Science finally cracks why organic apples taste better and are better for you
Concrete proof of the benefits of eating organic food has been notoriously difficult to find, with some critics even dismissing the whole idea of organic food as 'marketing hype'. For those of us who feel that eating organic sounds instinctively better — which is to say pretty much all of us — that has been a difficult, non-organic pill to swallow.
But an answer may be at hand courtesy of new research by Professor Gabriele Berg of the Graz University of Technology in Austria. Prof Berg's team have analysed the humble apple, and more specifically the 100,000,000 microbes which a typical apple contains, and has discovered that organic apples have a far richer variety of bacteria within — something which is enormously helpful to human digestive systems.
'Freshly harvested, organically managed apples harbour a significantly more diverse, more even and distinct bacterial community, compared to conventional ones,' explains Prof Berg in The Guardian. 'This variety and balance would be expected to limit overgrowth of any one species, and previous studies have reported a negative correlation between human pathogen abundance and microbiome diversity of fresh produce.'
If the good professor lost you with 'the science bit' at the end there, you're not alone: The Guardian's Gregory Robinson helpfully translates: 'In other words, the more varied your diet, the fewer harmful bacteria are found,' he says.
The report goes on to add that, 'the research may also vindicate the people who claim to be able to taste the difference between organic and ordinary produce'. Microbes responsible for adding flavour — including methylobacterium, which boosts strawberry-flavoured compounds — are 'significantly more abundant in organic apples.'
Do you own Britain's naughtiest dog?
If so, we need to know.
Enter Britain's Naughtiest Dog (Country Life)
Summer lightning
Tuesday night's blazingly hot overnight temperatures sparked huge thunderstorms across much of the country — police in Surrey shared the video below for those who slept through it. Having not been so lucky in our household, I can confirm that West Sussex had strike-after-strike every few seconds for what felt like at least half an hour.
More to come? Latest weather warnings (Met Office)
On this day... The remains of Machu Picchu discovered
On 24 July 199, American explorer Hiram Bingham III discovered a lost city high in the Andes — the place we now know as Machu Picchu.
Are there really just 18 months to stop climate change from running out of control?
The BBC publishes a piece this morning examining whether there really is just 18 months left to turn things around in the fight to keep the earth cool. HRH Prince Charles said as much in a speech to Commonwealth foreign ministers recently, and the International Panel on Climate Change warned in their recent report that 'global emissions of carbon dioxide must peak by 2020' in order to keep the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees.
That particular horse has already bolted, suggests the Corporation's Matt McGrath, but he does detail all manner of initiatives across the world which might get us there by 2030. Top of the list is the so-called 'COP26' climate summit which is happening in Britain towards the end of next year.
'The UK government believes it can use the opportunity of COP26, in a post-Brexit world, to show that Britain can build the political will for progress, in the same way the French used their diplomatic muscle to make the Paris deal happen,' writes McGrath, before going on to discuss various other plans.
'If all this comes to pass, the world might have a fighting chance of preserving our natural environment,' he adds.
'But the challenges are huge, the political involvement patchy. So don't hold your breath!'
Full story (BBC) — and read John Gummer's piece about how everything is in place to stop climate change if we can simply find the leadership (Country Life)
And finally... diet chocolate? This time they've gone too far.
Really, c'mon. Eat less chocolate, of course. But diet chocolate? The madness has gone too far.
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Eight bedrooms of unlisted Edwardian elegance with sweeping views of SomersetAshton House sits near the market town of Chard and comes with a wealth of amenities both inside and out.
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The brilliant tractor tribute to the NHS from a group of Warwickshire farmersPeople around Britain have been paying tribute to the efforts of our NHS workers at the time of the coronavirus pandemic — but few have been as creative and clever as this one.
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London's iconic red bus at risk and 6,000 year old chewing gum gives clues into our DNA historyCuts to industry subsidies and an increase in fares has left bus use at its lowest point ever, while DNA extracted from ancient 'chewing gum' allows scientists to decipher the genetic code of a Stone Age woman.
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90-million-year-old 'swimming dinosaur' skeleton found by dogs out walking in Somerset, and the nonchalant moths who don't bother fleeing enemiesA superbly intact dinosaur skeleton — described as being 'museum quality' — has been discovered on a beach in Somerset.
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Battle to ban 4x4s from the idyllic Lake District spot bequeathed by Beatrix Potter, eagle fights octopus and the 'snail's pace' climate talksThis morning we look at Little Langdale's fight for peace, reflect on the climate change talks in Madrid and discover the soundtrack for Brexit.
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Country Life Today: How Greta Thunberg shifted the dial on climate change — and the backlash shows just how muchThis morning we ponder whether Greta Thunberg is the Joan of Arc for the environmental movement, look at a key election — one from 19 years ago — and ponder the marvel of 'dad tidying'.
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Country Life Today: Great news for those who love our great country pubs — the years of decline are overThere is a great sign of health in the pub industry, we look back at Edward VIII's abdication message and fret about Greenland's melting ice.
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Country Life Today: Spain accused of being 'a deplorable choice' for UN climate conferenceA no-holds-barred assault on the Spanish fishing industry, Banksy raising awareness of the homeless and the woes of the Christmas jumper are in today's news round-up.
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Country Life Today: 'This is perhaps the ultimate wake-up call from the uncontrolled experiment humanity is unleashing on the world’s oceans'In today's round up, we examine why oxygen loss is putting oceans at risk, discover that action to cut air pollution brings almost immediate benefits to human health and find out which bird's arrival marks the start of winter in Gloucestershire.
