Gas-X For Cows Could Make Beef and Dairy Cattle More Environmentally Friendly
Methane accounts for 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, second only to carbon dioxide. When viewed as a country, cattle rank as the world’s sixth-largest methane emitter, ahead of Brazil, Japan and Germany, according to research firm Rhodium Group. To address the problem, several companies are currently testing products that reduce the amount of methane emitted by beef and dairy cattle.
Swiss company Mootral created a dietary supplement consisting of garlic, citrus and other compounds that consistently reduces the animal’s toxic output when added to its feed. Mootral has yet to demonstrate that its product is effective in different breeds of cattle and in different climates. Another challenge: the company’s business model relies on livestock and dairy companies accumulating and selling carbon-offset credits. But if Mootral or a competing company’s product continues to show promise, the dietary supplement could swiftly lead to fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
Watch A Former Rocket Scientist Make Top-Notch Copper Cookware
Copper conducts electricity and heat faster than steel, aluminum, and most other materials. That’s why copper pots and pans are among the best you can buy: they respond quickly to temperature changes, making it easy to go from a rolling boil to a gentle simmer in seconds. But how is copper cookware made? Former aerospace engineer Jim Hamann shows you all the little details.
Hamann has been handcrafting copper cookware for more than 15 years. He makes his Duparquet line of cookware by first cutting a large disc of copper and trimming it on a lathe. Most of the disc becomes the bottom of the pan. To form the sides, he fits the disk onto a form on the lathe then manually bends the copper around the form using levers as the disk spins. Steady, even pressure is the key to straight sides, since the more that copper is worked, the stiffer it becomes. Next, holes are drilled into the side to attach a cast-iron handle with copper rivets, which are heat-softened then hand hammered into place. Hamann lines the interior with tin by melting the tin then evenly spread it by hand. After a final polish, the pans are ready for cooking up anything you can imagine. Watch Hamann demonstrate and discuss the process in this fascinating YouTube video.
