https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/lidl-starts-selling-vegetables-grown-with-classical-music-in-sweden/

Sweden

Lidl starts selling vegetables grown with classical music in Sweden

Published 23 August 2024

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: Lidl Sverige

Music is said to affect root length and crop size, among other things.

In Sweden, Lidl has decided to install sound systems that play classical music for its crop, with the idea that music is beneficial to plant growth.

In the spring, Lidl commissioned the government research institute RISE to analyze the effect of music on plants, and the studies showed that music can have a positive effect on plants. For example, one study showed that 100% of alfalfa seeds exposed to music developed sprouts when either classical music, waltzes or natural sounds were played. The same study found that several types of music also had a positive effect on lettuce.

– Although plants don’t have ears, they can sense vibrations from sound waves, and a number of scientific studies have shown that music promotes plant growth, influencing both root length and crop size, for example. Our report shows that different genres of music benefit the growth of different plants”, says Tora Råberg, researcher at RISE, in a press release.

Another study showed that pea plants grew 38% taller when classical music was played, compared to plants that were not allowed to grow to music.

Five Lidl growers have now played classical music from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to grow tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, fresh herbs and apples.

These products will be sold in all Lidl stores across the country from week 35. To identify the products, which will be sold under the private label Matriket, they will be marked with a blue note.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-police-300-shootings-last-year/

Sweden

Swedish police: 300 shootings last year

organized crime

Published today 18:02

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: Yazid Nasuha/iStock

The police see a clear decrease in firearms-related violence.

According to a report by the Swedish Police Authority, firearm violence in Sweden decreased in 2024 for the second consecutive year. Last year, 296 confirmed shootings took place – which is almost 20% lower than in 2023.

– Our assessment is that the decrease is due to our increased ability to prevent and avert acts of violence, says Johan Olsson, head of the police’s national operations department, Noa.

However, he stresses that “the level of conflict and demand for violence” remains high and that gangs continue to try to use digital environments to recruit new members and people who can commit acts of violence.

According to the police, they have become better at apprehending suspected killers quickly and the number of identified suspects per shooting has also increased.

– This means that today we achieve broader prosecutions and can target more of those involved than before, Olsson continues.

The police authority states that over the past two years, it has developed the ability to collect and analyze information, both in terms of hunting down perpetrators and the actual investigative work afterwards. In addition, it is claimed that the ability to bring together information available in local police areas, criminal investigation of serious crimes, intelligence and international activities has been strengthened.

Relatives still “legitimate” targets

Last year, 44 people were killed in firearm violence compared to 54 in 2023 – while 66 were injured. There has also been a slight decrease in the number of relatives and innocent people injured or killed in shootings and explosions.

– Our view is that the approach that emerged in 2023, where family members are seen as legitimate targets, unfortunately persists, notes Johan Olsson.

The police also note that the suspected perpetrators are getting younger and that the proportion of suspects under 18 has more than doubled since 2019.

Last year, a quarter of all suspected shooters were minors and some of them were also under 15 years old. For fatal shootings in 2024, around a third of the suspects were under 18 and a dozen were under 15.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-criminologists-no-link-between-immigration-and-violent-crime/

Sweden

Swedish criminologists: No link between immigration and violent crime

Deteriorating safety

Published yesterday 16:11

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: iStock/ovjo12

“The proportion of immigrants does not explain violent crime in a municipality”, according to criminologist Amber Beckley.

– Based on our analysis, we have seen that there is little to no link between the proportion of immigrants in a municipality and reported violent crime, said Amber Beckley, associate professor of criminology and senior lecturer at Örebro University.

The study, conducted by criminologists at five Swedish universities, claims to have compared the 20 municipalities in Sweden with the highest increase in violent crime between 2000 and 2020 with the 20 municipalities with the least negative trend, controlling for the number of immigrants living in these 40 municipalities.

– Most violent crime in a municipality can be explained by other factors, such as the number of people working and education, Beckley further argues in an interview with Swedish public radio SR.

It should be noted that the researchers only looked at people who had immigrated to Sweden and obtained Swedish residence permits or citizenship – not asylum seekers or children of immigrants. According to previous studies, second-generation immigrants have been identified as a group with the highest proportion of criminal suspects.

Violent crime increased in all municipalities

The main author of the report, which has received a lot of attention in the establishment media, is the well-known left-wing activist criminologist Jerzy Sarnecki, and Amber Beckley, who is the report’s second author, also admits to Samnytt that violent crime has increased in almost all of the municipalities analyzed.

– Almost all have increased. There was almost no municipality in these twenty years where violent crime decreased.

– What we have shown was that the proportion of immigrants in the municipalities with the largest increase in violent crime was not that different from the proportion in the municipalities with the smallest increase… The proportion of immigrants does not explain violent crime in a municipality, and it cannot explain the increase in the twenty municipalities, she concludes.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/science/flat-earthers-after-the-antarctic-expedition-the-earth-is-round/

Science

Flat Earthers after the Antarctic expedition: “The Earth is round”

Published 18 January 2025

– By Editorial Staff

Photo: facsimile/The Final Experiment

The Final Experiment may have been the final battle between flat earthers and round earthers...

A group of flat-earthers recently traveled to Antarctica to witness the midnight sun and challenge modern flat-earth theories. After watching the sun circulate continuously for 24 hours, several of them now admit that the flat Earth thesis must be reconsidered.

The expedition, led by Reverend Will Duffy of Colorado, brought together four flat-earthers and four believers in a spherical (round) Earth with the common goal of settling once and for all the debate over the shape of the Earth. The trip, called “The Final Experiment”, took place on December 14 and cost each participant about $35,000.

Jeran Campanella, known for his YouTube channel “Jeranism” and former proponent of the flat Earth theory, took part in the expedition. During a live broadcast from Union Glacier Camp in Antarctica, he admitted:

– Sometimes in life you’re wrong. I didn’t believe in a 24-hour sun, but I was wrong.

Flat Earthers have argued, among other things, that Antarctica is actually a wall of ice that surrounds the world and prevents the oceans from overflowing.

They argue that if the Earth were flat, the sun would not be visible 24 hours a day on this continent. The observation of the midnight sun in Antarctica therefore challenges this view, while supporting the theory of a spherical Earth.

Jorden Earth sfärisk — Photo: NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center/CC BY-NC 2.0

Some skepticism remains

However, despite the convincing evidence, some doubts still remain among flat Earth supporters. Austin Whitsitt, another participant in the expedition, expressed skepticism, saying that the observation does not necessarily prove the roundness of the Earth and stressed the need for further investigation and openness to new data.

The somewhat humorous expedition has attracted attention and debate in both scientific and public circles. From a more serious point of view, many see it as an example of the importance of empirical observations and openness to reconsider one’s beliefs in the light of new evidence.

For those interested in seeing more about the expedition and its results, there is a wealth of video material available on The Final Experiment channel.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/sweden-sees-rise-in-hazardous-waste-exports/

Sweden

Sweden sees rise in hazardous waste exports

Published 18 January 2025

– By Editorial Staff

Press Photo: Mette Ottosson/Tullverket

Swedish Customs stopped a record amount of hazardous waste last year. The biggest increase was in the Stockholm area.

More than 1 529 tons of hazardous waste were stopped from being exported from Sweden to countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia in 2024. This is a significant increase compared to the 627 tons stopped in 2023 and a new record. The previous peak was measured in 2022 and was 1 043 tons. Waste exports are linked to organized crime and are estimated to generate around SEK 6.1 billion (€530 million) annually, according to the police.

– We know that waste exports to developing countries are a growing source of income for organized crime. That is why I am particularly pleased that we managed to stop so many exports of hazardous waste in 2024, says Director General of Customs Johan Norrman in a press release.

Six times as many cases

In total, Swedish Customs handled 88 cases of illegal waste exports to countries outside the EU, an increase from 47 cases the year before. The biggest increase was in the Stockholm area, where the amount of waste more than sixfold compared to the previous year.

The most common type of waste exported is still vehicles and vehicle parts. Of the 88 stopped exports, 71 contained either whole vehicles, such as cars, tractors and trucks, or parts, such as tires, engines, gearboxes and rims.

However, few of the cases lead to legal consequences, according to the Swedish Customs. The most common action is to issue an export ban for shipments of environmentally hazardous waste, while serious cases can lead to fines.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Polaris of Enlightenment

Polaris of Enlightenment