If you’re not familiar with Biosphere Reserves, they are similar to UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but instead of a property recognized as being exceptionally natural or cultural, they are sites where the goal is to connect people with nature and promote sustainable development – they are not protected under UNESCO, just designated. Some Biosphere Reserves are also World Heritage sites.
There are over 700 Biosphere Reserves in the world and Jordan has two – Mujib Biosphere Reserve and Dana Biosphere Reserve. During my trip to Jordan (itinerary here), I had the opportunity to spend a night in the Dana Biosphere Reserve, at the Feynan Ecolodge (read my experience at the lodge here).
Managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, the Dana Biosphere Reserve encompasses all four bio-geographical zones in Jordan, Mediterranean, Irano-Turanian, Saharo-Arabian and Sudanian, so there is an amazing amount of diversity in its wildlife. Dana has over 800 species of plants and almost 500 species of animals. The reserve also supports the local Bedouins who live there for part of the year.
While it might not be on all the standard Jordan itineraries,
Dana definitely should be added to your bucket list if you like hiking, history
or diverse cultural experiences.
Hiking
Regardless of your accommodation, there are numerous hiking opportunities – from easy to intermediate to difficult. You can read up on all the guided and self-guided hikes on the Wild Jordan website.
We took part in the sunset hike and the plants hike –
however, it was not the best time of year for the plants hike because none of
the plants were flowering yet.
History
The Dana village area has been occupied since 4000BC.
Throughout history, it has attracted Paleolithic,
Egyptian, Nabatean, and Roman civilizations have been drawn to the area by the
fertile soil, water springs, and strategic location.
The area of Feynan also has an incredible
history. While research is still taking place, it can be said Feynan has one of
the longest sequences of human settlement in the world.
It was an extremely important place during the
Roman Empire because of the discovery of copper in the area. Vast deposits of
copper were mined and processed at Feynan. You can explore the various mines on
the Copper Mines hike offered at the Feynan Ecolodge.
The local Bedouin are goat herders, and their community living in the reserve told us that they live down in the wadi in the winter because it is warmer and then they move up into the mountains during the summer months because it is cooler up there.
Staying at Feynan, we met some of the local Bedouin and they taught us about making traditional Arabic coffee life in the desert (read about it here). We were only able to spend a day at the Ecolodge, but there are many other cultural experiences you can participate in, including, spending the day with a goat herder, making Arabic bread, and making Kohl (Arabic eye liner).
I’m sure everyone has heard their parents say, “go outside and get some fresh air” at some point in their life, probably amid a heated discussion or argument. For me, being told what to do made me even more upset. But apparently, I should have just listened.
I’m sure everyone has heard their parents say, “go outside
and get some fresh air” at some point in their life, probably amid a heated discussion
or argument. For me, being told what to do made me even more upset. But
apparently, I should have just listened.
What are we talking about?
A new study states that by taking just 20 minutes out of
your day to spend time in a place that you feel connects you with nature could substantially
lower your stress. They’ve in a sense, created a “nature pill”.
It is common knowledge that spending time outside reduces
your stress, “but until now it was unclear how much was enough, how often to do
it, or even what kind of nature experience will benefit us” (Dr. MaryCarol
Hunter, and Associate Professor at the University of Michigan and lead author
of the study). This study is the first of its kind to quantify the effects of
being “one with nature”.
What did they find?
The 8-week experiment involved 36 participants who were given the task to venture outside for 10 minutes or more 3 times a week. They were specifically told to spend time in a place where they felt they were interacting with nature.
Although this was a very personal (and subjective) experience, participants were asked to adhere to the following rules: do it during the daylight, do not perform aerobic exercises, and avoid the use of social media, internet, conversations and reading. The point was to mindfully spend time with nature, while also considering busy life schedules and personal commitments.
Dr. Hunter commented, “building personal flexibility into the experiment, allowed us to identify the optimal duration of a nature pill, no matter when or where it is taken, and under the normal circumstances of modern life, with its unpredictability and hectic scheduling.”
What they found after taking saliva samples once every two
weeks during the experiment and once before it began, was that spending just 20
minutes with nature substantially reduced cortisol level (stress hormone). But
if they spend just 10 more minutes outside, hormone levels dropped at their
greatest rate – spending a longer time outside also added to the reduction but
just at a slower rate.
Where do we go from here?
We go outside of course! However, while this research is exciting for the psychology community and reassuring for people who are already trying to connect with nature regularly, there is a lot of work that still needs to be done.
This study only had 36 participants who, more than likely,
were willing to take the time out of their day to spend time outside. It would
be interesting to see how people with depression, anxiety and various
psychological disorders would respond and/or cope with this type of treatment.
Another key component of this study was ensuring that
participants had this “nature pill” during the daylight. What does that mean
for people who live in the north? Especially in the winter months, sunlight can
be scarce and that already adds to a very prominent disorder – Seasonal Affective
Disorder. An important follow-up for this study would be to understand how the
lack of sunlight might affect this treatment.
What’s the BIG IDEA?
For the first time, researchers essentially quantified the
effects of spending time connecting with nature. Just 20-30 minutes outside reduced
cortisol levels by 21%!
Mental health is an extremely important topic, and while
discussions are still getting better, it’s still sometimes hard to talk about. There
is still a stigma around going to see a therapist and taking pills. Going
outside to reduce stress is something that is natural and normalized.
My hope is that this research can blossom into something that improves our mental well-being and improves our ability to talk about it.
In his book, Underground:
A Human History of the Worlds Beneath our Feet, Will Hunt argues that the use
of underground caves and cities that were used and occupied by our
predecessors, is innately human.
Exploring the various depths across the planet, Hunt takes
us on a journey through time, through our history and at times, our biology. He
tells us the story of our ancestors and attempts to explain our evolution.
Beautifully mixed into the stories of Hunt’s explorations,
are recounts of other explorers and, I believe, inspirations for this book.
Hunt is never shy in sharing his opinion about humanity with the reader, but he
also shows that he is not trying to be an expert. He meets with archeologists,
with shamans, and scientists. He is learning just as we are; it is as if we are
going on this journey with him.
This book reads like fiction, his writing is extremely
readable and it never feels as though he is telling you what is right and wrong.
It is very clear that Hunt wants the reader to explore their own thoughts and
opinions through his adventures.
It elegantly portrays the journey of Hunt’s life
underground, while also teaching us about what makes us human. This book is
many things. He takes us across the world to different countries and places,
inspiring you to explore the globe on your own. It is at times a historical
book, and others a scientific one, and it always reads like an adventure story
– it keeps you interested.
Each chapter is a different story, about a different cave,
or underground world, and as we move through the book, we learn a little bit
more about who we are as a species. It is as if the book represents the cave of
human history and as we read more, we are pulled into the mystery of our story,
discovering more and more as we turn down each tunnel. This book is very much a
story of our history as humans but it forces the consideration of our future.
Hunt believes that there is much more about humanity and our species history to still discover. It seems as if this book is an invitation for readers to look inwards, to discover more about themselves, and then to bring that knowledge outwards and use it to explore the world, and what truly makes us who we are.
“Provocative and satisfying. A book can often have its greatest impact by rethinking familiar terrain, forcing readers to reconsider their entrenched preconceptions. Will Hunt taps in to our deep fascination with what lies beneath the surface of things by exploring, quite literally, what’s going on beneath the surface. By the end of your excursion through Underground, you may never look at a hole in the ground in quite the same way again.”—New York TimesBook Review
In the heart of the Dana Biosphere Reserve, is the Feynan Ecolodge. Nestled in the heart of the Great Rift Valley of Jordan, this off-grid Ecolodge is world-renowned. Featuring all inclusive packages, this hotel helps you experience what life in the desert is truly like.
In the heart of the Dana Biosphere Reserve, is the Feynan Ecolodge. Nestled in the heart of the Great Rift Valley of Jordan, this off-grid Ecolodge is world-renowned. Featuring all inclusive packages, this hotel helps you experience what life in the desert is truly like.
Feynan Ecolodge was designed to operate in harmony with its habitat and is operated in a way which minimizes the impact of tourism on the surrounding natural environment. It is the most advanced ‘eco’ accommodation in Jordan and employs a wide range of different technologies and programmes aimed at leaving the smallest possible environmental footprint.
On my recent trip to Jordan (check out my itinerary here), we stayed at Feynan for one night and it was the most incredible experience. Being an Ecolodge, Feynan is committed to sustainable hospitality and supporting the local communities.
Our guide, Suleiman, lived just a hop, skip, and a jump away
from the lodge with his family and many, many goats and sheep. The lodge
employs local people from within the Dana Biosphere Reserve, and other community
members offer unique experiences for guests to take part in.
Making Arabic Coffee
On our day of arrival, Suleiman took us to a local family to
learn to make traditional Arabic coffee. This experience was probably my
favourite part of the whole trip to Jordan. We sat in a tent that the woman of
the family weaved by hand from goat hair and roasted coffee beans on an open
fire. The family did not speak any English but it was clear that they were
happy to have us there and enjoyed teaching us about their culture.
Making Arabic coffee is only done on special and celebratory
occasions, so when it is made is an exciting time for anyone around. Grinding the
beans in a copper mortar and pestle makes the sound of a bell-ringing and
anyone who hears it is invited to come and have coffee. So, all of the neighbourhood
kids ran to the tent to enjoy it with us.
When the beans were ground, with cardamom, we put them in a
traditional Dahallh (copper pot) with water. The coffee is not filtered so it
is very strong. During the steeping process, Suleiman told us of the various
coffee drinking traditions:
you must accept the coffee with your left hand and you must drink the first cup all at once (you are only given a little more than a sip at a time, because it is very strong and hot).
if you do not want more, you simply hold the cup up and shake it slightly.
you can have three cups total, unless you plan to seek revenge for your tribe; in which case, you take a fourth cup and when you are finished, you leave right away and are not allowed back until you have fulfilled your task.
drinking coffee is often part of a business negotiation (or a marriage proposal). If the person you are negotiating with does not drink the coffee, the answer to your request is no.
The coffee was quite strong so I only had one cup, but my
partner really enjoyed it, so he had the full 3 cups.
Sunset Hike
Just before dinner (which was delicious by the way), we went
on the sunset hike. Suleiman took us for a short walk, introducing us to his
goats and sheep who were just having dinner, and showed us more of the
community.
We got to a beautiful little spot to watch the sunset and he
started brewing some Bedouin tea. We chatted with him and watched the crimson
sun go down over Wadi Feynan and sipped our tea. Some goats even joined us to
watch.
Stargazing
After dinner, we went up to the roof of the lodge to gaze at
the stars. Because the lodge is completely off-grid and only lit by candles at
night, there is no light pollution. We had the perfect night to look up at the
stars too – no rain or clouds, and a lovely temperature.
Suleiman pointed out various constellations and stars before
bringing out his big telescope to look at the moon.
Cooking Class
The next morning, we sat outside soaking up the sun and playing
with some desert cats before taking part in an Arabic cooking class.
We started the class by making Manakish bread, a Middle Eastern
flatbread topped with zaatar (mixture of Middle Eastern herbs) and feta cheese.
Delicious! Then we moved on to the main event – falafel. I ate falafel everyday
while we were in Jordan and it is now one of my favourite things.
We ground up chickpeas with cilantro, onions, garlic and
jalapeno, and then deep fried the little balls off goodness.
After spending the morning laughing and making our own
Middle Eastern food, we sat outside and enjoyed the final hour of our stay at
Feynan.
Seriously if you go nowhere else in Jordan, you should go to
Feynan. You will get an authentic experience and thoroughly enjoy your time. I
have nothing but wonderful things to say about the staff, the food, the rooms,
everything.
I just recently returned from a quick trip to Jordan! This
is the furthest I’ve ever travelled, and my first experience travelling
semi-independently (I was travelling with my partner and not my parents).
This was an incredible trip, and I would 100% go back given
the opportunity. But, Jordan was never high up on my travel wish-list,
especially since it is completely surrounded by countries that aren’t
necessarily considered safe.
We stumbled across a flight deal for $390 roundtrip including taxes (thank you YYZ deals!) to Amman from Toronto. In order to get this deal, we needed to travel in February and only for 10 days, which I was perfectly fine with since I have a job and don’t have much vacation time.
This deal really sparked our interest. We knew that we
wanted to go somewhere in the winter, but knew we didn’t want to do the resort
vacation thing. So this was perfect! It was a place neither of us had been;
there were lots of things to do (history, hiking, relaxing); and it was a great
deal! We booked it the next day and I immediately started planning.
The first thing I did was buy the Lonely Planet guide to
Jordan and read it front to back. I then reached out to bloggers who had been
to Jordan before to get more personal information and started making our
itinerary.
Here is a breakdown of what we did with our full 8 days in Jordan:
Day 1: Explore Amman
We got up fairly early and decided to hit the town! Amman is
known for their various coffee shops, souks and roman ruins.
We walked across the street from our hotel (Amman Pasha Hotel) to explore the Roman Theatre. There was a beautiful little museum at the site containing pieces of historical dress and jewelry and traditional meanings behind fabric and stones.
The main attraction in Amman is the Citadel which is known for the Temple of Hercules and amazing views of the city. We decided to walk up the “mountain” (Amman is apparently the city built on 7 mountains) so we could see more of the city. Getting to the top was amazing!
Day 2: Drive to Aqaba
– with a quick jeep tour in Wadi Rum
With an early start, we drove across the country to Wadi Rum
for a 3-hour jeep tour. This was incredible! The views were magnificent and the
history was mind-blowing. We stopped at a canyon with ancient Nabatean symbols that
were written on the walls. These peoples lived in the desert around 10,000
years ago! To stand in a place that our most ancient of ancestors lived was one
of the most unbelievable experiences.
After the jeep tour we finished our trip down to Aqaba – the coastal city of Jordan.
Day 3: Snorkelling and drive to Petra
Snorkelling was on the agenda today! It was just warm enough for us to do it (about 20C) but the Red Sea was so much warmer!! The only problem was that it was quite windy and wavy so it was a bit of a workout!
Day 4: Petra
We knew that we wanted a full day at Petra – to fully
explore the ancient city, so we went to bed early with the intent to be there
for opening at 6am. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t the best and I was kind
of sick so we decided to sleep a bit more and get to Petra for 10am.
I’m so glad we waited because the weather got nicer and I
started to feel a bit better.
We did the 850 step trek up to the Monastery (the most
beautiful building in my opinion) and it was so worth it! People who were going
down would encourage us, saying that it is worth it and that we were almost
there, and we would stop to take breaks occasionally, and kind Bedouin women
would offer us tea. The walk was quite lovely, even though it was tiring.
When you get to the top, you’re out of breath, not only from the walk, but from the magnificent view of the building carved in stone. We stopped and had a tea in a little cave café before we decided to go to the lookout point to see the entire landscape.
Day 5: Drive to
Feynan Ecolodge & make traditional Arabic coffee
The drive to the Feynan Ecolodge was a beautiful one. You are basically zig-zagging down a mountain for an hour. We had the perfect day, so but I can imagine that it would be a stressful drive in the rain or if the roads were busy.
We drove as close as we could to the Ecolodge and then were transferred
the last 8km by 4×4 because there was no road.
If you have the chance to stay at Feynan, it is absolutely
marvelous. This is a completely off-grid, all-inclusive hotel with wonderful
staff that are employed from the area.
We checked in early, so that we could take part in the coffee making experience. Our guide took us to a local Bedouin family’s tent (which the lady of the family had weaved by hand from goat hair!), who had agreed to show us how it is done. Coffee is a traditional drink and only something that is enjoyed on special occasions or business deals.
We roasted the beans on a fire inside the tent and then
ground them up by hand with cardamom. The beans were then put in dallah on the
fire to steep.
When the coffee was ready to drink, we were taught that you
must drink your small cup as quick as possible and then you may ask for 2 more
cups if you want.
This experience was one of my favourites from our entire
trip. The coffee making ceremony brought a bunch of village children into the
tent to enjoy it with us and we learned a great deal about local Bedouin
culture from a Bedouin himself. It was an honour to entire our hosts home and
share this traditional experience with them.
That night we went stargazing and our guide taught us about the traditional knowledge of stars and the galaxy and we got to see a close-up of the moon using a telescope. The sky was perfectly clear for our night under the stars and it was wonderful.
Day 6: Cooking class
at Feynan Ecolodge and drive to the Dead Sea
The next morning at Feynan we relaxed in the warm desert sun
until our cooking class started. We learned how to make falafel and manakish
from the hotels chef and it was great fun.
After the cooking class we were transferred back to our car
and drove up the coast to the dead sea resort we were staying at next.
Day 7: Relax at the
spa and drive to Madaba
This was such a relaxing day. The weather was absolutely
perfect and the resort was not crowded in the slightest.
Being at the lowest point on earth and floating in the Dead Sea was definitely a bucket list item that I crossed off.
After relaxing at the spa we drove to Madaba for our last
night in Jordan.
Day 8: Explore Madaba
and Jerash
This was a jam-packed day for sure. We woke up early to see the Mosaic Map (oldest map of Palestine) in the Byzantine Church of St. George across the street from our hotel (Moab Land Hotel). It was incredible to stand in a place with so much history. The interesting thing about this accurately-scaled map was that it was made during a time when the technology to accurately make maps to scale did not exist. This map is thought to have been made in 540-570 AD and was not rediscovered until the 1800’s during construction of the church.
We then drove to Mount Nebo which is the site where Moses
first laid eyes on the Promised Land but was told by God that he would never
reach it. He is apparently buried on the premises. Again, to stand in a place
that has such history was such an incredible experience and really made this
trip special.
To finish off the trip, we drove 2 hours north to Jerash – the site with the most well-preserved Roman ruins outside of Italy. Being at this site almost reminded me of watching the movie Hercules. It was incredible and mind-boggling and definitely worth the drive.
Climate change isn’t just bringing warmer air temperatures
and melting glaciers, but it is putting our delicious morning cup of joe at
risk! Currently, over half of the worlds coffee plant species are at risk of disappearing
from the planet – so you better get used to the idea of having a morning
smoothie.
A recent study illustrated that around the globe we have 124
different species of coffee plants, and climate change alone could cause them
to become extinct. The coffee used commercially, Arabica, is already on the endangered species list, and could be gone
completely in just 70 years.
Arabica coffee is extremely sensitive and is therefore hard
to cultivate. It needs specific temperatures and the right amount of water, so
increasing rainfall and higher air temperatures can severely impact the plants
ability to grow. Even just a change in a couple degrees could decrease the
quality of beans or force them to transform into another species of coffee. Not
to mention, higher temperatures can also increase the prevalence of invasive
species and pests who attack these plants.
Climate change is just one stressor, many coffee species are
grown in Africa where deforestation, human encroachment and disease are also negatively
impacting these plants. It is estimated that 50% of land used to grow coffee
worldwide will not be farmable by 2100.
Already coffee farmers are moving their crops to cooler
regions and higher locations near mountains. Additionally, some countries and
areas have increased the amount of protected area for coffee cultivation, and
over half of the species of plant seeds are currently being held in seed banks.
Coffee is a multi-billion-dollar industry, the second most
traded commodity after oil, and supports over 15 million families in Ethiopia
alone. This country relies on coffee for 60% of its export income, and it accounts
for just 3% of global coffee production.
Scientists state that it is more difficult and more
expensive to keep coffee seeds in seed banks, so it is imperative to conserve
them in the wild as best as possible. Conserving a diverse amount of species is
important not only for future cultivation, but for the potential to create genetically
modified plants – this could yield species that are not so sensitive to climate
change and pests, and even produce more tasty brews.
Type 2 diabetes is fairly common in the US and Canada and on the rise – around 1 in 10 people currently have type 2 diabetes, and it costs the US alone $245 billion a year. This is a disease in which your body doesn’t properly use the insulin it makes. This causes glucose, or sugar, to build up in your blood instead of using it for energy.
The recommended treatment for type 2 diabetes is usually a combination of diet, exercise and medication, and the goal is to keep your blood sugar under control. However, new research suggests that there may be a way to reverse the disease with intermittent fasting.
Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern that cycles between periods of fasting and eating. It is not a diet, but an eating pattern. Common patterns include daily 16-hour fasts and fasting for 24 hours, twice per week. It one of the most popular health and fitness trends right now, used by celebrities, fitness gurus and others to lose weight and improve their health.
Published in BMJ Case Reports, a new study posits that planned intermittent fasting might work as an alternative to insulin medication in patients with type 2 diabetes. The very small case documents 3 male patients, aged 47-60, who tried this method.
Two men fasted every other day for 24 hours and the third fasted 3 days a week. On days where they were fasting, low calorie drinks such as tea/coffee, water or broth could be consumed, as well as one low calorie meal in the evening. They participated in this regime for 10 months.
The results show that this method was effective in reversing their insulin resistance and they stopped injecting themselves with insulin within a month of starting. Two of the three stopped taking their medication all together and the third was able to stop taking 3 out of the 4 drugs he was prescribed. Furthermore, these patients lost significant amounts of body weight and reduced their waist circumference.
This is an exciting new possible treatment for those suffering from type 2 diabetes and shows that this is an effective way to lose weight. Keep in mind though that this is an observational study and only had three male participants, so it is far from conclusive. It is something that you could try after consulting with your doctor or health care professional.
Polar ice is melting, very hot days are increasing, and more extreme weather is on the rise. Climate change is happening right now and scientists are warning that we only have 12 years to get our greenhouse gas emissions in check.
We have raised the global temperature by 1.0 degrees Celsius. The new landmark report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that we need to work at reducing our emissions because 1.5C is the maximum global temperature raise we can afford.
Raising the global temperature by another o.5C will dramatically worsen floods and droughts, increase poverty and alter the ecosystems of our planet as we know it. Further, this half degree difference would ease the pressure on the Arctic and prevent corals from being completely eradicated.
This domino-like cascade could turn the Earth into a “hothouse” state where human efforts to reduce emissions will be increasingly futile. Scientists warn that this is a “now problem”, and it’s only going to get harder to fix.
“this is definitely not a case of crying wolf, raising a false alarm: the wolves are now in sight”. – Dr. Phil Williamson, a climate researcher at the University of East Anglia.
Since the industrial revolution, we have burned coal and oil, ultimately starting to change the Earth’s climate. We have pumped carbon dioxide into the atmosphere for the past 150 years increasing the levels from 280 parts per million to 400 parts per million.
As gases accumulate in the atmosphere, more heat is absorbed, increasing the overall global temperature. Due to positive feedbacks, this global temperature rise is exponential; an acceleration – as the Earth warms, polar ice melts, shrinking the white reflective area and expanding the dark surface area that absorbs the sun’s rays.
When the Paris agreement was released, we were told that we needed to keep the global temperature rise between 1.5C – 2.0C. However, the IPCC was commissioned to write a report when the Paris climate talks were happening in 2016. The scientists and authors reviewed 6000 works referenced in the new report and are urging us to take action now.
“This is the largest clarion bell from the science community and I hope it mobilizes people and dents the mood of complacency.” – Debra Roberts, a co-chair of the working group on impacts.
Here are the facts: Insects and plants would be twice as likely to lose their habitat if we raised the temperature by 2C compared to 1.5C. Corals would be 99% lost at 2C, but more than 10% have a chance of survival at 1.5C. By 2100, global sea level rise would be 10cm lower at the 1.5C limit, compared to the 2C rise.
The information presented in the report will be delivered at the UN climate conference in Poland at the end of this year, but work needs to happen now. Norway is pushing for oil exploration in the Arctic, and the German government wants to tear down Hambach forest to dig for coal – these are plans that put us all in danger.
Our lifestyle as a planetary community is currently putting us on a course for 3C of global warming. Our future, if we continue on the current path, is catastrophic. Disease, poverty, and extreme weather crises are only going to get worse.
The report states that if we want to avoid this dangerous future, “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society” are needed. We can still create a sustainable future. Governments are going to have to make hard decisions and we need to support the right leadership, but there are individual roles each of us need to play as well.
Here is what you can do today:
EAT LESS MEAT
A recent study reported that being a vegan is the single best way to reduce your environmental impact on the planet. It is far bigger than cutting down on flights or buying an electric car, as these only reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Meat and dairy provide just 18% of calories and 37% of protein, but it uses 83% of farmland and produces 60% of agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Loss of natural habitat to agriculture is the leading cause of the current mass extinction of wildlife.
INSULATE YOUR HOMES
Insulating your homes, draft-proofing doors and windows would cause a massive drop in energy consumption and it can save you money.
SWITCH TO RENEWABLE ENERGY
Switch to solar panels or other forms of renewable energy.
WALK, CYCLE, OR USE PUBLIC TRANSIT
If you need to have a car, consider an electric one.
REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
Buy and consume less. Reuse everything you can and recycle when you can’t.
VOTE!
Support political parties and ideals that put the environment at the centre of their economic and industrial policies.
Although the call to government officials and other decision makers is the main goal of this new report, we are all part of this planet, which means we all need to be part of the solution.
When someone wrongs us, or betrays us, often we feel like we should “get back at them”. This desire for revenge can be a consequence of anger – but what actually happens in our brain when we feel like lashing out at someone?
In a study published in Scientific Reports in July, researchers at the University of Geneva, Switzerland developed a game in which participants are confronted with fair behaviour from one player and unfair provocations from another player. With brain imaging, their goal was to observe which areas were activated when they felt anger and experienced unfairness.
In the second phase of the study, researchers gave participants the opportunity to take revenge. Therefore, by comparing the two images, they could see which areas of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex that are related to revenge suppression.
Interestingly, when there was more activation in the first phase of the study, participants were less likely to seek revenge. So, when there is more revenge-suppression behaviour (unconsciously or consciously) taking place in the brain, we are less likely to want to get back at someone who angered us.
The exciting part of this research is that until now, the only way anger was able to be examined was through past experiences and recalled memories – which are not always accurate – or in the interpretation of angry faces in photographs.
Specifically, when looking at the images, they were able to observe activity in the superior temporal lobe and the amygdala – which is known for its role in fear and emotion – when participants looked at the photo of the unfair player. Further, these areas correlated with feelings of anger, so the higher the anger reported, the stronger the brain activity.
Although only 25 people participated in this game, it does aide in the commencement of a new technique for researching anger and revenge. The researchers state that the game helped them see that the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, an area that is key for the regulation of emotions, played a crucial role in the suppression of revenge. This information sparks the thought that we might be able to control our own desire for vengeance or revenge by simply stimulating this area of the brain.
“One can then wonder if an increase in the activity of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex obtained through transmagnetic stimulation, would allow to decrease the acts of vengeance or even to suppress them.” – Olga Klimecki-Lenz
Researchers from John Hopkins, University of California, Google and others conducted the largest known brain imaging study to determine the drivers of brain aging. More than 30,000 individuals from 9 months to 105 years old had their brains scanned in hopes of identifying patterns of aging.
Understanding the influence of aging on the brain remains a challenge in determining its role as a risk factor for diseases like Alzheimer’s. The purpose of the study was to investigate how common disorders such as ADHD, and alcohol use accelerate this aging of the brain.
Using SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) imaging, scans of patients brains from multi-site psychiatric clinics were examined. This technology evaluates cerebral blood flow in the brain that is reduced in various disorders. Simply, it is a type of nuclear imaging test that shows how blood flows to tissues and organs.
Scans were taken when patients were at rest (not doing anything) and when they were preforming a concentration task – so in total, there were over 60,000 brain scans! Patients had many different psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and anxiety.
128 brain regions were studied to predict chronological age of the patient and then the estimated age was determined from the scans. When the scan predicted an older age than the actual age of the patient, that’s when accelerated aging has taken place.
The overall results of this massive study, published on August 3rd in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, show that a number of brain disorders actually predicted accelerated aging. Schizophrenia showed an average of 4 years of premature aging, bipolar disorder, 1.6 years, and ADHD, 1.4. Interestingly, cannabis use was also high up on the list at 2.8 years of accelerated aging.
The lead author of the study, Daniel G. Amen, MD, said that “the cannabis abuse finding was especially important, as our culture is starting to see marijuana as an innocuous substance. This study should give us pause about it.”
“Based on one of the largest brain imaging studies ever done, we can now track common disorders and behaviors that prematurely age the brain. Better treatment of these disorders can slow or even halt the process of brain aging. The cannabis abuse finding was especially important, as our culture is starting to see marijuana as an innocuous substance. This study should give us pause about it.” – Daniel G. Amen, MD
Another important aspect of this study is that the results indicate that we can predict someone’s age based on patterns of their cerebral blood flow. The authors also state that these kinds of larger studies are essential to answer questions about how to maintain brain structure and function during aging.
Here are the facts: Insects and plants would be twice as likely to lose their habitat if we raised the temperature by 2C compared to 1.5C. Corals would be 99% lost at 2C, but more than 10% have a chance of survival at 1.5C. By 2100, global sea level rise would be 10cm lower at the 1.5C limit, compared to the 2C rise.
Only to be Understood 