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New Study: Only Two Forests Worldwide Remain Intact

by November 26, 2016

Thanks to a new study done by researchers from North Carolina State University it has been brought to light that there are only two untouched forests in the world today. Most forests across the world are so severely fragmented that they cannot be considered wilderness.

Urban, suburban, and agricultural development is recklessly destroying large sections of almost every single forest across the globe. We have completely ruined tons of habitats and ecosystems. Diversity in both plants and animals have been reduced by anywhere between 17 percent to 75 percent. This is the reason why, how can we hope to preserve anything when we’ve already destroyed everything?

“It’s no secret that the world’s forests are shrinking, so this study asked about the effects of this habitat loss and fragmentation on the remaining forests,” said Nick Haddad, one of the co-authors of the study and a biologist at N.C. State.

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If we intend to save the rest of the species living in these forests we must do something about this issue now. According to this research, the only two big patches of intact forest left are the Congo and the Amazon. We have yet to see the full extent of what we are doing to the forests of the world but if we don’t stop soon I am sure we will all see.

“The initial negative effects were unsurprising,” Haddad said, adding, “But I was blown away by the fact that these negative effects became even more negative with time. Some results showed a 50 percent or higher decline in plant and animals species over an average of just 20 years, for example. And the trajectory is still spiraling downward.”

If we are going to preserve and protect the remaining species in these environments, it is important that we act quickly. Haddad suggested that we begin preserving chunks of land and install wildlife corridors as mitigation options. This should help ensure that the species and ecosystems within these areas are not permanently destroyed and lost forever.

Angry Argentine Farmers Destroy ‘Poisonous’ Monsanto Facility

by November 26, 2016

The expansion of a Monsanto plant has some Argentine farmers in an uproar. The farmers have petitioned, marching, and talking to the government to force a stop on the expansion. Luckily, the government made a decision in their favor.

Monsanto is a multi-million dollar genetically modified seed plant. The farmers have been working for three years to persuade the government to disallow the expansion. The expansion project was designed to treat 3.5 million hectares of maize, but only 2.5 million hectares were actually sown, leading the biotech giant to pull out of the project. The activists courageously invaded the expansion site and created a blockade, refusing the vacate.

The company tried to gain the favor of the people by saying, “will be proud to have one of the most important seed-producing plants in the world. More than one thousand employees of Monsanto Argentina are proud and thankful to be a part of the community of Malvinas, Argentina.”

The farmers were ordered by the court to vacate the property, but instead, they called in reinforcements to strengthen the “blockade.”

There is one prevailing reason the residents of the town oppose the expansion. Because of the previous production of harmful products, like Agent Orange, The people of Argentina are very involved in the protection of their environment. Companies like Monsanto pose serious threats to the land around their plants.

After three years of dedication by many citizens, the Biotech giant pulled out of the deal, and the residents of the community Malvinas, Argentina are beyond relieved.

https://youtu.be/3vJP5-wq3_g

Neuroscience Student Demonstrates How Meditation Rids the Brain of Mental Illness

by November 26, 2016

Juan Santoyo is studying neuro and contemplative sciences to help solve the problem of mental disorders in our country.  Every year, about 42.5 million American adults (or 18.2 percent of the total adult population in the United States) suffers from some mental illness, enduring conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia.

Santoyo’s family migrated to the United States from Colombia. He noticed that several homeless people suffered from ongoing psychological disorders without treatment. based on the preliminary results of a study published in “Frontiers in Human Neuroscience,” he discovers a method of treatment that isn’t just prescribing medicine.

The study describes how meditation can affect a subject’s ability to change brain activity in the posterior cingulate cortex. “You can observe both of these phenomena together and discover how they are co-determining one another,” Santoyo said. “Within 10 one-minute sessions, they [participants in a meditation study] were able to develop certain strategies to evoke a certain experience and use it to drive the signal.”

For some scientists, the news that meditation can trigger mental and genetic alterations is groundbreaking. Science certainly isn’t needed to experience or even prove the benefits of this ancient practice, these studies are likely heavily contributing to doctors prescribing things like meditation to patients instead of medications.

Featured image via World Science Festival 

This Is What Happens To Your Body After Drinking 1 Cup Of Coffee [Watch]

by September 21, 2016

Sometimes it is hard to start the day without a cup of coffee in the morning but do you know what happens when you drink coffee? Many things happen inside your body upon consuming this delicious drink.

The robust flavor of coffee compels lots of people to drink it daily. They enjoy the taste and the boost of energy they attain from it. But as it turns out there are a few conflicting studies about the pros and cons on drinking coffee. Fortunately for us some new information has arose that makes hints at the benefits of drinking coffee. Of course, anything in excess is not good for us but a cup here and there actually might be able to offer some health benefits.

Below you will be able to watch a breakdown of the things that go on inside your body after drinking coffee. This will show everything from ten minutes up to six hours. Enjoy! I’m sure it will blow your mind just as it did mine.

Bee Venom Can Literally Destroy HIV Without Harming Your Body

by September 21, 2016

Bees seem to do quite a few things for us, but did you know that besides pollinating flowers they can do things like destroy HIV? Yes, a toxin found in bee venom can destroy HIV.

It has been discovered that by poking holes in the protective layer surrounding HIV and other viruses, Melittin (a toxin found in bee venom) could potentially prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS by working to kill off the virus itself. This was found by scientists from Washington University School Of Medicine In St. Louis.

The pharmaceutical industry seems to be hoping to use nano-particles containing melittin in some of their products to counteract HIV but a homeopathic remedy made from bee venom might be able to help prevent the spread of the disease itself if done properly. Scientists are using the nano-particle version containing melittin to protect healthy cells from damage this is being done because free roam bee venom in the body could potentially be very harmful.

It has been found that melittin loaded nano-particles are rather effective in killing tumorous cells but the particles are able to work because a protective bumper was added to the nano-particles surface. When they come in contact with healthy cells they just bounce off of them because the cells are quite larger in size. The HIV virus is much smaller in size than the nano-particle bumpers and so when these melittin infused particles touch an HIV cell they become infused with it and destroy the disease riddled cell.

This is a new approach to attacking AIDS that is going to show a great improvement considering most medications being sold for this disease only stop the virus from replicating and do nothing to stop the initial infection.

Other viruses such as hepatitis B and C could also benefit to treatments similar to this one with the bee venom since they attack diseased cells that are quite similar. Clinical trials for this treatment are still being conducted with funding from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (Explorations grant number OPP1024642 ‘fusogenic nano-particles for combined anti-HIV/contraception’). Bee venom has actually been used throughout history to heal things like shingles, gout, high blood pressure, and hay fever.

The use of honey bee products for medical purposes is known as Apitherapy. This includes the use of bee venom, raw honey, pollen, beeswax, and royal jelly. This is a form of medicine that has been around for over three thousand years.

European Study Discovers Raw Milk Boosts Immunity, Prevents Colds & Infections

by September 21, 2016

While the United States FDA has made claims that it would be a death sentence to consume raw milk, according to this study it would be the exact opposite. Drinking raw milk can actually prevent colds and other respiratory infections.

This study was done published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology and was done by several researchers, doctors, and other medical professionals across Europe. They investigated the effects of raw mild versus boiled farm fresh milk and commercially processed milk. Participating in this research were a group of women who lived and worked on livestock farms in many rural areas throughout Central Europe.

All of these women were in their third trimesters of pregnancy during the time of this study and lots of information was acquired like their lifestyle patterns and milk drinking habits. Overall nine hundred and eighty-three children were included in the final data set. This ended up revealing that milk in its raw pure unobstructed form is far superior to the others in terms of immune boosting nutrients. Raw milk as it turns out works very similarly like breast milk. It provides protective and anti-infective benefits for children. Raw milk works against things like inflammation while processed milk has been shown to help promote it thanks to it’s altered proteins.

Sadly ultra heat treated commercial milk is the most widely available milk on the market. Commercial milk itself was not found to decrease levels of C-reactive protein which can be a leading cause of disease. This is something very specific with fevers. Raw milk on the other hand decreases respiratory infections and fevers. This could be very beneficial to babies and young children. In Europe raw milk is something openly accepted increasingly so. There are even raw milk vending machines in some countries but here in the United States irrationality and paranoia have landed raw milk in the category marked dangerous. If you can get ahold of some raw milk by all means drink it. It will do your family more good than you could ever know. Don’t feed into the fear that it isn’t good for you. It really is great for you.

https://youtu.be/UBSQX5mhwrQ

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