September 25: Stories That Caught Our Attention This Week

For the first time since its inception in 2008, the global seed vault used to protect biodiversity had its first withdrawal. Earlier this week, researchers in the Middle East requested seeds suitable for dry areas to store at their seed bank in Beirut, which was originally located in Aleppo, Syria, but displaced by the Syrian war.

Further east, in South Korea, a young foodie named BJ Patoo is making around $1,500 a night eating noodles on camera. The practice, called mukbang (a combination of the Korean words for “eating” and “broadcast”), brings a sense of community to many young people who live alone. What’s better than food among friends? Maybe food among strangers, but we’re not sure (yet).

Over in our neck of the woods, a recent study determined that cutting the immigrant farm workforce out of the US would drive milk prices up to the tune of $6.40/gallon. On top of that, loss of immigrant labor would cut over 200,000 jobs nationwide, according to the study.

And speaking of stealing, some dude in Kansas stole a combine and damaged a few vehicles/power-line poles in a slow-speed chase with the cops. Ah, Kansas. (And we can say that because one of our editors lives there.)