Everybody loves a freshly harvested apple, peach, orange, grape, strawberry, or other piece of produce. Gardeners wait with anticipation to harvest that first ripe tomato. When fruit is fully ripened and at the peak of flavor, the time for harvest has finally arrived.

New research shows “cocaine flushed into rivers is making critically endangered eels ‘hyperactive’ and threatening their survival” (The Independent, June 20, 2018). The human body does not metabolize all drugs it ingests.

For nearly 13 years, Angela Merkel has been the Chancellor of Germany. She has been called the “most powerful woman in Europe” and “the most powerful woman in the world” (Forbes, November 1, 2017). The Chancellor has been deeply involved in the great “European Experiment” we know as the EU, and she is involved in the “Brexit” process as the UK becomes the first nation to depart from the EU. Since 2005, Ms.

Southeast Australia has experienced drought-like conditions for years. Yet, worsening conditions are now forcing ranchers to cull their herds because it is becoming too expensive to feed them (The Guardian, June 9, 2018). As usable pasture land shrinks, one rancher observed, “We’re killing a cow and a calf at this late stage of pregnancy.

“Times are getting more difficult for members of minority religions across Europe as nationalism, security fears and anti-immigrant movements gain ground” (Double Helix, June 27, 2018). Harassment is “aimed mostly at Muslims and Jews, although other faiths—including some Christian groups in a few places—also faced discrimination.” Nations like Belgium, Denmark, Holland and France have all moved to limit the expression of Muslim beliefs and practices.