According to scientists, the reason farming has to use Neonicotinoids is to combat the many predators that are ready to pounce on corn or soybean seeds, every time they are sown in the ground. Seeds are impregnated with drugs before sowing. Photo: Scientific Beekeeping What are neonicotinoids? Neonicotinoid has been banned for use in Australia and Europe since 2013. This is a pesticide derived from nicotine (the addictive substance found in tobacco), the way to use is to dissolve in water and spray on plants. for the plants to absorb themselves, forming an artificial “immune system” to protect the crops. Neoincotinoids are thought to be effective against pests and insects, but are safe for mammals. However, because of its strong effect on insects, it also affects bees directly, reducing the number of pollinators. This pesticide is said to reduce the sperm count of male bees by up to 40%, as well as reduce their lifespan from an average of 22 days to 15 days, thus reducing the chances of male bees fertilizing the queen bee. also decreased. Besides disease, soil-dwelling pests such as helminths and larvae can also damage seeds and seedlings, along with terrestrial insects such as bean leaf beetles and aphids. seeds and saplings. Therefore, in the field of seed treatment against insects and diseases, farmers often treat seeds in combination with fungicides (IST) to help plants sprout straight and grow early. It is easy to mention some of the popular Neonicotinoid IST methods such as Imidacloprid (Gaucho, Bayer Crop Science), Clothianidin (Poncho, BASF) and Thiamethoxam (Cruiser, Syngenta)… Seth Naeve, an agronomist specializing in soybean research at the University of Minnesota Extension (USA), said that Neonicotinoid insecticides are highly water-soluble, helping to activate protection from insects. Great early season. Shawn Potter, Syngenta’s head of seed care product marketing, said that the growth of the seeds after treatment was driven in part by previous seasons. “Early seeding from a wet, cool, or both, seeds and seedlings will be exposed to various diseases. “Without seed treatment, crops could be damaged early on,” said Mr Potter. Nick Tinsley, BASF technical specialist, added: “Farmers and retailers alike can easily treat corn and soybean seeds with Neonicotinoid insecticides as well as fungicides from the company. producers to protect crops”. For decades, seed companies have treated corn with fungicides. However, IST only started to be added to the fungicide seed treatment of soybeans in the early 2000s. Studies have demonstrated that a combination of seed treatment with both fungicides and insecticides increases soybean yield per acre by 2 bushels (equivalent to 72.74 kg/0.4 ha). According to Mr. Potter, in general, each “shift” of treating soybean pest/mushroom combos will cost from 10 to 12 USD per seed unit (ranging from 80,000 to 140,000 seeds/0.4 ha). That’s because 70% of treatment costs go to pesticides, while the profit-taking rate per acre is between $16 and $17. This assumes that soybeans cost $12 per bushel and that the cost of the pesticide seed treatment is between $7 and $7.50 per seed unit. Entomologists in the Midwest and South America have also observed that the average soybean yield spike of 2 bushels per acre from this combination. “Some years are higher, some years are lower,” says Sebe Brown, an entomologist at the University of Louisiana. Responses tended to be higher in cases where soybeans were planted early, two crops, or planted after a cover crop.” Gus Lorenz, a scientist at the University of Arkansas, adds: “Companies have provided growers with insurance to maintain good standing. At current seed prices, the cost of treating seeds with pesticides is a good investment.” A synthesis of studies in a 2019 report representing agronomists and entomologists from 14 universities found that the best recorded soybean yield was an increase of 3.3 bushels per acre. after using the combined seed treatment solution. However, in some cases in Minnesota, the benefits are so small that it is argued that farmers should not be encouraged to use seed treatments or should apply them selectively. Concerns Previously, scientists believed that neonicotinoid pesticides were the main cause of the decline in bee populations and pollinators worldwide. A few years ago, the United Nations published alarming figures: In the first 10 years of the 21st century, the number of bees in the world has decreased by 85% in the Middle East, about 30% in the US and Europe. Neonicotinoids are likened to “birth control pills” for bees and reduce the population of bees. Photo: GCM Bees are the intermediate species that help pollinate more than 75% of the world’s food and fruit crops, so a decrease in the number of bees also means a reduced crop or even a crop failure. However, long-term studies by Syngenta suggest that the health effects of bees are negligible when using Neonicotinoid seed treatments to kill insects. According to Mr. Potter, what many experts agree on is that the health of bees depends on the interaction of factors such as parasites, disease, nutritional health and weather phenomena. A 2019 study published in the journal Scientific Reports detailed the effects that imidacloprid had on white-tailed deer. When imidacloprid (an insecticide that acts as an insect CNS toxin, belonging to the genus Neonicotinoids) was increased in the animal’s spleen, factors such as progeny viability, length of jawbone, body weight and visceral weight all decreased. Records show that at least 60% of white-tailed deer killed indicate the presence of Imidacloprid. According to expert Jonathan Lundgren, all insecticides can negatively impact mammals and bees. “The use of insecticides is so widespread these days that they are present in almost every growing system across the United States and are truly binding. These insecticides are affecting ecosystems in ways that we could not have foreseen.” Meanwhile, the companies that manufacture and trade in Neonicotinoid seed treatments have always denied this and asserted that “the products are safe if used according to the instructions on the label”. Compounds such as polymers coat the seeds or products like Bayer Fluency Agent Advanced to help prevent release into the environment, said Chip Graham, Bayer Crop Science’s North American director of seed development. “Initially we had really low dust levels, but these products ensure that pesticides remain on the seeds and reduce contamination levels during the growing process,” said Mr. What is the future of farming? Instead of treating seeds with neonicotinoid insecticides, Mr. Lundgren called for regenerative methods, such as tilling and changing seasons, increasing crop diversity as well as reducing pest pressure. bugs, insects. “Farmers need to understand that these seed treatments really don’t help them much,” said Lundgren. Neonicotinoid pesticides are believed to reduce bee pollinators, threatening food security. Photo: TN Meanwhile, expert Graham said that banning this seed treatment would be detrimental to farmers because “there are currently no foliar sprays to treat early-season insects as a rescue application”, so ” Seed treatment in this way is most effective to provide activity against early-season pests of maize and soybean.” Agronomist Naeve said: “They’re a good example of how the best tools we’ve ever had in agriculture, but it’s not a good idea to treat the entire soybean acreage. They can be a double-edged sword.”

Up to now, the theory of relativity has become a classic theory. Many people think that Einstein’s brain development has reached the highest level, so he came up with these great theories. The famous theory of relativity The theory of relativity includes general relativity and special relativity. Special relativity has been applied by mankind with the famous formula E=mc2. Meanwhile, general relativity is related to the theory of the curvature of space and time, leading to the idea of ​​a hyperspace, time, connection between locations in the universe, or between two parallel universes – that is the way for people of the future to return to the past that readers are very familiar with in the “magic door” of Doraemon (popular fantasy comic book series). Description of gravitational waves created by a pair of stars (Image: Internet) With the continuous development of science and technology, many of Einstein’s theories have been confirmed. In 2016, scientists found gravitational waves proposed by Einstein. The finding of gravitational waves is believed to be the key to solving a series of questions about how the universe works. Einstein believed that the hyperspace tunnel was a medium based on two space-time. As long as we find the hyperspace tunnel (also known as the “wormhole”), we can complete the time travel shuttle. Traveling from one time and space to another can break the limits of distance and travel to distant planets. Simulation of hyperspace tunnel (Image: Internet) Unfortunately, scientists have yet to find the so-called hyperspace tunnel. We have discovered many habitable planets in the universe, but they are all too far away and the nearest ones are hundreds of light-years away. Time travel – advantages and disadvantages However, some scientists believe that time travel goes against the laws of the universe. Time travel seems to be a very practical tool that can realize human desires. And if we have the technology to travel through time and space, then we can make up for the mistakes we’ve made. But in fact, this advantage can also become a disadvantage, because knowing that the mistakes of the past can be corrected by people in the future, people in the present stage often do not work carefully. , which is harmful to the entire human civilization. (“Grandfather’s paradox” is said to be the theoretical basis for proving that it is impossible to travel to the past. If a person goes back to the past and kills his grandfather, that person will not be born, and there will be nobody back in time to kill the grandfather). Another point to consider is that if a time-traveling space shuttle does indeed exist, it could also be used by other “extraterrestrial life”. By then, if our technology is not as advanced as the other, then human civilization is likely to be destroyed. Simulating a super space tunnel from Earth to another planet (Image: Internet) Moreover, if humans abuse the hyperspace tunnel, it will lead to chaos in time and space. Time and space are like a tunnel, if thousands of people enter the tunnel, some will want to go forward and some will want to go back. Different paths will cause bottlenecks and each outcome will affect future growth. Therefore, it can be said that, whether the space tunnel or Doraemon’s “miracle door” really exists or not, we should still try to cherish the present and live well in the present. Future generations will certainly benefit as well.

Use a cotton swab to clean your ears: Many people have a habit of using a cotton swab to get earwax, but this is a habit that experts recommend not to follow. Cotton swabs can puncture eardrums, ear infections, and even hearing loss. Soak in soapy water: Soaking in a tub full of fragrant soap bubbles sounds tempting after a long tiring day, but it can cause skin irritation or a vaginal yeast infection. Fragrances and bleaches in the shower gel can wash away the oil that protects the vagina and upset the skin’s pH. Douching: Experts recommend that you absolutely should not douche at home, because this habit can imbalance the pH of the vagina and wash away beneficial bacteria, leading to vaginal infections. The chemicals in douche products can even cause endocrine disruptors, increasing the risk of chronic diseases and causing fertility problems. Dry hand sanitizer: Overuse of dry hand sanitizer can do more harm than good. Experts recommend that triclosan, a compound found in hand sanitizer, is a bad and dangerous alternative to soap and water. Air dryers: An air dryer is not a better alternative to paper towels, as the air dryer is not capable of wiping off residual bacteria from hand washing, and can even cause these bacteria are scattered throughout the room. Bathing for too long: There’s nothing more comfortable than relaxing under a hot shower, but this habit can wash away your skin’s natural oils, leaving it dry. Therefore, you should not take a hot bath for too long. Wash your hair every day: Cleanliness is good, but that doesn’t mean you should wash your hair too often. Daily shampooing removes the natural oils of your hair and scalp, making it dry, brittle and prone to breakage. Excessive moisturizing: If you have the type of dry skin, you may want to apply moisturizer whenever possible. However, experts recommend that excessive moisturizing at night can make your skin overly reliant on the cream without producing oil on its own, which will make your skin drier in the long run. Brush your teeth right after eating: Clean freaks might choose to brush their teeth right after a meal, but this is a mistake. Certain foods, especially those containing citric acid, can weaken tooth enamel, so brushing your teeth right after eating these foods can destroy already weak enamel. Exfoliate too often: Exfoliating too often can be damaging to the skin, as you may be damaging the cuticles, taking away the necessary protective layer of the pores. At that time, the sebaceous glands secrete more oil to compensate for moisture, and this will make your skin too dry, sometimes too oily. Sneezing with your hands: Don’t make the mistake of covering your mouth with your hands when sneezing is a good habit. After you sneeze, if you don’t wash your hands right away and use your hands with other objects, or other people, you are making the bacteria more spread. Spray perfume on underwear: Many people have the wrong habit of spraying perfume on their underwear so that the genital area is always fragrant. However, the chemicals in perfumes can disturb the pH of the vagina, increasing the risk of fungal infections, urinary tract infections or inflammation.