By The Numbers

Panda poop could fuel biofuel

Marketplace Staff Sep 29, 2015
10 states

That’s how many saw financial aid to their preschool programs cut out during the last government shut down. That left thousands of family scrambling for childcare. And even if this latest shutdown is averted, education officials across the country are bracing for the possibility of another just down the road.

22 pounds

That’s how much bamboo is fed daily to Xing Hui and Hao Hao, two pandas in the Pairi Daiza wildlife park in Brugelette, Belgium. These days, Belgian researchers don’t care as much about how much the pandas are eating. They’re more concerned with their poop. As Reuters reports, the panda excrement is being studied to gain an understanding of microorganisms in the animals’ stomachs — their ability to break down tough biomass could be used to develop a new biofuels. 

$99

That’s how much a SM58 Vocal Microphone costs. And according to comedian Harrison Greenbaum, it’s worth every penny. That’s because as a comedian, how you sound on stage matters a great deal. Greenbaum talked to us about his preference of mic as part of series Pro Tool: Tools of the Professional

$369.99

That’s how much you’ll have to pay if you want your very own homemade Coca Cola via the new Keurig Kold, a soda machine from the makers of the popular single-serve coffee maker. On top of that, it costs between $1.12 and $1.25 to make each serving of soda. As the Associated Press writes, Coca Cola is placing a big bet on Keurig’s success, as it owns a 16.8 percent stake in the company.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.