Plastic as Shells, Plastic as Nests, Consequences of Animals' Usage of Plastic
Hermit crabs and plastic, Credit, The Sun
In a recent internet search for pictures of hermit crabs, scholars discovered three hundred and eight-six instances where the crustaceans used plastic materials as shells, leading to estimations that ten out of sixteen species of land hermit crabs around the planet now use plastic as a sort of shell.
Shells don't adorn birds, but the creatures use plastic too, as another report found out that more and more birds incorporate anthropogenic materials (eg sweet wrapper, cigarette butts, and plastic) into their nests, the behavior first noticed in the species as early as the 1830s, with a survey for anthropogenic materials showing a prevalence of 39.3 percent of 466 nests in 1992, compared to 52.2 percent of 311 nests in 2005.
When scientists studied the nests of Indian palm squirrels, they found that the creatures used plastic bags, plastic threads, and cigarette butts as nesting materials, while other researchers discovered that six percent of European hedgehogs constructed their abodes with wrapping paper or plastic bags.
Apart from hermit crabs, birds, and Indian palm squirrels, an increasing number of animals use plastic materials for the construction of their dwelling places, with the opossum utilizing some of the 85 percent of plastic yet to be recycled in their nests, while bees collect polyurethane and polyethylene plastics as building materials for their hives.
Humans have produced 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic by this year, but with only about nine percent undergoing recycling, the vast majority at 79 percent accumulate in landfills or slough off in the natural environment as litter, 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic becoming waste.
Plastic wastes to the tune of more than 171 trillion pieces float in the world's oceans, the figure rising from 16 trillion pieces in 2005, made up of both recently discarded plastics and pieces that have broken down from larger materials.
Larger materials help to form a quarter of the world's plastic waste, and since they get subjected to mismanagement, 19 million tons of them leak into the environment, 13 million into the terrestrial environment, six million to rivers or coastlines,1.7 million transported to oceans, 0.3 million situated on coastlines.
Coastlines, landfills, and oceans are victims to all forms of plastic pollution, so crabs and others can access the material for the building of their nests or usage as shells, allowing for an increasing incidence of the phenomenon among animals.
Animals involved may face consequences, because though researchers can only speculate about the effects, plastic pollution generally threatens the existence of crabs, and once their development gets disrupted, some of them stop eating bacteria and decomposed sea life, bringing a deleterious effect on the environment, impinging on the safety of humans.
Humans and crabs suffocate from plastic pollution, so do birds, with two entangled with plastic strings around their legs out of 141 black stock nestings in a recent research, 26 percent of their nests built with plastic.
Plastics threaten the long-term survival of squirrels, because the 1,557 species worldwide suffer from consequences, such as dropping dead with pieces of plastic in their stomach, when they expose themselves to microplastics and other forms of plastic.
Plastics kill 569,000 hermit crabs each year for confusing plastic with shells, while an estimated one million birds die as a result of plastic pollution each year, and at least 100,000 marine animals perish from plastic pollution, indications that animals face impacts with proximity to plastics, including those using them for the construction of nests or substitute for shells.
Shells give way to plastics among some crabs, and though researchers balk at giving consequences in the long run, studies need to be carried out to understand the ultimate effect of this, especially as creatures suffer from deaths through proximity to plastic in other areas.
Exploding Sectors in Climate Tech
(1) Battery Storage Sector
The battery storage sector involves the development and deployment of energy storage systems using batteries.
These systems store electrical energy during periods of low demand and release it during peak demand or when renewable energy sources, like solar or wind, are not generating power.
Battery storage plays a crucial role in stabilizing the electrical grid and enhancing the integration of renewable energy. Companies such as SunRun, Tesla, Panasonic, LG Chem, and others operate in the sector.
The global battery energy storage market was estimated at roughly 5.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2022 and it was expected to surpass 17.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2028
(2) Offshore Wind Turbine
An offshore wind turbine is a large structure installed in bodies of water, typically in the ocean, to harness wind energy and generate electricity. These turbines are mounted on fixed foundations or floating structures anchored to the seabed.
Companies in the sector include Vestas, Ørsted, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Equino, Dominion Energy, EDF Renewables, and others.
The global offshore wind energy market size was valued at USD 33 billion in 2022 and is expected to hit USD 179.41 billion by 2032, poised to grow at a CAGR of 18.50% during the forecast period 2023 to 2032.
Opportunities for Climate-minded Creators, Inventors, Entrepreneurs
Ingenuity Lab • Haydn Green Institute @TheIngenuityLab1.Submit a video recording of your 60 second pitch: https://lnkd.in/evjEPK5i 2.Shortlisted finalists will present a 5-minute pitch in front of a panel of judges to compete for the top prize! 3.Submission deadline: 14th Feb Perfect your pitch and take your venture to new heights!
BIPOCFoundation @BIP0CFOUNDATION Jan 27 This is your moment! Join BEBC's Black Pitch Contest for a chance to win up to $25,000. Whether you're a pro or a newcomer, submit your revolutionary pitch by Feb 16 to shine! Apply here: https://blackentrepreneursbc.org/black-pitch-contest/… #BEBCPitchContest #Innovation
HoaQ /əʊk/ @hoaqclub Jan 29 Are you building a tech or tech-enabled company in Africa? You can submit your pitch deck at http://bit.ly/pitchdecksubmission… to apply for funding. #HoaQ #ApplyForFunding #Funding #Founders
GitLab @gitlab Jan 31 We’re inspired by all of the entries for our Innovation Pitch Competition so far! We’ll be accepting submissions up until 2/26 at 11:45 PM PST, so make sure to submit your pitch soon! Learn more: https://bit.ly/3upzgRE #EveryoneCanContribute
Alexandra Marsanu @alex_marsanu 15h We are excited to launch theb@CYoungWomen policy competition today Submit your best idea to solve one of the country's most challenging issues and get a unique opportunity to pitch! Deadline for submissions is March 17 with full details here: https://shorturl.at/mqCLY
An Trotter @an_trotter Jan 29 Calling all early-stage female founders in the US! Pitch HearstLab winner(s) will receive $100k in investment and 3 months' support. Submit your application by 2/4 for a chance to pitch live in NYC 4/17 at https://www.hearstlab.com/events/pitch
inSCIgnis @inscignis Jan 24 Calling all science innovators! Are you a visionary? Join the collision of science and innovation at inSCignis'24 BLITZ. Change the world, one pitch at a time. Don't just dream it, BLITZ it InSCignis'24 is your launchpad to global impact. Submit your startup idea now! Contact Richa: 8822529106
Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance@ORRAAnewsJan 26 ORRAA member @SOAlliance, is launching its 2024 Ocean pitch challenge's call for applications, an international pitch competition co-organised with @Respect_Ocean aiming at supporting solutions having a positive impact on the Ocean. More on www.respectocean.com
Houston Energy Transition Initiative (HETI) @htx_energy 17hLast call for the 2024 Energy Venture Day and Pitch Competition at #CERAWeek! Hosted by @RiceAlliance @GHPartnership's HETI and TEX-E, the competition will showcase over 40 energy ventures across three industry tracks. Application: https://ow.ly/enpQ50QsHhi
Innov865 @innov865 14hApplications for Knoxville Entrepreneur Center’s “What’s The Big Idea?” pitch competition closes TOMORROW! Is your business idea going to be the next big thing? Submit your application to participate and potentially win $10,000! Apply! @ https://ow.ly/eurT50QwS9j
UCL School of Management @UCLSoM Are you passionate about #sustainability & digital transformation? Don't miss the #SustainTech Pitching Competition on 06 March! Aspiring & existing entrepreneurs, submit your video pitch by 18 February. Or join us in the audience! Apply & learn more: https://ow.ly/Lg5E50Qj5ii
Smart Cities Connect @smartcitycb Join the largest city-centric startup pitch program nationwide, showcasing groundbreaking innovations addressing urban challenges. Present your solutions to influential city, government, and industry leaders. Submit your #innovation today! - https://bit.ly/3BVvYDD #SCC24
City Edge Digital @CityEdgeDigitalb Got a business? Need a website? It’s your moment! Join our #PixelPitch contest and pitch why your business should win a free website! 3 winners, entries til Feb 25, winners on Feb 29. Let’s go! Submit Your Pitch @ http://cityedgedigital.com/pixel-pitch #PixelPitch2024 #Giveaway #SMB #DigitalMarketing #Website #SmallBusiness #WebsiteGiveaway
What to Eat
Vegan food from India, Credit, Taste.Com