theheartysoul--2020-10-05--Personal power generator harvests energy from the breeze you make when you walk

Imagine if you were able to charge your phone by going for a walk .
With this personal power generator , the latest in wind energy technology , that idea is not as far-fetched as you might think .
Wind turbines have become one of the “ poster child ” products for renewable energy .
While they can produce quite a lot of power , most land breezes aren ’ t powerful enough to push commercial turbine blades .
Researchers from the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have created a “ tiny wind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal power generator .
This technology can garner energy from little breezes , even the one you create when you walk .
( 1 ) Research on the technology was published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science .
This technology is an efficient , low-cost method of using light breezes as a micro-energy source .
( 2 ) How Does it Work ?
Technically speaking this new personal power generator isn ’ t actually a turbine .
It is a nanogenerator made of a tube with two plastic strips inside .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two plastic strips flutter or clap together .
( 1 ) Advertisement This rubbing together of the plastic strips creates a triboelectric effect : When the two plastic strips are separated after the contact , they become electrically charged .
This is the same phenomenon that happens when you rub a balloon against your head , except that electric energy that is created is captured and stored .
( 1 ) Yang and his team found that a breeze as light as 1.6 meters per second ( 3.6 mph ) was enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the tiny wind turbine is between four and eight meters per second ( 8.9 to 17.9 mph ) because these speeds cause the plastic strips to flutter in a more steady , synchronized pattern .
( 2 ) Currently , these personal power generators have a 3.23 % energy conversion efficiency rate .
So far this is the highest efficiency reported for this type of technology .
( 2 ) The generators have the capacity to power 100 LED lights and temperature sensors , however , the team is working hard to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variety of settings .
( 1 ) According to Yang , the idea isn ’ t to replace wind turbines with these new generators , but rather to provide solutions to problems that traditional wind power can ’ t .
( 1 ) Two of these include : • Cost : Wind turbines have fixed costs for specific materials .
These generators can be made from a variety of different low-cost materials .
( 1 ) • Location : The generators can be safely used in both cities and in nature because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of traditional turbines .
( 1 ) AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile they won ’ t take away the need for the larger turbines , they can add another piece to the puzzle that is powering our planet in a sustainable way .
Read : City Installs Turbines in Water Pipes To Create More Sustainable Electricity Yang says he and his team have , quite literally , some big and small visions for the personal power generator .
The small vision is to create a generator that is small enough to be used to power phones .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a coin in the past , but this one needs to be even smaller and more efficient .
( 1 ) The larger vision is to make a much bigger version that can compete with traditional wind turbines .
These big generators will have the capacity to produce 1000 watts of power .
( 1 ) While these generators might not be ready for you to charge your phone while you take the dog for a walk just yet , it is an exciting addition to the growing list of green energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with many of the others , will help lead to the greener future that our planet so desperately needs .
Keep Reading : Scientists Invent Device to Generate Electricity from Rain

Imagine if you were able to charge your phone by going for a walk. With this personal power generator, the latest in wind energy technology, that idea is not as far-fetched as you might think.
Personal Power Generator Produces Energy While You Walk
Wind turbines have become one of the “poster child” products for renewable energy. While they can produce quite a lot of power, most land breezes aren’t powerful enough to push commercial turbine blades. Researchers from the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems at the Chinese Academy of Sciences have created a “tiny wind turbine” that can act as a personal power generator. This technology can garner energy from little breezes, even the one you create when you walk. (1)
Research on the technology was published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science. This technology is an efficient, low-cost method of using light breezes as a micro-energy source. (2)
“You can collect all the breeze in your everyday life,” says senior author Ya Yang of the Beijing Institute. “We once placed our nanogenerator on a person’s arm, and a swinging arm’s airflow was enough to generate power.” (1)
How Does it Work?
Technically speaking this new personal power generator isn’t actually a turbine. It is a nanogenerator made of a tube with two plastic strips inside. When there is airflow through the tube, the two plastic strips flutter or clap together. (1)
This rubbing together of the plastic strips creates a triboelectric effect: When the two plastic strips are separated after the contact, they become electrically charged. This is the same phenomenon that happens when you rub a balloon against your head, except that electric energy that is created is captured and stored. (1)
Read: Quantum Glass Battery Will Change The World
What is a “Breeze”?
Yang and his team found that a breeze as light as 1.6 meters per second (3.6 mph) was enough to generate power. The optimal breeze for the tiny wind turbine is between four and eight meters per second (8.9 to 17.9 mph) because these speeds cause the plastic strips to flutter in a more steady, synchronized pattern. (2)
Currently, these personal power generators have a 3.23% energy conversion efficiency rate. So far this is the highest efficiency reported for this type of technology. (2) The generators have the capacity to power 100 LED lights and temperature sensors, however, the team is working hard to make them be more useful in a variety of settings. (1)
According to Yang, the idea isn’t to replace wind turbines with these new generators, but rather to provide solutions to problems that traditional wind power can’t. (1) Two of these include:
Cost: Wind turbines have fixed costs for specific materials. These generators can be made from a variety of different low-cost materials. (1)
Wind turbines have fixed costs for specific materials. These generators can be made from a variety of different low-cost materials. (1) Location: The generators can be safely used in both cities and in nature because they don’t have the rotating structures of traditional turbines. (1)
While they won’t take away the need for the larger turbines, they can add another piece to the puzzle that is powering our planet in a sustainable way.
Read: City Installs Turbines in Water Pipes To Create More Sustainable Electricity
Next Steps
Yang says he and his team have, quite literally, some big and small visions for the personal power generator.
The small vision is to create a generator that is small enough to be used to power phones. The team has created generators as small as a coin in the past, but this one needs to be even smaller and more efficient. (1)
The larger vision is to make a much bigger version that can compete with traditional wind turbines. These big generators will have the capacity to produce 1000 watts of power. (1)
“We can place these devices where traditional wind turbines can’t reach. We can put it in the mountains or on the top of buildings for sustainable energy.” says Yang. (1)
The Bottom Line
While these generators might not be ready for you to charge your phone while you take the dog for a walk just yet, it is an exciting addition to the growing list of green energy technologies. Hopefully these, in combination with many of the others, will help lead to the greener future that our planet so desperately needs.


theheartysoul--2020-10-05--90,000-year-old human hybrid found in ancient cave

Humans have walked the earth for tens of thousands of years , however , we didn ’ t always look the same way we do now .
In fact , we weren ’ t even the same exact species .
In 2018 , scientists discovered a 90,000-year-old hybrid human : A young girl who was a mix of two different types of ancient humans .
( 1 ) Their findings were published in the journal Nature ( 2 ) One of the earliest known species of humans is the Homo neanderthalis , also known as the Neanderthals .
In 2010 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humans who we call the Denisovans .
( 1 ) The young hybrid human girl in question was discovered in a cave in the Altai mountains of southern Siberia .
Upon further inspection , the scientists realized that she is a mix between the Neanderthals and the Denisovans .
Named Denisova 11 , she is the fifth Denisovan human ever found .
( 1 ) Scientists know very little about the Denisovans because they have so few of them to study .
There are so few fossils , in fact , that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they looked like .
The only thing that is known currently is that they seem to have disappeared around the same time the Neanderthals did , around 40,000 years ago .
( 1 ) As with most of the Denisovans , we don ’ t know much about this young hybrid girl .
We do know that she was in her early teenage years when she died and that she had parents of two different species .
It appears as though she lived in a cave with several people from both the Neanderthals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scientists performed DNA sequencing on her bones and found that half of her DNA matched that of the Neanderthals , while the other half matched the other four Denisovan fossils that have been found .
( 1 ) They know that her mother was a Neanderthal .
This is because her mitochondrial DNA matched that species , and mitochondrial DNA is only passed down maternally .
Naturally , this means her father was a Denisovan .
( 1 ) Her father ’ s DNA was very similar to the fist Denisovan that was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother ’ s DNA , however , more closely resembled the DNA of Neanderthals that were found living in Croatia thousands of years after .
This gives us more information on the migration of the Neanderthals , suggesting that it happened at some point in the last 100,000 years .
( 1 ) Read : Watch a diver swim right next to a 12-foot giant squid in Japan Denisova 11 is not the first hybrid human to be found .
40,000-year-old remains of a Homo sapien ( modern human ) and Neanderthal hybrid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human appeared to have Neanderthals for their great-great-grandparents .
( 1 ) Another two ancient human hybrids were found who appeared to live with other ancient , non-hybrid humans .
This suggests that more humans with blended DNA will be found .
( 1 ) From what is known currently , everyone from anywhere but sub-Saharan Africa will have Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA mixed into their genome .
This means that most of us modern-day humans probably have Neanderthals and maybe some Denisovans extremely far back in our ancestry .
( 1 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more hybrid humans are found , the more it is suggested that mating between species was either common or at the very least wasn ’ t considered strange to these ancient humans .
This could suggest that Neanderthals and Denisovans simply interbred with Homo sapiens until their species just blended into the other and disappeared .
( 1 ) For now , this is just one of the theories of what happened to the Neanderthals and the Denisovans .
( 1 ) As more hybrid human fossils are found , more research can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these ancient human species .
Keep Reading : Possible signs of alien life discovered on Venus

Humans have walked the earth for tens of thousands of years, however, we didn’t always look the same way we do now. In fact, we weren’t even the same exact species. In 2018, scientists discovered a 90,000-year-old hybrid human: A young girl who was a mix of two different types of ancient humans. (1) Their findings were published in the journal Nature (2)
The Hybrid Human
One of the earliest known species of humans is the Homo neanderthalis, also known as the Neanderthals. In 2010, researchers discovered another species of early humans who we call the Denisovans. (1)
The young hybrid human girl in question was discovered in a cave in the Altai mountains of southern Siberia. Upon further inspection, the scientists realized that she is a mix between the Neanderthals and the Denisovans. Named Denisova 11, she is the fifth Denisovan human ever found. (1)
The Denisovans
Scientists know very little about the Denisovans because they have so few of them to study. There are so few fossils, in fact, that they don’t even really know what they looked like. The only thing that is known currently is that they seem to have disappeared around the same time the Neanderthals did, around 40,000 years ago. (1)
Denisova 11
As with most of the Denisovans, we don’t know much about this young hybrid girl. We do know that she was in her early teenage years when she died and that she had parents of two different species. It appears as though she lived in a cave with several people from both the Neanderthals and the Denisovans. (1)
“It is a wonderful site,” says Tom Higham, the deputy director of Oxford University’s Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit. “It is cool inside, so DNA in bones does not disintegrate too badly. However, nearly all the bones there have been chewed up by hyenas and other carnivores.” Because of this, the cave floor is littered with tiny, unidentifiable bone fragments (3).
Scientists performed DNA sequencing on her bones and found that half of her DNA matched that of the Neanderthals, while the other half matched the other four Denisovan fossils that have been found. (1)
They know that her mother was a Neanderthal. This is because her mitochondrial DNA matched that species, and mitochondrial DNA is only passed down maternally. Naturally, this means her father was a Denisovan. (1)
Her father’s DNA was very similar to the fist Denisovan that was found in that same cave. Her mother’s DNA, however, more closely resembled the DNA of Neanderthals that were found living in Croatia thousands of years after. This gives us more information on the migration of the Neanderthals, suggesting that it happened at some point in the last 100,000 years. (1)
Read: Watch a diver swim right next to a 12-foot giant squid in Japan
Other Human Hybrids
Denisova 11 is not the first hybrid human to be found. 40,000-year-old remains of a Homo sapien (modern human) and Neanderthal hybrid were found in 2015. This ancient human appeared to have Neanderthals for their great-great-grandparents. (1)
Another two ancient human hybrids were found who appeared to live with other ancient, non-hybrid humans. This suggests that more humans with blended DNA will be found. (1)
From what is known currently, everyone from anywhere but sub-Saharan Africa will have Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA mixed into their genome. This means that most of us modern-day humans probably have Neanderthals and maybe some Denisovans extremely far back in our ancestry. (1)
What This Means for Future Research
The more hybrid humans are found, the more it is suggested that mating between species was either common or at the very least wasn’t considered strange to these ancient humans. This could suggest that Neanderthals and Denisovans simply interbred with Homo sapiens until their species just blended into the other and disappeared. (1)
For now, this is just one of the theories of what happened to the Neanderthals and the Denisovans. (1) As more hybrid human fossils are found, more research can be done to determine what happened to these ancient human species.
Keep Reading: Possible signs of alien life discovered on Venus


theheartysoul--2020-10-06--Halloween Pumpkin Smoke Bombs Are A Thing, And They Make For Amazing Photos

Halloween may look a little different in 2020 , however , that doesn ’ t mean that it can ’ t look cool .
The latest trend ?
Halloween Pumpkin Smoke Bombs .
These are making for the coolest photo-ops for kids , teenagers , and adults alike .
( 1 ) This is one of those DIYs that is actually easy to do and turns out some spectacular images .
The materials you need to make them are as follows ( 2 ) : This time of year you can find pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns at any grocery store , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fun with it try visiting a local pumpkin patch .
You then have to find the right smoke grenades .
Check out this site that has plenty of cool Halloween color options to choose from.Advertisement To make sure your jack-o-lantern looks its best , wait until you have the grenades before carving so that your pumpkin doesn ’ t start wilting before they arrive .
Once you have them , get carving !
There are just a few steps , some of which were already mentioned ( 2 ) : • Have your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
• Pull the wire tab on the grenade and then drop it into the pumpkin .
Once you have your jack-o-lantern carved and ready to go , there are a few things you should know before creating your Halloween pumpkin smoke bombs .
These are important for your safety as well as for getting the perfectly-timed shot ( 2 ) .
• Read the directions on the smoke grenade package before using them .
The ones provided on the site above are pull-grenades and last about 15 to 20 seconds .
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there is a spark that is released when you release the pull wire .
These means two things : • The canister can get warm , so be careful while you are handling them before , during , and after .
• Be fire safe .
Do not use them in dry areas and have lots of water nearby .
• Have your shot set up beforehand and your camera ready .
You will only have about 15 seconds to take your photos .
• The smoke will stain the inside of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Be wary of this as it may not wash out .
• The smoke residue could also stain your clothing .
Wear something with the idea in mind that it may be permanently stained .
• Only use the grenades outdoors in well-ventilated areas .
The smoke can irritate your eyes .
• You have to pull reasonably hard on the wire tab and might not get it on the first try .
To get the perfect shot , make sure you plan what you want in advance .
Move around to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the jack-o-lantern ’ s face , and use a high shutter speed on your camera .
You can also use the sports setting on your camera or the burst setting on your smartphone to capture several images as quickly as possible .
( 2 ) Lastly , to get a great shot , don ’ t attempt them on windy days as the wind will blow the smoke away quickly .
It is also suggested that you purchase more smoke grenades than you think you will need , as you are likely going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times before you get it right .
( 2 )

Halloween may look a little different in 2021, however, that doesn’t mean that it can’t look cool. The latest trend? Halloween Pumpkin Smoke Bombs. These are making for the coolest photo-ops for kids, teenagers, and adults alike. (1)
Halloween Pumpkin Smoke Bombs
This is one of those DIYs that is actually easy to do and turns out some spectacular images. The materials you need to make them are as follows (2):
Smoke grenades
Carving pumpkin
Carving tools
Camera (for the photos)
This time of year you can find pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns at any grocery store, but if you want to have more fun with it try visiting a local pumpkin patch. You then have to find the right smoke grenades.
To make sure your jack-o-lantern looks its best, wait until you have the grenades before carving so that your pumpkin doesn’t start wilting before they arrive. Once you have them, get carving!
Read: Gothic Skeleton Planter Lets Climbing Plants Grow On Some Bones
How-To
There are just a few steps, some of which were already mentioned (2):
Find your pumpkin. Purchase your smoke grenades. Carve your pumpkin. Find an open outdoor space. Have your photographer or camera set up and ready. Pull the wire tab on the grenade and then drop it into the pumpkin. Take your photos.
Halloween Pumpkin Smoke Bombs: Important Safety Information!
Once you have your jack-o-lantern carved and ready to go, there are a few things you should know before creating your Halloween pumpkin smoke bombs. These are important for your safety as well as for getting the perfectly-timed shot (2).
Read the directions on the smoke grenade package before using them. The ones provided on the site above are pull-grenades and last about 15 to 20 seconds. Though you don’t light them, there is a spark that is released when you release the pull wire. These means two things: 1) The canister can get warm, so be careful while you are handling them before, during, and after. 2) Be fire safe. Do not use them in dry areas and have lots of water nearby. Have your shot set up beforehand and your camera ready. You will only have about 15 seconds to take your photos. The smoke will stain the inside of whatever you are using it in. Be wary of this as it may not wash out. The smoke residue could also stain your clothing. Wear something with the idea in mind that it may be permanently stained. Only use the grenades outdoors in well-ventilated areas. The smoke can irritate your eyes. You have to pull reasonably hard on the wire tab and might not get it on the first try.
Getting The Perfect Shot
To get the perfect shot, make sure you plan what you want in advance. Move around to get different angles and a clear shot of the jack-o-lantern’s face, and use a high shutter speed on your camera. You can also use the sports setting on your camera or the burst setting on your smartphone to capture several images as quickly as possible. (2)
Lastly, to get a great shot, don’t attempt them on windy days as the wind will blow the smoke away quickly. It is also suggested that you purchase more smoke grenades than you think you will need, as you are likely going to have to try a couple of times before you get it right. (2)
Keep Reading: A company will pay someone $1,300 to watch 13 horror movies in October
Sources


theheartysoul--2020-10-06--Try not to jiggle while watching these amazing bladeless wind turbines

For years , the symbol of wind power technology has been the wind turbine .
While traditional turbines got us moving in the right direction , they are far from perfect .
These bladeless wind turbines are changing how we think about collecting wind energy .
In 2015 , Spanish company Vortex Bladeless came out with their new concept for capturing energy from the wind : Bladeless Wind Turbines .
These turbines collect wind energy by the oscillating ( wiggling ) motion that they do when hit by a breeze .
( 1 ) They look like a giant pole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ground , and when the wind comes , sure enough , they wiggle .
( 1 ) Vortex founders David Suriol , David Yáñez , and Raul Martín got the idea after learning about the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington in the 1940s .
Hit by an incredible wind storm , the bridge began oscillating so violently that it completely collapsed .
( 1 ) Advertisement The three gentlemen thought perhaps there is a way to harness that kinetic energy and convert it to electricity .
An enemy of architects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it their friend .
( 1 ) Keep Reading : Windows become transparent solar panels with added nanoparticles The bladeless wind turbines harness something called vorticity .
This is an aerodynamic effect that produces spinning whirlpools of wind .
Where vorticity can destroy even the strongest of objects , the Vortex is designed to use these vortices in a synchronized fashion along the entirety of the mast .
( 1 ) The shape is an elongated cone made of fiberglass and carbon fiber .
These materials allow for maximum vibration of the cone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rings of repelling magnets sit at the bottom of the cone as a non-electrical motor .
When the cone sways in one direction , the magnets pull the cone back in the opposite direction .
This is what creates the oscillating or wiggling motion , even if the wind ’ s speed is not high .
( 1 , 3 ) AdvertisementAn alternator then converts that energy into electricity by multiplying the frequency of the mast ’ s oscillations to improve the Vortex ’ s efficiency .
( 1 , 3 ) While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harnessing the power of the wind , there are many problems with them .
They are costly , difficult to repair , and noisy .
They require a vast amount of space and need to be more efficient .
( 1 , 2 ) The bladeless wind turbines boast many improvements on the traditional machines .
These include : • Cheaper to manufacture and maintain because there are no gears , bolts , or mechanically moving parts .
( 1 ) • More turbines can be fit into a smaller area .
( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birds because there are no moving blades to fly into .
( 1 ) • Costs more than 50 % less to manufacture than traditional wind turbines .
( 1 ) • Will last 15 to 20 years or longer according to tests .
( 4 ) The company ’ s founders are optimistic about the potential of their technology .
Read : Personal power generator harvests energy from the breeze you make when you walk Not everyone has much faith in the bladeless turbines as the founders of Vortex Bladeless do .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Denmark Martin Hansen questions the efficiency of the turbines in comparison to their traditional counterparts .
( 5 ) A conventional wind turbine converts 80 to 90 percent of the kinetic energy collected by their spinning rotors into electricity .
According to Yáñez , the bladeless wind turbines will have an efficiency of just 70 % .
That being said , the number of turbines you can fit into an area is greater and the manufacturing costs are lower .
According to Vortex founders , that outweighs those losses .
( 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sheila Widnall questions the turbulence of the wind patterns that will make it difficult to capture the kinetic energy from it .
( 5 ) She also disagrees that the bladeless turbines will be silent , stating that the cylinders will make noise when they start shaking back and forth .
( 5 ) Other Companies Looking at New Turbine Technology Vortex isn ’ t the only company taking a stab at bladeless wind turbine technology .
Saphon Energy in Tunisia is also looking at a bladeless design that could quite literally shake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have taken their design inspiration from sailboats , replacing the traditional blade and hub with a non-rotational sail-shaped body .
Their Zero Blade Technology follows a back and forth 3D knot motion similar to that of a sailboat .
( 7 ) According to Saphon , their technology is 2.3 times more efficient than traditional rotating blades and costs 45 % less to build and maintain .
Another benefit to their design is their capacity to actually store the energy that the “ sail ” collects .
( 6 ) Saphon hopes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 18 to 24 months , as soon as they find manufacturing partners .
( 6 ) While there are certainly more aspects of this technology to be worked out by Vortex , Saphon , and any other companies working in wind technology innovation , the future of wind technology is most definitely an exciting one .
It will be interesting to follow along with their developments with hopes of a greener future .
Keep Reading : Malawian Teen Taught Himself How To Build A Windmill From Junk , Brought Power To His Village @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Try not to jiggle while watching these amazing bladeless wind turbines
For years, the symbol of wind power technology has been the wind turbine. While traditional turbines got us moving in the right direction, they are far from perfect. These bladeless wind turbines are changing how we think about collecting wind energy.
Power From Bladeless Wind Turbines
In 2015, Spanish company Vortex Bladeless came out with their new concept for capturing energy from the wind: Bladeless Wind Turbines. These turbines collect wind energy by the oscillating (wiggling) motion that they do when hit by a breeze. (1)
They look like a giant pole that sticks straight up out of the ground, and when the wind comes, sure enough, they wiggle. (1)
Vortex founders David Suriol, David Yáñez, and Raul Martín got the idea after learning about the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington in the 1940s. Hit by an incredible wind storm, the bridge began oscillating so violently that it completely collapsed. (1)
The three gentlemen thought perhaps there is a way to harness that kinetic energy and convert it to electricity. An enemy of architects and designers, they decided to make it their friend. (1)
“We said, ‘Why don’t we try to use this energy, not avoid it,’” Suriol says. (1)
Keep Reading: Windows become transparent solar panels with added nanoparticles
How Bladeless Wind Turbines Work
The bladeless wind turbines harness something called vorticity. This is an aerodynamic effect that produces spinning whirlpools of wind. Where vorticity can destroy even the strongest of objects, the Vortex is designed to use these vortices in a synchronized fashion along the entirety of the mast. (1)
The shape is an elongated cone made of fiberglass and carbon fiber. These materials allow for maximum vibration of the cone. (1, 3)
Two rings of repelling magnets sit at the bottom of the cone as a non-electrical motor. When the cone sways in one direction, the magnets pull the cone back in the opposite direction. This is what creates the oscillating or wiggling motion, even if the wind’s speed is not high. (1, 3)
An alternator then converts that energy into electricity by multiplying the frequency of the mast’s oscillations to improve the Vortex’s efficiency. (1, 3)
What Makes Bladeless Wind Turbines Better?
While the classic turbines allowed us to start harnessing the power of the wind, there are many problems with them. They are costly, difficult to repair, and noisy. They require a vast amount of space and need to be more efficient. (1, 2)
The bladeless wind turbines boast many improvements on the traditional machines. These include:
Cheaper to manufacture and maintain because there are no gears, bolts, or mechanically moving parts. (1)
More turbines can be fit into a smaller area. (1, 5)
They are silent. (1)
Safer for birds because there are no moving blades to fly into. (1)
Costs more than 50% less to manufacture than traditional wind turbines. (1)
Oil-less and low maintenance. (4)
Will last 15 to 20 years or longer according to tests. (4)
The company’s founders are optimistic about the potential of their technology.
“Our goal is to develop a new wind generator that minimize(s) the amount of mechanical elements to reduce the maintenance costs and… environmental impact,” says Yáñez. (2)
Read: Personal power generator harvests energy from the breeze you make when you walk
The Skeptics
Not everyone has much faith in the bladeless turbines as the founders of Vortex Bladeless do. Wind energy specialist at the Technical University of Denmark Martin Hansen questions the efficiency of the turbines in comparison to their traditional counterparts. (5)
A conventional wind turbine converts 80 to 90 percent of the kinetic energy collected by their spinning rotors into electricity. According to Yáñez, the bladeless wind turbines will have an efficiency of just 70%. That being said, the number of turbines you can fit into an area is greater and the manufacturing costs are lower. According to Vortex founders, that outweighs those losses. (5)
Aeronautics and astronautics professor at MIT Sheila Widnall questions the turbulence of the wind patterns that will make it difficult to capture the kinetic energy from it. (5)
“With very thin cylinders and very slow velocities you get singing telephone lines, an absolutely pure frequency or tone,” she says. “But when the cylinder gets very big and wind gets very high, you get a range of frequencies. You won’t be able to get as much energy out of it as you want to because the oscillation is fundamentally turbulent.” (5)
She also disagrees that the bladeless turbines will be silent, stating that the cylinders will make noise when they start shaking back and forth. (5)
Other Companies Looking at New Turbine Technology
Vortex isn’t the only company taking a stab at bladeless wind turbine technology. Saphon Energy in Tunisia is also looking at a bladeless design that could quite literally shake things up. (6)
They have taken their design inspiration from sailboats, replacing the traditional blade and hub with a non-rotational sail-shaped body. Their Zero Blade Technology follows a back and forth 3D knot motion similar to that of a sailboat. (7)
According to Saphon, their technology is 2.3 times more efficient than traditional rotating blades and costs 45% less to build and maintain. Another benefit to their design is their capacity to actually store the energy that the “sail” collects. (6)
“We’ve developed several prototypes. We are at our second-generation prototype. We did the testing and this second one is twice as efficient as a three-blade turbine and in terms of manufacturing is at least 50 percent cheaper.” (6)
Saphon hopes to have their design on the market within 18 to 24 months, as soon as they find manufacturing partners. (6)
The Bottom Line
While there are certainly more aspects of this technology to be worked out by Vortex, Saphon, and any other companies working in wind technology innovation, the future of wind technology is most definitely an exciting one. It will be interesting to follow along with their developments with hopes of a greener future.
Keep Reading: Malawian Teen Taught Himself How To Build A Windmill From Junk, Brought Power To His Village, ALL Learned From Library Books!


theheartysoul--2020-10-06--Boy Comes Dangerously Close To Losing Vision After Playing With Bath Toys, Mother Warns

As a parent , you are constantly on high alert for things or situations that could harm your child .
You dutifully cut their food into small pieces so they don ’ t choke , put plugs in every light socket in the house , and you try to keep dangerous items out of reach .
Sometimes , even when you do everything right , your child can still get hurt .
In most cases , all they end up with is a small bump or a scrape .
Other times , they end up with something more unexpected- and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Eden Strong .
Despite her best efforts to keep his bath toys clean , her two-year-old son Baylor nearly lost his vision after one of them gave him a bacterial infection .
According to Strong , the nanny was giving Baylor a bath when he accidentally squirted some water into his eye from one of his rubber bath toys .
Shortly after , his eye began turning pink [ 1 ] .Advertisement Strong said she had seen posts where other moms had cut open their child ’ s bath toys and revealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she didn ’ t realize is that even with regular cleaning bacteria can still build up inside bath toys .
This is because they never fully dry .
Sometimes , however , this bacteria can be invisible to the naked eye .
Initially , doctors told Strong and her husband that their son had pinkeye .
His eye , however , continued to worsen .
The doctors insisted on performing a CT scan .
Strong was hesitant to expose her young son to that much radiation , but she agreed .
The scan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Read : How to Protect Your Baby from Positional Asphyxia in a Car Seat According to Frederik Hammes , a microbiologist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology , the topic is severely understudied .
In 2018 , he led a research team that sampled nineteen bath toys .
The team collected them from five different households .
The researchers cut each toy open and tested what they found on the inside .
They found an average of 9.5 million cells of bacteria and fungi per square centimeter of each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to twenty million cells .
Most of the toys contained the organism Pseudomonas aeruginosa .
This bacterium is known to cause infections in people who have compromised immune systems .
The results did not surprise Michael David , assistant professor in the University of Pennsylvania Department of Medicine ’ s Division of Infectious Diseases .
Bath toys that collect standing water and sit in poorly-ventilated bathrooms are the perfect environment in which mold spores can grow and thrive .
That being said , David reassures parents that the issue is under-studied for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rare .
David himself , an infectious disease specialist , has never seen a healthy person infected by mold from a bath toy or children ’ s item .
He says no one has explored the subject much because it hasn ’ t really come up as a problem .
Susan Huang is the medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention at the University of California at Irvine School of Medicine .
She ’ s also the mother of two , and she agrees with David .
Of course , there are some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to cancer or an immune defect are at a greater risk of infection from mold .
So are those with chronic lung or sinus infections , or those who have uncontrolled diabetes .
Inhaling mold can also trigger allergies or asthma , especially in children .
For this reason , you should always do your best to minimize the amount of mold your children come into contact with .
How to Keep Your Kids Safe The good news is , as parents there ’ s a lot you can do to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids ’ lives .
You can sterilize bottles in boiling water and squeeze rubber ducks to let the water out .
You can hang bath mats , and any other damp bathroom item up to dry .
If you want , you can seal the holes in bath toys with a hot glue gun , or cut the hole larger for easier cleaning .
Maureen Lichtveld is the chair of the global environmental health sciences department at Tulane University ‘ s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such thing as a sterile environment , anything we can do to keep our children safe , we should .
That said , parents don ’ t need to panic .
Read : Children Need Structure More Than Warmth , Says Child Psychologist What are some the best way to keep your kids ’ bath toys clean ?
Boil the toys in hot water and squeeze out the water with a pair of tongs .
Let them cool and dry thoroughly .
Mix ¾ cup of bleach with one gallon of water .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ them thoroughly with water .
Allow to dry completely .
Mix one gallon of water with half a cup of white vinegar .
Soak the toys in the solution for about one hour , scrub them to remove the mold , then allow them to air dry .
4 .
Put them in the wash Running the toys through the dishwasher can sanitize and kill any gunk growing on the outside or inside .
Again , make sure they fully dry after they ’ re done .
Make sure you keep the toys @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow the toys to drain and dry properly between use .
Any way you can dry them out will prevent mold from forming in the first place [ 4 ] .
Keep Reading : How Harmful Is Black Mold ?
One Woman ’ s Symptoms Highlight the Potential Dangers

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on October 6, 2020.
As a parent, you are constantly on high alert for things or situations that could harm your child. You dutifully cut their food into small pieces so they don’t choke, put plugs in every light socket in the house, and you try to keep dangerous items out of reach.
Sometimes, even when you do everything right, your child can still get hurt. In most cases, all they end up with is a small bump or a scrape. Other times, they end up with something more unexpected- and more serious.
This is what happened to Eden Strong. Despite her best efforts to keep his bath toys clean, her two-year-old son Baylor nearly lost his vision after one of them gave him a bacterial infection.
Baylor’s Story
According to Strong, the nanny was giving Baylor a bath when he accidentally squirted some water into his eye from one of his rubber bath toys. Shortly after, his eye began turning pink [1].
Strong said she had seen posts where other moms had cut open their child’s bath toys and revealed significant amounts of mold inside.
“I knew water could get trapped in tub toys, particularly the rubber ones designed to squirt water,” she said. “So I squeezed them out after each bath, cleaned them out every few weeks with a bleach water solution, and regularly held them up to the light to look for mold.” [2]
Image Credit: Eden Strong
What she didn’t realize is that even with regular cleaning bacteria can still build up inside bath toys. This is because they never fully dry. Sometimes, however, this bacteria can be invisible to the naked eye.
Initially, doctors told Strong and her husband that their son had pinkeye. His eye, however, continued to worsen.
“Now his eye was actually coming out from between his eyelids and I just remember screaming at my husband to call 911 or to get the car,” she said [1].
The doctors insisted on performing a CT scan. Strong was hesitant to expose her young son to that much radiation, but she agreed. The scan revealed that he had severe cellulitis.
“That could spread to his brain. And I just never would have thought that a bathtub toy could have done something like this,” Strong said [1]
Thankfully, Baylor has made a full recovery.
Read: How to Protect Your Baby from Positional Asphyxia in a Car Seat
Are Bath Toys Safe?
According to Frederik Hammes, a microbiologist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, the topic is severely understudied. In 2018, he led a research team that sampled nineteen bath toys. The team collected them from five different households.
The researchers cut each toy open and tested what they found on the inside. They found an average of 9.5 million cells of bacteria and fungi per square centimeter of each toy. Some of them had up to twenty million cells.
Most of the toys contained the organism Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This bacterium is known to cause infections in people who have compromised immune systems. The results did not surprise Michael David, assistant professor in the University of Pennsylvania Department of Medicine’s Division of Infectious Diseases.
“There is likely to be an accumulation of fungi and bacteria inside of bath toys,” he said. “And some of these bacterial and fungal species are associated with human infections.” [3]
Bath toys that collect standing water and sit in poorly-ventilated bathrooms are the perfect environment in which mold spores can grow and thrive. That being said, David reassures parents that the issue is under-studied for a good reason: it’s extremely rare.
Underlying Conditions
David himself, an infectious disease specialist, has never seen a healthy person infected by mold from a bath toy or children’s item. He says no one has explored the subject much because it hasn’t really come up as a problem.
Susan Huang is the medical director for epidemiology and infection prevention at the University of California at Irvine School of Medicine. She’s also the mother of two, and she agrees with David.
“Healthy children have plenty of good immune function that allows them to breathe mold spores in and handle it, even eat some of it by accident,” she said. “Nothing really happens – other than people being somewhat disgusted.” [3]
Of course, there are some exceptions. Children with compromised immune systems due to cancer or an immune defect are at a greater risk of infection from mold. So are those with chronic lung or sinus infections, or those who have uncontrolled diabetes.
Inhaling mold can also trigger allergies or asthma, especially in children. For this reason, you should always do your best to minimize the amount of mold your children come into contact with.
How to Keep Your Kids Safe
The good news is, as parents there’s a lot you can do to keep large amounts of mold out of your kids’ lives. You can sterilize bottles in boiling water and squeeze rubber ducks to let the water out. You can hang bath mats, and any other damp bathroom item up to dry. If you want, you can seal the holes in bath toys with a hot glue gun, or cut the hole larger for easier cleaning.
Maureen Lichtveld is the chair of the global environmental health sciences department at Tulane University ‘s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans. She says that while there’s no such thing as a sterile environment, anything we can do to keep our children safe, we should. That said, parents don’t need to panic.
“I will of course clean mold if I see it at the bottom of the bath mat, because of how it looks,” Huang said. “But I know it won’t hurt my kids.” [3]
Read: Children Need Structure More Than Warmth, Says Child Psychologist
What are some the best way to keep your kids’ bath toys clean?
1. Boil the toys
Boil the toys in hot water and squeeze out the water with a pair of tongs. Let them cool and dry thoroughly.
2. Bleach them
Mix ¾ cup of bleach with one gallon of water. Soak the toys overnight, then rinse them thoroughly with water. Allow to dry completely.
3. Use vinegar
Mix one gallon of water with half a cup of white vinegar. Soak the toys in the solution for about one hour, scrub them to remove the mold, then allow them to air dry.
4. Put them in the wash
Running the toys through the dishwasher can sanitize and kill any gunk growing on the outside or inside. Again, make sure they fully dry after they’re done.
5. Store them properly
Make sure you keep the toys on a tray or rack that will allow the toys to drain and dry properly between use. Any way you can dry them out will prevent mold from forming in the first place [4].
Keep Reading: How Harmful Is Black Mold? One Woman’s Symptoms Highlight the Potential Dangers
Sources


theheartysoul--2020-10-06--Yes, The IRS Will Tax The Man Who Found A 9-Carat Diamond

Finders keepers , losers weepers , right ?
Wrong .
While that may have worked on the playground as a kid , the IRS has different rules .
A man who found a nine-carat diamond in a public state park in Arkansas learned this the hard way .
This past labor day , 33-year-old Kevin Kinard found a 9.07-carat diamond in the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas .
This is the second-largest diamond ever found in park history .
( 1 ) “ It kind of looked interesting and shiny , so I put it in my bag @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I just thought it might ’ ve been glass.
” ( 2 ) He didn ’ t realize how valuable his find was until he took it to the park ’ s Diamond Discovery center at the end of his visit .
Though it has yet to be officially appraised , based on diamonds of similar size Kinard stands to make a pretty $ 30,000 .
( 2 ) Advertisement According to park rules , if you find it , you get to keep it .
His excitement was quickly dampened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
( 1 ) According to the IRS , any money or valuable items that you find can and will be taxed as income .
Even items that you stumble across , like Kinard ’ s diamond , are taxable , even if you never sell it for cash .
( 1 ) The IRS calls these found items “ treasure trove ” and says that you must have it valued and declare it as income .
Even if you just find a wad of cash on the sidewalk , it still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sell the item just so they can afford the taxes .
( 1 ) Read : Woman Buys Ring For $ 13 , Finds Out It ’ s Actually Worth $ 957K You Can ’ t Just Give it Away Say you win money in a lottery .
Even if you immediately donate that money to a charitable organization , you still won ’ t avoid the IRS .
When it comes around to tax time , you can only claim charitable donations up to 50 % of your “ contribution base ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ income .
( 1 ) AdvertisementFor donations to private non-operating foundations , you can only claim up to 30 % .
This includes veterans organizations , fraternities , and non-profit cemeteries .
You have five years to use excess charitable contribution deductions , but you have to pay taxes on money that you ’ ve given away that entire time .
( 1 ) The only way to avoid taxes , in this case , is to decline the prize entirely .
Once it ’ s in your hands , you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 1 ) The only real way to avoid taxes is if you recover stolen property and you can prove that it is yours .
This changes , however , if you claimed that item when it was originally stolen , however , you will then be taxed under the “ tax benefit rule ” .
( 1 ) Now that it has been returned to you , the value of that item that was claimed under theft or loss of property must then be included as income when you do your taxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has increased since it was stolen , you will be taxed on the new , higher value .
( 1 ) Like it or not , taxes are a part of life .
Though paying them on something that you didn ’ t even mean to find is a tough concept to grasp , finding a diamond like the one Kinard did is still very exciting .
Hopefully , he will still have some money left over from the IRS to enjoy .
Keep Reading : Man Who Had Transplant Finds Out Later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s

Finders keepers, losers weepers, right? Wrong. While that may have worked on the playground as a kid, the IRS has different rules. A man who found a nine-carat diamond in a public state park in Arkansas learned this the hard way.
IRS Taxes Man on Found Diamond
This past labor day, 33-year-old Kevin Kinard found a 9.07-carat diamond in the Crater of Diamonds State Park in Arkansas. This is the second-largest diamond ever found in park history. (1)
“It kind of looked interesting and shiny, so I put it in my bag and kept searching,” he recalled. “I just thought it might’ve been glass.” (2)
He didn’t realize how valuable his find was until he took it to the park’s Diamond Discovery center at the end of his visit. Though it has yet to be officially appraised, based on diamonds of similar size Kinard stands to make a pretty $30,000. (2)
According to park rules, if you find it, you get to keep it. His excitement was quickly dampened, however, when the IRS found him. (1)
According to the IRS, any money or valuable items that you find can and will be taxed as income. Even items that you stumble across, like Kinard’s diamond, are taxable, even if you never sell it for cash. (1)
The IRS calls these found items “treasure trove” and says that you must have it valued and declare it as income. Even if you just find a wad of cash on the sidewalk, it still counts. Many people are forced to sell the item just so they can afford the taxes. (1)
Read: Woman Buys Ring For $13, Finds Out It’s Actually Worth $957K
You Can’t Just Give it Away
Say you win money in a lottery. Even if you immediately donate that money to a charitable organization, you still won’t avoid the IRS. When it comes around to tax time, you can only claim charitable donations up to 50% of your “contribution base”. Typically this is your adjusted gross income. (1)
For donations to private non-operating foundations, you can only claim up to 30%. This includes veterans organizations, fraternities, and non-profit cemeteries. You have five years to use excess charitable contribution deductions, but you have to pay taxes on money that you’ve given away that entire time. (1)
The only way to avoid taxes, in this case, is to decline the prize entirely. Once it’s in your hands, you’re at the mercy of the IRS. (1)
Stolen Property
The only real way to avoid taxes is if you recover stolen property and you can prove that it is yours. This changes, however, if you claimed that item when it was originally stolen, however, you will then be taxed under the “tax benefit rule”. (1)
Now that it has been returned to you, the value of that item that was claimed under theft or loss of property must then be included as income when you do your taxes. If the value of that item has increased since it was stolen, you will be taxed on the new, higher value. (1)
The Bottom Line
Like it or not, taxes are a part of life. Though paying them on something that you didn’t even mean to find is a tough concept to grasp, finding a diamond like the one Kinard did is still very exciting. Hopefully, he will still have some money left over from the IRS to enjoy.


theheartysoul--2020-10-06--The Banana Trick and Other Acts of Self-Checkout Thievery

If you had the opportunity , would you steal from another human being ?
What if that human being were replaced with a robot ?
Experts predict that America ’ s Self-Checkout Systems market will reach 7.1 billion dollars by 2024 [ 1 ] .
Over the last decade , retailers across the United States have added thousands of self-checkout machines in an effort to save on labor costs .
These new automated systems , however , come with new and sometimes costly challenges .
One of the biggest problems retailers face with these machines is theft .
With customers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to save on items , stores are losing money.Advertisement Voucher Codes Pro , a company that offers coupons to internet shoppers , surveyed 2 634 people .
Nearly twenty percent of them admitted to stealing from an automated checkout at some point in the past .
More than half of them said it was because they knew it was unlikely they ’ d get caught .
There are a few different tricks that shoppers are using to trick the system : Ringing up a more expensive item with the code for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , using the code for a banana to “ pay ” for an expensive t-bone steak .
This is when you put something in your bag without scanning it .
Peel the sticker off of something inexpensive and place it over the barcode of a more expensive item [ 2 ] .
Just how much money is this costing stores ?
In 2015 , criminologists at the University of Leicester audited one million self-checkout transactions over the course of one year .
Sales totaled 21 million dollars .
Nearly 850 thousand dollars worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 ] .
Read : You Probably Shouldn ’ t Be Wearing Gloves to Go Grocery Shopping According to the Leicester researchers , ease of theft is one of the most common reasons .
People who would not ordinarily steal are now more likely to do it simply because they can .
In other words , many of these people aren ’ t entering the store with the intent to steal .
When they get to the checkout , however , they realize they can- so they do .
The consequences for retail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , in Dallas , Texas , the police department decided they would no longer routinely respond to retail theft under fifty dollars .
In 2015 they raised that number to one hundred .
Another reason why someone might be more inclined to steal from an automated self-checkout machine is because of a difference in morality .
Barbara Staib is the director of communications of the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention .
She believes that self check-outs allow people who are already predisposed to stealing to rationalize their actions .
This tempts them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t steal from a human being , but stealing from a machine doesn ’ t really feel like a crime .
University of Manchester criminology professor Shadd Maruna explained : Frank Farley , a psychologist at Temple University , says that personality also comes into play .
He describes many supermarket thieves as having “ type-T ” ( aka “ thrill ” ) personalities .
He says that for these people , stealing can make shopping a more interesting activity .
Why Are Retailers Still Using Self-Checkout ?
Stores introduced self checkouts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant amount of backlash from customers , however , many stores removed them .
Retailers are now embracing self-checkouts again for a number of reasons .
Before the COVID-19 pandemic , the employment rate was high .
For retailers , this meant that finding people to fill available job openings was becoming difficult .
At the same time , they were losing revenue from shoppers moving online .
Shoppers themselves were becoming more accustomed to dealing with machines instead of people .
The truth is , despite some of the issues with them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That doesn ’ t mean they ’ re not attempting to curb theft .
Many stores disabled the weight-based theft-detection system on their machines because they trigger too many messages that annoy shoppers .
This , of course , has made it easier for people to steal .
There is a new technology that is emerging , however , to replace this method .
NCR Corp , which makes the self-checkout devices in Walmart stores has begun introducing a type of video technology .
To help reduce false positives , humans off-site will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mis-scans .
Since backing away from its weight-based theft detection system , Walmart has been using a camera system made by Everseen Ltd .
In this system , cameras track product and shopper movements and correlate that information with what ’ s being scanned .
If the system suspects a mis-scan , it pauses the transaction in real-time and alerts a store worker [ 4 ] .
Related : Say goodbye to cashiers : Walmart store switches to self-checkout only Although self-checkouts were initially met with opposition , as the technology improves more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Target , for example , has self-checkout machines in all but two hundred of its 1900 stores .
A spokesperson for the company said that about one-third of shoppers prefer the machines [ 4 ] .
As the technology improves , however , so is the security .
So if you have been using the banana trick at the self-checkout , your days of small-time grocery theft may be coming to an end .
Read : If Facebook isn ’ t spying on me , why did I get ads for what I @ @ @ @

If you had the opportunity, would you steal from another human being?
What if that human being were replaced with a robot?
Experts predict that America’s Self-Checkout Systems market will reach 7.1 billion dollars by 2024 [1]. Over the last decade, retailers across the United States have added thousands of self-checkout machines in an effort to save on labor costs. These new automated systems, however, come with new and sometimes costly challenges.
One of the biggest problems retailers face with these machines is theft. With customers using hacks like “the banana trick” to save on items, stores are losing money.
The Banana Trick
Voucher Codes Pro, a company that offers coupons to internet shoppers, surveyed 2 634 people. Nearly twenty percent of them admitted to stealing from an automated checkout at some point in the past. More than half of them said it was because they knew it was unlikely they’d get caught.
There are a few different tricks that shoppers are using to trick the system:
1. The Banana Trick
Ringing up a more expensive item with the code for a cheap variety of produce. For example, using the code for a banana to “pay” for an expensive t-bone steak.
2. The Pass Around
This is when you put something in your bag without scanning it.
3. The Switcheroo
Peel the sticker off of something inexpensive and place it over the barcode of a more expensive item [2].
Just how much money is this costing stores?
In 2015, criminologists at the University of Leicester audited one million self-checkout transactions over the course of one year. Sales totaled 21 million dollars. Nearly 850 thousand dollars worth of goods were never paid for [2].
Why are People Stealing?
According to the Leicester researchers, ease of theft is one of the most common reasons. People who would not ordinarily steal are now more likely to do it simply because they can.
“People who traditionally don’t intend to steal [might realize that] … when I buy 20, I can get five for free,” the authors explained [2].
In other words, many of these people aren’t entering the store with the intent to steal. When they get to the checkout, however, they realize they can- so they do.
The consequences for retail theft have also gone down. For example, in Dallas, Texas, the police department decided they would no longer routinely respond to retail theft under fifty dollars. In 2015 they raised that number to one hundred.
Morals Matter
Another reason why someone might be more inclined to steal from an automated self-checkout machine is because of a difference in morality. Barbara Staib is the director of communications of the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention. She believes that self check-outs allow people who are already predisposed to stealing to rationalize their actions. This tempts them to shoplift more.
“[The machines give] the false impression of anonymity,” she says. “This apparently empowers people to shoplift.” [2]
Many people wouldn’t steal from a human being, but stealing from a machine doesn’t really feel like a crime. University of Manchester criminology professor Shadd Maruna explained:
“Individuals can neutralize guilt they might otherwise feel when stealing by telling themselves that there are no victims of the crime, no human being is actually being hurt by this, only some mega-corporation that can surely afford the loss of a few quid. In fact, the corporation has saved so much money by laying off all its cashiers that it is almost morally necessary to steal from them.” [3]
Frank Farley, a psychologist at Temple University, says that personality also comes into play. He describes many supermarket thieves as having “type-T” (aka “thrill”) personalities. He says that for these people, stealing can make shopping a more interesting activity.
“These can be risk-taking, stimulation-seeking people,” he explains [2].
Why Are Retailers Still Using Self-Checkout?
Stores introduced self checkouts about ten years ago. After a significant amount of backlash from customers, however, many stores removed them.
Retailers are now embracing self-checkouts again for a number of reasons.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the employment rate was high. For retailers, this meant that finding people to fill available job openings was becoming difficult. At the same time, they were losing revenue from shoppers moving online. Shoppers themselves were becoming more accustomed to dealing with machines instead of people.
The truth is, despite some of the issues with them, retailers are seeing some savings.
That doesn’t mean they’re not attempting to curb theft. Many stores disabled the weight-based theft-detection system on their machines because they trigger too many messages that annoy shoppers. This, of course, has made it easier for people to steal. There is a new technology that is emerging, however, to replace this method.
NCR Corp, which makes the self-checkout devices in Walmart stores has begun introducing a type of video technology. To help reduce false positives, humans off-site will watch five to ten-second clips of possible mis-scans.
Since backing away from its weight-based theft detection system, Walmart has been using a camera system made by Everseen Ltd. In this system, cameras track product and shopper movements and correlate that information with what’s being scanned. If the system suspects a mis-scan, it pauses the transaction in real-time and alerts a store worker [4].
Related: Say goodbye to cashiers: Walmart store switches to self-checkout only
Embracing Technology
Although self-checkouts were initially met with opposition, as the technology improves more and more shoppers are embracing them. Target, for example, has self-checkout machines in all but two hundred of its 1900 stores. A spokesperson for the company said that about one-third of shoppers prefer the machines [4].
As the technology improves, however, so is the security. So if you have been using the banana trick at the self-checkout, your days of small-time grocery theft may be coming to an end.
Read: If Facebook isn’t spying on me, why did I get ads for what I just spoke about?


theheartysoul--2020-10-06--Store Gave a Job to Homeless Woman Who Slept in Their Parking Lot: ‘I Wish We Had 120 Like Her!’

Sometimes people just need to be given a chance .
When this store manager gave a job to a homeless woman living in her store ’ s parking lot , that ’ s exactly what she did .
It proved to be one of the best hiring decisions she ever made .
LaShenda Williams has not had it easy .
At a particularly low point in her life , she was living out of her car and sleeping in the parking lot of her local Kruger in Nashville , Tennessee .
While most people wouldn ’ t give a job @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manager Jackie Vandal saw something special in Williams .
Vandal gave Williams the job , a decision that both changed Williams ’ life and improved those of every other customer and employee of the store ( 1 ) .
She spent the majority of her childhood in a variety of foster homes , many of which were abusive .
Advertisement On top of being passed between foster homes , Williams has a learning disability .
This meant she spent most of her school years in special education .
Her adult figures and peers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t intelligent and that she would never be able to support herself or live an independent adult life .
When she finished high school and was no longer a part of the foster care system , she left her hometown of Mobile , Alabama , and moved to Nashville to find her biological family .
She found her parents , however , the reunion did not go as she thought it would .
Knowing she was on her own , she began working odd jobs to get by .
Unfortunately , most employers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her or help her succeed .
Read : Nurse Adopts Homeless Man with Autism So He Can Get a Heart Transplant Throughout all of her struggles she always worked hard to maintain a positive outlook .
AdvertisementShe went to her local Kruger in Inglewood , Nashville in search of a friendly face to lift her spirits and something to fill her belly .
The staff were so warm and inviting that she decided to keep going back .
Homeless at the time , she was living out of her car that she parked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day she went inside the store to eat and chat with the staff , then she would move her car so that they wouldn ’ t know that was actually where she was living .
Williams told the staff that one day , she would work there .
Read : A homeless Detroit man bought an abandoned house for $ 1,500 and spent 10 years renovating it for his wife .
Here ’ s how he did it — and what it looks like now .
Vandal took notice of Williams ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told her about the upcoming job fair .
From her perspective , Williams had everything it takes to be a great employee : On the day of the Kroger job fair , Vandal worked with Williams to help her with her resume and make sure she had everything she needed to succeed .
It was the help and support that she had always needed but never received .
This was so much more than just ‘ giving a job to a homeless woman.
’ Williams worked hard to be the best employee she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In just one month she had a promotion from part-time cashier to a full-time check-out associate .
She saved enough money within a couple of months of working to get her own place , which her coworkers then helped her furnish .
She loves coming to work every day and maintains that everyone at the store – managers , coworkers , and customers – are family to her .
Vandal maintains that Williams is one of the best hiring decisions she has ever made , stating that she wishes she could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Despite everything Williams has been through in her life , she never let it make her bitter .
Instead , it is her goal to put a smile on as many people ’ s faces as possible each day .
Keep Reading : Nonprofit Organization Built Homeless Veterans Village of Tiny Homes Instead Of Leaving Them Homeless

Store Gave a Job to Homeless Woman Who Slept in Their Parking Lot: ‘I Wish We Had 120 Like Her!’
Sometimes people just need to be given a chance. When this store manager gave a job to a homeless woman living in her store’s parking lot, that’s exactly what she did. It proved to be one of the best hiring decisions she ever made.
Manager Gives Job to Homeless Woman
LaShenda Williams has not had it easy. At a particularly low point in her life, she was living out of her car and sleeping in the parking lot of her local Kruger in Nashville, Tennessee. While most people wouldn’t give a job to a homeless woman, the store manager Jackie Vandal saw something special in Williams.
Vandal gave Williams the job, a decision that both changed Williams’ life and improved those of every other customer and employee of the store (1).
A Challenging History
She spent the majority of her childhood in a variety of foster homes, many of which were abusive.
“In the end, nobody wanted me, and I stayed in the system until my senior year [of high school].” she recalls. (1)
On top of being passed between foster homes, Williams has a learning disability. This meant she spent most of her school years in special education. Her adult figures and peers constantly told her that she wasn’t intelligent and that she would never be able to support herself or live an independent adult life.
When she finished high school and was no longer a part of the foster care system, she left her hometown of Mobile, Alabama, and moved to Nashville to find her biological family. She found her parents, however, the reunion did not go as she thought it would.
“I wanted love from my parents,” she said, “but unfortunately, that was not the case.” (1)
Knowing she was on her own, she began working odd jobs to get by. Unfortunately, most employers were hesitant to take a chance on her or help her succeed.
A Positive Attitude Goes a Long Way
Throughout all of her struggles she always worked hard to maintain a positive outlook.
“I remember being in a park one day after I lost those two jobs and I was just so tired; I was ready to give up. I prayed about it and just listened for that quiet, still voice to tell me what I needed to do.” (1)
She went to her local Kruger in Inglewood, Nashville in search of a friendly face to lift her spirits and something to fill her belly. The staff were so warm and inviting that she decided to keep going back.
Homeless at the time, she was living out of her car that she parked in the Kruger parking lot. Every day she went inside the store to eat and chat with the staff, then she would move her car so that they wouldn’t know that was actually where she was living.
Williams told the staff that one day, she would work there.
Read: A homeless Detroit man bought an abandoned house for $1,500 and spent 10 years renovating it for his wife. Here’s how he did it — and what it looks like now.
A Kind Heart
Vandal took notice of Williams’s desire to work at the store and told her about the upcoming job fair. From her perspective, Williams had everything it takes to be a great employee:
Captivating personality
Warm smile
Willingness to work hard
“I really was just doing my job, hiring friendly people who I thought would be dependable. I just felt like she had that warm, caring personality and she was so persistent.” Vandal explains. (1)
On the day of the Kroger job fair, Vandal worked with Williams to help her with her resume and make sure she had everything she needed to succeed. It was the help and support that she had always needed but never received. This was so much more than just ‘giving a job to a homeless woman.’
“When Jackie said, ‘You’re hired,’ my whole body just collapsed in her arms.” Williams recalled. “I still get so emotional. When she did that, it just changed my life and I promised her that I’d work hard every day.” (1)
Employee of the Year
Williams worked hard to be the best employee she could be, and it paid off. In just one month she had a promotion from part-time cashier to a full-time check-out associate. She saved enough money within a couple of months of working to get her own place, which her coworkers then helped her furnish.
She loves coming to work every day and maintains that everyone at the store – managers, coworkers, and customers – are family to her.
“From every department to the front end,” Williams says. “they are my family. This is where I belong with my Kroger family and all my customers who are my babies. It just fills my heart with joy.” (1)
Vandal maintains that Williams is one of the best hiring decisions she has ever made, stating that she wishes she could have a whole team of people like Lashenda.
Despite everything Williams has been through in her life, she never let it make her bitter. Instead, it is her goal to put a smile on as many people’s faces as possible each day.
“If I could just put one smile on someone’s face or put a laugh in someone’s heart and tell them ‘I love you’ and ‘I’m proud of you,’ that’s what I try to do every day.” (1)
Keep Reading: Nonprofit Organization Built Homeless Veterans Village of Tiny Homes Instead Of Leaving Them Homeless


theheartysoul--2020-10-06--Student accidentally creates rechargeable battery that could last decades

Some of the world ’ s greatest innovations were created by accident , and this might just be the latest to add to that list .
A Ph.D. student at the University of California at Irvine accidentally discovered a rechargeable battery that could last up to 400 years while playing around in the lab .
Mya Le Thai is one of the researchers working on nanowire technology in chemistry department head Reginald Penner ’ s lab .
These are tiny conductive wires that could be highly beneficial for use in rechargeable batteries .
The team had come up against one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fragile .
After a certain number of charging cycles , they begin to fray and crack and then stop working .
( 1 ) While working in the lab one day , Mya decided to change the liquid electrolyte surrounding the nanowires with one that is made of gel .
When she began cycling them , the entire team had a huge surprise : The batteries were going through thousands of charging cycles without any signs of wear and tear .
( 1 ) For context , the typical laptop battery life is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 ) This means that we could have ultra-long lasting batteries so that there will be fewer laptops , phones , and lithium-ion batteries piling up in landfills .
( 1 ) Advertisement The researchers currently aren ’ t sure why the gel prevents the nanowires from breaking down less than other liquids , but they do know generally how the different liquid types work .
( 1 ) According to Penner , nanowires are made of magnesium oxide , are 80 % porous , and are hundreds of times thinner than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same thickness as peanut butter .
( 1 ) As the wires go through cycle after cycle , the gel slowly seeps into the pores in the wires .
This makes them softer and therefore less fragile so that they can last longer .
( 1 ) The team is going to continue to experiment with these gel-wrapped nanowire batteries to study further how well they hold up over time .
If they are successful , these could eventually be a regular component of long-lasting batteries .
Though that is still a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s discovery is certainly an exciting one .
( 1 ) Other Batteries Out To Replace Lithium-Ion Penner ’ s team aren ’ t the only ones out to replace the lithium-ion battery with something longer-lasting and more environmentally friendly .
Other batteries currently in development include : AdvertisementEach of these is more durable than the lithium-ion and have a much more positive environmental impact .
Though these batteries have allowed many innovations , such as cellphones and laptops , to become what they are today , these batteries don ’ t come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lithium mining has created many environmental problems , including ( 3 ) : • Using massive amounts ( upwards of 65 % ) of the regions ’ water where mines exist These are just a few of the issues that we face if we continue to use lithium-ion batteries at our current rate .
( 3 ) Hopefully , all of these new innovations in battery-powered energy will change the energy game and create a more sustainable future .

Some of the world’s greatest innovations were created by accident, and this might just be the latest to add to that list. A Ph.D. student at the University of California at Irvine accidentally discovered a rechargeable battery that could last up to 400 years while playing around in the lab.
The Accidental Rechargeable Battery
Mya Le Thai is one of the researchers working on nanowire technology in chemistry department head Reginald Penner’s lab. These are tiny conductive wires that could be highly beneficial for use in rechargeable batteries. The team had come up against one major roadblock: The wires are extremely fragile. After a certain number of charging cycles, they begin to fray and crack and then stop working. (1)
While working in the lab one day, Mya decided to change the liquid electrolyte surrounding the nanowires with one that is made of gel. When she began cycling them, the entire team had a huge surprise: The batteries were going through thousands of charging cycles without any signs of wear and tear. (1)
“She started to cycle these gel capacitors, and that’s when we got the surprise,” Penner said. “She said, ‘this thing has been cycling 10,000 cycles and it’s still going.’ She came back a few days later and said ‘it’s been cycling for 30,000 cycles.’ That kept going on for a month.” (1)
For context, the typical laptop battery life is between 300 and 500 cycles. (2) This means that we could have ultra-long lasting batteries so that there will be fewer laptops, phones, and lithium-ion batteries piling up in landfills. (1)
“If you could get 100,000 cycles out of a lithium ion battery it might mean you never need to buy two of them,” Penner says. “We’re talking about a lifetime of 20 years, maybe even longer than that.” (2)
How it Works
The researchers currently aren’t sure why the gel prevents the nanowires from breaking down less than other liquids, but they do know generally how the different liquid types work. (1)
According to Penner, nanowires are made of magnesium oxide, are 80% porous, and are hundreds of times thinner than human hair. The gel is about the same thickness as peanut butter. (1)
As the wires go through cycle after cycle, the gel slowly seeps into the pores in the wires. This makes them softer and therefore less fragile so that they can last longer. (1)
“After 5,000 cycles with normal liquid, [the nanowires] start to break,” Penner says. “And then they start to fall off. None of that is happening in the gel.” (1)
The team is going to continue to experiment with these gel-wrapped nanowire batteries to study further how well they hold up over time. If they are successful, these could eventually be a regular component of long-lasting batteries. Though that is still a few years away yet, Mya’s discovery is certainly an exciting one. (1)
The Problem with Lithium-Ion Batteries
Though these batteries have allowed many innovations, such as cellphones and laptops, to become what they are today, these batteries don’t come without their risks. (3) Lithium mining has created many environmental problems, including (3):
Chemical leaks that pollute rivers and kill wildlife
Contaminating irrigation streams and crops
Using massive amounts (upwards of 65%) of the regions’ water where mines exist
Battery fluid leaking into landfills polluting the soil
These are just a few of the issues that we face if we continue to use lithium-ion batteries at our current rate. (3) Hopefully, all of these new innovations in battery-powered energy will change the energy game and create a more sustainable future.
Keep Reading: The Radioactive Diamond Battery That Will Run For 28,000 Years
Sources


theheartysoul--2020-10-07--The Coolest Custom VW Campervans Ever Built

Nothing says spontaneous road trip adventure quite like a classic VW van .
A symbol of a relaxed , nomadic lifestyle , these old-school vehicles are having a renaissance .
Check out these incredible custom VW campervans to inspire your van life dreams .
Just because the vans are vintage doesn ’ t mean they have to look , feel , or function like it .
These custom VW campervans have been made over to not just look cool , but also make van life more cozy and comfortable than ever .
Wahyu Pamungkas has created a business restoring old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His business , called Yudi Yumos ( meaning Yudi Motor Sport ) , is most well-known for the Snail Camper .
This custom VW campervan can sleep three or four and is equipped with a kitchen and an incredible sound system .
( 2 ) Keep the roof down flat while driving , then when parked you can open it up for extra living space .
( 1 ) Advertisement This van has been made to be longer and taller for maximum space .
( 1 ) Some might say it looks old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it has a beautiful , vintage look .
Either way , you can ’ t deny that this custom VW campervan brings back memories of days gone by .
( 1 ) If you ’ ve always dreamt of living at the beach , then this is the van you need .
Decorated to match right in with the coastline aesthetic , this van is best parked by the shore .
( 1 ) With its checkered floor and painted Tiffany blue , this van is reminiscent of an old fifties and sixties-era @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Canadian designer Alexandre Verdier , this vintage van has been re-done to be solar-powered .
It ’ s not just cute and cozy , it ’ s also more environmentally friendly .
( 4 ) If there ’ s one way for you and your friends to travel around in style , it ’ s in a red stretch VW campervan .
This one looks just like the classic version , just elongated and painted a gorgeous dark red hue .
( 1 ) This van is a true home-on-wheels .
It has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wide to bring the outdoors inside , a fold-up dining table , and seats that turn into a bed .
( 5 ) Who says a weathered exterior is a bad thing ?
For this van , it ’ s all about that old aesthetic to transport you back in time .
( 1 ) Read : This Volkswagen Bus Cooler is the Coolest Cooler We Have Ever Seen The Coolflo brothers have taken their passion for VW vans and air-cooled engines and made a business out of it .
Their brand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community .
( 6 ) This black and red-painted van has been built so that you can relax and catch some rays , anytime , anywhere .
( 1 ) This two-VW-vans-in-one means more storage and living space .
Perfect for the whole family .
( 1 ) The last one isn ’ t exactly a custom VW camper van , but it is a custom-built VW beetle-turned camper van .
That ’ s right – it ’ s a VW beetle ready for road trips and camping .
Who would have thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kept classic or have been completely transformed into a modern-day vehicle , one thing is certain : People can ’ t get enough of classic Volkswagens .
Keep Reading : The original Volkswagen Beetle repurposed to create a fashionably old-fashioned mini bike !

Nothing says spontaneous road trip adventure quite like a classic VW van. A symbol of a relaxed, nomadic lifestyle, these old-school vehicles are having a renaissance. Check out these incredible custom VW campervans to inspire your van life dreams.
14 Seriously Cool Custom VW Campervans
Just because the vans are vintage doesn’t mean they have to look, feel, or function like it. These custom VW campervans have been made over to not just look cool, but also make van life more cozy and comfortable than ever.
The VW Snail Camper
Wahyu Pamungkas has created a business restoring old VWs and other vehicles in Indonesia. His business, called Yudi Yumos (meaning Yudi Motor Sport), is most well-known for the Snail Camper. This custom VW snail camper can sleep three or four and is equipped with a kitchen and an incredible sound system. (2)
Snail Camper
Credit: Fueltank.cc
The Fold-Up Roof Van
Keep the roof down flat while driving, then when parked you can open it up for extra living space. (1)
The Stretch Van
This van has been made to be longer and taller for maximum space. (1)
The Retro Van
Some might say it looks old and worn out, others will say it has a beautiful, vintage look. Either way, you can’t deny that this custom VW campervan brings back memories of days gone by. (1)
Beach Vibes Only
If you’ve always dreamt of living at the beach, then this is the van you need. Decorated to match right in with the coastline aesthetic, this van is best parked by the shore. (1)
The Classic Custom VW Campervan
With its checkered floor and painted Tiffany blue, this van is reminiscent of an old fifties and sixties-era diner. (3)
Solar-Powered Eco-Camper
Created by Canadian designer Alexandre Verdier, this vintage van has been re-done to be solar-powered. It’s not just cute and cozy, it’s also more environmentally friendly. (4)
The Red Stretch Bus
If there’s one way for you and your friends to travel around in style, it’s in a red stretch VW campervan. This one looks just like the classic version, just elongated and painted a gorgeous dark red hue. (1)
The Freedom Caravan
This van is a true home-on-wheels. It has large side doors that open up nice and wide to bring the outdoors inside, a fold-up dining table, and seats that turn into a bed. (5)
The Rustbuster
Who says a weathered exterior is a bad thing? For this van, it’s all about that old aesthetic to transport you back in time. (1)
Read: This Volkswagen Bus Cooler is the Coolest Cooler We Have Ever Seen
The Coolflo Cooler Custom VW Campervan
The Coolflo brothers have taken their passion for VW vans and air-cooled engines and made a business out of it. Their brand is now recognized globally in the VW community.
Image Credit: Coolflo
Rooftop Refuge
This black and red-painted van has been built so that you can relax and catch some rays, anytime, anywhere. (1)
The Trailer Custom VW Campervan
This two-VW-vans-in-one means more storage and living space. Perfect for the whole family. (1)
The Super Bugger
The last one isn’t exactly a custom VW camper van, but it is a custom-built VW beetle-turned camper van. That’s right – it’s a VW beetle ready for road trips and camping. Who would have thought? (7)
Whether they are kept classic or have been completely transformed into a modern-day vehicle, one thing is certain: People can’t get enough of classic Volkswagens.
Keep Reading: The original Volkswagen Beetle repurposed to create a fashionably old-fashioned mini bike!


theheartysoul--2020-10-07--Canada banning plastic bags, straws, cutlery, and other single-use items by the end of 2021

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest issues facing our environment .
Sadly , the problem is only getting worse .
In 1950 , humans produced about 2.3 million tonnes of plastic annually .
By 2015 , that number had increased to 448 million tonnes .
Experts estimate that production will double by 2050 [ 1 ] .
This is why Canada ’ s new plastic ban is worth talking about .
Of course , when you throw your plastic bag or water bottle in the garbage , it doesn ’ t just disappear .
It has to go somewhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ somewhere ” is our oceans .
Currently , about eight million tonnes of plastic waste ends up in our oceans every year [ 1 ] .
The vast majority of what ’ s left sits in landfills , leaching chemicals into our soil and groundwater .
In June 2019 , the government of Canada announced a plan to ban single-use plastics as early as 2021 [ 2 ] .
Today , the government has renewed that promise .
A Canada-wide plastic ban is set to begin , starting with plastic bags @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October 2020 , a little over a year after committing to a country-wide plastic ban by 2021 , Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced a new list of plastics being put on the banned list .
These products include plastic grocery bags , stir sticks , straws , six-pack rings , cutlery , and food containers that are made from hard-to-recycle plastics .
This is the next step in the federal government ’ s plan to achieve zero plastic waste in the country by 2030 .
According to the Liberal government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the environment , but they have readily available alternatives .
Wilkinson admitted that he knows it is hard to leave the grocery store without some of these items , but stated that change has to happen .
He added that when the ban comes into effect , retailers will be providing customers with alternatives .
The government is welcoming feedback on the plan on a discussion paper that will be available until December ninth .
The regulations will not come into effect until the end of 2021 .
Read : Kids Don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Please Stop Buying It .
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit , Canadians were generally supportive of efforts to reduce plastic pollution in their country .
By the summer of 2020 , however , that support began to wane .
A report conducted by Dalhousie University ’ s Agri-Food Analytical Science Lab found that since the pandemic began , support for a ban on single-use plastics dropped from seventy percent approval to 58 percent [ 4 ] .
The report found that more Canadians were favoring health and safety protections of plastics over reusable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of consumers had become more price-conscious amidst nation-wide job losses .
Recognizing that reusable alternatives typically cost more , many respondents said regulations surrounding single-use plastics should be put off until the pandemic ends [ 4 ] .
Understanding this , the federal government says that the ban will not include PPE , or other plastics used in the medical industry .
They are , however , trying to come up with a plan to reduce the impact these products have on the environment .
Read : Is Your Teabag Exposing You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Research In light of the COVID-19 pandemic , many businesses have had to shift from in-house dining to takeout and delivery only .
This , of course , has increased the amount of single-use plastics people are using and throwing away .
Wilkinson explained that the government chose these specific items because there are already alternatives that are readily-available and affordable .
He noted that in the context of takeout , the government ’ s main focus is polystyrene , which is difficult to recycle .
Business owners , however , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ban might have .
Small business owners are particularly worried .
Canadian Chamber of Commerce ’ s Aaron Henry voiced these concerns in a public statement : He added that in the current climate , many businesses are counting every dollar .
Any extra costs , then , could be the difference between remaining open , or closing for good .
He also noted that the policy does not address the current “ fragmented approaches ” to disposing consumer products .
The new policy also includes a proposal to establish requirements for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ packaging .
The federal government believes that this will encourage more investment in recycling infrastructure and technological innovation .
The hope is that experts will figure out ways to extend the life of plastic materials .
This way , they will stay in the economy and out of the landfills .
Wilkinson also pledged two million dollars to go to fourteen Canadian-led zero plastic waste projects .
In a few days , the Canadian government will be proposing to add “ plastic manufactured items ” to the list of regulated products under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are also several other items on this list , including greenhouse gasses [ 3 ] .
While plastic pollution is only one of the problems facing our environment , it is crucial that we take action against it .
The Canada plastic ban will , hopefully , encourage other countries to also take a more aggressive stance against it .
Keep Reading : Microplastics Detected in 100 Percent of Human Organs Sampled

Plastic pollution is one of the biggest issues facing our environment. Sadly, the problem is only getting worse. In 1950, humans produced about 2.3 million tonnes of plastic annually. By 2015, that number had increased to 448 million tonnes. Experts estimate that production will double by 2050 [1]. This is why Canada’s new plastic ban is worth talking about.
Of course, when you throw your plastic bag or water bottle in the garbage, it doesn’t just disappear. It has to go somewhere, and more often than not, that “somewhere” is our oceans. Currently, about eight million tonnes of plastic waste ends up in our oceans every year [1].
The vast majority of what’s left sits in landfills, leaching chemicals into our soil and groundwater.
In June 2019, the government of Canada announced a plan to ban single-use plastics as early as 2021 [2]. Today, the government has renewed that promise. A Canada-wide plastic ban is set to begin, starting with plastic bags, straws, and cutlery.
Canada Plastic Ban
In October 2020, a little over a year after committing to a country-wide plastic ban by 2021, Environment and Climate Change Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced a new list of plastics being put on the banned list.
These products include plastic grocery bags, stir sticks, straws, six-pack rings, cutlery, and food containers that are made from hard-to-recycle plastics. This is the next step in the federal government’s plan to achieve zero plastic waste in the country by 2030.
According to the Liberal government, these plastics are consistently found in the environment, but they have readily available alternatives. Wilkinson admitted that he knows it is hard to leave the grocery store without some of these items, but stated that change has to happen.
He added that when the ban comes into effect, retailers will be providing customers with alternatives.
“At the end of the day, Canadians expect us as governments to take action on an issue that they know is an important one… and to be honest with you, Canadians are far ahead of their governments on the plastic issue they’ve been demanding this kind of action for a long time,” Wilkinson said [3].
The government is welcoming feedback on the plan on a discussion paper that will be available until December ninth. The regulations will not come into effect until the end of 2021.
Read: Kids Don’t Need Plastic Junk. So, Please Stop Buying It.
Canada Plastic Ban and COVID-19
Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Canadians were generally supportive of efforts to reduce plastic pollution in their country. By the summer of 2020, however, that support began to wane.
A report conducted by Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytical Science Lab found that since the pandemic began, support for a ban on single-use plastics dropped from seventy percent approval to 58 percent [4].
The report found that more Canadians were favoring health and safety protections of plastics over reusable alternatives. It also determined that fifty percent of consumers had become more price-conscious amidst nation-wide job losses. Recognizing that reusable alternatives typically cost more, many respondents said regulations surrounding single-use plastics should be put off until the pandemic ends [4].
Understanding this, the federal government says that the ban will not include PPE, or other plastics used in the medical industry. They are, however, trying to come up with a plan to reduce the impact these products have on the environment.
“We’re also investigating solutions to recycle PPE where it is safe to do so, and options to make some of the PPE biodegradable,” Wilkinson said [3].
Reaction from Canadian Businesses
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have had to shift from in-house dining to takeout and delivery only. This, of course, has increased the amount of single-use plastics people are using and throwing away.
Wilkinson explained that the government chose these specific items because there are already alternatives that are readily-available and affordable. He noted that in the context of takeout, the government’s main focus is polystyrene, which is difficult to recycle.
“Many, many of the restaurants that do takeout have already transitioned away from polystyrene to other forms, whether it’s cardboard or different forms of paper, which are recyclable,” he added [3].
Business owners, however, are concerned about the financial impact this plastic ban might have. Small business owners are particularly worried. Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Aaron Henry voiced these concerns in a public statement:
“Canadian businesses recognize the significant benefits of alternatives to single-use plastics and the importance of bolstering Canada’s circular economy. However, Canada’s approach must go beyond surface issues like bans, to address the critical infrastructure required to deliver on the positive benefits for the environment.” [3]
He added that in the current climate, many businesses are counting every dollar. Any extra costs, then, could be the difference between remaining open, or closing for good. He also noted that the policy does not address the current “fragmented approaches” to disposing consumer products.
An Aggressive Stance Against Plastic
The new policy also includes a proposal to establish requirements for the amount of recycled material in products and packaging. The federal government believes that this will encourage more investment in recycling infrastructure and technological innovation.
The hope is that experts will figure out ways to extend the life of plastic materials. This way, they will stay in the economy and out of the landfills. Wilkinson also pledged two million dollars to go to fourteen Canadian-led zero plastic waste projects.
In a few days, the Canadian government will be proposing to add “plastic manufactured items” to the list of regulated products under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act of 1999. There are also several other items on this list, including greenhouse gasses [3].
While plastic pollution is only one of the problems facing our environment, it is crucial that we take action against it. The Canada plastic ban will, hopefully, encourage other countries to also take a more aggressive stance against it.