A growing number of chronic pain patients are turning to medical cannabis—and finding relief without the mental fog that often comes with traditional painkillers, according to a new peer-reviewed study published in Cureus.
The research, conducted by the Rothman Institute Foundation for Opioid Research & Education, examined how people living with chronic musculoskeletal pain are using cannabis, what benefits they’re experiencing, and whether long-term use affects cognitive function.
“Over 80% of participants reported that medical cannabis helped manage their pain,” said Dr. Mohammad Khak, co-author of the study and researcher at the Rothman Institute. “Many also noted improvements in sleep and anxiety, indicating cannabis could provide broader symptom relief than typical pain medications.”
Importantly, 40% of those surveyed reduced their use of traditional analgesics after starting cannabis—some even scaled back their opioid use.
“This suggests cannabis might be a safer alternative or complement to conventional pain management, especially in light of the ongoing opioid epidemic,” said Dr. Ari Greis, senior author of the study and assistant professor at Drexel University College of Medicine.
Patients used cannabis in a variety of forms, including oils, vaporizers, and smoked flower. Most had tried conventional treatments without success, turning to cannabis as a last resort when pain became unmanageable. Still, only about 25% of users received a physician’s recommendation, pointing to ongoing challenges in medical cannabis access and acceptance.
“This study underscores barriers such as a lack of physician training, complex regulations, and persistent stigma,” added Dr. Khak.
The study also explored concerns over cognitive side effects. While some patients experienced mild symptoms like dry mouth or fatigue, most reported no serious cognitive impairment—suggesting that medical cannabis can often be used without affecting mental sharpness.
Researchers stressed that while patient-reported outcomes are promising, larger clinical trials are essential to confirm the long-term safety and effectiveness of medical cannabis for chronic musculoskeletal pain. They also called for improved education for healthcare providers and more streamlined regulations to help guide responsible cannabis use in pain treatment.
Sea turtle caught in a plastic feed sack, by Yaniv Levi
Commonly used for livestock feed—woven sacks act like floating death traps, snaring turtles by the neck or limbs
In a groundbreaking study published in Marine Science, researchers from Israel’s Sea Turtle Rescue Center (ISTRC), the University of Haifa, and Ruppin Academic Center present the first high-resolution monthly growth data for sea turtles in the eastern Mediterranean—and uncover a deadly new threat: entanglement in polypropylene (PP) sacks.
This study, authored by Shir Sassoon, Yair Suari, and Dr. Yaniv Levy, focuses on the “epipelagic phase”—the early life stage of sea turtles when hatchlings drift passively in open water. While most conservation efforts target nesting beaches, this study shifts attention offshore, where plastic pollution silently kills juvenile turtles long before they reach maturity.
Turtle ‘Lost Years’ Finally Found
Sea turtles spend up to a decade adrift in the open sea, a period known to scientists as the “lost years” due to limited data. Using over two decades of rescue records (1999–2020), the team compiled length data from 577 young turtles—both loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas)—to track monthly growth for the first time in this region.
Findings show that loggerhead turtles grow at an average of 0.76 cm per month during their first 19 months of life, while green turtles grow faster—0.92 cm per month over the first 11 months. These growth rates mirror those found in other parts of the Mediterranean but fill critical knowledge gaps, particularly for green turtles during this early life stage.
Seasonal fluctuations in growth were also observed, with reduced rates in winter months, highlighting the sensitivity of juvenile turtles to environmental conditions.
Polypropylene: A Lethal Trap
But the most shocking discovery wasn’t about how turtles grow—it was about how they’re dying.
Out of 324 injured epipelagic phase turtles treated at the ISTRC, nearly half (48%) were entangled in woven polypropylene sacks. These sacks—commonly used for livestock feed—act like floating death traps, snaring turtles by the neck or limbs. Many were so severely injured that they required amputations; 12% died from their injuries.
Loggerhead turtles were most affected, particularly during the summer months. Between 2008 and 2020, PP sack entanglements surged from just 20% to 75% of all epipelagic injury cases. The number of incidents jumped significantly after 2017, suggesting a new pattern in maritime waste disposal.
These sacks are strong, lightweight, and slow to degrade—perfect for transport, devastating for marine life. When researchers traced the logos on the sacks, they found origins from as far as Romania, Russia, and Greece, mostly linked to livestock shipping.
“The threads unravel and act like tourniquets,” says Dr. Yaniv Levy, director of ISTRC. “We see turtles arrive unable to swim, starved, and in pain. Many suffer limb loss or systemic infections.”
Floating sacks may mimic natural cover like Sargassum seaweed, attracting juvenile turtles who use them as shelter. Once entangled, turtles often cannot free themselves.
ISTRC is uniquely positioned to collect long-term health and injury data. Their clinical records have helped transform the hospital into a research center that informs both policy and turtle care. Turtles are triaged with CT scans, blood tests, and X-rays, and their rehabilitation includes custom slings, IVs, and even prosthetics.
Rehabilitated turtles are typically released after two months of care, but the team notes that many never reach land for rescue. The actual impact is likely far greater than reported.
Policy Implications
The study urges international regulation on maritime waste, especially from livestock carriers. The team tracked suspect ships using Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), identifying several that sail regularly through Israeli waters but do not dock—making legal accountability difficult. There is a natural current that causes plastic sacks tossed illegally off the ship into the sea, to end up on the Levantine shores where they entangle juvenile turtles. Some plastics are believed to be dumped close to show where they blow into the sea.
A proposed bill in the Israeli Knesset calls for an end to live animal shipments, which would reduce sack and marine waste dramatically. It would also reduce undue animal suffering while being shipped for slaughter while alive at sea. Meanwhile, the study suggests declaring protected marine zones and enhancing multinational enforcement to curb this specific pollutant.
The epipelagic phase is one of the most vulnerable life stages for sea turtles. And while global conservation has made strides in nesting beach protection, this study shows that the open sea remains a lawless frontier.
If you live near a marine environment and find a turtle entangled in plastics, it’s important not to remove it without a veterinarian, says Levy. The plastic can cause reduced blood flow and necrotic tissue and removing it puts poisoned blood into the turtle. The turtle above explains what a vet needs to do to treat the turtle. First a round of antibiotics.
The problem with turtles is feed sacks, not plastic straws, Levy emphasizes.
“Plastic pollution regulations must be extended to pelagic zones,” the authors write in the paper. “We need international collaboration and enforcement—not just for turtles, but for the oceans.”
As Dr. Levy notes, these early-stage turtles are not just victims—they’re indicators. “They’re telling us where our waste ends up, and how fast we need to act.”
If you think of the Middle East, sand, not soil comes to mind. But the complex ecosystem which includes Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Iraq, Iran and the United Arab Emirates has a rich soil tradition, the Levant especially as it is once considered the bread basket of the planet, and it’s where emmer wheat was first cultivated.
Now the United Arab Emirates has declared they will build a soil museum of the Middle East. Like seed banks, dispersed in underground vaults and fridges throughout the world, a soil bank can help us know more about the complex and rich ecosystems of the east.
Soil in Uzbekistan
Designed to promote soil conservation and responsible resource management in arid environments, the guide will serve as a blueprint for institutions across the region. Backed by ADFD funding, the guide will be transformed into a practical training and capacity-building programme featuring technical workshops and scientific mentoring. ICBA will lead the technical delivery, drawing on its expertise in sustainable agriculture and its success in launching and operating the Emirates Soil Museum.
Soil in Lebanon
The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) will fund and develop the Middle East and North Africa’s first comprehensive guide for establishing and operating soil museums.
Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD, said: “This initiative reflects our unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and knowledge partnerships. We believe science-backed solutions like this museum guide can shape regional resilience and inform effective policies for generations to come.”
Four years on, the Emirates Soil Museum has carved out a reputation for itself as a go-to place of learning about environmental protection and sustainable development in the UAE and beyond.
The agreement also outlines the organization of an international scientific symposium on 5 December 2025 to coincide with World Soil Day, with the participation of over 200 experts, researchers, and decision-makers from around the world to discuss soil, salinity, and climate change issues in arid regions.
Established in December 2016 with support from ADFD, Emirates Soil Museum is the first specialized soil museum in the region. Located at ICBA’s headquarters in Dubai, the museum aims to raise awareness about the role of soil in the environment, agriculture, and food security, while showcasing the diversity of soil types in the UAE.
Since its launch, the museum has welcomed more than 13,500 visitors from various sectors of society and has become a reference center for environmental awareness and non-traditional education. Time for a wider understanding of soil and how it sustains life.
If you are running an impact charity or a small impact solar energy business, you need to know all the ins and outs of government compliance when you get those grants
Managing the efficient use of resources is one of the major challenges public organizations face. Asset management is key to improving operational efficiency. Asset management enables public entities to employ the benefits from the effective use of their resources/assets to make better use of the resources/assets, lower costs, and improve service delivery. This post is about the role of asset management in the efficiency of the public sector.
What is Asset Management
In short, asset management is the systematic process of developing, operating, maintaining, and disposing of assets most cost-effectively, not the most expensive manner. This includes infrastructure, facilities, vehicles, and technology, among other public sector resources. With a structured process in place and asset management software for government, public organizations can guarantee that these resources are put to the best possible use.
Better Use of Resources
Ivanpah was propped up by government grants. Was there oversight?
Public entities facing the charge of meeting the needs of their communities need to be mindful of how they utilize resources. The process of asset management helps identify underutilized/surplus assets for reallocation/disposal. Not only does this provide free resources, but it also ensures that the free resources go where they are needed most. Example: facility utilization evaluation to repurpose or build a new facility
Reducing Operational Costs
Another advantage of proper asset management is cost reduction. Public organizations with properly maintained, long-term planned assets create less need for repairs and replacement activities. This can also be known as scheduled maintenance for the assets, as they will be functional and operational to function properly with maximum effect and avoid any sudden breakdown. This helps with budgeting and minimizes financial stress.
Improving Service Delivery
Public sector entities are established primarily for the efficient delivery of services to a community. The state of asset management is reflected in the quality and availability of these services. By managing your assets efficiently, you minimize the risk of service interruptions, which in turn leads to uninterrupted service delivery. A good example would be a fleet of vehicles that is routinely looked after and can reach and respond to the emergency services and public transportation sectors as soon as possible.
Supporting Strategic Planning
Asset management also provides information and data, which helps in strategic planning and decision-making. Using asset data, public organizations can predict future demand and plan their resources accordingly. This type of information helps with long-term planning so that infrastructure and resources adapt in line with community needs. Strategic asset management aligns resources with organizational goals, thereby boosting the overall efficiency of the resources.
Environmental Footprint and Sustainability
Public sector organizations are starting to focus on sustainability. This fosters environmental goals through effective asset management. Organizations that optimize resource use decrease waste and use less energy. Moreover, public entities invest in environmentally friendly technologies and infrastructure.
Technology and Innovation
Technology advancements in the public sector have significantly transformed asset management by streamlining operations, planning, and data handling. The integration of advanced tools has enhanced how assets are operated, managed, and improved. Modern software solutions now offer real-time data and insights, enabling more informed decision-making. Predictive maintenance, powered by these technologies, helps identify and address issues before they occur. Ultimately, innovation drives greater efficiency and effectiveness in public sector asset management.
Challenges and Considerations
Despite its many benefits, asset management faces its own problems. Public sector organizations are required to deal with financial constraints, expectations from stakeholders, and a lot of regulatory conditions. Creating a strategic asset management plan needs cross-departmental teamwork and good communication. It is equally important to train your staff and invest in technology to ensure that goals are met.
Conclusion
The primary role of asset management is to improve the efficiency level within the public sector, taking care of all the possible aspects. Public organizations that release resources, reduce expenditure, and increase service delivery can perform better for their locality. This is complemented by strategic planning, change management, and technology to help public sector organizations continue to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible. Adopting capital asset management is good for the organization and contributes to the well-being of the entire community.
The United Nations has 17 objectives that paint a more resource-conscious and fair world called the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The sixth mission is to “ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all” by 2030. The turn of the decade will happen before too long, so assessing progress and moments for improvement at this stage is critical. How is SDG 6 going, and what can humanity do to achieve it?
The Wins and Conditions
Years of governmental and humanitarian work have achieved massive wins for the planet since the goal’s inception. Here is how each pillar of this goal has changed between 2015 and 2022.
More Widespread Sanitation and Hygiene Services
Many nations have water availability, but no way to clean it for drinking and basic hygiene needs. It is why enhancing access to already clean water and sanitation technologies must occur simultaneously. Sanitation services rose from 49% to 57%, and hygiene services rose from 67% to 75%.
The positive movement is necessary, but it also needs to happen faster. Current accomplishments have given millions of people better sanitation while informing them of the best steps forward. For example, rural areas saw enhancements while urban regions are unaltered or have reduced water quality.
Increased Access to Drinking Water
Water scarcity plagues the planet, as the climate crisis causes reserves to run dry and rains to be infrequent. It impacts 785 million people globally but is becoming less common every year.
Dependability is uncertain, so restoring access is essential for an equitable world. In these years, access to safe drinking water rose from 69% to 73%. The positive trend influences the goal because it shows the power of collaboration, but the future needs work to occur six times faster than this rate to meet the target.
Better Water Efficiency
Resource use efficiency is an aspect of this goal because it lowers global water stress levels. It dictates how much freshwater is available versus how many renewable resources can compensate for demand. The worldwide average was at a safe range in 2020 because of optimizations in agriculture and industry. Small adjustments like investing in low-flow fixtures and water recycling technologies make a monumental difference.
However, the progress also shows that the average hides regional differences, as countries in southern Asia and northern Africa see unprecedented levels of water stress.
The Setbacks and Improvement Areas
Algaeing makes a clean, natural dye that doesn’t pollute waterways
As valuable as the wins are for giving clean and plentiful water to nations, many are not on track to meet 2030 expectations. Several obstacles hinder progress, and knowing what they are and how they influence SDG 6’s trajectory is crucial for discovering solutions.
Robust advocacy networks to increase urgency for these issues are vital for getting as close as possible. These are the setbacks activists, governments and citizens can work on together.
Decline in Official Development Assistance
Investments are the lifeblood of most infrastructure development and water access expansion. Funding for these projects has slowed between 2015 and 2021, declining from $9.6 to $8.1 billion.
Private and public stakeholder interests have changed everywhere for many reasons, whether geopolitically or socioculturally influenced. Regardless, advocates and legislators must establish programs and convince investors to reach peak commitment.
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Is Rare
IWRM is a methodology that balances commercial and industrial water use with the needs of the citizens. It ensures there are enough resources to go around while paying attention to the impacts usage has on ecosystems and the future of sustainable development. Implementation rose to 57% in 2023, but the goal is 91% by 2030.
Companies using the most resources can catalyze change by budgeting for more holistic water management systems. Many could wait until it is mandatory through regulatory power, but organizations must act while they wait for more standardization.
Water Quality Is Declining
In the U.S., around 40% of its water does not meet the standards of the Clean Water Act, which is the primary framework for regulatory influence. Many of the world’s low-quality reserves demonstrate a greater need for monitoring technologies and even better sanitation density.
The reality should inspire collaborative efforts to share advanced technologies, like the Internet of Things, to let nations collect more data about what impacts their water. Increasing awareness of specific pollutants informs targeted treatment needs.
Adverse Actions Against Water Protections
Many private, public and governmental choices are hurting essential natural water features and resources. They need elevated protections to achieve SDG 6. For example, India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, which influences accessibility to people in Pakistan.
Global wetlands are also under threat in many nations, with many in desperate need of restoration and care. Mangroves, marshes and other ecosystems are critical for filtering water while serving as essential carbon sinks. These processes have a lasting impact on neighboring communities and habitats by boosting soil quality. This helps industries like agriculture conserve water, as the soil is better at absorbing it to achieve better growth cycles.
Activities like this must receive opposition from legislators and citizens alike. Otherwise, they will continue to happen. Neglecting water protection is one of the most widespread negative influences on SDG 6, as it culminates in many actions.
Ensuring Water and Sanitation for All
The progress and setbacks bring equal hope to this objective. Every win is a celebration, which sustains momentum until humanity hits its 2030 goal. Simultaneously, each shortcoming will inspire greater action and innovation. Current projections prove progress is slow in 2025, but accelerating efforts and boosting funding for related projects could get it there despite potential barriers.
Nylon’s dirty little secret? It sticks around. From fishing nets to yoga pants, nylon takes decades to degrade—especially in oceans—choking marine life and clogging ecosystems. But a Korean research team has just pulled off a sustainability moonshot: a new polyester-amide (PEA) plastic that acts like nylon, but disappears like magic—breaking down 92% in real ocean water within a year.
Developed by a powerhouse team from KRICT, Inha University, and Sogang University, the new PEA is built for the real world: flexible, strong, heat-resistant, and ready for mass production. You can iron it at 150°C, use it to lift 10 kg, and make everything from fishing nets to food wrap—and then let it quietly decompose when it’s done.
What makes this different from the “biodegradable” hype you’ve heard before? Most so-called green plastics fall apart too soon or not at all. PLA, for example, barely degrades in marine water (0.1%). The new PEA? 92.1%. That’s not a typo.
And it’s not just smart science—it’s smart supply chain. The polymer is made using castor oil (a non-edible crop) and recycled nylon waste, slashing carbon emissions to about one-third that of virgin nylon 6. No toxic solvents required, and it can be cooked up in standard polyester factories with just minor tweaks.
The results were published in the March 2025 issue of Advanced Materials and are already turning heads. Expect industrial adoption within two years.
“This material does what no other biodegradable plastic could,” said Dr. Sungbae Park, co-lead on the project. “It’s tough, it’s scalable, and it knows when to vanish.”
Finally, a plastic that knows when to leave the party.
Faced with too much of one vegetable, my go-to strategy is to make soup. It’s a matter of peering inside the vegetable crisper and thinking, Oops, those carrots are getting old – or, Why did I buy all those expensive mushrooms? The answer to this veg dilemma is: make soup.
I had a head of lettuce that had been languishing in the fridge, and no desire to chop it into salad. It was attractive to look at; the leaves small, varicolored red and green, with frilly tops. But the ribs were oddly tough, rather than crisp, and the flavor somehow too strong.
So I stood contemplating it. The outer leaves had gotten brown and slimy, but after I stripped all that away, I saw that the heart of the lettuce was sound. Waste not, want not, I thought. How about soup?
Of all my cookbooks, only one had a recipe for lettuce soup – a French chiffonade served cold. But the Internet yielded a number of recipes. People’s enthusiastic comments pushed me farther in as I realized how easy the recipe is, and how adaptable. Substitute a cup of chopped, mixed salad greens, arugula, or spinach for part of the lettuce to get a deeper green color. Some throw in a handful of peas, or a quarter-cup diced cooked potatoes, or cook in a tablespoon of rice for more body.
One comment struck a note with me: don’t make it too fancy if you want the delicate lettuce flavor to come through, or in the end you’ll have just a vegetable soup. I decided to keep it simple, as I was curious. And was surprised and pleased at how tasty and soothing lettuce soup really is.
Note: you can choose to go vegan with this soup: omit the dairy and substitute olive oil.
Lettuce Soup
Surprisingly delicious lettuce soup
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion (chopped)
2 medium cloves garlic (chopped)
3 cups water
8 cups lettuce leaves (clean and coarsely chopped)
1 small handful parsley or celery leaves (coarsely chopped)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Optional but recommended: 2 tablespoons fresh or sour cream
Fresh lemon juice to taste
Choose one or more optional garnishes to float on the soup: thin slices of fresh radish (halved cherry tomatoes, a little finely chopped cilantro or dill, a drizzle of olive oil, toasted sliced almonds, croutons.)
Melt the butter over medium heat. Don’t let it brown.
Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until softened, about 3 minutes.
Add water, bring to a simmer, and cook, covered, until vegetables are very tender, about 8 minutes.
Add lettuce and parsley and cook until wilted and softened, 2-4 minutes.
Blend the soup until very smooth. I used a stick blender right in the pot, having first removed it from the heat and allowed the soup to cool somewhat before blending.
Add the fresh or sour cream; blend again.
Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed. Here’s where you add lemon juice for bright flavor – from a quarter to half a medium lemon. Taste and judge, but don’t let the lemon overwhelm the soup.
Eat it hot, tepid or cold. It’s good hot, but I like it best tepid, drizzled with olive oil and drunk out of a cup. It would also be pleasant served cold on a summer evening, with crusty bread or crackers.
Fifty years after the blockbuster film “Jaws” turned sharks into the world’s most feared underwater villains, celebrated endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh will seek to rewrite the narrative on sharks for a new generation.
From May 15–26, 2025, Pugh will swim the 60-mile (96 km) circumference of Martha’s Vineyard — the same waters that terrified millions — to raise awareness about the slaughter of sharks worldwide and its effect on ocean ecosystems.
A man was killed from a shark attack last month in this area off the Hadera coast
Although ocean swimming carries inherent risks, Pugh’s team will take precautions to reduce encounters with sharks.
“I’m frightened of sharks,” Pugh readily admits. “But I’m more terrified of a world without them, and that’s what we’re looking at if we don’t act now. Without sharks to keep them in balance, marine ecosystems are unraveling at frightening speed. We need a new narrative about these magnificent animals because the one we’ve been hearing for the past 50 years threatens our oceans.”
Since 1970, shark populations have plummeted by approximately 70% worldwide through overfishing and habitat destruction, the Lewis Pugh Foundation noted. Each year, an estimated 100 million sharks are killed — that’s 274,000 every single day — for their fins, meat, oil, and sport. The result isn’t just species loss; it’s ecological collapse, with devastating consequences for ocean health and global food security.
“Sharks are integral to ocean health, and ocean health is integral to human survival,” says Pugh. “This is not just about future generations. We must learn to respect and protect sharks today, and this will be my key message.”
Over the past few decades Great White Shark numbers have recovered around Martha’s Vineyard thanks to conservation efforts. In addition, Pugh says, Massachusetts, to its credit, has recently taken efforts to protect white sharks from on-shore fishing. But this is not the case worldwide, where Great White Sharks are under increased threat.
As an endurance swimmer Pugh is unparalleled. He has pioneered swims in some of the most vulnerable ecosystems on earth to campaign for their protection. Most recently, in 2023, he swam the 315-mile (507km) Hudson River to praise its clean-up and highlight how rivers affect ocean health. The SHARK SWIM launches a three-year campaign by the Lewis Pugh Foundation to engage over one billion people with science, education, and acts of advocacy. It’s a central thrust of LPF’s 30×30 initiative: to fully protect 30% of our oceans by 2030.
“When we damage the environment, we create conditions that are ripe for conflict,” Pugh says. “But when we protect the environment, we foster peace. For centuries we have not only been fighting over the environment, we have been fighting against it. We must learn to make peace with nature for the sake of future generations.”
Algaeing makes a clean, natural dye that looks like midnight and it’s based on algae
In an age when consumers crave authenticity, sustainability, and connection to nature, the world of color is undergoing a quiet revolution. The synthetic pigments once championed for their vibrancy and reliability are now being questioned for their environmental cost. These synthetics dyes have polluted planet and people. In their place, a new palette is emerging—one shaped by tide, stone, sea, and the spark of shifting light.
At its center: algae, the ocean’s quiet alchemist.
Seasonal harvesters of red gold algae are underpaid and exploited.
Algae, one of the oldest life forms on Earth, is being rediscovered not only for its food and fuel potential, but also for its ability to create natural pigments that are safe, sustainable, and steeped in the rhythm of the Earth. These aquatic organisms—ranging from spirulina to red seaweed—offer a spectrum of hues: verdant greens, deep blues, rust reds, and dusky purples.
Unlike synthetic dyes, which often contain petroleum derivatives and heavy metals, algae-based pigments are biodegradable, non-toxic, and renewable. As algae are cultivated in controlled aquatic systems or harvested from sustainable wild sources, their environmental impact is significantly lower than land-based crops used in textile dyeing, which consume vast quantities of water and pesticides.
This new color story is about more than just appearance. It’s about feeling grounded and alive. Inspired by the quiet beauty of dusk and the celestial shimmer of moonlight on waves, designers and artists are turning to algae pigments to evoke a palette that feels intimate, lived-in, and elemental. These are tones shaped not by factories but by sunlight, salt, and the slow dance of tide and time.
Algaeing natural hues
In fashion, we see algae-based dyes used in capsule collections like the seaweed-dyed silks from Algaeing and Living Ink, who previously turned algae into bio-based inks.
In interiors, algae pigments are finding their way into ceramic glazes, wall treatments, and ethical home goods. In cosmetics, spirulina’s vibrant green is used in eyeliners and shadows, offering beauty that heals rather than harms. Spirulina is also a superfood.
At Green Prophet, we’ve long followed algae’s transformative potential—from algae solar panels and bioplastics to its use in wastewater treatment and as a vegan protein source. Now, as color becomes another frontier of ecological consciousness, we see a full-circle return to Earth’s original pigments.
Don’t have a garden? You can still own a fruiting olive tree, grown in a container. A sunny balcony and the right climate are the essential things; that, and time.
Italians have grown fruit trees in containers for centuries, keeping them protected in special sheds during the winter.
Assuming your climate suits the olive, you should acquire a sapling from a nursery or buy one online. Olive trees grown from pits revert to the original wild olive, and if they produce fruit at all, it will be wizened and not very good to eat. So don’t do it. Consult the nursery manager and choose the variety you’d like best. To maximize fruiting potential, you should actually have two of the same variety in the area. This may be impractical where there’s limited space, of course.
When to plant an olive tree in a pot?
Read this guide for growing an olive tree in a pot
Spring is the best time to re-pot the sapling into its permanent container. Tender saplings suffer under frost or harsh winter weather, so it’s best to transplant after all danger of frost has passed. When the temperature threatens to dip under 50°F/10ºC, the tree should be brought indoors. It may be taken out to enjoy the sunshine on warmer days. A trolley, on which the container stands permanently, is useful there.
Choose a spot that gets plenty of full sun and only partial shade. Have a clay pot about 2 feet/61 centimeters deep and the same width at the ready. No need for pebbles or other drainage device at the bottom. Pour enough soil in to cover the bottom thickly. Knock the sapling out of its original container and place in the new pot. Fill the pot with soil around the tree and make sure it stands stable. Water thoroughly.
Soil and watering olives trees in a container
Ordinary potting soil; no special fertilizers or compost at first. Wait until there are signs of growth in the following spring to add compost or concentrated fertilizer to the soil. Keep the soil lightly moist, but not over-watered. A mature tree can withstand drought, but until a sapling is established and thriving in its new environment, it needs light moisture.
Care of the tree
We recommend pruning with caution for the first four years: remove branches under 3 feet/91.5 centimeters as well as suckers. Others recommend watching for flowering and then pruning off the tips of the branches, above a pair of leaves, as well.
Plant hygiene
Watch out for scale infestation. Buy a natural insecticide product from the plant nursery. Traditional Mediterranean farmers whitewash the bottom half of the trunk to keep ants away. Weed out any wind-born seedlings the minute you notice them.
The next step is to enjoy the lovely sight of the tree’s silvery-green foliage moving while the breeze rustles through it. Because it may take up to five years before it produces any fruit for you. You’ll need to discuss when you can expect fruit with the gardener at the nursery. But by then you and the tree will have become good friends, and the fruit will be a nice bonus.
If you can’t find local, search online for olive tree sapling delivery to your home. Once you get one growing you can grow clones from the original using patience or a rooting hormone.
What kind of olive tree to plant in a container?
Make your own tasty marinade, no matter what olives you have at home.
Barnea, suri, kalamata? Your supermarket or farmer’s market usually offers a good variety of olives. Juicy green, black, brown or purple olives glistening in their own oil. Olives seasoned with chilies, lemons and herbs; olives pitted and left empty; olives stuffed with red pimentos; olives in brine or in wine marinade – enough olives to make your senses reel.
And like grape varieties for wine, there are more kinds of olives in the world than you’ll ever know. Every region where olives are grown yields a particular variety, each with its unique shape, size, and flavor. Get the low down on olive varieties here. Having problems? Check out the olive tree guide to longer-term
If you picture an eco-village, you might imagine a simple dwelling with permaculture gardens and a very slow, rural pace of life. While often true, this rustic image undermines the technology that is increasingly being used to achieve their sustainability – technology that we shouldn’t be frightened of or avoid, but use to harness a greener way of life.
Energy solutions
Energy independence is a big part of eco villages. While solar panels are the visible, sung heros here, the real magic lies in integrated systems underpinning them. Smart microgrids are used to manage locally generated power from diverse mix of sources like solar, micro-hydro, or even wind. They balance loads and incorporate battery banks for storage, which reduces the reliance on external grids.
Advanced solar integration can be expressed through Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), in which the solar cells become part of the building fabric itself. The real MVPs, though, are the energy efficiency monitoring systems, such as smart meters and community dashboards, which can track both generation and consumption. Through finding patterns, or possibly using machine learning, it’s possible to better align the two so there’s no waste (this is even more important when many dwellings share energy).
Intelligent water management systems
In the city you can collect water form your air conditioner. Off grid, you’d better try the rain
Water is life, and eco-villages treat it as such through age-old conservation and reuse techniques. Rainwater harvesting isn’t just barrels, it means having integrated roof catchments feeding into systems with first-flush diverters that automatically discard the initial, most contaminated runoff. Water then passes through staged filtration, like sediment traps, then by sand or gravel, before collection in large cisterns. Again, IoT sensors are often used to help determine and notify of capacity and cleanliness levels.
For accessing this water, particularly for irrigation, choose a submersible pump for its efficiency – this can quickly transfer water in a reliable way. Further along the cycle might be constructed wetlands, which are carefully designed shallow beds. They’re planted with aquatic vegetation and use natural microbial processes within their gravel and sand substrates to purify greywater (sometimes even pre-treated blackwater), making it safe for irrigation with minimal energy input.
Waste not, want not
Dooda is a Lebanese vermiculture compost business.
“Waste” is a resource that’s awaiting transformation. Composting techniques like vermicomposting (using worms) or Bokashi (fermentation) help process organic matter into rich soil amendments. Of course, these are old techniques that don’t require much technology.
However, investing in some innovative technology can open more doors to transformation, as not all transformation can be naturally captured. Some communities employ anaerobic biogas digesters, which are sealed tanks that break down food scraps and animal manure in an oxygen-free environment. This produces methane gas for cooking or heating as well as a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer. IoT sensors, again, can track microbial activity to help boost gas yields.
Technology as the invisible foundation
Rotterzswam
Energy, water, and waste are the three flows that need to be managed by intelligent technologies. This infrastructure is frequently “unseen” because it’s designed to be integrated and harmonious with natural systems, rather than intrusive (it’s not consumption-led). Harmony between dwellings can be difficult, and this is where integrated systems can communicate. It goes to show that such communities are not anti-technology, but instead are simply selective about only using technology that benefits them and aligns with their values.
It had been hundreds of years since a non-motorized vessel had traveled such a distance, guided only by the stars. Last weekend, a historic 18-day double-hulled canoe voyage was completed from the archipelago of Palau to Orchid Island, a remote feature in southeastern Taiwan.
The GPS-free team of eleven was led by Sesario Sewralur, who inherited the love of sailing from his father, legendary navigator Mau Piailug. The journey was co-sponsored by the Taitung County Government and the Micronesian Voyaging Society, as a cross-cultural exchange to honor shared regional conservation values and seafaring techniques.
In Palau, living in harmony with the environment is at society’s core. The customary practice of bul empowers the Council of Chiefs, Palau’s highest-ranking group of traditional leaders, to place and maintain moratoriums on the harvest of natural resources to prevent overconsumption. Local fishing is generally prohibited based on these measures.
The island nation established the world’s first shark sanctuary in 2009. In 2015, it designated 80 percent of its waters as a national marine sanctuary. Earth Day is expanded to the entire month of April.
While Palau is known for its lush land and seascapes, impressive biodiversity lies in particular within marine ecosystems. A paradise for snorkelers and divers, Palau is home to some of the Indo-Pacific’s most thriving reefs, which constitute one of the “seven underwater wonders of the world.” Now say that five times fast.
Palau is a prime tropical destination—but it’s just about in the middle of nowhere. Widespread sustainability efforts aim to offset the carbon footprint intensified by tourism. Many eco-tourism experiences involve nature excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences drawing on traditional knowledge and practices in such realms as culinary arts or handicrafts.
For visitors to Palau looking to gamify their stay in-country, Ol’au Palau is an app rewarding environmental stewardship with special access to local heritage sites. Though the transaction happens on a screen, it promotes on-site engagement for fuller meaning-making.
As of 2017, Palau also requires visitors to sign the Palau Pledge, a code of conduct stamped into their passports at international arrivals. Entry into the country hinges on signing on the line, promising to the Children of Palau to exercise awareness and shared responsibility for Palau’s ecological and cultural preservation.
“Children of Palau, I take this pledge, as your guest,
To preserve and protect your beautiful and unique island home.
I vow to treat lightly, act kindly and explore mindfully.
I shall not take what is not given.
I shall not harm what does not harm me.
The only footprints I shall leave are those that will wash away.”
According to Palauan legend, a two-headed eel grew with one head on either side of a rock, each unaware of the other. The snakes starved as they pulled each other to go after prey, before realizing they were linked. Only then did they put their heads together, working together to thrive.
We are already aware we are linked. Palau may be one of the most isolated countries on earth, but we are all connected by the waters which lap at its shores.
The Palau Pledge is a refreshingly humanitarian immigration policy, inspiring us to respect and protect our surroundings both near and far. Should other countries follow Palau’s lead?
Raven reviews the e-trike from Mooncool in her off-grid forest
I was contemplating how to ready myself for old age, using the body wisely, and still attending to daily routines. Such was the state of inner asking when grace responded with the arrival of MoonCool, an e-trike. Silence is what I did not wish to disturb for me, the forest, and its creatures.
As mentioned in the first article, it arrived the day prior to snow arriving in northern Ontario, Canada. Testing was postponed till April. The main reason for this e-trike is to fetch Spring water in 3-gallon jugs from the Source. Riding on uneven ground thru forest.
I started with two jugs in the back carrier and one in the front carrier. I quickly forego the front one. It made the front wheel decide on its own accord which path to take. Not good.
Next was going further on the forest paths thru mud puddles and rocky terrain with cordless chainsaw. You definitely got to give it your full attention but the e-trike had plenty of power to tackle the terrain.
While learning the how-to’s I’ve had to email MoonCool Support a few times. What I liked was their visual response that came the next day. Even though the mistakes I made taught me, with the help of friends, whom could verify voltage in battery and in the process teach me the e-trike’s capabilities, I see these as hands-on ways to learning.
More like rewiring the brain.
What I thought were issues, was due to having touched all the buttons prior to knowing what I was doing.
Now I’ve added mirrors and a helmet to ride on dirt road primarily. This road has two major hills. Applying the back brakes puts power back in the battery. Yeah! There’s plenty of power just using the throttle to go up. Using the peddles is also an option and is definitely not tiring as the e-trike anticipates when to give a helping foot.
The only issue I’d love to master is backing up out of its shelter. Must be an easier way than my own strength to turn it around!
In the remote forests of West and East Africa, a form of communication echoes across the trees—low, percussive thuds made not by humans, but by chimpanzees. Scientists have long known that our closest relatives use calls, facial expressions, and gestures to interact. But a new study reveals something more astonishing: chimpanzees drum.
Not randomly, and not just for fun. These wild chimpanzees use tree roots as percussion instruments, and they drum in culturally distinct patterns depending on where they live.
Researchers observed that Pan troglodytes verus, the western subspecies found in Côte d’Ivoire, drum in steady, evenly spaced beats. Their eastern cousins, Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii, living in Uganda, perform a more complex rhythm with alternating long and short pauses, reminiscent of a natural Morse code. The sound travels across long distances—allowing chimps to signal location, hierarchy, or perhaps even mood.
In another related study, researchers found western chimps also drum by hurling stones at tree trunks, suggesting that different groups have distinct “instruments” and playing styles. The implications? These rhythmic behaviours may hint at the evolutionary roots of music, revealing that musicality may not be uniquely human.
The scientists analyzed more than 370 drumming bouts across 11 communities in six populations of these chimps—recordings that span almost 25 years, making it the biggest data set of chimpanzee drumming that exists out there in the world.
The team found that chimpanzees consistently produce rhythmic drumming patterns—and that these vary across populations. Western chimps drum with evenly spaced beats, “like the ticking of a clock,” says Vesta Eleuteri, a behavioral biologist at the University of Vienna who led the study, published today in Current Biology. In contrast, eastern chimps alternate between short and long silences after each hit (see video, below).
Are chimpanzees the world’s first percussionists? Image via Vesta Eleuteri
These findings also raise big questions about animal cultures and how environment and social structure influence the evolution of communication.
Other Stories Where Animals Inspire Awe and Awareness:
On a remote atoll in the Indian Ocean, ancient giant tortoises—the oldest reptiles on Earth—are now in the crosshairs of Qatari-backed resort projects. Conservationists fear that habitat destruction on nearby Assomption Island could spell extinction for some of the last wild populations.
A visit to Ethiopia and you feel the power of the sun and the beauty of the people. But the people outside the cities are often living in mud huts in locations without access to regular power. The country that is Africa’s only remaining sovereign nation has lots to boast about beyond its culture, nature and a rumored Ark from the The Holy Temple in Jerusalem Ethiopian students are getting a little help from some American friends:
In the Twende Solar and The Community Project: Ethiopia, the American solar energy systems manufacturer Sol-Ark has helped power a brighter future for students and families in Debre Birhan, Ethiopia, providing them with solar inverter systems for the country’s first public K-12 STEM academy.
Twende solar in Ethiopia
Situated at over 9,000 feet in the highlands of Ethiopia, and about a 3 hour drive from Addis, Wogagen School, meaning “The First Light of the Day” now runs on clean, reliable solar energy. For the first time, 280 students and their teachers have access to consistent power to operate projectors, computers, lab equipment, and vocational tools.
With capacity to grow to over 1,000 students, Wogagen is lighting the path toward educational equity. The benefits go beyond the classroom. Evening power allows the school to host after-hours programs for the surrounding Chole Village, serving over 4,000 residents.
Debre Birham in Ethiopia/Wikipedia
In a region challenged by civil conflict which can erupt day by day, and energy insecurity, the new solar infrastructure offers stability, security, and hope.
Twende solar, Ethiopia
As part of a Training of Trainers program led by Ethiopian engineer Gizaw Tilaye, 16 instructors from regional polytechnic colleges are learning hands-on solar installation and maintenance on-site using Sol-Ark inverters and Rolls Battery systems. These educators will return to their regions equipped to train the next generation of solar technicians.
The initiative was designed with direct input from village elders, the mayor, and the Ministry of Education, ensuring long-term viability and community ownership. Other partners including Rolls Battery Engineering and Heliene, joined Sol-Ark in donating equipment and resources.
The Wogagen campus also includes compost toilets, a bamboo nursery (learn here about building with bamboo), a community farm, and a brick-making facility – all powered by the solar system that replaced a diesel generator and freed the community from the burden of fuel dependency. Diesel is expensive, noisy and polluting.
Image retrieved from 
