Women’s health care is a vital component of public health, yet it remains one of the most under-addressed and misunderstood areas in medicine.

From adolescence through menopause and beyond, women face unique health challenges that call for specialised attention, informed care, and ongoing support. A strong medical team, one that includes both general practitioners and gynecologists, is key to ensuring women’s well-being across all stages of life.

This article explores why women’s health care matters, what comprehensive care looks like, and how evolving roles in medicine are helping to close gaps in access and quality.

The Complexity of Women’s Health

Women’s health is not limited to reproductive care. It encompasses a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional needs that are shaped by biological, social, and environmental factors. Women are more likely than men to experience autoimmune disorders, osteoporosis, and certain mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. They also metabolize medication differently and may present atypical symptoms for conditions like heart disease, which has historically been underdiagnosed in women due to male-centric research models.

Reproductive health itself is multifaceted, involving menstrual health, contraception, fertility, pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and gynecological cancers. These issues are deeply interconnected with other aspects of health. For example, untreated polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can lead to insulin resistance and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Similarly, lack of access to prenatal care can result in complications for both mother and baby, including preterm birth and low birth weight.

Why a Strong Medical Team Matters

Navigating these complexities requires a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach. A good medical team doesn’t just treat symptoms; it builds relationships, monitors long-term health trends, and empowers women to make informed decisions.

Key members of this team include:

• General Practitioners (GPs): These providers offer routine checkups, manage chronic conditions, and serve as the first point of contact for most health concerns. They play a critical role in preventive care and early detection.
• Gynecologists: Specialists in reproductive health, gynecologists provide essential services such as Pap smears, breast exams, contraception counseling, and menopause management. Regular visits can lead to early diagnosis of conditions like cervical cancer or endometriosis.
• Advanced Practice Nurses: Nurses who have completed relevant programs can continue to specialize in areas like women’s health. Their advanced training equips them to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care and to serve as trusted members of a woman’s medical care team.
• Mental Health Professionals: Given the strong link between hormonal changes and mental health, therapists and psychiatrists are often vital in managing conditions like postpartum depression or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

This collaborative model ensures that women receive holistic care; care that sees the whole person, not just isolated symptoms.

The Power of Preventative Care

Preventive care is one of the most effective tools in women’s health. Annual wellness visits, mammograms, pap tests, and bone density scans can detect issues before they become serious.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, yet many women are unaware of their risk factors. Regular checkups with a trusted provider can help monitor blood pressure, cholesterol, and lifestyle habits that contribute to cardiovascular health.

Vaccinations also play a key role. The HPV vaccine, for example, has significantly reduced the prevalence of the virus that causes most cervical cancers. Yet uptake remains uneven, especially in underserved communities. A well-informed medical team can help educate patients and ensure they receive timely immunizations to prevent disease.

Addressing Health Disparities

Despite the importance of women’s health care, access remains uneven across racial, geographic, and socioeconomic lines. Black women in the U.S. are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Native American women face higher rates of cervical cancer and lower screening rates. Rural women often struggle to find nearby providers, especially specialists.

These disparities reflect systemic issues that demand systemic solutions. Expanding telehealth services, increasing funding for community health centers, and supporting culturally competent care are all steps in the right direction. Nurses trained through flexible, accessible courses such as online DNP programs can help bridge these gaps by bringing advanced care to underserved areas and populations.

Building Trust and Communication

One of the most overlooked aspects of women’s health care is the importance of trust. Many women report feeling dismissed or not taken seriously by their providers, especially when discussing pain, fatigue, or mental health concerns. This can lead to delayed diagnoses and worsening outcomes.

A good medical team listens. They validate concerns, explain options clearly, and involve patients in decision-making. This kind of relationship is especially important in women’s health, where stigma and silence have historically surrounded topics like menstruation, sexual health, and menopause.

Advanced practice nurses often excel in this area. Their training emphasizes patient education, empathy, and long-term care relationships. Whether it’s helping a teenager navigate her first gynecological visit or supporting a woman through perimenopause, these professionals can offer both clinical expertise and emotional support.

Empowering Women Through Education

Health literacy is a powerful form of self-advocacy. When women understand their bodies, their risks, and their options, they’re better equipped to make informed decisions. This includes knowing when to seek care, how to interpret symptoms, and what questions to ask during appointments.

Medical teams that prioritize education through workshops, digital resources, or one-on-one counseling help empower women to take charge of their health. This is especially important in an era of misinformation, where social media can spread myths about everything from birth control to vaccines.

The Role of Nurses in Expanding Access

As the health care landscape evolves, nurses are playing an increasingly vital role in expanding access and improving quality. Nurses who have completed online DNP programs are uniquely positioned to specialize in women’s health and contribute meaningfully to care teams. Their advanced clinical training, combined with a focus on leadership and systems thinking, allows them to address both individual and community health needs.

These nurses often work in primary care settings, OB/GYN clinics, and community health centers, where they provide preventive services, manage chronic conditions, and offer reproductive health counseling. Their presence helps reduce wait times, improve patient satisfaction, and ensure continuity of care.

The future of women’s health care depends on our ability to build inclusive, responsive, and well-resourced systems. This means investing in research that reflects women’s experiences, training providers in gender-sensitive care, and expanding the roles of nurses and other professionals who can meet women where they are.

It also means recognizing that women’s health is not just a medical issue, it’s a social one. When women have access to comprehensive care, they are better able to participate in the workforce, care for their families, and contribute to their communities. Health equity for women is health equity for all. By prioritizing preventive care, addressing disparities, and fostering trust, we can build a health care system that truly supports women’s wellbeing through every stage of life.

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For many of us, the day begins only after that sacred first cup of coffee. Now, new research reveals that our favorite morning ritual may be doing more than just jumpstarting our day—it might be quietly shaping our future selves.

In a landmark study following nearly 50,000 women for over 30 years, researchers from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found a strong association between midlife coffee consumption and healthy aging for women —defined not only by longevity, but by quality of life: freedom from chronic disease, good physical function, mental health, and intact cognitive abilities.

“Our study is the first to assess coffee’s impact across multiple domains of aging over three decades,” said Dr. Sara Mahdavi, the study’s lead author and a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard, in a preview of her presentation at NUTRITION 2025, the flagship annual conference of the American Society for Nutrition.

The research, drawn from data in the long-running Nurses’ Health Study, found that women who consumed moderate amounts of caffeinated coffee in midlife were significantly more likely to enjoy robust health later in life. Each additional small cup of coffee per day was linked to a 2%–5% increase in the likelihood of “healthy aging,” up to about five small cups.

Importantly, this positive effect was not seen with tea or decaffeinated coffee. And, in a twist that will please nutritionists but disappoint soda drinkers, drinking more cola (another source of caffeine) was linked to a 20%–26% lower chance of healthy aging.

“Not all sources of caffeine are equal,” said Dr. Mahdavi. “It’s likely that other compounds in coffee—such as antioxidants and polyphenols—are playing a role here.”

The study is unique not only for its length and size but for its holistic definition of aging—one that accounts for mind, body, and spirit. Of the 47,513 women tracked since 1984, only 3,706 met all the study’s criteria for “healthy aging” by 2016. But among those women, most shared one habit: they drank around 315 mg of caffeine daily, roughly the amount in three small cups of coffee.

“These results, while preliminary, suggest that small, consistent habits can shape long-term health,” Dr. Mahdavi said. “Moderate coffee intake may offer some protective benefits when combined with other healthy behaviors like exercise, a balanced diet, and avoiding smoking.”

Still, she emphasized: coffee is not a magic bullet. Its benefits are modest, and genetics and lifestyle still play a much larger role in how we age.

The Eco-Awakening Angle

At Green Prophet, we often highlight plant-based solutions that align with natural systems. Coffee—grown sustainably—has long been part of the environmental and wellness conversation. But this study adds a new layer to the dialogue: coffee as a potential agent of longevity and cognitive preservation in women.

That doesn’t mean we all need to start downing five cups a day. For some, especially those sensitive to caffeine or with specific health conditions, too much coffee can be harmful. And as Dr. Mahdavi and colleagues note, genetic differences may influence how caffeine affects individuals.

The team plans to further explore how bioactive compounds in coffee interact with genetic and metabolic markers of aging, possibly paving the way for personalized dietary recommendations in the future.

If you’re a woman in your 40s or 50s enjoying your morning brew, this study gives new reason to sip with purpose. But even more importantly, it underscores a simple truth we often return to: wellness is cumulative. The choices we make today—how we move, what we eat, how we rest, and yes, how we caffeinate—are the building blocks of the decades to come.

As always, balance is key. And if your coffee is organic, fair trade, and shade-grown? Even better—for you and the planet.

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Plastic is everywhere. It’s in the things we use daily—cutting boards, clothing, cleaning sponges—and now, it seems, it’s even in the gum we chew. As the presence of microplastics in our environment grows, researchers are starting to investigate the potential impact of plastic particles on our health. In a pilot study, researchers revealed that chewing gum—both natural and synthetic—can release hundreds to thousands of microplastics into saliva, which could eventually be ingested. But what does this mean for us, and how did we get here?

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, typically less than five millimeters in diameter, that can enter the body through ingestion or inhalation. These particles are found in numerous everyday products, from teeth aligners, to toothbrushes and toothpaste to tampons, sleep retainers, and even implants. Recent research suggests that these microplastics may have adverse effects on human health, but the science is still in its early stages.

In 2025, a pilot study on chewing gum presented at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Spring Meeting unveiled troubling findings. Researchers discovered that both natural and synthetic chewing gum released microplastics into saliva, potentially contributing to the growing ingestion of microplastics by humans.

“Our goal is not to alarm anybody,” says Sanjay Mohanty, principal investigator and UCLA engineering professor. “Scientists don’t know if microplastics are unsafe to us or not. There are no human trials. But we know we are exposed to plastics in everyday life, and that’s what we wanted to examine here.”

While animal studies and studies with human cells suggest microplastics could cause harm, definitive answers on their impact on human health remain elusive. However, this study raises an important question: if we are unknowingly ingesting microplastics from products like gum, what are the cumulative effects on our bodies?

The amount of microplastics in chewing gum may seem small at first, but consider the numbers: an average person chews 160 to 180 pieces of gum per year. With each piece potentially releasing up to 3,000 microplastic particles, this could lead to the ingestion of tens of thousands of plastic particles each year. While the full health implications are still unknown, reducing exposure to microplastics is something experts agree is important.

The Rise of Plastic Gum: A Transition from Natural to Synthetic

“Our initial hypothesis was that the synthetic gums would have a lot more microplastics because the base is a type of plastic,” says Lowe, who started the project as an undergraduate intern at UCLA and the presenter of this research. The researchers tested five brands of synthetic gum and five brands of natural gum, all of which are commercially available.

Mohanty says they wanted to reduce the human factor of varied chewing patterns and saliva, so they had seven pieces from each brand all chewed by one person. In the lab, the person chewed the piece of gum for 4 minutes, producing samples of saliva every 30 seconds, then a final mouth rinse with clean water, all of which got combined into a single sample.

In another experiment, saliva samples were collected periodically over 20 minutes to look at the release rate of microplastics from each piece of gum. Then, the researchers measured the number of microplastics present in each saliva sample. Plastic particles were either stained red and counted under a microscope or analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, which also provided the polymer composition.

Lowe measured an average of 100 microplastics released per gram of gum, though some individual gum pieces released as many as 600 microplastics per gram. A typical piece of gum weighs between 2 and 6 grams, meaning a large piece of gum could release up to 3,000 plastic particles.

If the average person chews 160 to 180 small sticks of gum per year, the researchers estimated that could result in the ingestion of around 30,000 microplastics. If the average person consumes tens of thousands of microplastics per year, gum chewing could greatly increase the ingested amount.

“Surprisingly, both synthetic and natural gums had similar amounts of microplastics released when we chewed them,” says Lowe. And they also contained the same polymers: polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalates, polyacrylamides and polystyrenes. The most abundant polymers for both types of gum were polyolefins, a group of plastics that includes polyethylene and polypropylene.

The history of gum

To understand the shift to plastic in chewing gum, we need to take a step back in history. Chewing gum, once made from natural tree sap, has a long history. Indigenous cultures in North America chewed sap from trees like the spruce, and the Mayans chewed a substance called chicle, derived from the sap of the sapodilla tree, as early as the 19th century. Chicle was prized for its chewiness, and for many years, it served as the base for gum products.

The 20th century, however, brought about a shift. The development of synthetic rubber during World War II led to the replacement of natural tree sap with petroleum-based materials. In 1928, the Wrigley Company began using synthetic gum bases, which are made from plastic compounds such as polyolefins, polyethylene, and polypropylene. These materials, while cheaper and more easily mass-produced, are not biodegradable, unlike the natural ingredients used in traditional gum.

The transition to plastic gum base was largely driven by convenience, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to make longer-lasting products. However, the shift from natural to synthetic has raised questions about the potential health risks of long-term exposure to microplastics. “We were transitioning to a world of convenience,” says Dr. Jessica Lee, an environmental scientist at the University of Colorado. “But that convenience came at the cost of environmental and health considerations.”

Synthetic gum bases release microplastics during chewing, as found in the recent UCLA study, but even natural gum, once considered an eco-friendly option, releases similar plastic particles. These findings raise concerns about how much plastic we are unknowingly consuming through everyday products like gum.

A Future of Microplastics: What Can We Do?

The study on microplastics in gum is just one example of the growing presence of plastic in our lives. From dental aligners and toothbrushes to sleep retainers and even microplastics coming out of your tampons, microplastics are increasingly being found in products we rely on for daily hygiene and comfort. Research on the effects of these particles is still in its early stages, but scientists are increasingly concerned about their long-term impact on human health and the environment.

As we wait for more conclusive data, researchers like Mohanty and Lowe urge individuals to take proactive steps to reduce their exposure to microplastics. “If people want to reduce their potential exposure to microplastics from gum,” Lowe suggests, “they can chew one piece longer instead of popping in a new one.”

Beyond personal choices, this research highlights the importance of addressing plastic pollution at the manufacturing level. “The plastic released into saliva is a small fraction of the plastic that’s in the gum,” Mohanty concludes. “So, be mindful about the environment and don’t just throw it outside or stick it to a gum wall.”

Proper disposal of gum and other plastic products can help reduce their environmental impact, but ultimately, more research is needed to understand the full scope of how microplastics affect our health.

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When you notice changes in your body, it’s easy to question yourself, placing unnecessary blame on your shoulders. In reality, bodies change, especially female bodies, whose luteal phase makes each week a new experience. As women age, reproductive organs shift from a season of fertility to one of menopause. This natural, normal change in hormone composition sends waves of change throughout the body, which may be a surprise. Take note of changes in detail so you can give your healthcare provider a thorough answer to, “how are things?”

1. Changes in Vaginal Moisture

In the early days, you may not have paid much attention to your vaginal moisture levels. But now that things seem a bit dry, it’s all you can think about. Changes in vaginal moisture can be disruptive and painful, and even make urinary tract infections (UTIs)more likely. 

If you notice less-than-typical vaginal moisture, have pain during intimacy, or feel uncomfortable during regular activities, dryness may be the issue. Your doctor may recommend a vaginal moisturizer formulated to rehydrate the delicate vaginal area. Make sure that your moisturizer is pH-balanced and fragrance-free to reduce potential irritation and imbalance in the pelvic region. 

2. Hair in New Places

You might be surprised to see hair growing from places previously fuzz-free, but it happens to most women. Hormonal changes due to pregnancy, menopause, and medication can make new hair grow or cause existing hair to become darker. 

Some hair growth is normal and expected, but other times, it can be a warning sign. If you notice excessive facial hair growth, it could be a symptom of polycystic ovarian syndrome or menopause. Speak with your provider about the changes you’ve noticed to determine if testing is needed.  

3. Differences in Menstrual Flow

Women’s bodies can do a lot, but they are often subject to changes due to external factors. Stress, hormones, and even diet changes can shift women’s menstrual flow and frequency, and even stop it altogether. 

If your typical cycle habits change, consider what else in your life has changed, too. Your body may be entering perimenopause or your body may be protecting itself from stress. Track your periods as soon as you notice changes so you can provide your doctor with specifics. Include details like the length of your period, flow rate, and consistency so they can make an informed assessment. 

4. Pain During Intimacy

Sex is supposed to be fun, so when it starts to hurt, it takes a toll on your life. Not only does the act of intimacy change from one of pleasure to pain, but so does life surrounding it. Women may shy away from tender moments, recoiling at the potential advancement toward painful intercourse. 

First, communicate this change with your partner so you can have an open dialogue. Without this conversation, they may begin to wonder if there’s an issue within the relationship, adding unnecessary stress to the situation. Get on the same page as you identify the cause, which could be hormonal, an infection, or a medical condition. Your provider can counsel you on next steps for treatment and improving vaginal moisture. 

5. Shifts in Mood

The rollercoaster of hormone-driven emotions is real, even though it’s often over-dramatized in the media. Hormones greatly influence mood, and your body’s natural estrogen and progesterone levels shift as you age.

Hormonal birth control can mask the natural fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone, making it harder to recognize early hormonal changes. When women stop using hormonal birth control and transition into perimenopause, the shift in hormone levels can feel more abrupt. In many cases, mood changes are one of the earliest signs of perimenopause, which can start as early as your 30s.

If you’re postpartum, your provider will give you a questionnaire to assess your risk for depression. Answer the questions honestly and, if you notice depressive or anxious thoughts later, reach out right away. Your provider is there to help you throughout your lifetime and through every phase of reproductive health.

6. Unusual Odor or Discharge

You likely know what your body’s “normal” scents are, so when something is off, pay attention. Typical female vaginal discharge ranges from clear to milky in appearance and is most often a smooth texture. An especially different odor, color, or appearance might indicate an infection like bacterial vaginosis or a yeast infection.

Report any other body odors that seem different to you, including those driven by perspiration, which could indicate hormonal imbalances. Your diet, supplements, and stress levels can influence your body odors, too, so report your typical habits thoroughly. Changes during menopause often cause hot flashes, so you may be sweating more than normal. Here, your provider may have recommendations to make you more comfortable, like changes in clothing or using whole-body deodorant. 

Nothing is Off Limits When it Comes to Your Health

Providers specializing in obstetrics and gynecology have dedicated their careers to women’s health, not just pregnancy. Your provider wants to hear from you, even if the changes you’ve noticed feel foreign or embarrassing. Consider your annual appointment your safe space to communicate concerns, ask questions, and get solutions. Prioritize your health, voice your concerns, and learn how to manage your symptoms throughout every stage of womanhood.

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Ask anyone in science and it’s known that areas that get the most funding are issues that affect more men than women, such as heart disease and prostate cancer. She had a question and got some of her own answers: A scientist in the US scanned her own brain over the period of a year to document how the brain is affected by the birth control pill. We know that some women report weight gain and other unwanted side-effects, and now we have a look into the brain.

For 75 days over the span of a year University of Minnesota neuroscientist Carina Heller’s morning ritual included climbing into her university’s brain scanner at 7:30 a.m. and lying perfectly still for an hour and a half — without falling asleep. She believes she is the most scanned woman in science.

Related: Teva’s morning after abortion pill blocked

She found a rhythmic pattern of change in brain volume and connectivity between brain regions over the course of her natural cycle, with volume and connectivity dipping slightly while she was taking the pill. Heller has joined a group of investigators filling gaps in women’s health research by scanning their own brains.

Her work builds on the work of Laura Pritschet who is now a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Pritschet scanned her brain for 30 consecutive days during her natural menstrual cycle and then for 30 more days while taking oral contraceptives in a project Pritschet calls 28andMe, after the genetics firm 23andMe in South San Francisco.

Related: breastfeeding and microplastics

Heller’s goal was to catalogue how her brain changes during her menstrual cycle, with and without oral contraceptives and what that might mean for women’s health. Her research might inform women as to whether or not they want to take the birth control pill which alters a woman’s hormone cycle.

It’s just the beginning but her findings suggest that brain morphology and connectivity change daily throughout the natural cycle and are influenced by birth-control pills with preliminary results presented at the annual Society for Neuroscience conference.

This begs the question: Could a male birth control pill be the answer?

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Like the microplastics found from plastic teeth aligners, new research on tampons reveals hidden dangers of arsenic and lead. There are no safe exposure limits for lead and the trace metals found in tampons may be originating from the forests and fields in which the raw materials for the tampons are grown.

A new study published this week in the environmental sciences journal Environment International showed small amounts of toxic metals were found in all tampons tested.

In the study researchers from Columbia, Berkeley and Michigan State universities used acid to break down and analyze commonly used tampons to test for the presence of these toxic metals.

“Tampon use is a potential source of metal exposure,” the researchers report. “We detected all 16 metals in at least one sampled tampon, including some toxic metals like lead that has no “safe” exposure level. Future research is needed to replicate our findings and determine whether metals can leach out of tampons and cross the vaginal epithelium into systemic circulation.”

Related: Toxins to avoid in make-up

It is well known in medicine that the delicate tissues of the vagina are a very useful and effective way to absorb medications, with several birth control and hormone replacement therapy products utilizing this technique. The most popular is the NuvaRing, where birth control hormones are absorbed vaginally instead of a daily pill.

Although the study points out that there is no “safe” levels of lead or arsenic that humans should be exposed to, the metals were found in very small amounts, which needed to be measured in nanograms. Toxic levels in humans are measured in micrograms which are 1000x higher. For comparison, some tampons were found to contain 2.5ng of arsenic per gram. The toxic level of arsenic in humans is about 2.5mcg per gram, which is 1000x that amount. So should we be worried?

Tampons are made from cotton and sometimes from rayon, which is a product developed from natural wood cellulose. As both cotton and trees grow in soil, and all of the metals found in this study naturally occur in soil, that most likely explains the origin of the metals found in these tampons.

Alternatives to tampons could be organic cotton pads. There are also moon cups but made from plastics we wonder about exposure to plastics.

We’ve written here about toxins in tampons, and offer some ways to eco your moon or menstrual cycle.

We can’t vouch for the science or trace metals and minerals, but here are five eco-friendly, organic tampon brands:

1. Natracare – Offers certified organic cotton tampons free from synthetic materials, dyes, and perfumes.
2. Seventh Generation – Known for its organic cotton tampons that are free from chlorine bleaching and fragrances.
3. Organyc – Provides 100% organic cotton tampons that are hypoallergenic and biodegradable.
4. Cora – Features organic cotton tampons with a BPA-free plastic or cardboard applicator, designed with sustainability in mind.
5. L. – Delivers organic cotton tampons with a focus on transparency and ethical production practices.
6. Menstrual sponges are made from natural sponge from the sea. They are a new concept based on old ideas. Simple, effective, reusable.

Do you have a brand or practice you’d like to recommend? Drop it in the comments below.

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Mária Telkes, a solar energy pioneer. The Hungarian-American biophysicist and inventor Mária Telkes pioneered solar energy by inventing a solar oven, a solar desalination kit and, in the late 1940s, she helped design one of the first solar-heated houses.

Mária Telkes, born on December 12, 1900, in Budapest, Hungary, emerged as a solar energy pioneer long before the world would turn to renewable energy. She invented a solar oven, a solar desalination kit and, in the late 1940s, she helped design one of the first solar-heated houses. She is known as the Sun Queen.

Telkes, who came from a Jewish family that converted to Christianity, studied at the University of Budapest and then later in Switzerland at the University of Geneva where she mastered chemistry and physics, and earned a Ph.D. in 1924.

In 1925, while visiting her uncle in Cleveland, USA, she worked along the renowned surgeon George Washington Crile who performed the first successful blood transfusion.

Telkes dedicated the next 12 years of her life to researching the energy changes cells undergo during death or cancer, resulting in the publication of their findings in a collaborative book.

Upon becoming an American in 1937, Telkes joined Westinghouse Electric, where her focus shifted towards solar energy in 1939 upon becoming a member of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Solar Energy Conversion project.

As the world grappled with the Second World War, Telkes was enlisted by the Office of Scientific Research and Development (OSRD), which worked on the Manhattan Project. Her task was to leverage solar energy to transform salty water into drinkable water, addressing the critical issue of dehydration faced by soldiers at sea.

In response, Telkes invented the first solar water distillation device, capable of producing one liter of drinkable water per day using seawater. This innovation quickly became a standard component in every soldier’s pack, earning her a merit from OSRD for her invaluable contribution.

However, Telkes’ most renowned invention was the creation of the first solar house in 1948, the Dover Sun House, near Boston, designed by Eleanor Raymond and tested by the Némethy family, Telkes’ relatives.

To tackle the challenge of storing solar energy for use on cloudy days, Telkes ingeniously employed a glauber salt solution (natrium sulfuricium) with a low melting point (32 °C) and high enthalpy of fusion, capable of storing solar energy for up to ten days.

Despite initial challenges – the unusually cold winter of 1948 and subsequent leakage in the solution tanks in 1953 – the solar house laid the groundwork for the acceptance of solar energy as a viable heating source.

“It was a proof of premise, a radical idea for her to be thinking that broadly and to think that far ahead and actually create a liveable house as an experiment,” says Andrew Nemethy, who was a boy who lived in the Dover Sun House growing up. “She needed astronauts, and I guess we were the lucky ones,” he said in a PBS documentary.

This marked a significant shift, considering that sustainable development was not yet a recognized term. People began incorporating solar panels into house designs, often complemented by traditional heating systems in areas with insufficient sunny days.

The Dover Sun House was demolished in 2010. A PBS documentary explores the contribution of Telkers and the Dover Sun House that would be heated only by the sun in a New England winter.

Telkes received the Society of Women Engineers Award in 1952, earning the moniker “The Sun Queen” in the United States.

In 1953, when Telkes was at New York University, she received a Ford Foundation grant to develop a solar stove that could be used in developing countries. Like the designs previous, she took a simple approach.

The stove was constructed as an insulated metal box equipped with doors on both ends, topped with glass over the food placement area. Harnessing the sun’s rays, the glass amplified their intensity, aided by four metal plates strategically angled at 60 degrees.

Triangular mirrors positioned between the plates further enhanced the amplification of solar wavelengths. Remarkably, the stove could reach temperatures of 400 degrees, requiring no specialized materials for its construction and boasting an affordable price tag of merely four dollars.

Its user-friendly design (you can download the instructions here) found a welcoming market in midcentury India, precisely the tropical climate its inventor had envisioned. Telkes enthusiastically praised its merits to a reporter during a cooking demonstration, expressing, “Everything seems to taste so much better when it is cooked by the sun.”

In 1977, the American Solar Energy Society honored her with the Charles Greeley Abbot Award. At the age of 90 in 1990, Telkes submitted her last invention, leaving an indelible mark on the field.

Returning to her hometown, Budapest, after 70 years, Telkes passed away on December 2, 1995, at the age of 94. In recognition of her unparalleled contributions, she was posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2012, alongside physicist Dénes Gábor.

Mária Telkes’ legacy endures as an inspiration for future innovators and a testament to the transformative power of solar energy in shaping a sustainable future.

The post Who was Mária Telkes, the solar energy Sun Queen? appeared first on Green Prophet.

Young women in Egypt were forced to undergo virginity tests during the Arab Spring riots in 2011. People rose up against the Islamic extremist group, the Muslim Brotherhood, who took over the already corrupt Egyptian government. Women who who were arrested and didn’t pass the virginity test, were charged with being prostitutes. After the Arab Spring abated the practice of virginity testing by certain Muslim groups hasn’t stopped. The practice can be found in countries and communities around the world, even in the UK, according to the BCC which has uncovered virginity test kits at local clinics and hymen repair kits sold online. Not long ago a teen from Wales was forced to take the test before an arranged marriage.

Virginity tests are done before marriage to make sure that the new bride is a virgin. It is not done to men. And the test, according to media reports, are often done against a woman’s or a minor’s will. Now Malta, an island country in Southern Europe, located in the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Libya has taken a precautionary step in the government and has outlawed virginity testing.

Malta a tiny nation, with just over 500,000 people, cannot handle a huge influx of North African migrants as easily as wealthier nations such as Italy, say its government officials. Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri took a hard line on undocumented migrants at an Oct. 7 meeting with other European Union officials. Camilleri said that 70% of migrants who landed in Malta had been returned and that it was important “to send a clear message they have no right to stay.”

A preventative bill to avoid foreign religious customs?

Outlawing virginity tests seems like an unusual move as there are no cases of the practice on the island that she knows of according to Parliamentary Secretary Rebecca Buttigieg  who announced the bill late in November. She did not respond to Green Prophet’s request for comment.

Buttigieg said in local Maltese media there is very little information and research on whether virginity tests have been carried out in Malta. There is no mention of virginity testing in Maltese law.

“We spoke to many people, but no evidence has come forward that the test is being practiced in Malta, nor has anyone come forward who has faced trauma after the procedure,” she said. “Having said that, this does not mean that the practice is not happening, and this is the first important step to show that this government does not tolerate sexual violence against women,” she told the Times of Malta. 

To prevent any confusion to new immigrants who may be administering virginity tests in Malta, the country has created a bill to outright banned the practice. A virginity test is an examination of a woman’s or girl’s vagina to see if her hymen in intact to determine if she has had vaginal intercourse.

According to the World Bank, last year over 11,000 refugees arrived to Malta and the country is now working to send most of them back to their home countries, while inviting foreign workers from India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Bangladesh who are hoping to fill service industry jobs. Malta has received criticism for towing refugees at sea from Libya back home. Boats originating from North Africa are found adrift off the Malta coast, sometimes carrying several hundred refugees at a time.

In 2019 the American rapper TI sparked outrage after revealing he takes his daughter for a virginity test every year.

While it is happening in the United Kingdom, and not banned or illegal, anyone caught testing to confirm if a girl or woman is a virgin can be sentenced to up to five years in prison, according to a new legislation the government of Malta is proposing. About 20% of Malta’s population are newcomers to the island – migrants and refugees – and the government is worried that foreign practices such as virginity testing could be taking place on Maltese soil.

According to the 2021 national census, Malta hosted 115,449 migrants, accounting for 22.2% of its total population, representing the highest share of non-nationals within the EU. Migrants from Middle East and North African countries are arriving to Malta at record rates and the country is now being criticized for refusing to respond to distress calls at sea. 

Nationals from Syria, Eritrea and Bangladesh were amongst the top three nationalities applying for international protection in Malta in 2022. The refugee population is mainly composed of Syrian, Eritrean and Libyan nationals.

Virginity testing is practised in Afghanistan. It is practiced in Syria. ISIS forced Syrian and Yazidi girls to undergo virginity tests before trading them in “slave bazaars”. After some escaped they were forced to undergo virginity tests to prove they were raped.

Virginity testing is performed by Bangladesh families in the UK. Virginity testing is practised in Libya. Virginity testing is practiced in Eritrea.

In Indonesia, virginity tests were only officially stopped in 2021 as a requirement to join the police and military force. Research shows that such practice is medically unreliable and invasive and it is happening all over the world. The WHO, the UN Human Rights, and UN Women have called for the ban of virginity testing.

Virginity testing is painful, humiliating, and a traumatic practice that is considered violence against women.

According to the WHO, “virginity, defined as an intact hymen, is considered a sign of sexual purity in Islamic societies and represents the honour of a woman and her family. The loss of virginity before marriage is still a concern in many other cultures too, such as Chinese and Mediterranean societies. In Jordan, as in many other Muslim countries, an intact hymen has such important social value that serious problems, crime or even blood feuds may arise if a newly married girl is found not to be a virgin.”

Sexually active Arab women in Muslim societies have workarounds, explain commenters on Reddit: Some avoid vaginal sex altogether and choose anal sex instead to keep the hymen intact. Or they get a hymen reconstruction surgery which is widely available in Egypt. See Like a Virgin.

One commenter wrote on Reddit that losing your hymen is a life or death question: “The sexually active woman does anal to prevent her hymen breaking for SOCIAL and NOT RELIGIOUS reasons, because if you get caught with a broken hymen or a less that intact virginity your life could be in danger. Plus, many of the sexually active Arab women are ex-muslim closeted Atheists that do not care about things being haram (which means forbidden in Islam) but care about staying alive.

However, I can confirm that most Muslim women are virgins up until they marry and are never sexually active in any way: the risk is too high.

Another commenter, who deleted their profile name continued: “This is why Muslim/Arab women always require parent’s permission to go anywhere, and the parents ask to know of their every move. It’s the typical, suffocating life-style of the average Arab girl in the name of “protecting her”, protecting her from becoming sexually active.”

Hymens as weapons of war

According to the OWP, “Bashar al-Assad’s forces are not the only enemy to Syrian women, ISIS is disrobing them of their human rights, as well. “Marry me or be my slave”; this is how ISIS groups threaten innocent women; whether they accept or refuse they are subjected to various forms of deprivation, threats, solitary imprisonment, as well several forms of torture, rape and sexual harassment.

Women who are not virgins are not worth much in Syria and this is why they may marry their captors.

Other women, such as the Yazidis, were forced to divorce their husbands and forced to practice “jihad sex” with different rebels of ISIS.

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 Do you use homemade pads or moon cups? There are so many alternatives to wasteful products that choke our bodies and our natural environment.

The environment is big news right now. Our oceans are full of plastic waste and there are bulging landfill sites all over the world. The biggest problem with the never-ending stream of human waste is that most of it is likely to stick around for a very long time.

One of the biggest issues is plastic. Each year, we produce millions of tons of the stuff, and every day, around eight million bits of plastic waste end up in the ocean. Conservative estimates say there are around 51 trillion microscopic pieces of plastic in the ocean right now. None of this plastic waste ever goes away. Larger plastic objects break down slowly, over many decades, until they become microscopic plastic fragments, which are swallowed by marine animals and eventually consumed by us and them.

The damage caused to our environment is shocking. You might think that photos of marine animals lying dead on a beach, their stomachs full of plastic waste, does not affect you directly, but it does. Plastic pollution causes knock-on effects, such as chemical contamination of waterways, which ends up in our drinking water. It’s also unpleasant to walk along an idyllic beach and spot used tampons and sanitary towels washed up by the tide.

Bad for the Environment

Tampons and sanitary towels are bad for the environment. They are not sustainable and cause long-term, lasting damage to the world around us. Most of the materials used to manufacture tampons and sanitary towels are non-recyclable, which means they end up in landfill sites and floating in oceans.

On average, women use around 11,000 disposable sanitary products in one lifetime. That’s a lot of waste. Even organic tampons, which are made from organic cotton, are not good for the environment. They do break down, but it’s incredibly slow. In addition, most of the packaging, and in the case of many brands of tampons, the applicators, are made from plastic, so they never break down.

One way to do your bit for the environment is to switch to reusable sanitary products.

Menstrual Cups and Period Panties

Menstrual cups and period panties are more eco-friendly than tampons and sanitary towels. Instead of being discarded after each use, menstrual cups and period panties are reusable and will last for several years.

Menstrual cups are designed to be worn internally, where they collect menstrual blood. Period panties look like regular underwear, except they have a thick, super absorbent layer to soak up period blood and prevent leaks. In both cases, you rinse or wash them rather than throw them away.

There are many different brands of both out there, including Diva Cup, Lunette, Thinx, and Lunapads. You can read menstrual cup and period panty reviews online if you need some help and advice. Alternatively, ask your friends what they use or connect with other users on social media; there is a whole sub-culture of women who actively promote plastic-free periods on Instagram and YouTube. By making the switch to reusable sanitary products, you can join the community and the conversation.

Aa well as being much better for the environment, reusable sanitary products are also much better for your pocket.

Period Poverty Around the World

Women spend around $100 on sanitary products every year. This is a big expenditure for girls and women in low-income households, and in many rural areas, women and girls are forced to make do with rags to soak up their period blood.

Reusable sanitary products are rinsed/washed and reused. With the right care, they can last several years, which saves the user a lot of money.

Menstrual cups and period panties are also a lot easier to use. Once you get used to the technique of inserting and removing a menstrual cup, you will wonder why you haven’t made the switch before. It is far easier removing and emptying a menstrual cup when there is no bathroom available. As long as you have some clean water to rinse your hands and the cup, you are good to go.

Blood as a fertilizer on farms?

In addition, menstrual blood is good for the environment and can be used as an iron-rich fertilizer for plants and vegetables.

There are many reasons to make the switch to reusable menstrual products such as menstrual cups and period panties. If you’re not convinced yet, try it for one month and see how you get on?

The post Why Reusable Menstrual Products are Good for the Environment appeared first on Green Prophet.

Women in this densely populated area of Gaza have a surprising new hobby — karate. Women of different ages, heights, social classes and backgrounds can be found at Gaza’s Karate Sports Club dressed in the classic white karate uniforms (known as Karategi in Japanese). They stand tall and barefoot. Some wear headscarves, some don’t.

They all have different colored belts around the waists, marking their progress.

Emad Hammad, Gaza’s most famous and prominent karate instructor — or master, as many call him — studied the martial art while living in Egypt.

“I started teaching karate in Gaza 12 years ago. I was known by then, too, and people trusted me so they sent me their children to learn discipline, self-confidence and self-defense,” Hammad told The Media Line.

“Teaching girls started a number of years ago but only spiked and bloomed recently, in the past couple of years or so. At first, it was hard to assemble a group of girls to form a class, so I trained them with the boys. Their parents trusted me enough to do that. Compared to now, I can easily form a class of 25 girls in a month or so. Times have changed.”

Now, Hammad teaches all kinds of classes, both mixed and separated by gender.

“I get regular visits by fathers who come and ask me about karate. ‘Is it violent? Doesn’t it affect femininity or body functions? Is it dangerous?’ And I understand,” he said with an exhausted smile. “We live in a conservative society but they end up trusting me enough to enroll their daughters, and some of them visit us regularly to watch their children in action.”

In Gaza, he holds high ranking positions in and out of the sports world, like a sixth degree black belt, and he has won numerous Arabic and international awards. His achievements are too many to name.

“I have dedicated my life to karate,” Hammad added before introducing some of his female students. “It’s my undying passion and I have known nothing but this sport since I was under 18 years old.”

Many of his students seem to feel the same way.

“My life is dominated by school and Internet. I wanted to do something completely different, “ Diana Al-Kolek, 17, told The Media Line. “My friend told me about karate by chance, and I decided to give it a try. It’s the perfect thing, very beneficial, and it’s not a distraction. It helps me stay in shape because I hate working out. It keeps my mind fresh and working, and it teaches me self-defense so I can “kick butt”. I couldn’t ask for more.”

Nour Saleh, a young girl wearing a blue belt with pride, delved into the world of karate only two years ago. She sailed through the tests for white, yellow and orange belts perfectly, and now only brown and black are left. But Nour won’t have the chance to work her way up to the black belt. She will get married soon and this will mean the end of her karate journey.

“I wanted to try karate for so long. I kept hearing ‘No’ very loudly from my family telling me I am crazy. They listened to all the stereotyping of this sport: it’s violent and anti-feminine and all that. Also, the society didn’t swallow the image of females playing karate really well,’ Saleh told The Media Line. “It all changed when I invited a friend who practiced karate for a while. She answered all their questions and eliminated all their fears, so they caved in and usually I even have my mother or father with me to watch and cheer me on.”

Her mother said that her feelings about the sport had changed.

“I always supported my children fully — I stood behind them 100 percent. But I love her and I was afraid she would end up hurt or bruised,” Um-Mohammed Saleh, Nour’s mother, said. “After meeting her friend and her trainer, I had to give in. I felt at ease with it. But she will get married soon and she will have to stop to take care of her family and live the new life of marriage.”

A.N., a 16-year-old wearing a headscarf, who asked not to give her full name, paced back and forth while talking to her father. She asked his permission to speak to a journalist.

“I am a very girly girl,” she told The Media Line. “I come from a conservative family and I am my father’s only child after they tried to have children for 14 years. I never considered karate. You can even say I was forced to try it at first.”

A.N.’s neighbor was found dead a few months back. She was killed and dumped somewhere far from her home. Police suspected rape and murder, and A.N.’s family was devastated.

“My dad couldn’t sleep for days. I wasn’t worried but seeing him worried frightened me. Also, news surfaced about sexual harassment, especially in taxis, and that was my dad’s cue to tell me that I will be soon taken to try karate out. I was dumbfounded and confused, but a few weeks in I started loving it. I gained self-confidence and self-defense tools and I made friends and sisters,” she said after breaking into a smile.

Her father listened and nodded through the whole story, finally adding, “A father must do anything to protect his children. A girl’s reputation matters here. Contrary to what people think here, karate empowers women. It doesn’t jeopardize their reputation.”

Reem Abu Nada stands tall and confident, ready to strike back and defend herself. She started practicing karate before she got married, and continued mastering the sport even after marriage.

“My husband knows about it and supports me. He told me he has no problem in my continuing my passion and becoming better at karate. He even pushes me to work harder on myself,” Abu Nada told The Media Line. “This was shocking to my friends and fellow karate sisters here, but it gave them hope, too. We all aspire to win local and international awards and we all hope to become the first female trainers of karate.”

Hammad said the karate schedule is flexible. Many sessions are held each week, which makes it accessible to children who go to school or women have families and careers. Its affordability makes it even more popular.
“It’s refreshing to see women continuing and coming back to karate every month and every year, even after marriage.

I know girls aspire to become trainers and to compete, despite the difficulty of travelling alone abroad for competitions. They are very passionate and ambitious,” he said. “We become a family. I am proud to have formed a big female karate team that always wins every local competition. Karate might be perceived as violent, but in reality it’s a sport that promotes peace and creates strong bonds between people. It’s all built on trust and dedication.”

(This story is republished with permission from the Middle East News Source, The Media Line. Top image via Time Magazine; lower image via The Media Line)

The post Sensai says: Gaza girls do karate, even after marriage! appeared first on Green Prophet.