Is Wi-Fi killing our trees? Maybe.
Here's the gist of it, from ReadWriteWeb:
According to the study, translated from Dutch using Google Translate, trees in urban areas of the Netherlands showed an increasing number of damage such as cracks, bumps, discoloration and various forms of tissue damage. The research, by Wageningen University, was commissioned by officials from Alphen aan den Rijn, a city in the western region of the Netherlands. They asked for the research after discovering trees that did not appear healthy. Further, the trees could not be identified as suffering from a virus or bacterial infection.
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Granted, a false cognate or two could send that translation into a tailspin. But it's become abundantly clear over the past few centuries of industrialization that technology does, indeed, affect our environment. Here's how PCWorld explains it:
The study exposed 20 ash trees to various radiation sources for a period of three months. Trees placed closest to the Wi-Fi radio demonstrated a "lead-like shine" on their leaves that was caused by the dying of the upper and lower epidermis of the leaves. This would eventually result in the death of parts of the leaves. The study also found that Wi-Fi radiation could inhibit the growth of corn cobs.
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If Wi-Fi radiation is hurting trees, it probably isn't a boon to our health. At what point does the environmental or physical cost of a given technology outweigh its benefits?
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