In last month’s issue, we briefly mentioned the advent of new technological solutions for the future of academic publishing. We will be discussing precisely one such emerging technology in this article—namely, blockchain.
Climate change has become a part of our lives and its impacts will continue to increase in the near future. Many species around the world are being affected, such as polar bears, foxes, seals and other fauna native to the Arctic where global warming has caused sea ice to shrink by 12.6% per decade in the summer season.
On August 25, 2022, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) announced new guidance for federal agencies with more than $100 million in annual research and development expenditures, calling for the elimination of the previous optional 12-month embargo for federally funded peer-reviewed studies. This guidance further builds upon the 2013 memorandum from the OSTP, and data published in federally funded peer-reviewed articles is now to be made immediately and freely available upon publication.
As the global population continues to increase, the consumption of animal-based protein will rise proportionally. Unfortunately, the meat industry will be put under immense strain to meet the dietary requirements of this growing population. Meat and dairy farming are our main source of protein, but are expensive to maintain and cause extensive damage to the natural environment. Thankfully, research into more cost-effective and eco-friendly sources of protein has provided a suitable, albeit a bit unappetizing, option: insects.
