if numbers make you happy youll never be happy because numbers never end

Bigger crops, fewer nutrients: The hidden cost of climate change

Climate change is silently sapping the nutrients from our food. A pioneering study finds that rising CO2 and higher temperatures are not only reshaping how crops grow but are also degrading their nutritional value especially in vital leafy greens like kale and spinach. This shift could spell trouble for global health, particularly in communities already facing nutritional stress. Researchers warn that while crops may grow faster, they may also become less nourishing, with fewer minerals, proteins, and antioxidants raising concerns about obesity, weakened immunity, and chronic diseases.

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Today we cooked up the mixed carton of fancy mushrooms from the Champaign Farmer's Market. They included pink oysters, blue oysters, lion's mane, and some little brown things with long stems and caps the size of a thumbnail. We sauteed them in sunflower oil, seasoned them with garam masala, and added some chopped bacon.

The result tasted good, but not much better than our usual mix of mushrooms, and it was twice as expensive. The oysters were good, but don't taste notably different from the usual white to light brown ones. We did not care of the stringy texture of the lion's mane.  Also, they cooked way fast and shrank way down, which left a small amount of stir-fry.  They might have worked better in something like wild mushroom spaghetti sauce.  So it was interesting to try, but not worth repeating.

Today is mostly sunny and hot.

I fed the birds.  I've seen a few sparrows and house finches at the feeders.  Blackbirds and catbirds are mobbing the mulberry tree in the house yard. 

I put out water for the birds.

EDIT 7/10/25 -- I did some work around the patio.










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