A few scandalous headlines has parents everywhere tossing their Nutella in the trash. The delicious hazelnut spread has been at the center of controversy this week, with headlines reading “Study Warns Nutella Causes Cancer” and “Stores Remove Nutella From Shelves After Reports It Contains Carcinogens.” So are these articles true? Is Ferrero, the Italian company that makes Nutella, selling a product that can kill people?
The answer: No. The highly cited study was released by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) last May, and states that palm oil, which is used in many processed foods, can form a “potentially carcinogenic contaminant” when heated to over 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit). This contaminant can present a “potential health concern.”
They also mention this experiment was performed on rats, and there is “no scientific evidence” of a link between exposure to the contaminant and cancer in humans.
Ferrero tells Reuters that it refines palm oil at just under 200 degrees Celsius, using a low-pressure process that minimizes the carcinogenic contaminant levels.
While the press may have created an unnecessary health scare, there’s still controversy surrounding the use of palm oil in food. Palm oil plantations have been linked to deforestation, air pollution, and illegal labor practices. Although Ferrero says it sources palm oil from sustainable plantations, it has still come under criticism from environmentalists.
Do you eat Nutella? Let us know in the comments below!
Just like Ringo belted out, sometimes we’d all like to be under the sea in an octopus’ garden. Well, we can’t send you on an underwater scuba adventure but we do have eight ways you can learn to be more like our beloved 8-legged pals. Read on to arm yourself.
Learn: Since octopuses are invertebrates, meaning they have no spine or protective outer shell, they can be vulnerable to predators. While their camouflage and mimicry skills act as defenses, when cornered an octopus’ best tactic is distraction. They squirt black or dark colored ink into the water, temporarily blinding their opponent while they make a quick getaway.
Do: If you have black or brown food coloring, that is ideal (hint: mix all the colors and you’ll get black!) but you can really do this with any color. It’s simple and only takes a couple of minutes: Get a clear glass or jar and fill with water. Add a drop or two of the food coloring to the water and watch how it colors the water. This should happen relatively slowly. Now try it again with new water/jar but this time shake or stir the ink (to simulate the propulsion of the octopus when they zip away). Watch how quickly the water turns color.
Learn: Did you know that certain octopuses have mobile homes? Veined octopuses specifically have been seen using coconut shells and sea shells as hide outs and ways to make a house. But what’s even more interesting is that they have been witnessed stacking up shells and taking them with them across the sea floor to use again. Other octopuses have been known to pull a rock “door” across their sea cave in order to protect themselves. Click the video above to see a coconut octopus “walk” across the sea floor with its shells.
>Do: Make a fort out of a few throw pillows and a baby blanket. Now stack these items up and “jog” into the next room to create a new hiding space. Did you make it without dropping one?
Learn: Octopuses like to play. Scientists have observed octopuses in aquariums playing with bottles, jars and other objects. In her book, Octopus!, Katherine Harmon Courage talks about an octopus that played with a plastic bottle in a jet of water.
Do: This one’s easy! Plop the kiddos in a bath with some toys. If you want to reenact the plastic water bottle scene, let the kiddos play in the water stream as the tub is filling up with a small empty bottle.
Learn: Octopuses are masters of camouflage, being able to blend into their surroundings flawlessly. They can be as bright as a coral reef or as pale as sand. Remarkably, this can all take place in less than one second.
Do: No, we’re not going to suggest full body paint (but you could if you wanted to do an octobath later…wait. No.) but a game of hide and seek is in order. Encourage the kiddos to think about how they might “blend” into their surroundings. You can also do an object version of hide and seek: choose a yellow item and nestle it among a bowl of lemons, for example. Give clues as necessary.
Learn: Not only are they fast at blending into their surroundings, some octopus species are masters of disguise. They can mimic other sea creatures in order to fool would-be predators.
Do: Make funny faces and strike silly poses while your sweeties mimic you. Then reverse and see if you can own that perfect “Is that cauliflower?” face.
Learn: One of the coolest stories about these eight-legged creatures is the amazing New Zealand octopus who learned to take photos. Rambo the Octopus was trained by a series of buzzing noises and treats to learn to use a camera! She learned in just a few days (faster than most dogs!). Read more about Rambo here.
Do: Give your kiddos a camera or your phone and let them take a series of photos that represent their world.
Learn: Octopus are not currently on the endangered species list but overfishing, pollution and destruction of their oceanic habitats threatens the many kinds of octopus around the world.
Do: There are lots of ways to help save the oceans and keep them clean. Organize or attend a beach clean up, pay attention to the packaging on products you buy (remember, just because you don’t live near the ocean doesn’t mean your garbage might not end up there), choose sustainable seafood and avoid purchasing products that impact habitat. Check out Oceana.org to get more ideas.
What are your favorite ways to honor the noble octopus? Tell us about it in a comment below!
Sure, you can teach your kids to go out and save the planet (or at least, plant a seed), but sometimes the only thing our future eco-kiddos want to do is watch TV. So why not let the screen guide them? Inspire the next generation with shows and movies that get even the littlest of kids thinking about the Earth—and their place on it.
Captain Planet and the Planeteers
If your elementary-aged kids want to get a little retro with their Earth-saving TV, "Captain Planet and the Planeteers" should drum up some environmental do-gooding. It centers around five super-powered kids who use the powers of nature to save the planet from various "eco-villains." Parents be warned—this isn't little kid stuff. Episodes deal with things like overconsumption, nuclear power, crime, and pollution among other threats. The brainchild of media mogul Ted Turner, Captain Planet aired 113 episodes from 1990-1996 and is considered the first-ever "eco-toon."
The show inspired the Captain Planet Foundation, an organization which funds environmental education for schools and communities around the world. ·
Grab your binoculars, put the little ones in their jammies and coats, and head out to see the total lunar eclipse on September 27. The peak will be around 7:47 p.m., which is just enough time for it to get really dark, but not too late for a school night. Keep your fingers crossed for clear skies, and check out these spots in and around Portland to watch this rare “blood moon” eclipse.
OMSI Star Party
The fun starts at OMSI’s South Parking at 6:30 p.m. The Rose City Astronomers and OMSI will have telescopes and binoculars available (bring your own if you have them) for viewing, and will be talking about the lunar eclipse and the autumn sky. This very well may be the perfect place to be in Portland for the eclipse, so plan ahead for parking.
L.L. Stubb Stewart State Park
OMSI also holds some of their star parties at L.L. Stubb Stewart State Park throughout the year. There isn’t a star party scheduled, but this a great place for stargazing because of its proximity to Portland without getting so much of its light pollution, and boasts a hill with a lovely view of the nighttime sky. Even if you can’t stay overnight, the park is only a 45 minute drive from Portland.
Vista House at Crown Point
Not only to you get a stellar view of the Columbia Gorge during the day, but when night falls, you’ll have an unobstructed (knock on wood) view of the skies as well. And at only 45 minutes east of Portland, you shouldn’t have a tough time getting the kids back home to bed lickety-split. The house itself normally closes at 6 p.m., so bundle up for a blustery gorge evening, and make a bathroom stop on the way just in case.
40700 Historic Columbia River Hwy.
Corbett
503-695-2240
Online: vistahouse.com
Joseph Wood Hill Park at Rocky Butte
While it may not be pitch black, this butte is a convenient place to check out the action without going too far from home. Portland has plenty of buttes and urban mountains, but the top of Rocky Butte has a large paved park area that’s devoid of those pesky view-blocking trees. Be warned: This is a popular spot for teens on dates, but during the eclipse you’ll probably have a few more scientifically-minded compatriots around. The park is officially open until midnight.
photo: Goldendale Observatory by Joe Goldberg via flickr
Goldendale Observatory
Every day is a lunar watch day at Goldendale Observatory. Expect higher attendance than usual at the evening presentation on this special night. It’s about a two-hour trek, but it might be worth it depending on the weather forecast because Goldendale may be more likely to offer clear skies. Admission is free, but you’ll need a Washington State Parks Adventure Pass to park, available on site.
Ever wanted to travel to a galaxy far, far away for a view of the night sky (minus the clouds and light pollution)? If you answered yes, the Pierce College Science Dome in Lakewood gets the job done without needing to launch in a rocket ship. With two genres of planetarium shows that cater to space explorers of all ages, interest levels and attention spans, your crew can embark on a journey through the cosmos they’ll love to the moon and back.
photo: Pierce College Science Dome
The Launch Pad
Located at Pierce College Fort Steillacoom is the Science Dome, a state of the art digital-planetarium and the only one of its kind in the South Sound region. From the moment your pint-sized space cadet walks into the theater they will be mystified by the 38′ dome-shaped screen, cleverly illuminated with rainbow lighting giving the aura of boarding an alien vessel. There are 58 seats to choose from, but your kids will love getting a spot right in front where pillows have been spread out on the floor for them to lounge on and gaze up at the mock night sky. Everyone will ooh and aah as two projectors display astonishing representations of celestial bodies making it easy to forget not only where they are, but that they are learning complex science concepts.
photo: Pierce College Science Dome
Children’s Show
The staff at the Science Dome know that junior astronomers don’t want to sit through a boring college science lecture, so they have created a short (just 40-50 minutes) children’s show that is entirely interactive and geared towards kids between the ages of 3-8. The presentation consists of out-of-this-world hands on activities (think crazy glasses for exploring the light spectrum, building a mini-satellite, or bouncing on the moon) an overview of the current night sky, and a legendary story about the constellations.
Whether you have a preschooler who just loves hearing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star over and over (and over) again or a mini-Galileo on your hands, everyone will walk away inspired with curiosity for our majestic universe. Show topics rotate regularly and include themes such as comets, asteroids, moons, the auroras, and more giving oodles of reason to return again and again.
All-Ages Show
Older star-gazers who are ready to dig deeper into the wonders of our universe without all the bells and whistles of a kid-centric program will love the all-ages show. During the first half-hour the whole family will enjoy a live presentation that includes an exploration of the current night sky, learning about upcoming celestial events, and a visit to some awesome extraterrestrial bodies. Following is an amazing full-dome video selected from a rotation of topics where explorers can blast off to the moons of our galaxy, explore the depths of space, and time-travel back to our own planet’s ancient past.
Helpful Hint
Video descriptions are available on the planetarium’s blog as well as the recommended minimum ages. Psst! Most shows are suitable for the early elementary school age-set.
Fuel Up
Wanna get your caffeine fix before zooming off into space? Just a two-mile detour will take you to the historic town of Steilacoom and the Topside Coffee Cabin (located under the Topside Bar and Grill). Not only is the coffee delish, but there’s a stellar view of the Puget Sound to admire!
Parking Lot A, located just inside the north entrance of the campus is the most convenient for accessing the dome. Signs for the Science Dome will direct you toward the Rainier building, which is located adjacent to the back section of the lot.
Good to Know
Reservations can be made online for an additional (small) fee. Only cash is accepted at the door for ticket purchases, so be sure to bring your moola.
Pierce College Science Dome
Rainier Building 263-9401
9401 Farwest Dr. S.W.
Lakewood, Wa 98498
253-964-6440
Online: wp.pierce.ctc.edu/blog/sciencedome
Have you visited the Pierce College Science Dome? Tell us about your experience in a comment below.
