All we need now is an Elon Musk Neurolink to stimulate the desired center and we can be forever in love with our partners: a new study has mapped out various love centers in the brain, leading to new ways we can stimulate love on a path to being more productive and satisfied beings.

We all have used the word ‘love’ in a bewildering range of contexts — from sexual adoration to parental love or the love of nature.

New imaging of the brain may shed light on why we use the same word for such a diverse collection of human experiences, called love:

You see your newborn child for the first time. The baby is soft, healthy and hearty — your life’s greatest wonder. You feel love for the little one.

The above statement was one of many simple scenarios presented to fifty-five parents, self-described as being in a loving relationship. Researchers from Aalto University in Finland applied functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure brain activity while subjects mulled brief stories related to six different types of love.

Love for children is the deepest

“We now provide a more comprehensive picture of the brain activity associated with different types of love than previous research,” says Pärttyli Rinne, the researcher who coordinated the study: “The activation pattern of love is generated in social situations in the basal ganglia, the midline of the forehead, the precuneus and the temporoparietal junction at the sides of the back of the head.”

Love for one’s children generated the most intense brain activity, closely followed by romantic love. “In parental love, there was activation deep in the brain’s reward system in the striatum area while imagining love, and this was not seen for any other kind of love,” says Rinne.

Love for romantic partners, friends, strangers, pets and nature were also part of the study, which was published this week in the Cerebral Cortex journal, Oxford University Press.

According to the research, brain activity is influenced not only by the closeness of the object of love, but also by whether it is a human being, another species or nature.

Unsurprisingly, compassionate love for strangers was less rewarding and caused less brain activation than love in close relationships. Meanwhile, love of nature activated the reward system and visual areas of the brain, but not the social brain areas.

Pet-owners identifiable by brain activity

The biggest surprise for the researchers was that the brain areas associated with love between people ended up being very similar, with differences lying primarily in the intensity of activation. All types of interpersonal love activated areas of the brain associated with social cognition, in contrast to love for pets or nature — with one exception.

Subjects’ brain responses to a statement like the following, on average, revealed whether or not they shared their life with a furry friend:

‘You are home lolling on the couch and your pet cat pads over to you. The cat curls up next to you and purrs sleepily. You love your pet.’

Related: Making love with the 5% rule

“When looking at love for pets and the brain activity associated with it, brain areas associated with sociality statistically reveal whether or not the person is a pet owner. When it comes to the pet owners, these areas are more activated than with non-pet owners,” says Rinne.

Not only can understanding the neural mechanisms of love help guide philosophical discussions about the nature of love, consciousness, and human connection, but also, the researchers hope that their work will enhance mental health interventions in conditions like attachment disorders, depression or relationship issues.

The post A map of where love lives in your brain appeared first on Green Prophet.

Manufacturers are always in the market for new solutions that are environmentally conscious and have minimal impact on the environment. Ideally, these materials should also be potent and effective solutions to many problems. Dead Sea magnesium chloride has already been proving its worth and increasing its impact many times over. There are numerous different ways that companies are using Dead Sea magnesium chloride. This presents a unique opportunity for manufacturers looking to make a splash in their industry and move towards a better ecological footprint.

What is Dead Sea Magnesium Chloride?

Dead Sea magnesium chloride is a compound that stands out in the pack due to how soluble it is as well as its absorption rate, plus it is easy to get. This makes it something that a bucketload of industries are going after from natural cosmetic companies to agriculture! As the name hints, it comes from the Dead Sea, which is extremely salty, thus making it a pretty bountiful resource for the brine that ends up becoming magnesium chloride.

Changing the Industry for the Better

Dead Sea magnesium chloride gives manufacturers the great ability to go green and swap out some of their less-than-friendly methods for this salty but green one instead. Here are some industries that can definitely benefit from going for Dead Sea Magnesium Chloride.

• Agriculture: Including dead sea magnesium chloride in fertilizers improves soil health, enriches crop-zapping plants with additional nutrients, and promotes eco-friendly farming. Plants that are given a boost of the mineral are better equipped to ward off pesky pests and diseases, which means less synthetic pesticides from the big bad chemical companies.
• Cosmetics: The beauty industry is no stranger to the oh-so magical powers of Dead Sea magnesium chloride. Across the world, formulators are tuning in to this miracle ingredient to create calm, cool, and collected skin care solutions. Ditching synthetic add-ins in favor of natural alternatives is great for your customer’s skin and your brand reputation.
• Water Treatment: Dead Sea magnesium chloride, as part of a water treatment process, can be a healthy alternative to cruel chemical treatments. This can help neutralize and or ‘soften’ hard water without endangering any humans! Making the planet happy AND salty!
• De-Icing Agent: Want a de-icer sans those pesky chemicals that might affect your pets or you? Then go for Dead Sea magnesium chloride!
• Bath Products: Hailing back to its health and wellness roots, magnesium chloride is a wonder ingredient that makes bath salts and other spa treatments that much more fab. The ingredient helps your muscles to relax and soak away the stress of life––a sure sign of a scienced-up holistic hero.

Sourcing Dead Sea Magnesium Chloride from ICL Industrial Products

If you want to get your hands on Dead Sea Magnesium chloride, then ICL Industrial Products is the place you want to go! ICL’s advanced extraction technique allows them to take already stellar magnesium chloride (as extracted from the Dead Sea) and turn a great ingredient into an even better one. Also, this is the sort of company that puts people and the planet first.

Dead Sea Magnesium For The Future

All in all, Dead Sea magnesium chloride is a smart, new ingredient to consider for long-term sustainability. From elevating your product line to lowering your overall impact, Dead Sea magnesium chloride can help you grow consumer trust by aligning yourself with a growing community of industry leaders who are turning intentions into action. Use Dead Sea magnesium chloride and experience the positive spillover effect!

The post Discovering the Magic of Dead Sea Magnesium Chloride appeared first on Green Prophet.

Pet shelters in the United Arab Emirates are noticing a worrying trend. As soon as the temperatures soar in the summer months, more pets are being abandoned. According to a local paper, the Kaleej Times, local UAE families escape the heat which can exceed 40C daily by going abroad for long vacations.

Some pet owners give their animals to the care of clinics or shelters before their trips, local pet care experts reveal, while others go as far as abandoning them on the streets. Last winter 140 cats were found dumped in the desert outside of Abu Dhabi.

The animal rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is offering a $5,000 reward for information on “whoever dumped these cats in the desert,” said. PETA Asia Vice-President Jason Baker: “This act of cruelty must not be swept under the rug … The solution to the homeless-animal crisis is spaying and neutering and adopting from overworked and understaffed shelters, which PETA Asia has been asking the UAE to require for years,” Baker said.

Souheil Abdulla, managing partner at Pure Life Veterinarian Treatment told the Kaleej Times: “When people travel, they unfortunately abandon their pets. They mostly do it to cats because they’re easier to dispose.”

He added that such behavior “showed a lack of responsibility”. The expert said that it’s sad how some people consider pets or cats as accessories to their lives, instead of part of their family.

While wild pets wandering the streets of Abu Dhabi are less common than in 2011 (wild pet ownership is now banned), climate change will be creating more displaced pets and people as some parts of the world become intolerable for supporting life. Bahrain has started a mid-day work ban for foreign workers and construction workers to protect them from the ravaging health effects of the heat.

Related: Cruel cat woman deported from the UAE

But who is protecting the animals? If you are in the UAE and want to know more about animal abandonment due to climate change, contact the RAK Animal Welfare Centre. The shelter is supported by the government of Ras Al Khaimah and opened in 2010 rehomes socialised, trained, and healthy dogs.

If you want to help with cats, The Sharjah Cats and Dogs Shelter is a non-profit that rescues abandoned pets and finds them homes. It has a physical location on Airport Road in Muzairah and is open to walk-in visitors from Monday to Thursday, 8am to 3pm and Sunday 2pm to 6pm. It is closed on Fridays and Saturdays. All pets are spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped.

Back in 2015 The National said it’s common every summer in the UAE and that some shelters see pets handed in daily by locals who are traveling abroad for the summer and who do not want to ay expensive boarding fees. Some are leaving the UAE for good and don’t want to relocate with their cats and dogs. The trend starts in April when it starts to heat up.

The post Pets abandoned as people flee climate change appeared first on Green Prophet.

So, you’ve heard about keeping an octopus as a pet, and it sounds super cool, right? Well, let’s dive into it and see if it’s as awesome as it seems.

Octopuses are wicked smart and love checking out their surroundings. People who own them say they can even learn tricks and recognize their owners. It’s like having a brainy underwater friend. But, here’s the catch—it’s more like having a pet for show and less like having a cuddly cat or dog.

Octopuses need a fancy setup to live happily, and that means a big tank and lots of special equipment. The tank alone can cost a fortune up to $1,000 and if you have seen any videos online, you will notice that an octopus is good at escaping. They are also picky eaters and prefer live prey like shrimp, crayfish, and crabs. They can eat frozen food if they have to.

Now, here’s the not-so-great stuff. Octopuses are wild animals, and keeping them in tanks might stress them out. Some experts say they get bored and even hurt themselves. Also, they’re not like your average fish; they aren’t a fish at all. They may not live long in captivity, even with the best care.

Another thing is, they’re escape artists! Octopuses can squeeze through tiny spaces, so you need a secure lid for their tank. And guess what? They’re messy eaters, so keeping their water clean is a bit of a hassle.

What to tell a friend who want an octopus

Some people say it’s not cool to keep octopuses as pets because they’re so smart and keeping them in tanks isn’t great for their happiness. They argue that octopuses are meant to be in the ocean, not our living rooms. Others think it’s possible to take good care of them and enjoy their company. But even the best owners admit that having an octopus is more of a show than a petting zoo experience. It takes time to build a connection, and some octopuses never really get used to being in captivity.

What’s the Alternative?

There are people like Giovanni DiGarimore, who think the best place for octopuses is the ocean. He bought a giant octopus named Fred and set him free in the sea.

Degarimore, who owns a fish market, told a Californian news station that he had a change of heart about selling or consuming octopus after learning about their intelligence and an experience he had playing hide-and-seek with one while scuba diving in Fiji. His dock manager called him about a local fisherman selling an octopus caught in a crab trap.

Degarimore couldn’t bear the thought of it being cut up. So he bought it, named it Fred and kept it in a tank for a few days before releasing it back into the ocean. “It’s just been a culmination of events through the last 10 years. Essentially, we played a game of hide and seek for 15 minutes under the ocean. It was an experience I’ll never forget.

A good teaching moment is the film My Octopus Teacher.

Green Prophet’s verdict? Don’t keep an octopus in captivity. It is cruel. Other options? Build a terrarium. Plant herbs at home. Grow moss.

The post Is keeping a pet octopus cruel? appeared first on Green Prophet.

Your job as a pet parent is to ensure the health and well-being of your canine companions. Unfortunately, dogs can be prone to a variety of skin infections, leading to itching, scratching, and distress.

Knowing how to protect your dog with skin conditions and effectively manage these annoying conditions is an essential part of ensuring your dog’s happiness and health. We’ve compiled this list of strategies and interventions you can employ in your daily life to help prevent dog skin infections, promote healing and prevent future flare-ups.

Hygiene and regular grooming

A regular grooming regimen and hygiene will benefit your dog’s skin infections. Regularly brushing your dog’s coat to remove loose fur helps prevent matting. Matting provides an ideal breeding ground for bacteria that can lead to skin infections.

Regularly bathing your dog with a skin infection with a mild, hypoallergenic shampoo specially formulated for dogs can also go a long way to maintaining healthy skin and coat. Excessive bathing is not recommended as this can strip the skin of natural oils, making dog skin infections more likely. 

Keeping your dog’s bedding clean and free from allergens like dust mites is vital in reducing skin infections.

A balanced diet

A healthy diet plays an essential role in managing and preventing skin infections. A well-balanced diet provides your best dog pal with all the vital nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. If you’re concerned that your dog isn’t getting adequate nutrition from its diet, consult your vet, who can determine the best diet for your dog. 

A diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can reduce inflammation and promote healthy skin. You can feed your dog fatty fish or canine dietary supplements to ensure your pup gets all the Omega-3s it needs. 

Avoid giving your dog human food and treats because these can contain ingredients that can trigger or worsen skin issues. Similarly, human dietary supplements shouldn’t be given to your dog as the dosages are usually inappropriate for dogs. Always check with your vet first before making and changes to your dog’s diet. 

Manage allergies

Dog skin infections are often caused or exacerbated by allergies. Food, environmental allergens like pollen and dust mites, and contact allergens like fabrics or cleaning products can cause skin infections. 

If you suspect your dog has an allergy impacting its skin, it’s best to work with your veterinarian to identify the potential allergen and work out a treatment plan for your dog.

Regular health check-ups

Many dog owners only visit the vet in an emergency or when something is wrong, but an important part of caring for a dog is to stick to a regular schedule of check-ups. Prevention is, after all, better than cure, and when it comes to paying vet bills, preventative care is more affordable than treatment for full-blown conditions.

Regular check-ups at the vet can help manage skin infections by allowing your vet to regularly assess your dog’s skin health, identify possible infections and underlying conditions, and recommend appropriate interventions. Vets like Brewerton Animal Hospital is dedicated to your pet’s health and happiness.

Parasite prevention, vaccinations, and health checks are important parts of avoiding the potential triggers of dog skin infections.

Early detection and treatment

It would be best if you tried to treat dog skin infections as early as possible. Inspecting your dog’s skin regularly for signs of redness, swelling, sores, rashes, and scratching is crucial. If you notice anything unusual, consult your vet as soon as possible. 

Depending on the cause of the skin complaint, your vet may prescribe changes to your dog’s diet, oral or topical dog skin infection medicine, or even medicated dog shampoo. You must strive to stick to your veterinarian’s instructions as closely as possible and complete the entire course of treatment for your dog with a skin infection to ensure proper healing and minimize the chances of a recurrence.

Management of the environment 

We’ve touched on the importance of maintaining a clean and hygienic environment for your dog to manage and prevent skin infections. Regular vacuuming will help eliminate any potential allergens, while frequent washing of bedding with a mild, fragrance-free detergent will also help to eliminate allergens. 

Keep your dog’s living space dry and well-ventilated to keep bacteria and fungi from flourishing. Other things that can assist with the management of dog skin conditions include avoiding high temperatures and prolonged sun exposure, which can irritate any existing skin conditions.

Final thoughts

Dog skin infections can be annoying and frustrating for dogs and their humans. While they’re a common ailment among dogs, they are relatively easy to manage and treat with a few minor changes to your dog’s environment. Dogs with skin conditions will need different treatments depending on the underlying cause of the irritation, so it’s always best to seek veterinary care early on. But by implementing these simple measures, your dog can have a happier, healthier life free of skin infections.

The post Effective Ways for Pet Parents to Manage Dog Skin Infections appeared first on Green Prophet.

Baby Fluffpants, Fido, and Fufu. Our pets are heaven on earth – no arguments here. These little fellows know how to make you smile, even on your most challenging days. You may throw a bone or treat to show how much you love and appreciate their existence, but don’t you think your pets deserve more? Like a furry day off? 

It is not just you who deserves a break from the wreck we call life; pets do too. Your vacation is going to be exponentially better when you bring your pets along, and thankfully, there are plenty of pet-friendly places to visit. Your pets will have endless fun with you, from visiting theme parks and frolicking on golden beaches to hiking mountains. What’s more, when you see them wagging their tails with joy, running off-leash with their tongues hanging out, you’ll be glad you made this decision.

Furthermore, even with the abundance of places, if you are still having trouble figuring out where you should go with your furry angel, we have you covered. Read on to get a gist of all the fun and pet-friendly places where you can let your four-legged friend run wild and have the time of their lives.

Usually dogs and cats are only allowed to fly in the cabin—known as carry-on pets—if they can fit in a carrier that you can stow under the seat in front of you. For cats this is okay but for most dogs it won’t work. A small number of airlines, including JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, and Etihad Airways, now allow passengers flying with dogs to buy an extra seat for their pet. In Saudi Arabia you can rent an entire plane to fly your falcons. Or fly with them. But follow the instructions. 

Checklist for flying with falcons

• No first class flights
• Tied with chord or chain
• Valid health certificate
• Wearing hood
• Falcon passport

While most of us do not have falcons, and came here for pets like cats and dogs, read on for places in the US that cater to pets. You can also message an AirBNB or VRBO looking to see if your pets are allowed and under what condition. If you are renting a car in the United States or Canada be sure that your pets are caged or enclosed in the car. You can get charged up to $1000 in cleaning fees if pet hair is left in the vehicle. 

• Gatlinburg Trail, Tennessee 

Believe it or not, the Gatlinburg Trail is one of the two walking paths where pets are allowed in the National Park of the Great Smokey Mountains. It is a one-way trail that is 1.9 miles long and extends from Sugarland’s Visitor Center to Gatlinburg.

The trail is relatively flat, but it offers incredible views of the several old homesites and rivers along the path. If you plan to prolong your visit, you can plan your stay in the many pet friendly cabins in Gatlinburg available in Parkside Cabin Rentals. These cabins offer all sorts of amenities, including pet-friendly furniture and beddings of all sizes. You are going to have a great time – we promise.

• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ve probably heard of Philadelphia because of its colonial history, cheesecakes, and of course, “Rocky.” However, you may be unaware of the wealth of modern cultural experiences available to visitors to this historic city. This town extends its “Brotherly Love” to pets and people alike, with over 30 pet-friendly walking tours and various pet-friendly parks, dining, and national historic sites.

• Greenough, Montana 

It’s no surprise, with a name like Paws Up, that this 37,000-acre ranch welcomes you and your pet. The ranch hosts an annual event called the Canine Classic, which is a great time to visit. The hike/run is for you and your pet and benefits the Humane Society of Western Montana. The ranch offers a variety of other activities, all set against the breathtaking Montana skyline.

• Bend, Oregon

The 100,000-person town in central Oregon is so pet-obsessed that pets are permitted almost everywhere. Pet-friendly hiking trails abound in the Cascade Mountain Range’s foothills. There are numerous outdoor food truck parks, food carts, and breweries within the city limits that welcome pets.

• Mt. Washing Valley, New Hampshire

Whatever season you visit, there is always something to do at this retreat. This destination is ideal for four-legged visitors, ranging from hiking in the summer to dog sledding in the winter. You must check it out because there is far too much to do to list. Even sites that are not pet-friendly (such as Santa’s Village and Story Land) have condos or kennels where your best friend can be cared for while you enjoy the sights.

• Colorado Springs, Colorado 

Do you and your pet enjoy spending time outside? In Colorado Springs, you’ll feel right at home. This relaxed metropolis is the second-most populous city in the pet-friendly Centennial State. Still, its sprawling layout along Pike National Forest gives it a nice feel than other cities its size. Colorado Springs offers the best of both worlds, whether you and your pet prefer a mountain escape, a city outing, or a combination of both.

• Barcelona, Spain

From famous cathedrals like the Sagrada Familia to shopping on the Avinguda Diagonal, Barcelona has a lot to offer, including several pet-friendly restaurants. During the summer, go to Spain’s Canino Can Jane, a famous pet ranch with a water park just for your furry friend. Moreover, a visit to Barcelona would be incomplete without a visit to the Picasso Museum.

• Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland, Ohio, is close to one of the region’s most pet-friendly national parks, Cuyahoga National Park, with over 110 hiking trails. The Buckeye Trail in the park has 40 miles of dog-friendly treks. While you’re there, grab a beer from Bark & Brew, and spend some time at the indoor dog park.

• Park City, Utah

Park City, Utah, has earned the moniker “Bark City.” From the hillsides to the cafes, your pet will love this city just as much as you will. While you’re there, check out the Waldorf Astoria Park City and Montage Deer Valley, which both have pet-friendly concierges that welcome your pets.

• Asheville, North Carolina

The expansive Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, welcomes pets on its grounds and outdoor patios (but not inside buildings). Nonetheless, with over 8,000 acres to explore, it’s well worth bringing the pet, especially on a beautiful day. After you’ve had your fill of stomping around the mansion gardens, the nearby town of Asheville has a plethora of pet-friendly pursuits for the two of you to enjoy. Check out the street art in downtown Asheville, or pick up some fresh produce at one of the town’s many vibrant outdoor farmer’s markets.

• Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor is one of the most fantastic places to visit with your pet. It has so much to offer. For instance, you can take in the sounds and sights of the Asticou Azalea Garden or explore the trails of Acadia National Park. Besides that, Hadley Point Beach is also a fantastic option because of its stunning sunsets and scenic coastline for those looking for a heavenly beach getaway with their pets. Here, pets are welcome on a leash, and visitors can enjoy boating, picnic tables, and other activities.

The post Travelling with pets in America appeared first on Green Prophet.

Adopting a dog is one of the most exciting moments in life. Dogs are loyal companions who will love you unconditionally and bring immense joy into your and your family’s life. However, having a dog is also a huge commitment that both you and your family have to be prepared for. Seeing as your new pet will live with you for many years, here are some tips you can follow to get ready for this new challenge.

Researching pet insurance

Once you’ve decided that you want to adopt a pet, research regarding pet insurance options will be your best friend. There will be an adjustment period, whether you bring home a puppy or an adult dog. Dogs might feel overwhelmed or scared when they first get to a new home, or might even appear aloof. Puppies might take to a new home faster than adult dogs who need more time to adjust, especially if they’ve been living at a shelter for a while. You should also research the breeds and the kind of care they need so you only adopt the one that fits your lifestyle the best.

Besides all of the necessary equipment required for a puppy or an adult dog (food, toys, etc.), you should also think about its health care. Puppies can get sick, and when that happens, you should be ready for vet visits and sudden costs. Choosing pet insurance will make these situations more effortless, and the best place to look for that is Bivvy.

Budget the dog’s expenses

One of the biggest factors that should not be ignored when adopting a pet is the costs involved. There are expenses such as quality dog food and treats, toys, grooming and others. There are also medical expenses such as periodic vet visits, checkups and vaccines to be considered.

Finding a veterinarian

Every dog needs a good vet. The first thing you’ll do when you get your dog is take them to a vet. A vet will guide and educate you about your dog’s well-being, health, medications and the role of pet ownership in general. Research the vets around you and choose one with a great team. Vets can also prescribe medicines like how to buy CBD oil for dogs. 

Preparing your home for your dog

Your dog is going to need a lot of things in their new home and you should prepare your home for their arrival. Things such as bowls, beds, leashes, crates and collars are some of the important things that you should buy before you even bring your pet home. You can start with a few toys and keep buying new ones as time goes on. You can also install dog gates in your home if you want your dog to not go into certain rooms or stay in a particular area.

Buying the right food

Providing your pet with the right food is your responsibility. Different sizes and breeds of dogs have different food requirements, so ensure that you know their diet needs or consult a vet. You can buy high-quality, grain-free dog food that suits your pet’s needs the best and keeps them healthy.

These are a few beginner tips to help you prepare and set up your for a new member of the family. Once you adopt the dog, you will also have to train them properly and fulfill any other needs that arise. Ensure that you can make space in your life to keep them happy and healthy.

The post 5 Tips for First-Time Dog Owners appeared first on Green Prophet.

Scientists in Germany have trained dogs to sniff out people with coronavirus. And they are accurate 94% of the time, reports Bloomberg. The science comes from researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hannover, Germany.

During tests, they found that eight Germany military dogs could correctly identify the presence of the coronavirus 94 percent of the time after only being trained a week, according to Bloomberg.

“We think that this works because the metabolic processes in the body of a diseased patient is completely changed,” Maren von Koeckritz-Blickwede, a professor at the university, said in a video statement posted by the university on YouTube. “We think that the dogs are able to detect a specific smell produced” by the metabolic process. See the video below.

Despite dogs being used to sniff out explosives, cancer, criminals and drugs, “people have not really realized the potential a dog could have to detect diseased from non-diseased patients,” says Holger Volk, head of the small animal clinic at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, in the video.

The method could be employed in “public areas such as airports, sport events, borders or other mass gatherings.

Since the COVID-19 samples were completely randomized, neither the dog handlers nor the researchers knew which samples were positive and which ones weren’t positive.The researchers therefore guarded against the “Clever Hans” effect, where animals can appear to be solving complex problems, but in fact are taking cues from their master, hard for people to perceive, but easy for animals.

“These preliminary findings indicate that trained detection dogs can identify respiratory secretion samples from hospitalised and clinically diseased SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals by discriminating between samples from SARS-CoV-2 infected patients and negative controls. This data may form the basis for the reliable screening method of SARS-CoV-2 infected people,” the researchers sum up in their online report.

The post Dogs can smell Covid-19 virus, find German scientists appeared first on Green Prophet.

How would you like to save money by no longer paying electric bills? There are several ways in which this can be accomplished. The first option is to go completely off the grid, and choose not to use electricity of any kind. This may not be suitable for the average person and will definitely not be comfortable, even for the extremist.

The next option is live very frugally and save energy in every way possible by limiting the amount of time in the home with the lights on, unplugging appliances, and even lowering the heat settings. Again, this is not a comfortable option. This option also does not fully eliminate electricity bills. The benefits of solar energy are not always openly discussed, but here are 5 good reasons why you should use solar power energy.

The benefits of solar energy – 5 good reasons

green pr1. Solar energy is reliable. With only a bit of cleaning to do, this form of energy can offer several thousand hours of electricity and power for a home.

2. Solar energy is completely renewable. The Sun is not disappearing any time in the near future, and no mining is necessary in order to use its power.

3. Solar energy is not harmful to the environment. In fact, it is part of the natural environment.

4. It pays for itself. Over time, the initial costs of installing solar panels are cancelled out by the amount of money saved not paying a power company.

5. Fits any budget. Solar panels can be installed one or many at a time to fit almost any budget.

It is obvious that solar panels can be useful, but some may not understand just how useful.

Imagine your perimeter wireless dog fence being powered by solar energy, or any other type of underground fencing for dogs running even during power outages. This could keep your pets safe, even when the electric company cannot keep the power functioning during bad weather.

Solar energy panels can be used to heat water for the home, keep the lights burning bright, and even power the television.

Solar panels can show an immediate savings on the electricity bill. They will not eliminate the bill completely unless all electrical aspects of the house are appropriately hooked into the solar panel converted energy. This is not a difficult task. In fact, solar panels can be purchased in a number of places and are simple to install for those who are true do it yourselfers.

Maybe your budget is tight in these tough economic times. That is alright, as panels can be installed one at a time as the budget allows. Money saved can then be put to further panels. Once an entire home is converted to solar panel energy the savings will start, as no more power bills will be hitting the mailbox. In this manner, the solar panels seem to pay for themselves.

Are you ready to convert? Honestly, we cannot think of many reasons why solar panel energy not converting is an option. Start saving a bit today and buy a single panel. See how things go. The earth and your wallet will be very thankful.

The post Solar panels and saving money at home appeared first on Green Prophet.

With so much sh#t mounting in the world – dog poop on the sidewalk, overflowing human waste in heavily-trafficked tourist areas, sewage plants banned (like in the West Bank) – we need some kind of magic formula to get rid of it. And now we need look no further.

Professor Oded Shoseyov from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem has invented Ashpoopie – a contraption that delivers “special formula” to dog or human waste which almost immediately turns the feces into ash. If this sounds far-fetched to you, don’t worry, we had the same reaction, but closer analysis shows that if this stuff is as safe and cheap as its publicist claims, we potentially have a revolutionary product on our hands that can solve all of the world’s sh#tty problems.

The magic formula of Ashpoopie

Cleaning up dog turds left on the street with plastic bags that won’t degrade for hundreds of years is not an effective solution to getting rid of “shoe mines,” according to Paulee CleanTec. Rather than get rid of the waste, it ends up being shuffled to some other place.

What we really need is something that will make it vanish altogether. Ashpoopie does just that. Well, almost.

Within ten seconds after it is mixed with what the company calls a “cheap and safe” special formula – which magic ingredients have yet to be disclosed – the poop becomes an odorless and completely sterile ash that can be vacuum packed. But Wait, the best is yet to come.

Using human poop as fertilizer

Ashpoopie won’t only rid the streets of New York City, Tel Aviv, and other dog-friendly urban environments of these nuisance piles; but it will also turn human waste into fertilizer and generate electricity!

Paulee’s Spokespeople Mr. Moshe Hibel and Dr Yaeli Pintchuck claim that the same patent is being used to develop SCHT – Self Contained Human Toilets.

According to Dr. Yaeli Pintchuck:

This patent will be used for: Portable / chemical toilets which have no connection to any sewage system. Shortly we can say that based on the formula that we use (cheap and safe chemical) the feces will turn to sterile ash in seconds and will leave about 10-20% of the original “portion” – the ash can be evacuated once in a long while and then can be used as fertilizer.

This toilet will even generate its own energy by capturing heat energy from the process required to convert the feces into ash and converting into electricity. Failing that, according to Dr. Pintchuck, a solar panel can be installed.

Cleaning pollution in the Nile

Paulee’s poop-to-ash converter has numerous applications. It can be used to clean up the Falucca boats that pollute the Nile River and other waterbound vessels, as well as on airplanes, buses, and trains. It’s also a superb solution for dealing with high quantities of human waste at music festivals and poor villages that lack access to a sewage plant. This stuff can literally be used anywhere.

By now you’re probably expecting Ashpoopie to cost hundreds of dollars, right? Maybe not. Although the cost of the initial outlay has not been established, a month’s supply of small capsules – enough to clean up after one dog – will cost between $10 and $20. Human applications, by virtue of volumes, would probably cost a bit more. Unless you own a Great Dane.

Professor Oded Shoseyov’s expects Ashpoopie to be available in retail outlets by the second quarter of 2012.

2020 update: looks like Ashpoopie never made it to production. 

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Israeli Designs Green Toilet for India’s Slums

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