2023 June

COSMOS

Nuclear power: is it actually lethal to the Earth? ENVIRONMENT

INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES

Avocado's ugly truth

Plastic bags: are they really bad?

Can bioplastics be the perfect solution to plastic pollution?

Apple, marketing genius or a faithful follower?

People consider stock prices

more important than the apocalyptic climate crisis

Nuclear fusion: 21st-century version of nuclear optimism?

Masks' dark side of impact: a threat to the environment

GROUP ARTICLES

VARIOUS ANIMALS THAT SAVE THE PLANET

The predator of the sea: a shark

Earthworms: the most valuable fertilizer

Our oceanic hero, whale

Creatures that help our environment: bees

FAKE NEWS: WHY ARE WE DECEIVED?

Fake news vs Confirmation Bias

EM Mudballs: the false treatment of aquatic ecosystems

The threat of fake scientific articles

Why do people fall for fake news?

Greenwashing: the tragedy brought about by excess

C O S M O S

C o n t e n t s

INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES

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AVOCADO'S UGLY TRUTH - SOOAN LEE

AVOCADOS DO MANY GOODS FOR HUMAN HEALTH; AT THE SAME TIME, IT HARMS THE EARTH, CONTRIBUTING TO THE CLIMATE CRISIS.

PLASTIC BAGS: ARE THEY REALLY BAD? - WOOJIN JEONG

PLASTIC BAGS VS. PAPER BAGS

PLASTIC BAGS VS. COTTON BAGS

CAN BIOPLASTICS BE THE PERFECT SOLUTION TO PLASTIC POLLUTION? - SEOYOON WON BIOPLASTICS, TOUTED AS THE SOLUTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION, MAY NOT BE THE COMPLETE ALTERNATIVE.

APPLE, MARKETING GENIUS OR A FAITHFUL FOLLOWER? - CHANSOL YANG

MANDATORY ESG REPORTING ACTING AS SUCCESSFUL ENVIRON-POLITICS

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PEOPLE CONSIDER STOCK PRICES MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE APOCALYPTIC CLIMATE CRISIS - JENNY IN AS PSYCHOLOGICAL BIASES MAKE PEOPLE DOWNPLAY THE CLIMATE CRISIS, A DIFFERENT APPROACH SHOULD BE TAKEN TO INDUCE CHANGE IN THEIR PERCEPTION.

NUCLEAR FUSION: A 21ST CENTURY VERSION OF NUCLEAR OPTIMISM? - CHANWOO LIM

FUSION TECHNOLOGY MIGHT NOT BE SO ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND ECONOMICALLY REASONABLE

MASKS’ DARK SIDE OF IMPACT: A THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT - SHIHWAN KIM THE GROWING CONCERN OF THE WIDESPREAD USE OF MASKS FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

NUCLEAR POWER, IS IT ACTUALLY LETHAL TO THE EARTH? - WOOYEONG KIM ON OUR SHORTCUT TO NET-ZERO

INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES

AVOCADO’S UGLY TRUTH

Sooan Lee

Avocados do many goods for human health; at the same time, it harms the Earth, contributing to the climate crisis.

reenlyAvocados.Theyareincredibleintasteandhealth.Avocadosareabundantinnutrientsthat cannotbeeasilyfoundinotherfruits,includingvitaminB,vitaminB,vitaminC,andvitaminE, healthyfats,potassium,andsomanymorenutrientsthatweneed.

Avocadosalsoserveasanamazingfoodingredient: peopleofteneatthemwithsalad,smashthemonto toast,orputthemintotheirsandwiches.Becauseofits wonderfultasteandnutritiousabundance,people’s fondnessofavocadosledtoanincreaseinavocado demand.AccordingtothedataprovidedbyUSDA (UnitedStatesDepartmentofAgriculture),“U.S. demandforavocadoshasincreasedsteadilyoverthe pasttwodecades.Percapitaconsumptionofavocados hastripledsincetopoundsperpersonin.” However,avocadosarenotasgoodfortheplanetas theyareforhumanbodies.Infact,theyare detrimentaltotheenvironment.

"Avocado Requires a Massive Amount of Water Resources."

Avocadorequiresahugeamountofwater, comparedtootherfruitsandvegetables.InChile, theworld’soneofthemainavocado-producing region,anaverageoflitersoffreshwateris required.Thismeansthatapproximatelyliters ofwaterareneededtogrowoneavocado,whileone tomatorequireslitersofwater,incontrast Ascan beinferredfromthenumericdata,amassive amountoffreshwaterirrigationisrequiredfor avocadofarms,over-exploitingthewaterresources. Thiscausesseriousharmtotheplanet.Avocado farmsrequireanover-irrigationofwatertotheir farmlands.Over-irrigationleadstowaterloss, leachingofmicronutrientssuchasnitrogen,and increasedamountofenergyusedforpumping It alsoimpactsthesoil,increasingthesalinityofthe soil Over-irrigationevencausesdrought, deforestation,anddesertification,deterioratingthe Earth’sterrestrialenvironmentstability.

Avocado’s Carbon Footprint is Too High

Anotherproblemthatavocadobringsoutisitshighcarbonfootprint The carbonfootprintofavocadosissimplythetotalamountofgreenhousegas emittedduringtheprocessofavocadosbeingtransporteduntiltheyfinally arriveonourplates Avocadofarmingrequiresaspecificclimatetogrowin fineconditions Avocadoscangrowattheirfinestintropicalorsemitropicalareaswithsomerainfallinthesummer.Sinceavocadosare climate-specific,theyarealsoregion-specific.SomeofthelargestavocadofarmingregionsarelocatedintheAmericas:Mexico,Peru,andChileare thecorecountriesthatproducemassiveamountsofhealthyavocados.Due toitsregion-specificity,avocadotransportationcreatesanexcessivelyhigh carbonfootprint.Forexample,ifavocadosaretobeonaFrenchplate, thoseavocadoshavetotravelovermilestogettoFrance,flying overseasandrequiringhighcarbonandenergyemissionactivities.Iftwo avocadosaretobeonaKoreanplate,thatavocadoshavetotravel miles,ultimatelyemitting.gramsofcarbondioxide.

Further Problems of Avocados, a ‘Green Gold’

Asmentionedpreviously,thecoreavocado-producingcountriesarePeru,Chile,andMexico Thesecountries arefacingachroniceconomiccrisis.Sinceavocados’economicvalueishigh,avocadosarealsocalledthe ‘greengold’.Thisalsomeansthatavocadosareconsideredaneconomicbreakthroughinthesecountries.In ordertomakeaneconomicrecovery,peopleinthesecountriesstartedtowidelyexpandtheavocado industry.Theystartedtoallotalargeportionoftheirlandsforavocadofarming,over-irrigatingthewaterto theirfarmlands.Theyevencutdownthetreesinforestareas,whichultimatelyledtoseveredeforestation. TheavocadosmadetheAmericasfaceanotherproblem:theenvironmentalcrisis.

But…We Still Have Alternatives

Despitealltheseproblemsavocadosarebringingout,theavocadoindustryisstillsuchalucrativeand thereforeattractivebusinesstomanypeople Also,becauseofitsabundanthealthbenefits,avocado demandsareincreasingonaglobalscale However,westillhavealternativesforavocados!Well+Good suggestspesto,nutbutter,bananas,chiaseeds,silkentofu,hummus,andedamameasalternativesfor avocadosfortheirsimilarityintasteandnutritionalabundance Thewritersuggestsandencouragesthe readerstoreduceavocadoconsumptionandtrytofindalternativefoodingredientsthatcanbothprotectthe planetEarthandstillbe yummy!

Plastic Bags: Are they really that bad?

Plasticbags,whicharelesseconomically burdensome,helppeopleenjoyaconvenientlife. Nowadays,however,numerouscriticsareclaiming theabolitionofplasticbags,insistingthatplastic bagsincreaseenvironmentalharm,andplasticbags insomestatessuchasSanFranciscoarerigidly banned.Despitethispublicopinioncurrently perched,plasticbagsarethebestamongobtainable resources,andthecomparisonwithother alternativeshighlightsthesupremacyofplasticbags.

Woojin Jeong

Plastic bags vs. Paper bags: How plastic bags supplement the quality of the environment

Themostwell-knownandessentialcomponents ofpeople’sdailylife,especiallyinterms thereforemanypeopletendtousepaperbags morefrequently.Unlikethecurrenttrend,paper bagscarrybignegativeaspects.Peopleshould considerwhetherthebagstheyuseruintheir lives.Accordingtoscientificresearchand studies,plasticbagsproducetimeslesswater pollutionthanpaperbags Furthermore,plastic bagsneedlessenergythanpaperbagswhen beingrecycled (TaraEnergy,)BytheULS Report,Plasticbagsemit%lessgreenhouse gasthanuncompactedpaperbagsand%less greenhousegasthancompostedpaperbags (PerfectPackaging,)

Plastic bags vs. Cotton bags

: Why plastic bags surpass other alternatives

Cottonbagsareoneoftherisingalternativestoplasticbagswhicharewell-knowntobeeco-friendly But arecottonbagseco-friendlyenoughtodeservetobethepriorityequipment?Cottonbags,primarily,are lesssustainablethanplasticbags Furthermore,therequisiteamountofenergyandmaterialforcottonbag productionismuchlargerthanthatofplasticbags Cotton,thefundamentalfactorofcottonbag production,requiresmassivewaterdemandandtheuseofavarietyofchemicals.(Gammage,)Here, itisunambiguouslyproventhatcottonbagsharmtheenvironmentratherthanbeingeco-friendly.Fora bagtobehighlyeco-friendly,thebagsshouldbemadeofmaterialsthatcanberecycled,andmost crucially,thebagsshouldbeproducedandutilizedalot.Thus,plasticbags,usedtrilliontimesperyear, shouldbemeritedasthemosteco-friendlybagofall.Furthermore,accordingtoaUnitedKingdom governmentreport,tobemoreeco-friendlythanaplasticbag,acottonbagneedstobeusedtimes.At theendoftheday,usingplasticbagswillbethebest,andevenaconsiderateoptionthatsupervisesour belovednature.

So, are plastic bags really that bad?

No,asmentionednumeroustimesinthisjournal,plasticbagsarecurrentlythemostpreeminent,themost eco-friendlybagsthatpeoplecanafford.Theactualityofotheralternativesthatareuniversallyknowntobe betterthanplasticbagsisprovenerroneousduetocomparisons.Plasticbagsemitlessenergy,requirefewer materials,andtheproportiontheyoccupyintermsofenvironmentalpollutionislessthananyother alternatives.Thecurrentpublicopiniontowardsplasticbagsshouldbenecessarilyaltered,iftheworldconsists ofsubstantialpeoplewhoacknowledgethemselvesasenvironmentsavers.Environmentalistsaredeveloping andseekinginnovativeinventionstocreateeco-friendlytoolsandfacilities.Untilstabilizedandunlimited inventionsemerge,plasticbagswillbethebestoptionsforpeopletochoosefrom.

<Photocredit:Pixabay>

Can bioplastics be the perfect solution to plastic pollution?

Seoyoon won

Bioplastics, touted as the solution to environmental pollution, may not be the complete alternative

At a time when environmental pollution due to the waste of plastics was getting worse, bioplasticswhichareeco-friendlyplastics,werejustlikeasaviortoourpollutedplanet

There were two biggest main problems with the original plastics First, the original plastics createdenvironmentalpollutionbecausetheycouldn’tbedecomposedforthousandsofyears Also,plasticsweren’tfreewiththeproblemofthedepletionofpetroleumoilwhichistheraw materialofplastics.

Tosolvethisdisadvantageoforiginalplastics,alotofresearchwasprocessed.Eventually,eco-friendly plasticsappeared.Itwastheadventofbioplastics.Then,whatarebioplastics?

Bioplasticsareatypeofplasticsmadewithrenewablesources.Renewableresourcesaresourcesthatcan naturallyreplenishthemselvesovertime.Bioplasticsaremadewithplantsorotherbiologicalsubstances suchascornstarchorsugarcane,whicharerenewablesources,insteadofpetroleumoil.Biodegradable plasticsandbio-basedplasticsaretypesofbioplastics.Biodegradableplasticsarecompletelydecomposed towaterandcarbondioxideunlikeoriginalplasticsduetotheinteractionofmicroorganisms.However, unlikebiodegradableplastics,bio-basedplasticsarenotcompletelydecomposedbecausetheyaremadeby mixingbiomass,whicharederivedfromplants,andchemicalmaterials,whicharederivedfromfossil fuels.Then,howcouldbio-basedplasticsbeeco-friendlyeveniftheyarenotcompletelydecomposed?Itis becausebio-basedplasticshavemuchlesscarbondioxideemissionamountsinthemanufacturingprocess thanoriginalplastics.Furthermore,theymainlyrecycleanduseagriculturalwasteinmanufacturing,and areevenrecyclableafterdisposal.Basedonthesereasons,bio-basedplasticstooareeco-friendlytothe environment

Thesebioplasticsmightbeseenasgreatinnovationstopeople Whatadvantagesofbioplasticsmadethem sopopular?First,theyarenotaffectedbythefluctuationinpricesofpetroleumoilbecausetheiroriginal substancesareextractedfromnature,unrelatedtopetroleumoil Inaddition,thereislessriskof environmentalpollutionwithbioplasticsthataredecomposedintowaterandcarbondioxideinoneortwo years Therefore,bioplastics,whichtaketheconvenienceoforiginalplasticsbutnaturallydisappearin shortduration,wereregardedasthesolutiontoplasticpollution

<PlasticPollution Credit:“TheStatusofPlasticWasteintheUnitedStates”EnvironmentalPollutionCenters,2Jan 2019>

<Bioplastics Credit: WhatAreBioplastics?CanTheyBecomeaViableAlternativetoPet? QuestResourceManagementGroup,9Aug 2019>

The Dark Side of Bioplastics

However,arebioplasticsreallyaperfectsubstitutefor originalplastics?Thereareafewdisadvantages appearingthesedays.Thestrongestadvantageof bioplasticswasthattheypreventenvironmentalpollution thanoriginalplastics.However,theresearchersfound thatevenbioplasticsmadeagreatamountofpollutants inthechemicalprocessofmakingtheorganicsinto plastics Moreover,bioplasticshavemuchmorefragile physicalpartsandprocessabilitythanoriginalplastics duetoweakmechanicalstrength.Forexample, bioplasticsmadewithstarchasarawmaterialhavehigh waterpermeability,andresultinbeingeasilytornand brittle.

Consideringallthepositiveandnegativeaspectsof bioplastics,itseemsyetbioplasticsarenottheperfect substitutesfororiginalplastics Untiltechnologiesare developedtoproducebioplasticsthatarereformedwith current’sdisadvantages,wecandoacertaintaskatthis point.Weshouldactivelyfollowthebasicstepstoprotect ourenvironment:reduce,reuse,andrecycle.Maybethis wouldbethebestmethodtomakeahealthierplanet ratherthancreatingtheperfectalternativetoplastics.

As Apple unveiled its new iPhone in their launching show, people were discontented with the absence of a charger for the package of the product A myriad of people criticized Apple’s arrogancetowarditsconsumersbygivingthemno choice but to buy an extra charger to use their product.Inspiteofthenegativepublicsentiment, Apple exultantly pronounced their increasing profitin.Sincethen,thenegativesentiment has surprisingly evaporated as Apple released its Environmental Progress Report . Furthermore, business experts applaud Apple for its efficient ESG marketing which even ends up enhancing the semantic value of Apple’s ridiculousdecision.

ByidentifyingthesignificanceofESGreportingin image making, it seems urgent to implement the mandatoryESGreportingfordomesticgiants.

Asaforementioned,AppleannouncedthatiPhone won’tcomewithearbudsorawallchargeratits event on October th. Apple replied about the public’snegativeresponse,“AtApple,webelieve in making bold commitments to improve the worldaroundus andtakingboldstepstomeet them.”

Besidesthebolddecision,EnvironmentalProgress Report elucidates Apple’s overall accomplishmentinprotectingtheenvironment In addition to ditching chargers, it proudly introducesitsnewpatentTaz Tazwasdeveloped in order to recycle rare materials that are necessary for producing components of the iPhone According to the report, Apple used % recycled rare earth elements consisting of % recycled tin, % recycled cobalt, and certified recycledgoldbytheirnewdisassemblytechnology

Taz While many considered Apple’s ESG marketing from the report of as overly strategic, in fact, ESG reporting is compelled by law. In several countries including the US, the nationalgovernmentobligesannualESGreporting toeverymid-sizeorgreaterbusiness.However,it is also true that Apple effectively utilizes mandatory ESG disclosures for their image making.

2023.02.28 Chansol Yang cldvce5216@gmail.com

Adjusting the image as luxurious by raising the price, Apple has occupied the top position within the electronic device market Trend-setting advertisements with characterful music and cinematographyhaveincreasediPhone’spopularity amongyounggenerationsinparticular Inaddition totheaestheticdistinction,Applesettheirimageas a socially contributional company so that consumerscanrecognizethepriceasreasonable. Moreover, Apple expands their social influence by strategic contributions: large donations with Apple Pay,andprovisionofAppleproductstostudentsof lowincomefamilies.

US giants including Apple not only utilize mandatoryESGreportingasasuccessfulmarketing strategy,butalsoexpandtheirmarketthroughfree offers.Ontheotherhand,globalorganizationssuch as EU(European Union) and UN(United Nations) compelESGreportingtoeveryenterpriseengaging intheirprojects.Inotherwords,theworldisinthe flowofrequiringmandatoryESGreportinginorder toassisttheprotectionoftheenvironment.

Unlike such inclinations, policies toward Korean enterprises have far to go with advocating ecofriendlymovementsofmarkets.Comingbacktothe Environmental Progress Report , Apple took a stand that they are willing to offer their technological patent Taz for free to other enterprises Considering the incomparable performanceofTazinrecyclingrarematerialsfrom second-hand products, it is worth enough for Korean electronic device companies to adopt the technology However, domestic enterprises including SAMSUNG seem to hold Apple’s offer in check Recycling technologies of domestic enterprisesarefarbehindthoseofglobalgiantsdue totheabsenceofmandatoryESGreporting

If the Korean government enacts mandatory ESG reporting, domestic enterprises will struggle to get competitivenessinESGreportsbyoutstandingecofriendlyaccomplishments BydevisingoriginalESG marketingstrategieslikeApplehasdoneforseveral years, mandatory ESG reporting will be one of the mosteffectiveenviron-politics.Itisspeculatedthat theenactmentwillfulfillitsprimeroletoencourage enterprises’ active engagement to environmental issues.

As psychological biases make people downplay the climate crisis, a different approach should be taken to induce change in their perception.

Itisevidentthatmankindisfacingasevereclimatecrisis.In‘Thesixthextinction’,ElizabethKolbert claimsthatunprecedentedclimatechangeiscausinghumanitytodieoutonitsownextinction(Kolbert, ). According to the World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Report, human actions are the main causeofanaverage%lossofbiodiversity(WorldWildlifeFund,).Inaddition,numerousscientific evidenceanddataprovetheseriousnessoftheclimatecrisis

Climate change is not an intriguing topic for people, however People are extremely sensitive to a popular politician’s scandal and tomorrow’s stock prices, but to the climate crisis, they are not Some climate scientists claim people should be enlightened to be more aware of the seriousness of climate changebymoreobviousandshockingscientificevidence However,inhisbook‘Don’tEvenThinkAbout It’, George Marshall criticizes this attitude rather turns people away from the climate crisis What is important is to convert such data to attract human emotions (Marshall, ) The world has been focusing on developing technologies to help preserve the environment and conveying exact scientific knowledge.Itistimetoshiftthefocustoknowingwhypeopledonottaketherisksofclimatechange seriouslyandhowtoinducechangesintheirbehaviors.

In‘ThePsychologyofSecurity’,BruceSchneierstatesthathumansdownplayfamiliarrisksthannewones, anonymousonesthanvividones,andlong-term,slow-evolvingonesthanimmediate,suddenones(Schneier, ):hisresearchexplainsthesituationofpeopleoverlookingtheclimatecrisis.Theclimateisasubject thatistoofamiliar,abstract,andlong-term-basedforpeople.Moreover,worsesituationsthatcanoccurdue to climate change are illustrated as a story of the distant future, and individual efforts to reduce climate changedonotevenshowanyimmediatechange.Tosomepeople,theapocalypticaldescriptionoftheeffect ofclimatechangemakesthemfeelpowerless.Thisdistancemakesclimatechangeafar-awayandcomplex topic,whichpeopletendtodisregard.Infact,publicconcernforclimatechangehasbeendecliningforafew decades,accordingtoPerEspenStoknes’research(Stoknes,).

Considering the psychological biases, Korean cognitive psychologist Kyung-il Kim pays attention to two motivationsinpsychology:approachmotivationandavoidancemotivation.Whereasapproachmotivationis a drive to get a good outcome, avoidance motivation is a drive to avoid a bad one. He emphasizes that differentmotivationsworkmoreefficientlydependingonthetime:approachmotivationiseffectiveinfuture events and avoidance motivation is effective in current events. Accordingly, he argues people, especially experts,needtotakeamoreenjoyableandlessseriousapproachwhenaddressingtheclimatecrisis,suchas by saying “Show your daughter the charming blue sky after years” rather than “The Earth will be submergedinwaterinyears”,focusingonwishesratherthanwarnings.

Fusion: Nuclear Fusion: Nuclear Fusion:

BY

Fusion technology might not be so environmentally friendly and economically reasonable.

Astheworld'senergydemandscontinuetogrow,theneedforefficientandsustainablepowersources becomesincreasinglyimportant.Nuclearfusionpowerhaslongbeentoutedasasolution,withitsabilityto generate large amounts of energy without producing greenhouse gasses. However, one of the critical challengesfacingfusionpoweristhesupplyoftritium,aradioactiveisotopeofhydrogenessentialforfueling manycommercialreactordesigns

Tritiumisarareandexpensivesubstance,makingitdifficulttoobtaininthequantitiesrequiredforfusion reactors Tritiumisrarelycollectedinnaturalsources,anditisknowntobemostlyyieldedasabyproductof nuclear fission reactors When nuclear reactors are operational, they produce only around g per year, whileanominalcommercialfusionreactorwouldrequiregperday Thispresentsasignificantchallenge forthewidespreadadoptionoffusionpowerasasustainableenergysource

To address this issue, scientists have turned to producing tritium through fusion technology itself, which offers a promising solution to the tritium shortage By using the neutrons generated in the fusion process, scientistscancollidelithiumwiththeneutronstoproducetritiumandhelium Thisreactiontakesplaceinthe blanketofthereactor,inwhichBerylliumisthemostpromisingcandidateforthecompositionoftheblanket Beryllium,notedasBe,isanidealmaterialforthe blanketbecauseitproducesmoreneutronsfor thegenerationoftritiumanddoesnotproducea substancethatwilllowertheefficiencyofthe reactorwhenitcollideswiththeneutronsfrom thefusionreaction However,Berylliumisvery costly,andthesupplyislimited Theannual productionofBeisestimatedattonnes,while severaldesignsofnuclearfusionreactorblankets useafewhundredtonnesofberyllium Italso shouldbenotedthattheseberylliumblankets containuraniumimpurities,whichmakethe blankethighlyradioactiveafterbeingusedfora longtime Thiswouldleadtothesameproblemof radioactivewastethatnuclearfissionreactors haveforfusiontechnology Despitethebenefitsof fusiontechnology'sgreenoutlook,thecurrent approachtothisfuturetechnologyisnotso environmentallypositiveandthuseconomically undesirable

Thehighcostofminingberyllium,combinedwithitsradioactiveimpurities,makesitchallengingtouseina commercialsetting Whiledeuteriumisabundantandreadilyavailable,thescarcityoftritiumpresentsa significantchallengetotheadoptionofnuclearpowerasasustainableenergysource Theuseoffusion technologytogeneratetritiumholdspromise,butfurtherresearchisneededtomakeitaviableoptionfor commercialnuclearreactors Inthemeantime,alternativesolutionsmustbeexploredtomeetourenergyneeds whileminimizingenvironmentalimpact

Masks’ dark side of impact: A Threat to the Environment

SHIHWAN

THE GROWING CONCERN OF THE WIDESPREAD USE OF MASKS FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

Thecoronavirus(COVID-)pandemichasfundamentallychanged the way we live our lives from every perspective However, if we wouldhavetochooseoneofthemostsignificantchanges,itwould be the widespread use of masks People all around the world have been wearing masks in order to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV(COVID-) Whilemaskshaveundoubtedlybeenavitaltoolinthe fightagainstthepandemic,theyhavealsobecomeaseriousthreatto theenvironment

The environmental impact of masks has become a huge concern Single-usemasksthatarethemostcommonlyusedtypeofmaskare manufactured from non-biodegradable materials, such as polypropylene Themajorityofdisposablemaskshaveasignificant environmentalimpact,andtheytakeaverylongtimetodegrade As aresult,discardedmasksarepilingupinlandfills,onstreets,andin waterways Additionally, there is also the issue of the energy and resources required to produce them According to a study by the UniversityofSouthernDenmark,theproductionofdisposablemasks inChinaalonegeneratedapproximately,metrictonsofwaste in Moreover, disposable N masks that have been highly demandedtobeusedintheUnitedStatesareestimatedtogenerate upto,tonsofmedicalwasteeveryday

To address these environmental concerns, researchers and entrepreneurs around the world have had working to develop reusable masks as alternatives to traditional single-use masks Reusable masks are masks that can be washed and worn multiple times Although they require more energy to produce than disposable masks, their longer lifespan can ultimately bring a smaller environmental impact In addition, sterilizing masks could alsoallowmaskstobewornforacoupleofdays

Hospitals such as MGH and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston already began using decontamination systems that use hydrogen peroxide vapor to sterilize masks Other hospitals in the UnitedStateshavealsobeenusingdifferentmaskstrategiesbasedon availability of reusable masks and access to decontamination systems

Governmentshavealsoinitiatedtakingstepstoaddressthe environmentalimpactofmasks TheEuropeanUnionimplemented anewlawofpayingataxonsingle-useplasticsincludingdisposable masks,andcountriessuchasFranceandItalyalreadybannedthe useofdisposableplasticmasks

Ultimately,theenvironmentalimpactofmasksisareminderofthe needtobalanceourimmediatehealthneedswiththelong-term healthoftheplanet Duringapandemic,there’saprioritytoprotect peoplefromthevirus,butforthelongerterm,thereshouldbea considerationofminimizingthepotentialnegativeimpactonthe environment Innovationsthatdevelopsustainablesolutionsforthe futureenvironmentareinevitable

<Disposablemasksbeingcollected|GreenpeaceInternational>

WOOYEONG KIM

Despitetheexpandedproportionofrenewableenergyallovertheworld’senergyindustry,technicaland financialdrawbacksofthemstillhinderfullindependencefromfossilfuels.Moreover,asaconsequence oftheaftermathoftheRusso-UkrainianWar,mostEuropeancountrieshavebeenstrugglingwithheating resources Russia is dominant in the gas supply and reviving interest in another way of energy generation.However,thecompletetransitiontorenewableenergyisyettocome.Hence,itisurgentto searchforalternativesassoonaspossible.Andoneofthealternativesis nuclearpower.

WhenaneutroncollideswiththeatomicnucleusofheavyelementslikeUranium,fission theprocessof dividingthenucleusofanatom occursinsidetheelement,andnewprotonswithenergyarereleased. Then, the new protons start to react again. After the chain reactions, the massive amount of generated energyboilswatertodrivetheturbinestoproduceelectricity.Thisishownuclearpowerplantswork.

Nuclear power has numerous benefits concerning the environmentandclimatechange.Unlikethecriticalfactors of climate change like thermal power generation, nuclear power can be the vehicle for an eco-friendly society. Generally, these power reactors are based on a low-carbon design; they do not produce direct carbon dioxide (CO) emissionswhileoperating.ElonMusk,CEOofTesla,isone ofthemostinfluentialtycoonswhofirmlypushesfornuclear powerevenfornationalsecurity.Hehasalwaysassertedthat countriesshouldincreasenuclearpowerplants,notshutting themdownforthesakeofenvironmentaladvantages.

Nevertheless, many people are still suspicious and anxious about nuclear power reactors for reasons of those precedented accidents the Chernobyl, and the Fukushima nuclear disaster in addition to the radioactive wastes, which are fatal to either the biosystem or humans Although many countries have reinforced the seismic design of the plants since those disasters, the apprehension in society has not subsided Toresolvethisuncertainty,plentyofglobalcompaniesarevigorouslydevelopingandinvestingin ‘SMR’ SmallModularReactor anewtypeofnuclearpowerplantthatdownsizedfromtheconventional one Then,whatwouldbethemeritsofreducingthesize?Aboveall,thefuelrequirementshavedecreased; SMRsrequirelessfrequencyofrefueling,whichrequiresreplacementevery-yearswhereastheexisting plantsdoitevery-years.TheintervalofrefuelingwouldbegraduallylongerasthedevelopmentofSMRs elaborated. Furthermore, due to their small size, they are produced prefabricated so that they can be locatedanywhereeveninthecenterofthecitywithlowcosts.Toparticipateinthisinnovativeflow,Bill Gateshasfoundedanuclearenergycorporate,TerraPower,andisproceedingwithdevelopingSMRaswell.

<BillGatesatTerraPowerwithamock-upofmetalfuelpinbundlesCredit:GatesNotes>

GROUP ARTICLES

VARIOUSANIMALS THATSAVETHEPLANET

THE PREDATOR OF THE SEA: A SHARK EARTHWORMS: THE MOST VALUABLE FERTILIZER OUR OCEANIC HERO, WHALE CREATURES THAT HELP OUR ENVIRONMENT: BEES

THE PREDATOR OF THE SEA: A SHARK

BY HAERAM YANG

WHY MARINE ECOSYSTEMS ARE IMPORTANT TO EARTH

The sea accounts for 70.8% of the Earth's surface, has about 1.4 billion cubic meters of salt water, and countless creatures coexist in the seawater and ive connected by a food chain. Since the beginning of human history, hese oceans have played many roles in terms of energy, food, and environ

Marine ecosystems play a biochemical role in storing or circulating nal salts from land, filtering pollutants, and preventing land erosion from waves. In addition, through the photosynthesis process of the primary r, carbon dioxide, the main culprit of global warming, is absorbed from osphere and supplied with 30-50% of the oxygen required from the Earth, as various effects on the entire ecosystem.

RKS HELP MAINTAIN RINE ECOSYSTEM

are the top marine ecosystem predators that play an essential role in the nvironment. Sharks are important in balancing the marine ecosystem and chain. When sharks feed, nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are d back into the water, promoting the growth of phytoplankton and other arine life, which helps support the entire food chain of the ocean. Sharks y a role in carbon storage by regulating the population of seaweed and arine animals that feed on other important carbon-absorbing plants. This itigate the effects of climate change by allowing these plants to grow and ore carbon. When sharks disappear from the food chain, the marine m collapses rapidly, which eventually weakens the function of the ocean bsorbs carbon and heat from the atmosphere. An example of how sharks he environment is the snake shark. Snake sharks thrive on seaweed by ing the number of sea cows or dugongs in Shark Bay. (BBC, 2022) These d fields are known to have twice as much carbon dioxide per square mile as on land (BBC, 2022)

RKS THAT ARE SHRINKING, THEY D TO BE PROTECTED

ng to a study published in the scientific journal Nature, reckless shark has reduced the global shark population by 71% over the past 50 years, and nge in shark population is closely related to the winning fishing in shark . Despite sharks playing such an important role in the marine ecosystem, emand for shark products continues to increase. The scale now amounts rillion won (about $1 billion) a year worldwide. In addition, the IUCN last year by announcing that more than one-third of cartilage fish such as and stingrays are endangered due to overfishing. However, a survey of n's international trading site revealed that more than two-thirds of the traded were endangered, and the actual threat was twice as large. hile, sharks and stingrays were designated as international trade protection at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) r. The U.S. Senate also introduced a "shark fin sales ban" to prevent reckless shark overfishing. While these social trends have taken the first step toward protecting the sea's predator sharks, which play a key role in the marine ecosystem, and further protecting the entire Earth's environment, these regulations themselves cannot prevent shark overfishing at all. To prevent their overfishing, continuous attention, and international cooperation will be required.

EARTHWORMS, THE MOST VALUABLE FERTILIZER

HOW THEY HELP THE 21ST CENTURY ENVIRONMENT

Eearth, the only planet that humans are able to live on, is now being destroyed due to humans. Actions that are held for

humans’ convenience like burning fossil fuels or deforestation are the main problem deteriorating the environment In this situation that humans are making the earth sick, there are some animals that help the environment unexpectedly

Currently humans are persistently destroying nature through deforestation. This brutality of humans makes the plants disappear in the forest and increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Increase in carbon dioxide warms the planet, and eventually leads to climate change. According to NASA climate change, human activities have raised the atmosphere’s carbon dioxide content by 50% since the beginning of industrial times. The global warming made by humans can be partly solved by earthworms. How can earthworms be beneficial to the environment?

Earthworms can create productive soil structure. Soil can play a special function, trapping the carbon dioxide into the plant root. Because of this function, when humans dig the soil and

take the plants out, the carbon dioxide that used to be restored in the soil is released. From this, we can notice that remaining healthy soil might be a method to keep our planet in good condition. Earthworms can increase the soil fertility and recover the damaged soil They play an important role in decomposition, making nutrients by breaking down dead organic matter Decomposition releases the nutrients that are restored inside the dead organics and make it available for living plants to use those nutrients Furthermore, earthworms create nutrients through castings They usually feed on plant debris and other organic matters This means that the digestive system of earthworms includes all the nutrients from the soil, eventually making the cast of earthworms nutritious. If there are 500,000 worms living in an acre of soil, they could make 50 tons of castings. As earthworms crawl through the soil, they provide nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus with their casts as a very valuable fertilizer.

Starting from the industrial period about 200 years ago, our planet is getting toward the max rate of environmental pollution currently. However, humans don’t try to reform the current situation, even in the moment that earthworms are helping the environment by forming nutritious soil. We should be aware of environmental problems and animals such as earthworms that are beneficial to our environment to protect them.

2023.03.05 Seoyoon Won swon1359@gmail.com

CREATURES THAT HELP OUR ENVIRONMENT: BEES

BY WOOJIN JEONG

People execute numerous activities for our environment such as recycling, planting trees, or utilizing sustainable resources Yet, since the environment is not only configured by people, but other creatures also aid the environment Bees, especially, are noteworthy animals that are in a

symbiotic relationship with nature Bees are vital creatures that stabilize our environment and provide us with colorful and nutritious diets

BEES: HOW THEY DECORATE NATURE

Bees are pollinators, which convey pollen to other regions Since they are ideally adapted to pollinate, bees help plants grow and reproduce. This particular process executed by bees eventually maintains the cycle of life turning. The majority of plants that provide us with food heavily rely on pollination, especially bees. Bees pollinate around 80% of wildflowers in Europe as well, thus the countryside would lack its beautiful and fascinating scenes were it not for bees. (Friends of the Earth, 2017)

As science technology has evolved a lot, progressive groups of people promote establishments of social facilities, clearing a wide area of trees. This process is called deforestation, and gradual increase of deforestation is a critical factor that deteriorates the environment. Forest bees provide great functions which protect nature from rapid deforestation. Furthermore, a study in Ghana and Benin by the NGO ‘Bees for Development’ indicates that the territory of cashew nuts was 2 to 3 times higher when bees were raised near the trees. (WeForest, 2023) The existence of bees itself fertilizes and animates nature to be more copious and abundant.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO: BEES ARE AT RISK OF EXTINCTION

The button line is that there has been a decline in the quantity and quality of agricultural produce in the United States. Environmentalists concluded that the decreasing tendency in crop production is the biggest factor that rebounded such consequences. As everyone is aware, decline of crop production often results from climate change and usage of pesticides. (Trvst, 2022) The more people use pesticides, the harsher it will be to cure climate change: the vicious circle continues to go on. If this vicious circle constantly emerges, there will be no room for bees to pollinate, and our environment will head towards deterioration The world of nature is a delicate, complicated connection between various factors, so if one factor starts downgrading, the balance of the entire connection will downgrade as well To rescue bees from extinction and save our nature, we should acknowledge the world from a macro perspective People should always keep the connection between environmental factors in mind and strive to settle all problems Bees are massive keys to secure our nature, and they should be extricated as soon as possible

Bees may be interpreted as trivial animals that merely sting when sensitive If we take a closer look at them, bees provide crucial help not only to the environment but also to human beings. Attempting an elaborate lens on what surrounds us will help us to find other creatures that are supporters of nature. Go give it a try!

OUR OCEANIC HERO, WHALE

WHAT IMPACTS DO CARBONS HAVE ON EARTH?

Carbon dioxide is a primary greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, thus keeping the Earth warm However, an excess amount of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere,

accelerating and degenerating global warming. Carbon dioxide is a type of gas emitted by various human activities such as burning fossil fuels for electricity, industrial processes, transportation, and so forth. As climate change is one of the most serious issues humanity is facing, “climate action” is even categorized as the thirteenth SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) that the United Nations have proposed. In order to act in accordance with climate action, many proposed solutions to the climate crisis, and one of the core ideas was to eliminate the excess carbon in the atmosphere to reduce greenhouse gas effects by capturing the carbon and storing it somewhere else other than the atmosphere. However, the developed carbon capturing technology came out to be a huge financial burden to be used as a prevalent 'climate-acting' method But what if there is an effective way to capture the carbon while it is also economical and does not require advanced technology?

HOW DO WHALES HELP SAVE THE EARTH?

Marine biologists found out that there is a marine animal that performs excellence in capturing carbons even only with its existence: whales. Whales are a living carbon storage that contributes to climate action. In fact, whales have a startling potential for carbon capturing. Throughout their 60 years (on average) lifetime, whales absorb carbon in their bodies, accumulating around 33 tons of carbon per whale body. When the whales die, their bodies –so-called ‘whale falls’– sink to the bottom of the ocean. These dead whale carcasses store the carbon deep down in the ocean floor for at least ten thousand years. Approximately 29 thousand tons of carbon is held annually, even only by the whale falls.

Further, whale excretions are such great nutrients for phytoplanktons, known as the powerhouse of the ocean that takes in carbon and provides oxygen through photosynthesis. As can be inferred, whales are such sacrificial and obliging animals that serve as the silver lining of climate change.

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS THAT CAN HELP WHALES SURVIVE?

However, whales are losing their lives because of human activities that threaten their lives. These human activities result in oil spill, plastic wastes in the ocean, or abandoned fishing gear, which are fatal to whale population. In order to reduce the whale death rate, reducing plastic waste and preventing waste from flowing into the ocean water is crucial. Using biodegradable fishing nets can also prevent whales from getting trapped and suffocated to death. Vessels including cruises, fishing boats, and ships should also try to reduce oil spills as much as possible and establish a navigating system that prevents the ship from colliding with whales On a larger scale, the government and several NGOs can cooperate to establish a program that collects fishing equipment such as fishing nets or fishing traps for free like how National Ocean Service and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) are doing, as mentioned above The government and marine-life-related organizations should set a guideline for people, guiding the proper ways to discharge fishing equipment and actively promote it via social media or campaign videos. Whales are environment-friendly and economical animals that effectively capture the excess carbon in the atmosphere, hindering the accelerating global warming and climate crisis. Whales are a silver lining for human life and environment maintenance. It is now our job to protect the whales, acknowledging that whale protection is ultimately a great strategy to respond to the climate crisis.

2023.03.01

FAKENEWS: WHYAREWEDECEIVED?

WHY DO PEOPLE FALL FOR FAKE NEWS FAKE NEWS VS CONFIRMATION BIAS

THE FALSE THREATMENT OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM

THE THREAT OF FAKE SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES GREENWASHING : THE TRAGEDY BROUGHT ABOUT BY EXCESS

FAKE NEWS FAKE NEWS FAKE NEWS VVS VS S CONFIRMATION BIAS CONFIRMATION BIAS CONFIRMATION BIAS

PEOPLE CREATING THEIR REASON FOR GOODNESS

BY CHANSOL YANG

ave water. It is a widespread saying among Korean households. People take water saving for granted; water deficit is considered a major factor of it. While it is S S S commonly considered something right, its rightness makes people have confirmation bias about water deficit. As a name of a moral act, people are turning away from the truth. The fact that Korea hasn’t faced water scarcity is spontaneously veiled by people’s need for a reason to their moral accountability.

WHAT’S TRUE THEN?

In 2003, Population Action International(PAI) announced the results of their research about water resource conditions of each nation. According to the investigation, the Republic of Korea was classified as water-stressed Few years later, the name of the condition was misinformed from water-stressed to water shortage by a United Nations’ report Originally, PAI classified water resource conditions as three levels: relative sufficiency, water-stressed, and water-scarcity

Based on water resource availability per capita, PAI considered nations with over 1700m³ as water-sufficiency, ones with 1000m³ to 1700m³ as water-stressed, and ones with less than 1000m³ as water-scarcity While PAI stated that nations of waterstressed should be aware that the water resource condition would possibly deteriorate within a few years, it is a definite distortion of information In addition, such investigation results about Korea are heavily impacted by periodic concentration of natural water resources by its monsoon climate along with high population density.

THEN, DON’T WE HAVE TO SAVE WATER?

Although Korea isn’t currently facing water-scarcity, we are running a risk of being a nation of waterscarcity Moreover, water usage per capita of Korea is twice more than ordinary European countries Therefore, water saving is not just a stale conventional wisdom but a significant solution to combat water-scarcity The Korean government, conceding the wrong expression of concern , anxiously warned that the issue must not lead to indifference toward water saving.

People need a reason to be good As aforementioned, they need a logical reason to save water therefore spreading the wrong expression of the government. Thanks to the fake information, parents can alert children to save water and a myriad of NGOs could encourage people to engage in their water saving campaigns.

In order to force individuals to the situations with necessity of goodness, some used confirmation bias for creating it. However, it is hard to criticize the consequences of fake news about water-scarcity. In fact, some fake news would emerge with negative intent, while some would emerge with people’s need for reason. As the world is not at our service, we sometimes become desirable for logic in the world of irrationality. But the end can never justify the means. Recognizing an issue without any bias is a qualification in order to be a critical individual. Facing the truth and judging by one’s own standard is harder yet better to solve the problem as an intellectual being. Beloved British poet Dylan Thomas noted in his poem 'Do not gentle into that good night',

"Though wise man at their end know dark is right Because their words have forked that no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night” -

Dylan Thomas

BY SHIHWAN KIM

A PSEUDOSCIENTIFIC TREATMENT MADE IN JAPAN FAKED ITS SELF-PURIFICATION ABILITY TO THE WORLD

IIn South Korea and Japan, or in some Southeast Asian countries, it is not rare to witness people throwing muddy balls into a pond or a local river in order to purify the aquatic ecosystem. These mud balls are called “EM Mudballs”, that are advertised as the best way to “restore a healthy balance of microorganisms in ecosystems, thereby increasing their capacity for self-purification”.

EM Mudballs are one of the secondary products of EM(which stands for effective microorganisms). EM is a trademark and a brand name owned by EMRO*, which is a company that manufactures and sells its EM products, often manufactured by fermenting organic matter that contains different groups of microorganisms in Japan

By inoculating dried soil and EM Bokashi(fermented rice bran with microorganisms including lactic acid bacteria, yeast, and phototrophic bacteria), EM Mudballs are manufactured The EMRO company claims that the richness of the diversity of microorganisms determines nature’s selfpurifying ability, and advertises that the products can accelerate the fermentation of fodder wastes, therefore reviving aquatic ecosystems and enhancing their self-cleansing ability.

However, there are serious concerns about the validation of the concept. The concept of EM has been challenged and no scientific studies support its main claims. Various experiments have examined the use of EM in making organic fertilizers and investigated the effects of the fermented organic fertilizer on soil fertility, not distinguishing the effects of the microorganisms in the EM treatments from the effect of the EM nutrient solution in the carrier substrate The resulting effects on soil fertility depended nonspecifically upon multiple factors, including indirect effects of microbially-synthesized metabolites (e g , phytohormones and growth regulators) Higa Teruo, the founder of EMRO and the developer of EM mudballs, acknowledges these problems, concluding “the main limitation is the problem of reproducibility and lack of consistent results.” in his 1994 paper about EM.

EMRO advertises that EM is made by carefully selecting and cultivating 80 kinds of microorganisms, but the classification of microorganisms is groundless, abstract, and unscientific. Both developers and sellers do not properly inform which microorganisms they use, and the disclosed microorganisms are nothing special (due to the fact that their existence is already known, such as lactobacillus and yeast). Higa Teruo, the founder of EMRO and the developer of EM Mudballs, acknowledges these problems, concluding “the main limitation…is the problem of reproducibility and lack of consistent results.”.

The Okayama Prefectural Environmental Health Center reported in 1997 that “EM bacteria do not have a good effect on water purification ” In the experiment held, EM bacteria were placed in the experimental septic tank and observed for 600 days, but the processing efficiency was similar to that of the septic tank without EM bacteria

2

<EM Mudball event to purify a local river in Okinawa, Credit: EM News|EMRO>

THE THREAT OF THE THREAT OF FAKE FAKE SCIENTIFIC SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES ARTICLES

MISLEADING THE PUBLIC, UNDERMINING RESEARCH, AND SPREADING MISINFORMATION

BY CHANWOO LIM

TThe increase in fake scientific articles is a concerning trend that has been growing in recent years. With the rise of digital publishing and online platforms, it has become easier for

individuals or organizations with vested interests to disseminate false or misleading information disguised as legitimate scientific research.

One of the main dangers of fake scientific articles is their potential to mislead the public and policymakers. In areas such as health, where decisions can have life-or-death consequences, the spread of false information can be particularly damaging. A fake article promoting an unproven medical treatment could lead people to waste time and money on a treatment that has no real benefit or, even worse, could cause harm. Similarly, a false article denying the existence of climate change could lead to policy decisions that damage the environment and have long-term consequences for public health.

Fake scientific articles can also harm the reputation of legitimate scientific research. The scientific community is built on a foundation of trust and credibility, and the spread of false information can erode that trust. If the public becomes skeptical of scientific research as a whole, it could lead to a lack of funding for research and a loss of trust in scientific findings. This could have severe implications for public health and safety and for advancing scientific knowledge.

Another danger of fake scientific articles is the speed at which misinformation can spread in today's digital age. False information can be disseminated quickly and widely, potentially reaching millions of people in a matter of hours. This can be particularly dangerous in areas such as public health, where false information can lead to harm or even death.

To mitigate the risks of fake scientific articles, several measures can be taken. Scientists can be vigilant in detecting and reporting fake articles, and journals can implement strict peer-review processes to ensure that articles are rigorously tested before publication Educating the public about recognizing fake scientific papers and promoting the importance of evidence-based research can also help to mitigate the risks

In addition to these measures, there is a need for greater transparency and accountability in scientific publishing. Publishers should be transparent about their peerreview processes and ensure that all articles published in their journals meet rigorous standards Scientists can also take steps to ensure that their research is transparent and replicable, such as sharing data and code with others in their field

The rise of fake scientific articles is a concerning trend that threatens the integrity of scientific research and the safety of the public. To mitigate these risks, scientists, journal editors, and other stakeholders must work together to detect and report fake articles, promote evidence-based research, and educate the public about the dangers of fake scientific papers. Only by doing so can we ensure that scientific research remains a trusted and reliable source of knowledge for years to come

2023.03.05 Chanwoo Lim adastracwlim@gmail.com

WHY DO PEOPLE FALL WHY DO PEOPLE FALL WHY DO PEOPLE FALL FOR FAKE NEWS? FOR FAKE NEWS? FOR FAKE

NEWS?

AS SOCIALLY HARMFUL FAKE NEWS IS BECOMING MORE SUBTLE, PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHAT PSYCHOLOGICAL BIASES MAKE THEM BELIEVE IN IT TO AVOID IT.

BY JENNY IN

WWe hear more fake news than we think. It is very subtle, and it is even more difficult to determine whether it is true, especially if we are unfamiliar with the topics or if plausible evidence like figure is presented.

One of the topics with much popular false information in Korea is solar energy. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Energy Agency's ‘Knowing Solar & Wind Energy Properly,’ solar energy has various advantages such as infinite, pollution-free, fuel-free, and quiet, but it is difficult to expand its supply due to false information (the Ministry of Trade & Industry and Energy and the Korea Energy Agency).

For example, it is a popular rumor that electromagnetic waves generated by facilities of solar energy adversely affect the human body. However, the electromagnetic wave strength of solar power plants is within the safety standards proposed by the Korean government and is lower than that of commonly used household appliances. Furthermore, many people are reluctant to live near solar power plants because they think the plants damage the surrounding environment, but there is no notable difference between the area around the plants and the general area (the Ministry of Trade & Industry and Energy and the Korea Energy Agency).

As such, false public opinion formed by fake news can be an obstacle when people try to do something substantially helpful. Moreover, modern society is an age of information explosion. It is becoming increasingly important to distinguish the right information and prevent the spread of wrong information. To do this, we need to know how people come to believe fake news.

The mere-exposure effect can work if people encounter the information frequently: the finding that individuals show an increased preference for a stimulus as a consequence of repeated exposure to that stimulus (American Psychology Association). And because people are 'cognitive misers,’ a rule people tend to use mental shortcuts in making judgments and drawing inferences (American Psychology Association), they often don't think deeply and critically about whether the information they receive is true.

Then, they experience the framing effect. In particular, if they have no background knowledge of the information, it is highly likely that the law of small numbers, the tendency to have blind faith in the sample they saw or experienced, will affect them more strongly. This tendency leads to the hasty generalization fallacy and belief in the first information. Such an image remains firmly in their minds, and they judge whatever story they hear later based on it. In addition, the power of the frame is very strong. When you hear 'Don't think of an elephant,’ you have to think of an elephant first in order not to think about it (Lakoff): this is to be stuck in the frame.

Then, they experience the framing effect. In particular, if they have no background knowledge of the information, it is highly likely that the law of small numbers, the tendency to have blind faith in the sample they saw or experienced, will affect them more strongly. This tendency leads to the hasty generalization fallacy and belief in the first information. Such an image remains firmly in their minds, and they judge whatever story they hear later based on it. In addition, the power of the frame is very strong. When you hear 'Don't think of an elephant,’ you have to think of an elephant first in order not to think about it (Lakoff): this is to be stuck in the frame.

Although people cannot judge the authenticity of all information by knowing what psychological process leads them to believe in fake news, there is a big difference between those who know it and those who do not: if they can consider the case that they might be making some errors or trapped in psychological frames or not

2023.03.05 Jenny In injennyin@gmail.com

S S

ociety is now entering the ‘Green’ boundaries Green economy, Green New Deal, etc and crowds of people including environmentalists and celebrities keep raising their voices with concerns regarding climate change to the world. To follow these movements, several companies have adopted eco-friendly systems in diverse ways. Eco-friendly goods such as eco-bags are just an elementary step, and even all of the small-scale details are being changed to be ‘green’ Thus, ESG Environmental, Social, and Governance has become a business trend and a commanding business strategy these days; ESG is based on the principle that the environment is only one factor in determining an organization's commitment to sustainability However, as this business strategy grows, some companies began to delude customers with a superficial promotion of the environment Greenwashing also called Green Sheen is a type of advertising for a company itself as being eco-friendly than actually diminishing its environmental impacts in other words, discrepancy, and deceptions The environment is used as the companies’ marketing means and to improve their image to the public

Most individuals mistakenly believe that Starbucks is one of the well-known models for green companies. But actually, it is quite the opposite. Starbucks has various eco-friendly tactics, which made this company known as a pioneer in the green economy. In 2022, Starbucks announced the ‘Better Together’ project, which is its medium-and long-term goal for sustainability by 2025. However, oddly enough, Starbucks’s tumbler marketing strategy is causing a problem. Starbucks has argued that using tumblers can reduce the number of disposable products consumed, and has often released new collections of tumblers every holiday. In order to use tumblers for environmental preservation, they need to be reused hundreds of times. Naturally, this marketing merely increases the sales volume, never mitigating the waste problem A few months ago, a customer visited Starbucks with her own tumbler But she posted a picture of a tumbler with some texts on her social media account, “Brought my own tumbler to Starbucks They made the drink in the normal plastic cup and transferred the coffee into my tumbler, and threw the plastic cup in the trash ” This company decreased its production of disposable products but simultaneously increased its production of reusable cups and tumblers by an equivalent amount As a result, the overall manufacturing output remained the same Except for Starbucks, countless companies are involved with greenwashing According to a survey, even 58% of global CEOs acknowledged that their companies have been guilty of greenwashing

The countries themselves are trying not to let the customers fool for greenwashing. However, there needs much more consumer development in discernment and awareness to overcome this dilemma. Referring to Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), there are some tips to avoid greenwashing companies. For example, the customers should check the label and certification mark on each product before purchase. Vague words such as ‘eco-friendly’ or ‘natural’ can sway them. Instead, it is good to identify the exact details on the label and understand the principles of how this product can be beneficial to the environment. For another one, it is useful to consider that they are not being told in general; Keep questioning is the best way to be a wise customer!

BY WOOYEONG KIM

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PEOPLE CONSIDER STOCK PRICES MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE APOCALYPTIC CLIMATE CRISIS - JENNY IN

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NUCLEAR FUSION: A 21ST CENTURY VERSION OF NUCLEAR OPTIMISM? - CHANWOO LIM

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MASKS’ DARK SIDE OF IMPACT: A THREAT TO THE ENVIRONMENT - SHIHWAN KIM

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NUCLEAR POWER, IS IT ACTUALLY LETHAL TO THE EARTH? - WOOYEONG KIM

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THE PREDATOR OF THE SEA: A SHARK - HAERAM YANG

EARTHWORMS, THE MOST VALUABLE FERTILIZER - SEOYOON WON CREATURES THAT HELP OUR ENVIRONMENT: BEES - WOOJIN JEONG OUR OCEANIC HERO, WHALE- SOOAN LEE

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기후변화: 상어가 해양 기후 변화 대응에 도움이 되는 이유 ”BBCNews 코리아,BBC,2Jan 2022,https://www bbc com/korean/features-59807091 amp 서울사무소 그린피스. “기후위기의 해결사, 고래 이야기.”GreenpeaceKorea| 그린피스,4Nov.2020,https://www.greenpeace.org/korea/update/15662/blogocean-whale-is-the-solution/.

FAKE NEWS VS CONFIRMATION BIAS - CHANSOL

YANG

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FEM MUDBALLS: THE FALSE TREATMENT OF AQUATIC ECOSYSTEM - SHIHWAN KIM

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WHY DO PEOPLE FALL FOR FAKE NEWS? - JENNY IN

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GREENWASHING: THE TRAGEDY BROUGHT ABOUT BY EXCESS - WOOYEONG KIM

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Publication: COSMOS (HAFS)

Editor: Shihwan Kim, Wooyeong Kim, Hajin Ra

The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved.

– Richard Rogers