One Root Cause of Pandemics Few People Think About

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March 24, 2020

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The current conditions in which Americans often farm animals serve as "amplifiers" for viral pandemics, says Paul Shapiro, CEO of The Better Meat Co. In an op-ed, he argues that cutting down the number of live animals we raise for food will reduce the risk of global outbreaks like the novel coronavirus.

Smoke from Australia's disastrous bush fires killed at least 417 people and sent over 3,000 to hospitals and emergency rooms, a new study shows. The researchers say more aggressive adaptation measures are required to protect the public from future climate-related disasters in the country.

Child mortality is decreasing. Actions taken in response to goals set by the United Nations have reduced the deaths of children younger than five from 93 per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 39 in 2018. But certain countries still struggle.

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Behavior & Society

One Root Cause of Pandemics Few People Think About

It's our seemingly insatiable desire to eat meat

By Paul Shapiro

Natural Disasters

Smoke from Australia's Bushfires Killed Hundreds

Exposure to particulate matter led to heart and lung problems for thousands

By Nathanial Gronewold,E&E News

Climate

Paris Climate Agreement Architects Make a Case for "Stubborn Optimism"

It is possible for the world to cut emissions enough to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But tenacious belief will be needed to achieve that goal

By Andrea Thompson

Public Health

Deaths of Young Children Are Decreasing Globally, But ...

Progress in improving mortality varies significantly within countries

By Amanda Montañez

Mental Health

Treating "Moral" Injuries

A potentially debilitating condition in veterans, distinct from PTSD, results from crossing moral lines

By Anna Harwood-Gross

Policy & Ethics

Electronic Health Records Need an Ethical Tune-Up

Without oversight, the technologies at the heart of the health system are vulnerable to corruption

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FROM THE ARCHIVE

What's Inside? Meat vs. Meatless Burgers

A look at ingredients and nutrition

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"If we have the will to shut down our entire society for weeks on end, surely we have the will to slightly change our diets."

Paul Shapiro, CEO of The Better Meat Co via Scientific American

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