News
Supreme Court Upholds Prop 12
In a 5-4 majority opinion, the Court upheld the rights of California voters to require pork sold in the state meet animal welfare requirements.
Legal Action•8 min read
Devatha P. Nair
Devatha Nair, Ph.D. is a science writer who uses her doctoral training to research and write about global food systems and their impact on human and non-human animals. Her writings have covered topics that range from the use of antibiotics and pesticides in farms to the role played by language in enabling bias against non-human animals. As a biomaterials scientist, she is also the author of multiple peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. She has a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the University of Colorado.
Devatha P. Nair's Posts
Analysis
Fish Pass the Mirror Test. Here’s What That Means.
A new study finds fish can recognize their own reflection and distinguish themselves from other fish.
Science•4 min read
Forest Elephants Are the Ultimate Climate Warriors, According to Science
A new study suggests the way forest elephants eat — specifically which trees they feed on — can play a critical role in climate mitigation.
Research•5 min read
Feature
Diseases Are Bred on All Animal Farms, Even the Ranches
A growing body of evidence shows that both intensive and extensive farms are increasing the risk of the next pandemic.
Research•6 min read
Explainer
Cattle Ranching Is Actually Terrible for Biodiversity
Over 1.5 million cattle graze on public lands to the detriment of biodiversity — wiping out native wildlife and destabilizing ecosystems.
Climate•12 min read
Explainer
Just Like Puppies and Kittens, Young Chickens Like to Play Too
A new study found chickens are playful creatures who run, jump, wrestle and play with toys.
Science•4 min read
Reported
California’s Proposition 12: Animal Protection Groups Fear Supreme Court Reversal
Earlier this week, animal protection groups filed briefs in support of Proposition 12, California's landmark animal protection law.
Factory Farms•8 min read
Reported
Bees Can Almost Certainly Feel Pain, According to Science
A new study shows bees not only experience pain but can make decisions about whether to endure pain for reward.
Science•4 min read
Reported
On Small Farms, the Threat of Zoonotic Disease Still Looms Large
The connection between factory farms and zoonotic diseases is well-established. But new research shows that less-intensive farming styles also come with their own risks.
Health•4 min read
Perspective
Poultry Industry’s Response to Avian Flu Raises Red Flags
Safely disposing of the dead birds and implementing effective safety measures to prevent the next outbreak prove to be a significant challenge.
Food•5 min read
Analysis
Latest Updates From the 2022 Avian Flu Outbreak
The first human case of avian flu was confirmed in China last week. But over the past three months, millions of birds have died.
Food•8 min read
Reported
Factory Farming’s Toxic Relationship With the Pesticide Industry
A new report reveals that an estimated 235 million pounds of pesticides were used to grow feed crops for factory-farmed animals in the U.S. in 2018.
Food•6 min read
Analysis
Deforestation in Amazon and Cerrado Reaches Record High
Officials say fires burning in the Amazon and Cerrado to clear land for soybean production—the primary ingredient in animal feed—have reached an all-time high.
Big Meat•4 min read
Reported
Bird Flu Spreads at Astonishing Rate, Forcing More Culls
The H5N1 virus continues to spread through poultry farms across the U.S. and around the world, forcing farmers to cull record numbers of birds.
Food•5 min read
Analysis
Most Factory Farms Have ‘Free Pass’ to Pollute the Environment
Emissions from factory farms in the U.S. cause more deaths than coal-fired plants. And yet, factory farming is one of the least regulated industries by the EPA.
Climate•7 min read
Perspective
Why It’s So Hard to Prevent Disease Outbreaks on Factory Farms
It's almost impossible to keep a factory farm free of disease. Culling doesn't always work. Antibiotics have their own host of problems, and vaccines do too.
Food•4 min read
Explainer
How Factory Farms in America Drive Deforestation in Brazil
The fires in Brazil are part of a global problem, one which highlights the direct link between deforestation and loss of ecosystems with dietary choices made thousands of miles away.
Big Meat•10 min read
Perspective
Countries Take Steps to Ban Fur Farming After COVID-19 Outbreaks
Massive outbreaks of COVID-19 led to the permanent closure of fur farms in the Netherlands, Poland, and France, but the U.S. has yet to take action.
Factory Farms•4 min read
Reported
Antibiotic Resistance Starts on the Farm, but Marginalized Communities Pay the Price
The widespread use of antibiotics on factory farms is exposing everyone who lives within a 3-mile radius to significant health risks. Low-income people of color are often the most affected.
Health•9 min read
Perspective
This $22-Billion Industry Suffers from a Serious Lack of Oversight
The live animal trade is thriving. Every day, millions of farmed animals are shipped around the world, panic-stricken and disoriented on their way to slaughter.
Food•4 min read
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Sentient investigates and explains factory farms and their effect on climate, the environment, animals, health, politics and rural communities.
