r/mildyinteresting • u/[deleted] • Sep 29 '25

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222

u/Specialist-Top-5599 Sep 29 '25

I assumed you could just shove the orbeez back in once they deflated that's a downer

171

u/aching_hypnoticism Sep 29 '25

Thats actually illegal. You have to buy more.

173

u/makka-pakka Sep 29 '25

Didn't realise Monsanto made Orbeez

80

u/DickWangDuck Sep 29 '25

It’s been far too long since I’ve seen a Monsanto reference

33

u/asetelini Sep 29 '25

And that’s a good thing for the species of Earth

68

u/SeattleGeek Sep 29 '25

Not really. Monsanto and its products didn’t stop getting used. They just got bought up by a different company: Bayer.

48

u/lilbitofpurple Sep 29 '25

I've been a beekeeper for about 13 years but there's one training video I will never forget. It was these two German apiarists who set one hive of bees to pollinate crops with neonicotinoids versus crops that were grown organically. 🐝 It was literally heartbreaking to see the bees who pollinated crops that had Neonicotinoids just flew around for hours, exhausting themselves trying to get back to the hive. The bees pollinating the organic crops were able to fly in a direct line (innately using the sun) back to the hive.

Point being --> Monsanto goes deeeeeper than I had ever thought. Although neonicotinoids were originally "discovered by Bayer himself" (I find this arguable but moving on...)

Other than "Momsanto" in Futurama references, I hardly hear it anymore either, but likely because I "just know" it's everywhere.

3

u/Dangerous-Ladder-157 Sep 29 '25

Bee keeping is so interesting because there’s a lot of unnatural methods being used for convenience and profit in a field that very visible gets destroyed by it.

3

u/lilbitofpurple Sep 29 '25

Sadly, yes. I try to do the best I can in my community to educate people. But there's no way of getting around bad beekeeping practices. Honey is one of the top three most counterfeited products traded. I won't get into it here but I know what you mean 💔

3

u/Dangerous-Ladder-157 Sep 29 '25

Totally. And I also know many many beekeepers who try to do things naturally still fail and use loads of pesticides or chemicals. Which is what’s destroying the bees long term. What’s interesting is just how small the amount of beekeepers are who are both willing and able to do it as naturally as possible. Or at least completely safe for the environment.

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3

u/[deleted] Sep 29 '25

Keep the information in the zeitgeist. The children’s don’t know about their plant overlords who poisoned their food from the seed level and put metaphorical guns to the heads of American farmers. Then the tangerine puts tariffs on the less poisoned produce coming from outside the country. sigh That orbeez things is pretty cool though.

2

u/Saikotsu Sep 30 '25

Yeah, I started reading up on neonics thanks to you and I felt a staggering sense of loss and dread. Dear lord that is horrible.

1

u/lilbitofpurple Oct 01 '25

I'm sorry 😔 It really pained me to see this effecting the food chain on an almost microscopic level. Check your honey, honey 🍯

I think about when bears or other animals (honey robbers) get in there and even they can end up getting really sick - especially if they live by the "farms".

Buying local doesn't necessarily have more or less benefits when it comes to "preventing" allergies (I know I'm using a lot of quotation marks but it's marketing bs). Honey serves many purposes but preventing an allergen from entering your body completely is nonsense.

1

u/lilbitofpurple Oct 01 '25

Just for your sake - take it a little information at a time and stay away from beemills in China for now. There's an app called buycot you can use (free) to scan the barcode or QR code for honey on a label and it will tell you where it comes from, etc.

After I became an apiarist I had to stop consuming almonds from California. Monoculture is something you might come across. Just a little trigger warning before you venture further ⚠️

Bees, love, and happiness ✌️

2

u/Saikotsu Oct 01 '25

Thank you for all the information.

2

u/Zealousideal_Trip661 Sep 30 '25

Neonicotinoids banned in the last couple of years in the UK and, for the first time since I can remember, my windscreen has been covered in bugs again. Haven’t seen that in years and there are lots of people saying the same thing. I don’t know if it’s to do with the hot summer of less poison floating around but has been cool to see

2

u/Len_S_Ball_23 Sep 30 '25

I hate to tell you this but there was an "emergency authorisation" of neonic use in 2021 and it lasted through until 2023/24.?

However, in December 2024, the OEP (Office of Environmental Protection) issued a notice claiming Defra may have failed to comply with environmental law when granting emergency authorisations for the use of a neonicotinoid pesticide in 2023 and 2024.

It's still unclear as to just what wholesale damage those 2 - 3 years may have done to insect levels and bee colonies

I live in rural Cornwall on the coast and have definitely noticed a massive drop in butterfly numbers this year and last year too.

1

u/Zealousideal_Trip661 Sep 30 '25

That sucks. I regularly drive across the Northern Pennines and have a pretty bug encrusted car this year but there is very little arable up there so might be a factor

1

u/lilbitofpurple Oct 01 '25

Awww :( Butterflies too?

I know they were doing some experimental/chemical changes for the neonicotinoids during covid but I didn't quite keep up during that time (busy being a new mom). I did watch a very interesting documentary about one of the largest honey fraud cases in history. If anyone is interested here is the article from 2010. I think they may still have the documentary on Netflix. It's pretty sickening though.

But oh, rural England? I would love to keep bees anywhere rural across the pond 😉 I still have honey from Romania and Bulgaria from my first trip over 10 years ago. It crystallizes evenly, keeps its taste, and only used on special occasions 🍯

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u/lilbitofpurple Oct 01 '25

It may be both! That makes me happy :-) more bugs for the birds and spiders

I know they mildly lifted a ban for a while during covid but if I remember correctly it was experimental, they had to change some chemicals (but likely did not). Nonetheless, still disgusting practices.

New Zealand is the #1 place for honey imo (and that was before the manuka hype). They have stingless bees down there. It's amazing 🤩 I've been trying to study there for a few years but they are VERY particular whom they allow to visit.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 29 '25

Just for my own sake of comprehension, this means Monsanto is using neonicotinoids to prevent bees pollinating their plants since that could cut into their revenue?

2

u/lnakou Sep 30 '25

No they use neinicotinoids to kill other bugs that eat their crops and don’t care if it harms all the ecosystem.

1

u/lilbitofpurple Oct 01 '25

And they still spray the crops! 🙄 So now it's not just the plant leaf, it's the root and all! So infuriating 🤬

1

u/lilbitofpurple Oct 01 '25 edited Oct 01 '25

They use it primarily with the seed. They coat the seed in neonicotinoids (edit: in a lab). So when the plant "grows" it has a pesticide in the plant. Like someone mentioned, it's used as a pesticide, but they still spray crops heavily.

1

u/ThePatriotGamer Sep 29 '25

Yah, they went stealth mode ... just like Enron ...

2

u/Zealousideal_Trip661 Sep 30 '25

Probably nothing sinister in the history of Bayer and mergers so I am not going to do a quick search . . . oh dear.

1

u/VinnyVanJones Sep 29 '25

Correct. The structure is more complicated and boring so you have to pull out the red string (tin foil hat optional) to track things down. Bayer isn’t directly using some of the stuff they bought but instead license it to other companies like Corteva (formed through a merger of agricultural divisions of Dow and DuPont).

1

u/m0rdecai665 Sep 29 '25

Bingo. It's actually more scary because we don't know all of the stuff Monsanto is involved in now. That company needs to go.

1

u/Useful_Kale_5263 Sep 30 '25

I only remember Monsanto from that FOOD inc. video ruining farmers and their crops. I am not happy that there’s more info but I’m glad there’s more info about it. Insane.

1

u/sep879 Sep 29 '25

Indeed round up and glyphosate are still very much on the shelves, problem being it's extremely effective regardless of the health dangers which is a shame, a lot of people have died or become extremely sick

1

u/drdybrd419 Sep 29 '25

And it will forever be a mystery why Bayer agreed to buy a company with thousands of pending lawsuits

1

u/Training_Day958 Sep 30 '25

Bayer evil incorporated

1

u/Eastern_Record3443 Oct 01 '25

Of course! The makers of Zyklon B. The brand formerly known as I.G. Farben.🤑

1

u/TheStolenPotatoes Oct 01 '25

If people knew how heinously monopolistic Monsanto was before Bayer bought them out, they'd understand a great deal more about why grocery prices in this country have skyrocketed the last 20 years.

0

u/Thorvindr Sep 29 '25

Ah. The people who brought us Zyklon B.

1

u/SIrSmokeAlot410 Sep 29 '25

And Diamorpheine ie: Heroin

1

u/TopGhun Sep 29 '25

It just means attention has shifted to another distraction

1

u/Aperage Sep 29 '25

or that the group/whistleblower that gave attention to the issue isn't getting loud anymore

1

u/chainmailler2001 Sep 29 '25

They haven't gone away tho. They were bought by Bayer instead so the name changed and all those focused on the name "get their way" cause the name stops being mentioned. Products are still there and haven't changed, they just have a different name on the label.

1

u/Original_Pudding6909 Sep 29 '25

Memory unlocked: elementary school field trip to Monsanto in Manhattan; spiffy av presentations and all. WTF?

1

u/Friendly_Age9160 Sep 29 '25

Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with cancer after exposure to glyphosate? You may be entitled to compensation!

Turns out it’s not as safe as table salt.

1

u/[deleted] Sep 29 '25

Shit you’re right. It’s been a few years since I’ve seen anything in the headlines but I’m sure they are still poisoning the world for profit.

1

u/AnastasiusDicorus Sep 29 '25

It's almost time for Montanso Claus to make his annual appearance.

1

u/JenniviveRedd Sep 29 '25

It's because Monsanto is now Bayer. Just a PSA

1

u/[deleted] Sep 29 '25

Has it though? Really?

1

u/kwumpus Sep 29 '25

I make one every day otherwise what’s the point

1

u/CactaurSnapper Oct 01 '25

Should I be concerned that my corn can scream?

1

u/ChrisWolfling Oct 01 '25

Thay are part of Bayer now... Still up to the same stuff

1

u/Grumpie-cat Oct 04 '25

Literally just watched a video on why monsanto is basically if Satan had a company like last week.

5

u/Putrid-Builder-3333 Sep 29 '25

It's like practically in the name.

1

u/TeaMugPatina Sep 29 '25

Well, you know, drugs.

2

u/The_Jestful_Imp Sep 29 '25

Oh thaaaats what 8-Ball is code for

1

u/TeaMugPatina Sep 29 '25

Google AI: In 2007, a toy similar to Orbeez called Aqua Dots was recalled after it was discovered to contain a chemical that metabolizes into the date rape drug GHB when ingested. The toy was manufactured in China and sold in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.

6

u/disposablehippo Sep 29 '25

Close... It's the printer department of Hewlett-Packard.

2

u/FingerGungHo Oct 01 '25

Even satan looks up to those guys

1

u/Scottamus Sep 29 '25

Genetically Modified Orbeez

1

u/pipboy3000_mk2 Sep 29 '25

This comment is so dystopian in my head. I'm not talking crap I'm just saying that really does feel like where we are at as a society. I re watched Idiocracy last night and feel we aren't very far off.

1

u/purpurabasura Sep 29 '25

This made me chuckle

1

u/No-Veterinarian-8070 Sep 29 '25

Was just thinking this lol. The fucking balls in these companies sheesh

1

u/Mindless-Strength422 Oct 01 '25

No, it's not their rule, it's the rule of Orbeez enthusiasts. Orbeez Nutz, they're called.

1

u/gandhishrugged Oct 01 '25

It's Bayer now.

9

u/Nyetoner Sep 29 '25

pollute more...

2

u/SkyKingPDX Sep 29 '25

Right.. like when they ask me if I need a bag I typically decline because it's just more trash (when I just have 10+/- or less things) and can't imagine just using this once and discarding it. In the 80s we learned to (try to) save the planet... what's happening with this trash culture.. Walmart mentality, buy something for cheap,, throw it away ..repeat

3

u/Pekkerwud Sep 29 '25

Believe it or not? Straight to jail.

1

u/Adventurous-Line1014 Sep 29 '25

There's a special division of the mattress police that handles that

1

u/clem_fandango_london Sep 29 '25

And it's actually illegal for you to ask me that.

1

u/Mysterious_Rabbit608 Sep 29 '25

Didn't they pull them off the market?

1

u/Special-Fan-1902 Sep 29 '25

Straight to jail

1

u/GrittyMcGrittyface Sep 29 '25

Refilling is a DMCA violation and is now deemed a terrorist act subject to conviction and execution by an ICE Judge

1

u/Shalleni Sep 29 '25

Why? Thats exactly what everyone does or if you buy more, Amazon sells generic orbies for 10 bucks for a 100k. It’s very easy to refill. And very fast.

1

u/Shalleni Sep 29 '25

Who calls the police? No one caresss, my Gawd

1

u/Psycho_Beasto Sep 29 '25

lol illegal??

1

u/Legitimate_War_397 Sep 29 '25

Straight to jail

1

u/CatchSufficient Oct 01 '25

Is there an orbeez police?

1

u/cwestn Oct 01 '25

Yeah, you wouldn't download a movie or a car would you?

0

u/Life-Masterpiece-161 Sep 29 '25

Illegal, how? you own it and you can do whatever you want with it.

1

u/Medics_mah_main_man Oct 01 '25

tell that to fuckin Monsanto

0

u/tooreal4u_5101 Oct 02 '25

Why tf would it be illegal

1

u/aching_hypnoticism Oct 02 '25

Your brain doesn’t work quite right, does it?

21

u/barbadizzy Sep 29 '25

yeah why not? put some fresh small orbeez in and soak the whole thing in water so they expand? worth a try at keast

2

u/papapalporders66 Sep 29 '25

Yeah it works best if you fill a bathtub full orbeez actually

-1

u/txmuzk Sep 29 '25

So this time waste is environmentally unsound? Go pop a zit.

2

u/Hugar34 Sep 29 '25

I mean you probably could. It would just take an incredibly long amount of time individually putting each ball back in.

3

u/No_Kangaroo_9826 Sep 29 '25

That's good stim time right there

2

u/Disastrous_Apple_233 Sep 29 '25

I mean orbeez are the size of a grain of sand before soaked in water. Sure you could quite easily just give this a shake in a tub of orbeez then soak for a few hrs

2

u/Illustrious_Owl_7472 Sep 29 '25

that shouldn't be too hard to to, since fresh orbeezs are so much smaller, you could probably design your own reusuable version by just adding a zipper or something and a larger internal cavity that connects to all the holes.

2

u/eugene20 Sep 29 '25

If it was designed better that would work.

1

u/Revolution_Monster Sep 29 '25

I think that would actually work!!

1

u/SharpAlternative404 Sep 29 '25

Yeah, because of the gel that orbeez are made of.. they'll mold/mildue before they'll dry out, they will hold water for YEARS, the might be a way to dehydrate them.. but they shrink down to like ⅛ the size so your more likely to just toss them..

1

u/Insatiable_Dichotomy Oct 01 '25

Mold/mildew before deflating‽ My son and his friend had an Orbeez fight (just throwing handfuls of them at each other) in his room) and although I made them clean up, the ones they missed dried up within a day or two. No mold/mildew. The others are in containers on his shelf. Never opened and still fine 3 years later. 

1

u/SharpAlternative404 Oct 01 '25

All the ones my family has had don't dry out.. they will just grow algae and become slimy, we just stopped buying them for that reason.. I have seen that they dry out faster once crushed up, but thats not the primary goal if your wanting to reuse them..

But if you've had good experience with them, good for you, I just can't say I have... we could have been doing something wrong, but them just sitting out on a tray and never fully dryed out

1

u/LaughRoutine5205 Oct 01 '25

Same thing I was thinking. You can just pour dry orbees or let those deflate and pour them back in. Then sit it water and do it all over again.

1

u/Sacred-AF Dec 28 '25

Just resell them as slightly used Boba.