March 25, 2024

New bee-friendly restrictions on neonicotinoid insecticides in New York … and a barrier to further progress on this topic in the USA In the two previous Notes from the Lab column, I focused on the scientific evidence that pesticides are currently harming bees, and specific ways in which the current pesticide risk assessment process overseen by regulatory agencies such as…

I had a good laugh last month when I looked at the calendar and saw the most horrible winter weather forecasts I’ve seen in a decade. The joke was on me — here, I had been writing about “mild winters” and “Super El Nino,” banking on unseasonably warm weather like it was a sure thing. But I’m very grateful for…

Cooking with honey is popular. Now more than ever, cooks are sneaking a gobbet of honey into recipes from salads to desserts. Some are searching for richer or fresher flavors, while others prize honey for its nutrients, a step beyond refined sugar.   The unintended consequences of cooking with honey During canning season about 15 years ago, I prepared an…