Yes, you guessed it right… The answer is humankind.

The amount of chemicals humans use while cleaning their homes is countless. Once these are flushed away, they go directly into nature, and their effects on the environment are destructive. If only the damage to nature stopped there… The emissions produced during the manufacturing of the products we consume, plus the packaging and other waste generated after consumption, also end up in nature — multiplying the harm caused. Even though the end is already visible, the wave of reckless consumption imposed by capitalism, the throwaway culture, is inflicting damage on the environment that will be extremely difficult to repair.

Ah, humanity… Charles Bukowski put it so well: “You can love a person if you don’t know them too well.” As beautiful as the saying is, this is where things get complicated. While a portion of humanity sees no problem in polluting the environment carelessly, without noticing or caring that the end is near, others make it their mission to clean up and live in a pristine environment — working on everything from ending the production of harmful chemicals, to controlling waste, and cleaning up what already exists in nature.

Take “forever chemicals,” for example… They take such a long time to break down in nature that they’ve earned this name. They are used in everything from cell phones to semiconductors. Despite their widespread use, they are linked to diseases such as cancer and heart problems. The company 3M has announced that it will stop producing these chemicals starting in 2025. If only they had done it sooner.

But before they even stop production, researchers at Northwestern University announced they had found a simple, low-energy method to break down “forever chemicals.” This discovery clearly didn’t end the search, because a team of scientists from the University of California, Riverside, recently announced that they are working on an alternative method to eliminate forever chemicals from water. Their approach uses UV light and hydrogen gas to break down these harmful substances found in drinking water sources.

As for post-consumption waste, it is usually removed from living areas in the form of garbage piles, with burial being the most common method to keep it out of sight. Scientists are also focusing on this growing problem. They are working on solutions using bacteria and insects. And perhaps the answer lies in the larvae of a black beetle called Zophobas morio. These larvae, about the size of a paperclip, can survive on — and even digest — polystyrene, also known as Styrofoam. Research will likely focus on the enzymes that allow these so-called “superworms” to digest Styrofoam, with the goal of finding a natural way to tackle and recycle Styrofoam waste, which occupies thirty percent of landfill space worldwide.

Do you notice it too? In my articles, I often reference scientific studies, but I usually end up pointing to institutions and universities outside our country. It’s disheartening. Why don’t we see more world-renowned research and projects emerging from Turkey? And when I see Turkish scientists working in — and even leading — those impactful projects abroad, my sadness grows.

Still, when it comes to environmental issues, I feel a bit more reassured. There is a 100% Turkish-owned company that has made a bold claim about solving environmental problems. Its name is 7Cbasalia Global, and the technology it has developed is called Basalia bio-cycle technology — aiming to completely solve all environmental problems humanity faces, holistically and in line with the principles of nature. The invention and process belong to scientist Ahmet Başal.

The technology is based on a new generation of armored, intelligent microorganism communities called Basalia, developed over many years through selection and adaptation. Each team of microorganisms in the Basalia culture has its own specific tasks, working together to detect, capture, break bonds, decompose, and ionize all types of waste materials.

This biotechnology, with its sequential and holistic chain of reactions and “Zero Waste – Zero Emissions” principle, breaks down all organic and inorganic waste — whether solid, liquid, or gas — and turns them into environmentally and economically valuable outputs.

The company claims that Basalia bio-cycle technology can neutralize the most dangerous solid waste and purify the dirtiest waters, insisting that no conventional environmental technology can compete with Basalia.

This ambitious approach excites me. I hope it will first make waves in Turkey, then across the world. And I hope to hear more bold voices from Turkey in other fields as well.

Until the next article, stay healthy…

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