By tracking the cows' diets, and thus their methane production, researchers can help slow global warming.
Posted 11.29.2012 at 12:06 pm
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Gaseous State
Marcos Brindicci (Blow it up!)
Cow burps are a problem. Also cow farts. Those are responsible for 28 percent of all human-related methane emissions. When those methane-y gases are released into the atmosphere, they heat up the already warming planet. So some researchers are enlisting technology to help out.
The Sustainable Agriculture Flagship in Australia will install winged, wireless electronics with infrared sensors in cows' digestive tracts to monitor how much methane the animals are releasing. With that data, they can alter their diets to the most eco-friendly palette. And thanks to the wings, the devices will stay in the cows for weeks, sending plenty of info back to researchers. Ideally the researchers will have a device in the cow at all times.
In short, it's a sort of gross (but useful!) trial and error system. By checking what's coming out, researchers and farmers can affect methane release by what goes in.
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If you strap a big enough fart sack onto that cow, it could get airborne. Holy cow!
Be as much of a vegetarian leads to a healthier life time result anyways.
Moooo-over cows, the fruit, vegetable, grain, and nut garden is the way of the future!
democedes,
If we really do sent a cow aloft and with the right perspective with the moon in the background, we might actually see the cow that jumps over the moon too.
Then add a cat a dog and a fiddle and some cutlery and this research might make sense.
This article almost makes me want to stop reading PopSci.
Almost.
Eat more carrots!
Environmentalism begins on ones plate. Want to effect change? Go Vegan.
@homegrownsmoke
Better yet: Go Cannibal. People are the problem right?
Cannibalism... Saving the planet one meal at a time.
in order to thank everyone, characteristic, novel style, varieties, low price and good quality, and the low sale price. Thank everyone
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seriously? im at a loss for words.
also if cows are the problem then going vegan is not the answer. BRING ON THE STEAKS!!!!
What's the point of spending thousands putting robots in each cow's stomach just to monitor how much gas the cow produces AND adjust the diet for the cow when they produce too much fart? Can't they just ditch the robot monitor part and jump straight to giving the cow right diet to stop producing that much gas?