Tag: Big Business
How 40 Million Cork Wine Stoppers Are Harvested A Day
Half of the world's cork wine stoppers come from Portugal's cork oak trees. These trees are so important to the country's ecosystem and economy, they're protected under Portuguese law. We went inside the forests of Alentejo to see how the cork bark is car...
How 40,000 Tons Of Brazil Nuts Are Collected Deep In The Amazon Rainforest
Brazil nuts are one of the most sustainable nuts. They're not grown on farms. They're collected in the rainforest after they drop naturally off wild trees. While the nuts support Indigenous tribes' livelihoods, collectors have a tough job.
Why 99% Of Smithsonian's Specimens Are Hidden In High-Security
The Smithsonian Natural History Museum houses 147 million specimens — everything from pickled animals to priceless gems to dinosaur bones. But less than 1% of it's on display. The rest is hidden behind the scenes in what's called collections.
11 Of The Most Faked Foods In The World
Hate to break it to you, but your truffle oil wasn't made from truffles. Your vanilla extract? Well, that's probably just a lab-made derivative of crude oil. And your shaker of Parmesan cheese? It probably has wood pulp inside.
Why Tiny Cactus Bugs In Red Food Dye Are A $35 Billion Industry
Cochineals are tiny bugs that live on prickly pear cactuses. The acid in their guts makes a red dye used in textiles, cosmetics, and foods like M&Ms and Yoplait yogurt. Indigenous people across Latin America traded it for thousands of years. It can be...
How 6 Million Pounds Of Electronic Waste Gets Recycled A Month
Only 17% of electronic waste is recycled. That’s because devices aren’t designed to be recycled. They’re full of tiny, toxic materials that are hard and expensive to break down. But if extracted safely, those materials could mean big money for e-recyclers...