Author: Katelynn Kenworthy

LONDON — A revolution in cost-efficient methods of electricity has the potential to affect millions across the world. Electric paint challenges the orthodox methods for obtaining electricity with new and creative designs. The designs focus on cost-efficiency and accessibility so that they can be used by everyone, especially those who rely on electricity for their most basic needs. For many of the world’s poorest, electricity is a luxury. They will spend most of their already low incomes on electricity for cooking and other tasks needed for basic survival. Many of these revolutionary inventions are still in their early production and testing…

SEATTLE — Today, there are at least 1.5 billion people in the world who have no reliable access to electricity. These people rely mostly on kerosene for their light source. Kerosene is toxic to breathe and has been causing serious health problems for many people. Currently, 780 million citizens inhale the equivalent of two packs of cigarettes every day. Health hazards like these are especially troublesome for families who can barely afford basic needs let alone healthcare. In fact, it may be rare to find care in the areas where they reside. Kerosene produces about 244 million tons of carbon dioxide.…

SEATTLE — A prickly fruit could make a huge impact on hunger relief. This new hunger eradicator is called breadfruit. It has a green bumpy outside and a starchy potato-like inside. Breadfruit grows on tall trees in tropical areas like Hawaii, Samoa and the Caribbean. What makes the fruit a superfood is its high energy content of carbohydrates, a low fat content and a potassium content equivalent to about ten bananas. How might this supercharged breadfruit feed the hungry? The National Tropical Botanical Garden stated that about 80 percent of the world’s hungry already reside in tropical or subtropical areas.…

SEATTLE — A potential solution to the problem of hunger lies in biotechnology. Biotechnology refers to an array of tools and applications allowing scientists to manipulate the genetic material of plants, animals and microbes. These practices give scientists the ability to modify characteristics that pass from one generation to another. Biotechnology tools consist of gene cloning, tissue culture, microbial culture, DNA marker technology and genetic engineering. This genetic engineering is the most controversial because it is the method that develops genetically modified organisms. Transgenic crops received specific attention. This type of crop combines genetic material obtained through the most modern…

SEATTLE — Quinoa has gained popularity with more than just foodies over the years. Scientists have begun investigating the plant as a nutrient-rich superfood. Quinoa is a flowering plant in the spinach and beet family that is considered a minor crop globally. Found from the Andes to the Northern Sahara and the Middle East, quinoa was first domesticated as a sacred crop by the Incan people 3,000 to 5,000 years ago. They derived its importance from its ability to tolerate harsh and salty soil conditions, which allowed it to grow where rice and wheat cannot. The Quinoa Genome Today, scientists are…

CARACAS — Inflation in Venezuela has skyrocketed since reaching 100 percent in 2015. Caused by deterioration in the economy after oil prices collapsed, this was considered the world’s highest inflation rate. It continued to worsen, hitting 700 percent by 2016, and is expected to hit 2000 percent by the end of 2017. This severe inflation is responsible for the 80 percent poverty rate in Venezuela. Hunger in Venezuela has grown as a result of the increased poverty levels. Resources and goods have become scarce because people buy in bulk to secure enough food. People crowd the supermarkets hours early to…