Research & Scientific Studies

Hexagon Bio Raises a $47 Million Series A to Develop Fungi-Based Medicine

3 Mins Read California-based Hexagon Bio has closed a $47 million Series A funding round led by The Column Group, with participation from 8VC and Two Sigma Ventures. Hexagon is using first-of-its-kind proprietary genomics technology to develop secondary metabolites—small molecules produced by bacteria, fungi, and plants—to combat human disease. Examples include the antibiotic penicillin and the cholesterol-lowering drug […]

Sep 26, 2022 Read more

Medieval Kings Didn’t Eat a Lot of Meat. You Probably Shouldn’t Either.

3 Mins Read Here’s a little trivia night fodder you didn’t know you needed: medieval period royalty were mostly plant-based, a recent study discovered. Kings in the Middle Ages (500 to 1400–1500 ce), also known as the medieval period, ate meat sparingly despite having the resources to be more indulgent, reports new research. The findings were published by […]

Sep 07, 2022 Read more

10 Things You Need To Know About The Resale Luxury Market

5 Mins Read What does the future hold for the luxury resale market? The future is bright, according to recent findings from McKinsey. McKinsey looked at the resale luxury market late last year. Consumer research was conducted in the U.S., EU and Asia. Overall findings concluded that consumers are growing the sector. If judicious, brands could enter the […]

Aug 19, 2022 Read more

Mass Extinction Threat Worse Than Previously Thought, New Research Finds

2 Mins Read New research says our understanding of endangered species is limited, and some species may face greater extinction risks than previously thought. Conservation statuses for nearly 8,000 species with limited population data show a grim reality, according to research published in Communications Biology. More than half of those species likely face extinction, according to the researchers. The […]

Aug 18, 2022 Read more

6 Female Scientists Making the World More Sustainable

7 Mins Read Scientific research might be considered a male-dominated arena, but it’s time to recognise that there are plenty of female pioneers to celebrate. Strong women who identified a niche or subject that was ripe for further exploration have led the charge for progress for centuries. The following scientific powerhouses have made leaps in their respective fields […]

Aug 03, 2022 Read more

Why Nitrates and Nitrites in Processed Meats are Harmful, But Those in Vegetables Aren’t

5 Mins Read By Richard Hoffman Many of us know that we should steer away from processed meats and eat more vegetables if we want to be healthier and lower our chances of developing certain types of cancers. While there are many reasons processed meats aren’t great for our health, one reason is because they contain chemicals called nitrates […]

Jul 20, 2022 Read more

Cutting Air Pollution In Half Could See 25% More Food Produced In China, New Study Finds

4 Mins Read New research from Science Advances suggests that halving air pollution could see an extra 25 percent of food generated in China every year. Particular attention was paid to a pollutant that is created when fuel burns; it appears to stunt agricultural crop growth. Cleaner air conditions, the study purports, could encourage crops and bolster yields […]

Jun 22, 2022 Read more

New Study Finds Eating Fish Linked To Increased Melanoma Risk In Older Adults

3 Mins Read New research links higher fish consumption in older adults to an increased risk of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. The findings have led to wider questions surrounding diet and its impact on melanoma. The study was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal Cancer Causes & Control. The large research project gained access […]

Jun 17, 2022 Read more

First Meat And Now Dairy Is Linked To Higher Risk Of Cancer, in New China Study

4 Mins Read The first in-depth multi-year study looking at correlations between dairy consumption and cancer rates has been undertaken in China. Findings point to a higher risk of liver and female breast cancer in people eating larger amounts of dairy. Previous studies have focussed on Western countries and suggested that dairy can lower colorectal cancer likelihood but […]

May 17, 2022 Read more

Vegan Diet Shown To Offer ‘Meaningful’ Weight Loss For Obese And Diabetic People, In New Research

4 Mins Read Following a vegan diet for three months has been found to offer significant health benefits to both obese and diabetic people. A study conducted by the Steno Diabetes Center in Copenhagen found that participants lost ‘meaningful’ amounts of weight and saw their blood sugar lowered. Study findings were presented at the European Congress on Obesity […]

May 12, 2022 Read more

European Researchers Say Cultivated Meat Diet Shift Could Mean 80% Water, Land and Emissions Savings

4 Mins Read A study conducted by the University of Helsinki suggests that diets that include cultivated meat and dairy could offer water, land and carbon emissions savings of more than 80% when compared to conventional European diets. The study further claims that the inclusion of novel foods would offer a more complete nutrient package than vegetarian and […]

Apr 28, 2022 Read more

Low-Fat Vegan Diets Can Alleviate Arthritis Symptoms, New Study Suggests

4 Mins Read A new study has released evidence that following a vegan diet can help ease arthritis symptoms. Specifically, a low-fat and whole-food plant-based reduces pain and lessens joint swelling. The study claims that pain was reduced by up to 53 percent in the 44 adults observed during the research project. Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) […]

Apr 13, 2022 Read more

Sweden Wants to Be the First Country To Account For Consumption Emissions In Climate Targets

4 Mins Read Already acknowledged as an ambitious nation due to a 2045 net-zero target, Sweden is flexing its eco-credentials even further. The country has announced intentions to account for consumption-based emissions within its targets, something no other country has pledged. This means that products made overseas for import into Sweden will have their carbon emissions added to […]

Apr 12, 2022 Read more

Vegan Omega-3 Sources Reduce Risk Of Heart Disease By Up to 20 Percent, New Analysis Shows

4 Mins Read Plant-based omega-3 offers heart-healthy benefits and can reduce the likelihood of serious heart disease, a new study has found. Published in the medical journal, Advances in Nutrition, findings point to vegan omega-3 offering comparable benefits to those commonly sourced from fish. Omega-3 fatty acid, specifically alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is not produced naturally by the body. […]

Apr 06, 2022 Read more

Rapid DNA Analysis System Being Developed To Audit Processed Vegan Foods

3 Mins Read Cross-contamination is a big concern for allergy sufferers, as well as vegans. With numerous companies producing ‘fully vegan’ products, EthiChain developed technology that could put such claims to the test. It has done so to heighten transparency and integrity in the food chain, citing ‘food fraud’ as a global concern. Food fraud undermines consumer confidence, […]

Mar 22, 2022 Read more

6 Small Lifestyle Changes Could Be Enough To Mitigate The Climate Crisis, New Study Suggests

4 Mins Read People in affluent countries can contribute to halting the climate crisis by making six lifestyle changes, a new study has found. Research was conducted by Leeds University, with findings being verified by engineering firm Arup and the C40 collective of influential cities around the world. Academics involved with the study claim that by committing to […]

Mar 10, 2022 Read more

IPCC Report Leaves No Doubt As To Importance Of Alt Protein In The Fight Against Climate Change

4 Mins Read In a newly published statement, the Good Food Institute (GFI) Europe has outlined the role plant-based and cultivated meats have to play in future food security based on inclusion in the just-released IPCC report. The GFI declaration is framed by tangible pressure on food production as the world’s population grows. Increases in food-borne diseases and […]

Mar 07, 2022 Read more

European Farmers Are Struggling With Animal Welfare Concerns They Can’t Talk About, Study Suggests

3 Mins Read A study published last December has highlighted a growing unease amongst European farmers: increasing moral concerns surrounding the practice of animal agriculture, alongside an inability to voice them for fear of ‘betraying’ the industry. The peer-reviewed report, published by Elsevier (which is facing its own climate-related woes), revealed other surprising trends. Avoidance of meat products […]

Mar 04, 2022 Read more

5 Climate Facts You Need To Know About The New IPCC Report

4 Mins Read The latest IPCC report has been dubbed as the most searing indictment of the planet’s climate predicament yet, with little optimism included. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report is a three-part release that provides a comprehensive overview of the climate crisis. It looks at where the world currently stands, what is being done […]

Mar 03, 2022 Read more

Vegetarians 14% Less Likely To Develop Cancer, New Study Claims

4 Mins Read New research from Oxford University suggests that those following a meat-free diet are 14 percent less at risk of cancer than their omnivorous counterparts. Pescatarians were discovered to be 10 percent less prone than meat-eaters. Findings have been released after a large-scale study that involved data analysis on more than 470,000 British individuals. Meat reduction, […]

Mar 01, 2022 Read more

UN Secretary-General Launches Scathing Attack On Climate Action Lethargy In Wake Of IPCC Report

4 Mins Read UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been explicit in his shock at reading the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. He calls it “an atlas of human suffering and a damning indictment of failed climate leadership”. In a series of impactful statements, made during a press conference, he iterates the need for immediate unified […]

Mar 01, 2022 Read more