions and potentially execute targeted strikes, all while disguised as innocent birds in flight. They're part of China’s larger “Dove” program—an AI-driven effort to revolutionize stealth technology through nature-inspired engineering.

From tracking enemy movements to deploying micro-munitions, these robotic birds may reshape future warfare in ways once confined to science fiction.

#DroneWarfare #MilitaryTech #ChinaInnovation #SpyDrones #FutureOfWarfare #BiomimicryTech

Junio, no corras tanto

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