Trends

Biodegradable yucca bags to replace plastic

That we ought to reduce our plastic consumption has become common sense by now. However, it seems to be awfully difficult to carry out. It has become so deeply integrated into every aspect of society that now that we are starting to live with the consequences, we just don’t know how to get rid of this harmful thing we call plastic.

Bags against pollution

However, with new ideas like these yucca-based biodegradable bags we are certainly taking a step in the right direction. Kevin Kumala came up with this innovative idea. It occurred during one of his trips to his home country: Bali. He noticed the enormous amounts of plastic that end up at the beaches, not only in Bali, but everywhere around the world.

Kumala’s journey

From then on, the biologist started seeking for a solution to replace these plastic bags that have become so usual in our daily lives. However, the journey he would have to go through would definitely not be an easy one.

He did not only want these new bags to be biodegradable, he also wanted to make sure that, in case they did end up in the sea, they wouldn’t harm marine fauna.

A clever solution

He found yucca starch bags to be the perfect solution for the plastic problem. What Kumala accomplished went further than just bags that biodegrade at a fast pace: he managed to make his invention eatable for fish, meaning they would not only not cause any harm, they would also feed marine wildlife.

Yucca bags

Kumala chose the yucca veggie to be the protagonist of his invention because of his own roots. Indonesia cultivates over 25 million tons of yucca every year. This is why yucca seemed like the perfect candidate for the job. Once the biologist chose the material he wanted to work with, he went onto copying the manufacturing process of regular bags.

More than bags

The result of Kumala’s investigation was a bag that would turn into compost in only 100 days, that dissolves in warm water and is as cheap as 5 dollar cents. This project, if all goes as planned, will reach other countries in no time.

However, Avani Eco did not want to limit themselves to just “plastic” bags: they have already started creating all sorts of plastic replacements in other areas like food recipients or cutlery.

Images: Avani Eco

The Norwegian island that wants to get rid of time

Sommaroy is the name of the Norwegian island that is planning on completely getting rid of time. The island has 69 days of summer, which is why it’s often called “the Summer Island”. It’s also why they have come up with this crazy time-less idea.

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Una publicación compartida de Radio City (@radiocity_it) el 24 Jun, 2019 a las 5:03 PDT

Where the initiative stems from

The 300 hundred inhabitants of the island spend 69 days straight under the light of day. They lack normal timetables like we have. To them, it is strange for a child to have a curfew. If they had to tell them to come home when night falls they would see them again three months later!

Making the most out of it

The daylight allows them to make the most out of the time they have: you’ll find children playing football at 2 in the morning. How crazy? Given they already didn’t live like the rest of the world, it just made sense to them to completely remove any sense of time. The objective of this new no-time implementation is to remove stress, allowing citizens to live more freely and in peace.

An implementation many want

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If the implementation does take place, Sommaroy would be the first zone worldwide to live without any sense of time. They aim is to formalize a system that suits their light-time better. All it needs is legislative approval, as it already has the approval of the citizens. They have even been called to hang their clocks from the bridge as a sign to show they are in favour.

For now, the initiative has come up just for summertime, but they are already looking at extending it to the whole year, even when day light is scarce. Would you dare living like this?

Easy Ways To Get (And Stay) Fit In No Time

If you are one of the many who made getting fit your New Year’s resolution (and subsequently broke said resolution two weeks later), this article is for you! Getting fit can seem like an impossible challenge, but once you start the habit, you’ll be wondering how you managed to live this long without exercise in your life. With this easy to follow guide, you’ll be on your way to reaching your exercise goals in no time.

Write Down Your Goals

Before even thinking about heading to sign up at a gym, think about why you want to get fit. Are you trying to lose weight? Did your doctor recommend it? Whatever the case may be, it’s important to set realistic goals– both short and long term- to start your fit journey. Once you come up with your goals, be sure to write them down and place them in a space that you will see everyday (above your bed, for example). This way you will have a visible and constant reminder for why you started, in order to push you on the days when your motivation is lacking.

Buy The Right Gear

You can’t feasibly (or safely) start running without a decent pair of running shoes. While you don’t have to spend tons of money on workout clothes, having a few basic items that you feel comfortable in will make getting fit that much more enjoyable and stress-free. Instead of worrying about how you look at the gym, you’ll be able to concentrate on your workout and achieving your goals.

Try A Fitness Class

Often times the most daunting part of going to the gym for the first time is doing it solo. Luckily, there are an infinite number of group classes available out there, both at specialty studios and regular gyms. Cross Fit, Yoga, Spinning, Barre… you name it there is a class for YOU. Not only will having an instructor help to motivate you throughout the structured classes, but you will be getting fit with a group of people that will make you feel a part of a community.

Create A Bumping Fit Playlist

There’s nothing worse than being on the treadmill with no music to distract you. Studies show listening to music while you workout can even enhance your physical performance by give you an energy boost. If you don’t feel like creating your own playlist, apps like Spotify have hundreds of great workout playlists already pre-made. Some playlists can even be created based on running tempo, so you can get fit at the pace you want.

Short and Sweet Does The Trick

Of all the crazy (false) myths that exist about getting fit, the biggest by far is that your workout has to be a 1-2 hour long sweat session to see results. In reality, a quick 15 minute HIIT (High Intensity Impact Training) workout can be just as impactful, if not more. HIIT workouts are the perfect alternative to squeeze exercise into a crammed workday, and the intense interval bursts help target fat and create toned muscle. You can say goodbye to the boring treadmill, and hello to the new you for good!

Photos: Freepik, Pixabay, and Unsplash

You can now spend the night in a gigantic wine barrel

Are you a true wine lover? Do you feel like spending the weekend someplace different? Then this is the perfect plan for you. “Quinta da Pacheca” has now opened a hotel service which allows you to spend the night in an enormous wine barrel. Isn’t it a dream come true?

A wine barrel hotel

The “Quinta da Pacheca” wine barrel hotel is located in the vineyard area in Douro, Portugal. The objetive of this creative project is reinforcing the originality of vineyard tourism that is offered in Douro. In case you didn’t know, Douro is one of the most important cities worldwide when it comes to wine. So what better place to start up such wine-y project.

High-end services

The wine barrel-like rooms are just as sophisticated as what other many-star-hotels might offer. They include a round, king-sized bed, a private wardrobe, and a bathroom with an incorporated shower.

These spectacular barrels also include WiFi connection, skylights as well as a private terrace. What more could you ask for? Another big plus, which also sticks to the main theme, is that guests are able to taste different types of wine, from white, to rosé to red.

In the middle of an enormous vineyard

The wine-tasting is made possible because the giant barrel rooms have been strategically placed along a wine producing work space: right in the heart of the wine making. So if wine is what you live for, you might want to look into this.

Spending the night

Spending one night in a “Quinta da Pacheca” barrel would cost between 190€ and 205€, which includes a night in one of the rooms plus a delicious breakfast.

However, if these barrel rooms don’t seem to sweep you off your feet, and you’d still rather sleep in a normal hotel room, “Quinta da Pacheca” also provides the option of sleeping in their regular hotel, in which you can choose between double rooms, “superior” rooms and “romantic rooms”.

Photos: Booking.com

Your Trendy Drink Could Send You To The ER

Bubble teas are the trendiest new drink to thirst your quench this summer, but could this latest bubbly fad be a hazard to your health?

The Latest Bubble Tea Drink Craze

In case you haven’t stepped outside in the last month, bubble teas are the latest drink that will have you craving for more. Originated in Taiwan, bubble teas are a cold sweet flavored drink that contain little chewy “bubble” tapioca balls at the bottom. They often are sold in a variety of fruity flavors and with milkshake versions too. Bottom line- this drink is DELICIOUS.

While they’ve only started popping up recently around the world, this sweet bubbly drink has been an essential staple in Taiwan for years. Think of it like their version of coffee. Not a bad way to start the day!

Too Much Of A Good Thing…

Just like some people drink 4-5 cups of coffee a day, some people drink numerous cups of bubble tea a day… which caused one 14 year old girl from Zhejiang, China to be hospitalized. According to the reports, the unnamed girl had been suffering severe cramping to the point she couldn’t eat or go to the bathroom for five days straight.

Naturally alarmed by the pain, her parents decided to take her to the hospital, but doctors could not find anything wrong with her from a physical exam.

The Nightmare Continues…

With no answers from a physical exam, doctors decided to do a CT scan and found imaging of more than 100 tapioca bubbles that were trapped in her digestive system. The girl claimed she didn’t drink more than one bubble tea before she had cramps, but with THAT many undigested in her stomach… doctors thought otherwise.

Doctors believe she was not able to digest the drink because the bubbles are high in starch, which is very difficult for the body to break down. Thankfully, they were able to easily cure the girl with laxatives and sent her home with the reminder to not drink so many bubble teas!

Should I Be Scared To Drink Bubble Teas?

Of course not! This girl’s trip to the ER was just one unlucky incident due to consuming too much of the bubbly delight. As with most things in life, it’s important to enjoy the drink in moderation and remember to get enough water and nutrients from other sources. This will help make sure your digestion is in check. No need to sweat when you sit back and sip that bubble tea this summer!

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Una publicación compartida de Sunflower (@jj_shineshining) el 16 Abr, 2019 a las 3:20 PDT

Photos: Unsplash, Pixabay and Pexels

You’re not antisocial, you’re just smart

Do you feel like you’re more comfortable when you’re alone? Maybe you prefer carrying out activities like reading and learning in peace, or maybe you prefer quiet places rather than going to a party. This doesn’t mean you’re a “weirdo” like some people have probably called you before. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Your brain allows you to think clearer

Science has proven that your brain actually works better than those of people who always need to be around others. Yes, that’s right. There’s nothing wrong with you. You are just able to think clearer than more “socially involved” people.

Scientifically proven

According to the British Society of Psychology, people who are more reserved socially and prefer to lead a quiet life have obtained a higher score on the intelligence scale. Researchers call this phenomenon the “forest hermit” strategy, which allows them to focus on their personal approach.

According to Satoshi Kanazawa, the director of the investigation, the study showed how most people need to constantly interact with others, whereas the reduced minority that obtained higher scores could all happily work on their own, avoiding interaction with others, and keep it that way.

The Savanna Theory of Happiness

The basis of the study is the Savanna Theory of Happiness. This study establishes that what made our ancestors happy, still makes us happy today: interaction was very special in low populations. However, it seems intelligent people have cut loose from this and don’t care much about social interaction.

“The most intelligent individuals experience a lesser satisfaction of their social lives with more frequent social interaction with friends”
Satoshi Kanazawa

Happier people live in seclusion

The study has concluded that people who leave behind city life to move to a remote town tend to be happier because they have limited communication and are generally stress-free.

This makes you question quite some things, doesn’t it.

Photos: Unsplash