Story at a glance
- Thousands of news stories erupted throughout 2021.
- Some were positive, with technological advances like the ability to 3D print homes to help solve the housing crisis.
- Other stories shed light on inequities, like how Black children disproportionately lost parents to the coronavirus.
1. Trees can save lives.
Scientists estimate that during the current decade, there are 12,000 premature deaths annually that are caused in part by exposure to high ambient temperatures. Increased tree cover can help, as the canopy cover they offer can counteract higher temperatures, especially at night time as overnight high temperatures contribute significantly to heat-related illness and mortality. As heat waves become more frequent and severe, trees are becoming superheroes, as an analysis by The New York Times explains
2. Humans consume microplastics every day, adding up to 5 grams of plastic each week.
Plastics are everywhere, from the oceans to the human body, and researchers have been trying to figure out how this can lead to health problems. One group of researchers has found that plastics can oxidize or stress cells through biological processes. Though it may not be fatal, it’s an area that’s grossly understudied.
3. Thousands of children lost parents to COVID-19.
The National Institutes of Health revealed more than 140,000 children in the U.S. lost a primary or secondary caregiver because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Children of racial and ethnic minorities accounted for 65 percent of those who lost a primary caregiver. A separate study by The Journal of the American Medical Association estimated that Black children were disproportionately affected, with researchers finding they accounted for 20 percent of all children who lost parents to the virus. Researchers also urged national reforms to address the health, educational and economic fallout that have affected these children.
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4. The housing crisis could be fixed through 3D printing.
Icon, a tech company based in Austin, Texas, has designed a 3D printer capable of printing a 2,000-square-foot concrete home. The company aims to address the global housing crisis with the development of a massive 3D printer called Vulcan. Icon started their work in Austin by building six homes at Community First! Village, a 51-acre planned community with the mission of lifting the chronically homeless off the streets. The community is now home to more than 200 residents. The company has also printed homes for residents in Mexico living in extreme poverty.
5. U.S. Border Patrol has been accused of misconduct and abuse.
Human Rights Watch revealed 160 cases of misconduct and abuse by leading government agencies between 2016 and 2021. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Border Patrol agents were among the accused in the report, which included cases of child sexual assault, starvation, threats of rape and brutal detention conditions. Human Rights Watch says from the records it obtained that it wasn’t clear if any of the reports of abuse were investigated or if any disciplinary action was taken.
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