theheartysoul--2020-03-12--Man Made His Wife Choose Between Her Rescue Dogs And Him – She Picked The Dogs

The saying goes that dogs are man ’ s best friend .
For many people , this couldn ’ t be more true , and most dog-owners would go to great lengths to ensure the safety and well-being of their furry family members .
One woman took this to extreme lengths , choosing to end her marriage of twenty-five years in favor of her rescue dogs .
Liz Haslam and her husband Mike were high school sweethearts .
They married after graduation and moved to a house in the countryside in Barnham , Suffolk , United Kingdom .
The couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for twenty-five years .
During that time Liz began rescuing dogs .
Her mother had raised West Highland Terriers , and her father owned an animal feed company , so her love of dogs ran deep .
Figuring there was enough space on their property , Liz opened a business called Beds for Bullies , which focused on providing shelter for bull terriers in need .
Mike began to feel that everything in their lives revolved around the dogs , many of whom had medical conditions that required constant care , and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permanent homes .
He confronted Liz , saying “ it ’ s either me or the dogs ” , and with that their relationship ended .
Liz went into further detail , explaining how she and Mike had begun drifting apart .
He was very busy with work , so Liz took refuge in her dogs , who gave her all of the love and attention she felt she was missing .
Read : Therapy Dog in Elementary School Reduces Stress and Helps the Children Learn The Need For Animal Shelters Animal shelters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many roles .
They care for animals who need protection , try to find homes for animals without families , and attempt to reunite lost animals with their owners .
Some shelters go beyond the basic needs and provide animals with health services and training , perform behavioral evaluations , and offer humane education [ 2 ] .
Shelters can be structured in three ways : • Municipal animal control , which is run by the city or country government .
These are typically open-access , so they will receive any animal that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by animal control agents .
These shelters sometimes become over-filled , forcing some animals to be euthanized to make space .
• Non-profit agencies , which are overseen by a board of directors .
• Private , non-profit agencies , which have government contracts allowing them to provide animal control services .
They rely on donations and grants to fund their programs , and sometimes have to turn animals away if they do not have the capacity to keep them .
To solve this problem , many shelters have set up foster care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can care for .
The US relies heavily on animal shelters .
According to The Humane Society of the United States , between six and eight million pets get taken into shelters every year .
Sadly , more than half of all abandoned dogs are euthanized in shelters [ 3 ] .
For this reason , many open-access , sometimes called “ kill ” shelters , get a bad reputation for being over-crowded and for euthanizing so many of their animals , however any time an animal is killed in a shelter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It occurs so often because most of these facilities are under-funded , and simply do not have the capacity to handle the number of animals they receive [ 3 ] .
Read : Army Vet Flies Across the Country to Rescue Dogs on Death Row Liz takes care of thirty dogs on her property , all of whom require varying levels of care , medication , and attention .
The job sometimes keeps her busy for eighteen hours a day .
She has invested thousands of dollars into medical care for her rescues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into living in a tent because she couldn ’ t afford to pay the rent in her home .
As for her marriage , Liz is confident she made the right choice .
Keep Reading : This Cat Sanctuary Has a Caretaker Who Lives On a Greek Island With 55 Cats

The saying goes that dogs are man’s best friend. For many people, this couldn’t be more true, and most dog-owners would go to great lengths to ensure the safety and well-being of their furry family members. One woman took this to extreme lengths, choosing to end her marriage of twenty-five years when her husband made his wife choose between the dogs and him.
A husband made his wife choose between him and the dogs
Liz Haslam and her husband Mike were high school sweethearts. They married after graduation and moved to a house in the countryside in Barnham, Suffolk, United Kingdom. The couple had one child together and lived there for twenty-five years.
During that time Liz began rescuing dogs. Her mother had raised West Highland Terriers, and her father owned an animal feed company, so her love of dogs ran deep. Figuring there was enough space on their property, Liz opened a business called Beds for Bullies, which focused on providing shelter for bull terriers in need.
Mike began to feel that everything in their lives revolved around the dogs, many of whom had medical conditions that required constant care, and that made it more difficult to find them permanent homes.
He confronted Liz, saying “it’s either me or the dogs”, and with that their relationship ended.
“I thought that, after 25 years, he should’ve known that giving up dogs was not a part of my intentions, not at all. He knew from the moment we got married what I was all about. I don’t know what he expected,” said Liz [1].
Liz went into further detail, explaining how she and Mike had begun drifting apart. He was very busy with work, so Liz took refuge in her dogs, who gave her all of the love and attention she felt she was missing.
Family portrait!
Liz Haslam with some of her bullies…
It’s only 5 but getting 5 to pose is hard enough!
❤🐶❤🐶❤🐶❤🐶 pic.twitter.com/21lU1fGAYq — Bedsforbullies (@bedsforbullies) June 4, 2018
The Need For Animal Shelters
Animal shelters provide a crucial service, and perform many roles. They care for animals who need protection, try to find homes for animals without families, and attempt to reunite lost animals with their owners.
Some shelters go beyond the basic needs and provide animals with health services and training, perform behavioral evaluations, and offer humane education [2].
Shelters can be structured in three ways:
Municipal animal control , which is run by the city or country government. These are typically open-access, so they will receive any animal that is brought to their door or seized by animal control agents. These shelters sometimes become over-filled, forcing some animals to be euthanized to make space.
, which is run by the city or country government. These are typically open-access, so they will receive any animal that is brought to their door or seized by animal control agents. These shelters sometimes become over-filled, forcing some animals to be euthanized to make space. Non-profit agencies , which are overseen by a board of directors.
, which are overseen by a board of directors. Private, non-profit agencies, which have government contracts allowing them to provide animal control services. They rely on donations and grants to fund their programs, and sometimes have to turn animals away if they do not have the capacity to keep them.
To solve this problem, many shelters have set up foster care programs to increase the number of animals they can care for.
The US relies heavily on animal shelters. According to The Humane Society of the United States, between six and eight million pets get taken into shelters every year. Sadly, more than half of all abandoned dogs are euthanized in shelters [3].
For this reason, many open-access, sometimes called “kill” shelters, get a bad reputation for being over-crowded and for euthanizing so many of their animals, however any time an animal is killed in a shelter, it is not taken lightly. It occurs so often because most of these facilities are under-funded, and simply do not have the capacity to handle the number of animals they receive [3].
Beds for Bullies
Liz takes care of thirty dogs on her property, all of whom require varying levels of care, medication, and attention. The job sometimes keeps her busy for eighteen hours a day. She has invested thousands of dollars into medical care for her rescues, which at one point forced her into living in a tent because she couldn’t afford to pay the rent in her home.
Despite this, Liz wouldn’t change her situation for anything: “I’ve chosen to do this, and I love it,” she says [1].
As for her marriage, Liz is confident she made the right choice.
“My passion for dogs was too huge for Mike.”
Keep Reading: A Study Suggests That Husbands Who Have Controlling Wives Live Longer and Are Healthier
Source:


theheartysoul--2020-03-12--‘Incredible Journey’: Loggerhead Turtle, Released from 20 years in Captivity, Swims 37,000km to Aust

‘Incredible Journey’: Loggerhead Turtle, Released from 20 years in Captivity, Swims 37,000km to Australia

What ’ s the furthest distance you have ever swum ?
A few lengths of your neighbor ’ s pool ?
From one end of the swim area at camp to another ?
There have been some people throughout history who have swum some pretty remarkable distances .
American Sarah Thomas has swum across the English Channel four times .
A team of six men completed a relay swim of 236 miles across the Mediterranean from Cyprus to Israel , and Veljko Rogošić holds the world record for the longest swim in open water without flippers , swimming 140 miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these incredible human achievements , nature always seems to find a way to remind us just how superior it is .
Scientists are very excited about Yoshi the turtle , a 180 kg turtle who has swum 37 thousand kilometers from Cape Town , South Africa , to Australia [ 1 ] .
Yoshi is a loggerhead turtle , which is a species of sea turtle named for its large head and powerful jaw .
They are less likely to be hunted for their meat or shell as with other types of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gear , which is a significant problem for them [ 2 ] .
Back in 1997 , Yoshi was found by a Japanese fishing boat with a damaged shell .
The crew contacted Cape Town ’ s Two Oceans Aquarium , asking if they could come to retrieve the little turtle .
Everyone at the aquarium fell in love with the little turtle with a large personality , who taught them a lot of lessons about how to care for sea turtles .
Gradually they began to receive more requests to care for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the aquarium has rehabilitated and released more than six hundred sea turtles [ 1 ] .
Read : A Century Later , Baby Tortoises Have Been Discovered Thriving On the Galapagos Island of Pinzon When Yoshi first arrived at the Two Oceans Aquarium in 1997 , it was still brand-new .
It is named for its location : the southern tip of Africa is the meeting point for the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic , thus Two Oceans Aquarium [ 3 ] .
The goal of the aquarium is to promote sustainability through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states : The Two Oceans Aquarium is a certified Diamond member of the Heritage Environmental Rating Programme , which indicates that they are continually striving to reduce the environmental impact of their activities , as well as reduce their impact on local communities [ 5 ] .
In 2019 they were given the gold award in the “ Best Responsible Attraction ” category at the 2019 African Responsible Tourism Awards [ 5 ] .
Twenty years after her arrival at the Aquarium , it was finally Yoshi ’ s turn to return to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for her release with an exercise regime , encouraging her to swim twenty-meter lengths .
Two divers would be on either side of Yoshi ’ s exhibit , and she would swim back and forth between them for a little treat .
They called it “ Yoshi Tennis ” .
After eighteen months of training , staff fitted Yoshi with a satellite tag and released her into the ocean , thirty nautical miles off of Cape Town .
The staff did not know which loggerhead population she had come from , so they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but they have been following her journey very closely .
After spending the first year swimming up the west coast of Africa , Yoshi turned around and turned around and returned to Cape Town .
She then began heading across the Indian Ocean toward Australia .
The Aquarium staff are very happy about this since she will be protected in Australia , there are lots of other sea turtles , and it appears as though there is lots of food as well .
Scientists in Western Australia are very excited about Yoshi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that she might have hatched in Australia and is now returning home .
“ This turtle spent 20 years in captivity and still , you put her in the water and she suddenly remembers she probably has something to do on the other side of the ocean and just starts crossing it , ” said Sabrina Fossette , a research scientist from WA ’ s Department of Biodiversity , Conservation and Attractions [ 1 ] .
News of Yoshi ’ s incredible journey has been spreading around the world , and ocean-lovers everywhere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She has been swimming around fifty kilometers a day , navigating plastic pollution , fishing gear , and vessels .
Scientists believe that this is the first recorded movement of a turtle from Africa to Australia .
Keep Reading : Drone captures the largest swarm of sea turtles ever filmed

What’s the furthest distance you have ever swum? A few lengths of your neighbor’s pool? From one end of the swim area at camp to another?
There have been some people throughout history who have swum some pretty remarkable distances. American Sarah Thomas has swum across the English Channel four times. A team of six men completed a relay swim of 236 miles across the Mediterranean from Cyprus to Israel, and Veljko Rogošić holds the world record for the longest swim in open water without flippers, swimming 140 miles across the Adriatic sea.
Despite all of these incredible human achievements, nature always seems to find a way to remind us just how superior it is. Scientists are very excited about Yoshi the turtle, a 180 kg turtle who has swum 37 thousand kilometers from Cape Town, South Africa, to Australia [1].
Yoshi’s Start
Yoshi is a loggerhead turtle, which is a species of sea turtle named for its large head and powerful jaw. They are less likely to be hunted for their meat or shell as with other types of turtles but are accidentally captured in fishing gear, which is a significant problem for them [2].
Back in 1997, Yoshi was found by a Japanese fishing boat with a damaged shell. The crew contacted Cape Town’s Two Oceans Aquarium, asking if they could come to retrieve the little turtle.
“At the time, the aquarium had only been open for two years, so we did not really anticipate keeping sea turtles on display,” said aquarium chief executive Maryke Musson [1].
Everyone at the aquarium fell in love with the little turtle with a large personality, who taught them a lot of lessons about how to care for sea turtles. Gradually they began to receive more requests to care for injured turtles, and to date, the aquarium has rehabilitated and released more than six hundred sea turtles [1].
Read: A Century Later, Baby Tortoises Have Been Discovered Thriving On the Galapagos Island of Pinzon
The Two Oceans Aquarium
When Yoshi first arrived at the Two Oceans Aquarium in 1997, it was still brand-new. It is named for its location: the southern tip of Africa is the meeting point for the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic, thus Two Oceans Aquarium [3].
The goal of the aquarium is to promote sustainability through environmental education and conservation. Their website states:
“Our awe-inspiring exhibits aim to encourage love, respect and understanding of our oceans so that people are motivated to take action for their future well-being and to use marine and other natural resources sustainably.” [4]
The Two Oceans Aquarium is a certified Diamond member of the Heritage Environmental Rating Programme, which indicates that they are continually striving to reduce the environmental impact of their activities, as well as reduce their impact on local communities [5].
In 2019 they were given the gold award in the “Best Responsible Attraction” category at the 2019 African Responsible Tourism Awards [5].
Yoshi’s Journey
Twenty years after her arrival at the Aquarium, it was finally Yoshi’s turn to return to the ocean. Aquarium staff prepared her for her release with an exercise regime, encouraging her to swim twenty-meter lengths. Two divers would be on either side of Yoshi’s exhibit, and she would swim back and forth between them for a little treat. They called it “Yoshi Tennis”.
“Early on, we actually trained her to feed on a target, because she quickly caught on that she was getting food from divers, so she actually started harassing anybody in her big exhibit,” said Musson. “So by training her on a target, it allowed us to do any sort of investigation, have a quick look at her, give her a health check up, and then of course get her to move around in the exhibit, chasing a target.” [1]
After eighteen months of training, staff fitted Yoshi with a satellite tag and released her into the ocean, thirty nautical miles off of Cape Town. The staff did not know which loggerhead population she had come from, so they had no idea where she was heading, but they have been following her journey very closely.
After spending the first year swimming up the west coast of Africa, Yoshi turned around and turned around and returned to Cape Town. She then began heading across the Indian Ocean toward Australia.
The Aquarium staff are very happy about this since she will be protected in Australia, there are lots of other sea turtles, and it appears as though there is lots of food as well. Scientists in Western Australia are very excited about Yoshi’s journey as well, believing that she might have hatched in Australia and is now returning home.
“This turtle spent 20 years in captivity and still, you put her in the water and she suddenly remembers she probably has something to do on the other side of the ocean and just starts crossing it,” said Sabrina Fossette, a research scientist from WA’s Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions [1].
Support for Yoshi
News of Yoshi’s incredible journey has been spreading around the world, and ocean-lovers everywhere have been following and celebrating her. She has been swimming around fifty kilometers a day, navigating plastic pollution, fishing gear, and vessels.
“We are incredibly proud of what she’s done and what she’s achieved thus far,” said Musson [1].
Scientists believe that this is the first recorded movement of a turtle from Africa to Australia.


theheartysoul--2020-03-12--After Cancer Wiped Out His Family, This Researcher Taught Our Immune Systems To Fight Back

To receive a cancer diagnosis , or have someone close to you be diagnosed with cancer , is a truly devastating experience .
Around the world , cancer is the second most common cause of death .
[ 1 ] In 2020 , it ’ s expected that more than 1.8 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer and more than 600,000 will die from the disease .
[ 2 ] To lose someone to this disease is horrible , and the experience is that much worse if you ’ re a child losing a parent .
That was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the age of 11 , Allison ’ s mother succumbed to lymphoma , a type of cancer that causes lymphocytes , special infection-fighting cells in your immune system , to change and experience out of control growth .
[ 3 ] These lymphocyte cells can be found in your lymph nodes , thymus , spleen , and bone marrow .
[ 3 ] Allison recalls his mother , at the end of her life , bedridden and burned from radiation treatments .
The tragic loss of his mother was only the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two uncles to cancer and then his brother .
Experiencing that kind of loss , and loss at the hands of the same disease , is a traumatizing and world-shaping experience , though Allison doesn ’ t acknowledge very readily that cancer ’ s impact on his family and life would take him down the path he ’ s walked .
“ I guess doing something about cancer was always kind of there in my mind , ” he said in an interview with TIME .
[ 4 ] But Allison has done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use the body ’ s immune system to destroy cancer cells .
“ My mother ’ s death when I was young hit me hard .
I didn ’ t realize how hard until later on , ” he said .
But he says that his tragic family story and his interest in science are divorced from one another and that his mission to beat cancer isn ’ t so much a story of revenge but scientific intrigue .
Allison ’ s love of science began young , and his unwillingness to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high school , Allison boycotted his biology class due to the school ’ s refusal to teach evolution .
Eventually , Allison was allowed to take the class ’ s credit through a course taught at the University of Texas .
His early foray into a collegiate environment spurred his interest not just in biology and science , but in something very specific : tiny immune cells in the body called T cells .
At the time , T cells weren ’ t exactly understood .
“ Nobody really knew anything about them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and somehow recognized when something wasn ’ t right , did something about it and didn ’ t kill you in the process , ” he told TIME .
“ How did they know what were self and what were nonself cells , and how did they know when to react and when to do nothing ?
” Allison believed that T cells may hold the key to defeating cancer , and that it was simply a matter of convincing the T cells that the cancer cells are foreign invaders – that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Following that hypothesis , Allison started experimenting .
“ I had some mice sitting around that had been cured [ of their tumors ] , ” he explained .
“ For the hell of it , I thought , ‘ What would happen if I inject them with [ more ] tumor cells ?
’ ” What wound up happening was surprising : the mice didn ’ t get cancer .
“ I gave them 10 times , 100 times more tumor cells , but they wouldn ’ t take .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That made a big impression on me and made me think , Huh.
” His hypothesis was that the mice ’ s bodies were able to recognize the cancer cells and that their immune systems had learned to destroy the cells just as they would an invading bacteria or virus .
Read : Is MuTaTo the Cure for Cancer We ’ ve Been Looking For ?
At this point in his career , working at a satellite research facility of MD Anderson Cancer Center , Allison describes himself as being “ pretty unsupervised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take on more esoteric and “ radical ” projects .
The mice had introduced him to a new concept that he knew he had to explore further .
He began testing his theory that T cells could be trained to destroy cancer cells .
But conclusive findings didn ’ t come easy .
Allison spent decades trying to understand how it is that you take a person ’ s immune system and teach it to target cancer .
Eventually , Allison was able to figure out the steps needed to unlock the cancer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observed other scientists in his field trying to pump up the immune system , describing it as “ flooring the gas ” on a person ’ s immune system .
But something was missing .
To him , you needed to both floor the gas and remove the parking brake .
Eventually , he identified the proverbial parking brake that kept the immune system from destroying cancer .
Thanks to his research , he was able to develop checkpoint inhibitors , a type of cancer-fighting drug .
These checkpoint inhibitors remove your immune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to target tumor cells .
But Allison ’ s research had taken place in mice exclusively – no human testing at all .
This made pharmaceutical companies reluctant to test checkpoint inhibitors in human cancer patients .
But eventually , thanks to the advocacy of a friend of Allison ’ s in the biotech industry , a small company took the risk and began testing his new drug in humans .
Eventually , having seen the results of the drug , Bristol-Myers Squibb got involved .
But even they were reluctant to lean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drug .
“ I did a lot of yelling and jumping up and down and arguing with people , ” he says .
“ I kept telling them that the tumors in mice always grew before they went away .
The immune system needs time .
It ’ s not like a drug that kills within hours.
” By 2006 , Allison was working at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center .
Here , the checkpoint inhibitors were being tested on human cancer patients .
He met a 22-year-old woman named Sharon Belvin who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors said that she shouldn ’ t start a family , a goal she had been working toward , because she wouldn ’ t live long enough to care for her children .
But following treatments with checkpoint inhibitors , her tumors started to shrink .
“ She was the first patient I met , ” says Allison .
“ After meeting her , it finally dawned on me .
Until then it was abstract , and the full impact of what I was doing didn ’ t occur to me.
” Allison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ She stays in touch and sends me photos of her babies.
” And Sharon was only the beginning .
Now , thousands of cancer patients are still alive thanks to the checkpoint inhibitors that Allison was instrumental in developing .
These people suffer colon , liver , lung , breast , cervical , bladder , and other types of cancer .
But they all have one thing in common now : survival thanks to Allison ’ s research .
Keep Reading : An Australian Company Has Discovered a Promising Treatment for @

To receive a cancer diagnosis, or have someone close to you be diagnosed with cancer, is a truly devastating experience. Around the world, cancer is the second most common cause of death. [1] In 2021, it’s expected that more than 1.9 million Americans will be diagnosed with cancer, and more than 600,000 will die from the disease. [2] To lose someone to this disease is horrible, and the experience is that much worse if you’re a child losing a parent. That was the case for Nobel Prize-winning researcher James Allison, which inspired him to research a pioneering cancer treatment.
Affected By Cancer at Young Age
At the age of 11, Allison’s mother succumbed to lymphoma, a type of cancer that causes lymphocytes, special infection-fighting cells in your immune system, to change and experience out-of-control growth. [3] These lymphocyte cells can be found in your lymph nodes, thymus, spleen, and bone marrow. [3] Allison recalls his mother, at the end of her life, bedridden and burned from radiation treatments. The tragic loss of his mother was only the start. Eventually, he would lose two uncles to cancer and then his brother.
Experiencing that kind of loss, and loss at the hands of the same disease, is a traumatizing and world-shaping experience, though Allison doesn’t acknowledge very readily that cancer’s impact on his family and life would take him down the path he’s walked. “I guess doing something about cancer was always kind of there in my mind,” he said in an interview with TIME. [4]
But Allison has done something remarkable: he has discovered ways to use the body’s immune system to destroy cancer cells. “My mother’s death when I was young hit me hard. I didn’t realize how hard until later on,” he said. But he says that his tragic family story and his interest in science are divorced from one another and that his mission to beat cancer isn’t so much a story of revenge but scientific intrigue.
A Love for Science
Allison’s love of science began young, and his unwillingness to compromise with ignorance is noteworthy. In high school, Allison boycotted his biology class due to the school’s refusal to teach evolution. Eventually, Allison was allowed to take the class’s credit through a course taught at the University of Texas.
His early foray into a collegiate environment spurred his interest not just in biology and science, but in something very specific: tiny immune cells in the body called T cells. At the time, T cells weren’t exactly understood.
“Nobody really knew anything about them except that they cruised around the body and somehow recognized when something wasn’t right, did something about it and didn’t kill you in the process,” he told TIME. “How did they know what were self and what were nonself cells, and how did they know when to react and when to do nothing?”
Read: 6 Silent Symptoms Of Colon Cancer to Never Ignore
Immune System May Hold Key to Developing a Cancer Treatment
Allison believed that T cells may hold the key to defeating cancer, and that it was simply a matter of convincing the T cells that the cancer cells are foreign invaders – that they don’t belong in the body. Following that hypothesis, Allison started experimenting.
“I had some mice sitting around that had been cured [of their tumors],” he explained. “For the hell of it, I thought, ‘What would happen if I inject them with [more] tumor cells?’” What wound up happening was surprising: the mice didn’t get cancer. “I gave them 10 times, 100 times more tumor cells, but they wouldn’t take. They didn’t faze the mice. That made a big impression on me and made me think, Huh.”
His hypothesis was that the mice’s bodies were able to recognize the cancer cells and that their immune systems had learned to destroy the cells just as they would an invading bacteria or virus.
At this point in his career, working at a satellite research facility of MD Anderson Cancer Center, Allison describes himself as being “pretty unsupervised,” allowing himself the freedom to take on more esoteric and “radical” projects. The mice had introduced him to a new concept that he knew he had to explore further. He began testing his theory that T cells could be trained to destroy cancer cells.
Conclusive findings didn’t come easy.
Allison spent decades trying to understand how it is that you take a person’s immune system and teach it to target cancer. Eventually, Allison was able to figure out the steps needed to unlock the cancer-destroying capabilities of T cells, the goal of developing a cancer treatment.
He observed other scientists in his field trying to pump up the immune system, describing it as “flooring the gas” on a person’s immune system. But something was missing. To him, you needed to both floor the gas and remove the parking brake. Eventually, he identified the proverbial parking brake that kept the immune system from destroying cancer. Thanks to his research, he was able to develop checkpoint inhibitors, a type of cancer treatment drug. These checkpoint inhibitors remove your immune system’s blockade and allow it to target tumor cells.
Cancer Treatment Needs Human Trials
Unfortunately, Allison’s research had taken place in mice exclusively – no human testing at all. This made pharmaceutical companies reluctant to test checkpoint inhibitors in human cancer patients. But eventually, thanks to the advocacy of a friend of Allison’s in the biotech industry, a small company took the risk and began testing his new drug in humans. Eventually, having seen the results of the drug, Bristol-Myers Squibb got involved. But even they were reluctant to lean in and study the effects of the drug.
“I did a lot of yelling and jumping up and down and arguing with people,” he says. “I kept telling them that the tumors in mice always grew before they went away. The immune system needs time. It’s not like a drug that kills within hours.”
Trial Success
By 2006, Allison was working at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Here, the checkpoint inhibitors were being tested on human cancer patients. He met a 22-year-old woman named Sharon Belvin who was diagnosed with late-stage melanoma. Her doctors said that she shouldn’t start a family, a goal she had been working toward, because she wouldn’t live long enough to care for her children.
But following treatments with checkpoint inhibitors, her tumors started to shrink.
“She was the first patient I met,” says Allison. “After meeting her, it finally dawned on me. Until then it was abstract, and the full impact of what I was doing didn’t occur to me.”
Allison says that Sharon is still in remission. “She stays in touch and sends me photos of her babies.” And Sharon was only the beginning. Now, thousands of cancer patients are still alive thanks to the checkpoint inhibitors that Allison was instrumental in developing.
These people suffer colon, liver, lung, breast, cervical, bladder, and other types of cancer. But they all have one thing in common now: survival thanks to Allison’s research.
Keep Reading: My life was upended for 35 years by a cancer diagnosis. A doctor just told me I was misdiagnosed.
Sources


theheartysoul--2020-03-16--There Is No Excuse for You to Casually Drink Bottled Water

Without a doubt , the plastic pollution crisis is one of the most significant environmental disasters of the modern era .
Waves of plastic rubbish are splashing onto the shores of coastal communities , dead whales are washing up onto beaches with stomachs full of plastic , and even deep sea fish can ’ t escape ocean trash .
Different types of plastic degrade at different rates , but the average length of time it takes a single-use plastic water bottle to break down is 450 years .
The majority of the water bottles that you throw in the blue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually get recycled , and any made with Polyethylene Terephthalate ( PET or PETE ) will never degrade [ 1 ] .
With governments banning plastic straws , and grocery stores eliminating plastic bags from their checkout lines , you would expect that single-use water bottle sales would be declining as well .
Sadly , the opposite is true .
Bottled water has become the most successful beverage category in the United States , with nearly 14 billion gallons sold in 2018 .
The bottled water industry has grown more than any other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear to be slowing down [ 2 ] .
Beverage giant Coca Cola , who was recently deemed the world ’ s largest contributor to plastic pollution for the second year in a row , has released a statement that they will not stop producing single-use bottles because consumers still want them .
Read : Nestlé Makes Billions Selling You Water That They Obtained for Nearly Nothing Bottled Water the “ Biggest Marketing Con of Our Time ” And buying they are- to the tune of 100 billion dollars per year [ 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1-liter water bottles every year and spending about one hundred dollars per person [ 5 ] .
In California , for example , tap water costs around one-tenth of a cent per gallon , while bottled water costs 0.90 cents per gallon , making tap water 560 times less expensive than the bottled stuff [ 5 ] .
For most Americans , a glass of water from the tap and the water you get from a plastic bottle are virtually indistinguishable , in terms of their health and nutritional quality .
In some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safer because it is tested more frequently [ 4 ] .
The driving force behind this is the growing popularity of “ luxury ” water brands , which are indistinguishable in blind taste tests but charge two to three times the price of a regular water bottle .
A brand called Frequency H2O claims their water is an “ ultimate elixir of life ” and charges 2.30 dollars per bottle , while another brand called Svalbarði is selling bottles of water for 90 dollars each that have been taken from melting Norweigen icebergs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ companies justify their hefty price tag with similar claims that the more obscure the origin of their water , or by making its preparation more elaborate , it will be healthier and better-tasting [ 6 ] .
Read : Indigenous Canadians in Water Crisis as Nestlé Drains a Million Gallons a Day From Their Land Of course , there are areas of the world where drinking tap water is not good for your health .
Those people have legitimate reasons to purchase bottled water .
For most of the Western world , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desire to purchase water .
For some , it ’ s convenience .
As the spokesperson for Coca Cola explained , people like plastic bottles because they reseal and they ’ re lightweight [ 7 ] .
For others , there is a certain status associated with purchasing “ rarified ” water , and the wellness industry , which has boomed in popularity over the past few years , has encouraged the replacement of alcohol and soda with “ luxury ” water [ 6 ] .
Researchers at the University of Waterloo in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2017 that found the number one reason people purchase bottled water is out of fear .
The paper argues that bottled water and its association with wellbeing are the perfect countermeasures against an individual ’ s fear of death .
Slogans like “ Evian , drink young ” , and Fiji ’ s “ bottled at the source , untouched by man ” , make their products highly appealing to someone with an underlying fear of dying , since they seem to represent life in its purest form [ 8 ] .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ make people think that they ’ re making a better choice by choosing their brand of water when in reality they would be no less healthy drinking out of the tap .
Read : Israeli tech company making water from air gets top honor in Las Vegas The reality is , almost half of all bottled water actually comes from a tap , and unwitting consumers are paying three hundred times the price for it [ 9 ] .
The cost of bottled water doesn ’ t stop with the price tag .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Letters found that producing bottled water requires anywhere from 32 to 54 million barrels of oil in a year .
This includes the energy it takes to not just make the bottles , but to clean , fill , seal , and label them , and then , of course , to transport them to retailers [ 10 ] .
The production costs coupled with the millions of water bottles clogging up our oceans is an environmental disaster- one that can be prevented if we all make one simple choice : to stop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there are times when you might have no other option , but if you ’ ve been making plastic bottles a regular habit , it time to reach into the back of your cupboard and pull out that reusable bottle you haven ’ t been using .
Carrying around a reusable water bottle is no less convenient than carrying around a plastic one , and you will be doing the environment , and not to mention your wallet , a favor .
Keep Reading : Is There Arsenic in Your Bottled Water @

There Is No Excuse for You to Casually Drink Bottled Water
Without a doubt, the plastic pollution crisis is one of the most significant environmental disasters of the modern era. Waves of plastic rubbish are splashing onto the shores of coastal communities, dead whales are washing up onto beaches with stomachs full of plastic, and even deep sea fish can’t escape ocean trash.
Different types of plastic degrade at different rates, but the average length of time it takes a single-use plastic water bottle to break down is 450 years. The majority of the water bottles that you throw in the blue bin- about 90 percent- don’t actually get recycled, and any made with Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET or PETE) will never degrade [1].
Water Bottle Sales on the Rise
With governments banning plastic straws, and grocery stores eliminating plastic bags from their checkout lines, you would expect that single-use water bottle sales would be declining as well. Sadly, the opposite is true.
Bottled water has become the most successful beverage category in the United States, with nearly 14 billion gallons sold in 2018. The bottled water industry has grown more than any other beverage category since 1978 and does not appear to be slowing down [2].
Beverage giant Coca Cola, who was recently deemed the world’s largest contributor to plastic pollution for the second year in a row, has released a statement that they will not stop producing single-use bottles because consumers still want them.
Bottled Water the “Biggest Marketing Con of Our Time”
In a piece for the New York Times, Mohammid Hanif declared water bottles as the biggest marketing con of our time, and stated that “the array of bottled waters available on the market is a testament to the fact that humans can be conned into buying anything.” [3]
And buying they are- to the tune of 100 billion dollars per year [4]. Americans purchase approximately 42.6 billion 1-liter water bottles every year and spending about one hundred dollars per person [5].
In California, for example, tap water costs around one-tenth of a cent per gallon, while bottled water costs 0.90 cents per gallon, making tap water 560 times less expensive than the bottled stuff [5].
For most Americans, a glass of water from the tap and the water you get from a plastic bottle are virtually indistinguishable, in terms of their health and nutritional quality. In some cases, tap water may actually be safer because it is tested more frequently [4].
The driving force behind this is the growing popularity of “luxury” water brands, which are indistinguishable in blind taste tests but charge two to three times the price of a regular water bottle. A brand called Frequency H2O claims their water is an “ultimate elixir of life” and charges 2.30 dollars per bottle, while another brand called Svalbarði is selling bottles of water for 90 dollars each that have been taken from melting Norweigen icebergs [6].
Most of these companies justify their hefty price tag with similar claims that the more obscure the origin of their water, or by making its preparation more elaborate, it will be healthier and better-tasting [6].
Why do People Buy Bottled Water?
Of course, there are areas of the world where drinking tap water is not good for your health. Those people have legitimate reasons to purchase bottled water. For most of the Western world, however, there are different factors behind the desire to purchase water.
For some, it’s convenience. As the spokesperson for Coca Cola explained, people like plastic bottles because they reseal and they’re lightweight [7].
For others, there is a certain status associated with purchasing “rarified” water, and the wellness industry, which has boomed in popularity over the past few years, has encouraged the replacement of alcohol and soda with “luxury” water [6].
Researchers at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, published a study in 2017 that found the number one reason people purchase bottled water is out of fear. The paper argues that bottled water and its association with wellbeing are the perfect countermeasures against an individual’s fear of death.
This existential fear may lead to people to make irrational decisions, such as purchasing overpriced water bottles, because of subconscious thoughts like “How could the planet be dying when I hold in my hand a bottle of such unfathomably pristine water? How could I be dying when I’m making such healthy decisions?” [8]
Slogans like “Evian, drink young”, and Fiji’s “bottled at the source, untouched by man”, make their products highly appealing to someone with an underlying fear of dying, since they seem to represent life in its purest form [8].
These marketing tactics use basic psychology to make people think that they’re making a better choice by choosing their brand of water when in reality they would be no less healthy drinking out of the tap.
Do the Planet a Favor
The reality is, almost half of all bottled water actually comes from a tap, and unwitting consumers are paying three hundred times the price for it [9].
The cost of bottled water doesn’t stop with the price tag. A study in the journal Environmental Research Letters found that producing bottled water requires anywhere from 32 to 54 million barrels of oil in a year. This includes the energy it takes to not just make the bottles, but to clean, fill, seal, and label them, and then, of course, to transport them to retailers [10].
The production costs coupled with the millions of water bottles clogging up our oceans is an environmental disaster- one that can be prevented if we all make one simple choice: to stop buying plastic water bottles.
Of course, there are times when you might have no other option, but if you’ve been making plastic bottles a regular habit, it time to reach into the back of your cupboard and pull out that reusable bottle you haven’t been using.
Carrying around a reusable water bottle is no less convenient than carrying around a plastic one, and you will be doing the environment, and not to mention your wallet, a favor.


theheartysoul--2020-03-16--An oral insulin capsule passed second stage testing for efficacy and safety, paving the way to diabe

Over ten percent of the U.S. population has Diabetes , which means that there are millions of people across the country who have to rely on insulin shots to keep their blood sugar under control [ 1 ] .
Taking an insulin shot can be painful , is often inconvenient , and can result in visible scars that may never heal .
Despite the need for a better solution , medical researchers have not been able to come up with a suitable replacement for insulin injections- until now .
The Israel-based company , Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc. , has developed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without the need for needles , called ORMD-0801 [ 2 ] .
The pill has officially gone through the second round of testing proving its safety and efficacy , putting it one step closer to commercial availability [ 2,3 ] .
There have been many previous attempts by large corporations to create a similar pill , but none have been successful despite spending millions of dollars on research and development .
This new pill aims to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and could have a life-changing impact on millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ 3,4 ] .
The company recently completed a double-blind , placebo-controlled randomized test , and the results were incredibly promising .
They released a statement describing their results : Oramed ’ s Chief Executive Officer , Nadav Kidron , believes that these results demonstrate the pill ’ s potential to have a beneficial impact on the way diabetes is treated around the world .
Read : 11 Surprising Symptoms of Diabetes Men Can No Longer Ignore The reason it has taken so long to develop an insulin pill is because since insulin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down by the body when ingested .
To combat this problem , Oramed developed a novel Protein Oral Delivery technology , which lead to the creation of the capsule .
The technology is based on thirty years of research by scientists at Jerusalem ’ s Hadassah Medical Center [ 2,3 ] .
The capsule has enteric coating and special protection to keep the insulin from being broken down in the GI tract , and uses special absorption enhancers to allow it to pass through the intestinal wall and into the liver .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of natural insulin by heading to the liver first [ 3 ] .
One of the most significant benefits of this new technology is that it will drastically reduce the cost of insulin for people with diabetes .
Currently , the annual cost of diabetes in America is 327 billion dollars .
People with diagnosed diabetes incur nearly 17 thousand dollars worth of medical costs annually , approximately 2.3 times that of someone without the condition [ 5 ] .
More than thirty percent of these costs come from spending on insulin , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that between 2012 and 2016 , the average cost of insulin per person per year increased by nearly three thousand dollars [ 6 ] .
This increase in cost has caused many people with diabetes to ration their insulin , instead of taking the full amount prescribed by their doctor .
This can have serious consequences , and there have been reports of deaths caused by insulin rationing , especially by young adults who are no longer on their parents ’ health plans [ 7 ] .
A 2018 study published in JAMA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients surveyed reported rationing their insulin because of cost within the previous twelve months [ 7 ] .
Kidron believes that their pill will help solve this problem , stating that the cost of the pill be more affordable when compared to the cost of injections [ 3 ] .
Principal investigator of the phase 2 trial , Joel M. Neutel , MD , is very encouraged by the results so far .
The team is planning a phase 3 trial , which they will be discussing with the FDA .
Their Chinese @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phase 3 trials and may become the first to offer oral insulin commercially [ 3 ] .
This new innovation has been a significant breakthrough in the medical community , and has the potential to improve the lives of millions of people worldwide .
As long as the phase 3 trials go well , people suffering from diabetes will hopefully be able to purchase this new capsule very soon .
You can see both the completed and ongoing trials from Oromed at Clinicaltrials.gov .
Keep Reading : Help Prevent Type 2 Diabetes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @

An oral insulin capsule passed second stage testing for efficacy and safety, paving the way to diabetes treatments without shots.
Over ten percent of the U.S. population has Diabetes, which means that there are millions of people across the country who have to rely on insulin shots to keep their blood sugar under control [1].
Taking an insulin shot can be painful, is often inconvenient, and can result in visible scars that may never heal. Despite the need for a better solution, medical researchers have not been able to come up with a suitable replacement for insulin injections- until now.
The Insulin Pill
The Israel-based company, Oramed Pharmaceuticals Inc., has developed the first oral insulin capsule to treat diabetes without the need for needles, called ORMD-0801 [2]. The pill has officially gone through the second round of testing proving its safety and efficacy, putting it one step closer to commercial availability [2,3].
There have been many previous attempts by large corporations to create a similar pill, but none have been successful despite spending millions of dollars on research and development. This new pill aims to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and could have a life-changing impact on millions of people worldwide who suffer from the condition [3,4].
The company recently completed a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized test, and the results were incredibly promising. They released a statement describing their results:
“Treatment with ORMD-0801 at all doses demonstrated an excellent safety profile, with no serious drug-related adverse events and no increased frequency of hypoglycemic episodes or weight gain compared to placebo,” [2].
Oramed’s Chief Executive Officer, Nadav Kidron, believes that these results demonstrate the pill’s potential to have a beneficial impact on the way diabetes is treated around the world.
The Problem with a Pill
The reason it has taken so long to develop an insulin pill is because since insulin is a protein, it gets broken down by the body when ingested. To combat this problem, Oramed developed a novel Protein Oral Delivery technology, which lead to the creation of the capsule. The technology is based on thirty years of research by scientists at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center [2,3].
The capsule has enteric coating and special protection to keep the insulin from being broken down in the GI tract, and uses special absorption enhancers to allow it to pass through the intestinal wall and into the liver. In this way, it mimics the path of natural insulin by heading to the liver first [3].
A Cost-Effective Solution
One of the most significant benefits of this new technology is that it will drastically reduce the cost of insulin for people with diabetes.
Currently, the annual cost of diabetes in America is 327 billion dollars. People with diagnosed diabetes incur nearly 17 thousand dollars worth of medical costs annually, approximately 2.3 times that of someone without the condition [5].
More than thirty percent of these costs come from spending on insulin, and the Health Care Cost Institute reported that between 2012 and 2016, the average cost of insulin per person per year increased by nearly three thousand dollars [6].
This increase in cost has caused many people with diabetes to ration their insulin, instead of taking the full amount prescribed by their doctor. This can have serious consequences, and there have been reports of deaths caused by insulin rationing, especially by young adults who are no longer on their parents’ health plans [7].
A 2018 study published in JAMA International Medicine found that one in four patients surveyed reported rationing their insulin because of cost within the previous twelve months [7].
Kidron believes that their pill will help solve this problem, stating that the cost of the pill be more affordable when compared to the cost of injections [3].
A Promising Future
Principal investigator of the phase 2 trial, Joel M. Neutel, MD, is very encouraged by the results so far.
“The statistically significant efficacy data,” says Neutel, “coupled with a clean safety profile characterized by no reported weight gain, no increase in serious drug-related adverse events, and no hypoglycemia, further support its clinical potential.” [3]
The team is planning a phase 3 trial, which they will be discussing with the FDA. Their Chinese partner, HTIT, will also begin phase 3 trials and may become the first to offer oral insulin commercially [3].
This new innovation has been a significant breakthrough in the medical community, and has the potential to improve the lives of millions of people worldwide. As long as the phase 3 trials go well, people suffering from diabetes will hopefully be able to purchase this new capsule very soon.
You can see both the completed and ongoing trials from Oromed at Clinicaltrials.gov.


theheartysoul--2020-03-17--Dozens of Creatures Thought to Be Extinct Found Alive in ‘Lost City’ in the Jungle

Climate change has had a devastating impact on our planet , an alarming number of animal species have either gone extinct or are under the threat of extinction as a direct result of human activity .
In fact , scientists have now determined that humanity has killed 83 percent of all wild mammals , and half of all plants .
Statistics like these can be incredibly disheartening , however , scientists finally have some good news for us : they have found an astonishing amount of biodiversity in a previously unexplored area of the rainforest .
In 2017 , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a three-week research expedition after ancient ruins were discovered deep within the Mosquitia forest dubbed “ the lost city of the monkey god ” , or “ the white city ” [ 1 ] .
What they found was a pristine , thriving ecosystem , abundant with rare and unique species , some new species , and some that were previously thought to be extinct .
They documented 198 species of birds , 94 of butterflies , 40 of small mammals , 56 of amphibians and reptiles , 30 of large mammals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Snake Seen In Florida ’ s Ocala National Forest For First Time since 1969 Why Is Biodiversity So Important ?
The more biodiversity an ecosystem has , the more productive it will be , and the more species and ecosystem has , the more sustainable it will be for all life forms .
When disasters occur , healthy ecosystems are better able to bounce back [ 2 ] .
A healthy , diverse ecosystem provides resources for everyone , including : According to the United Nations , humanity faces extinction itself if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extinction [ 3 ] .
Olivier Langrand , executive director of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund ( CEPF ) , explained the importance of a diverse ecosystem at the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity : “ Biodiversity is life on Earth , and every extinction chips away at it , undermining the stability of the planet , ” he said [ 4 ] .
Humans , whether they are living in a tribe in the jungle or in urban areas , depend on the services ecosystems provide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ fertility and stability , food and medicine [ 4 ] .
The larger our population gets , the more important it becomes to protect these resources , which means protecting the biodiversity of our ecosystems .
Read : The World ’ s Largest Privately Owned Sequoia Forest Is Now Officially Protected Biodiversity is also a crucial part of the solution to climate change .
Eleven percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions are a direct result of deforestation , so protecting these areas would go a long way in reducing our global CO2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the world ’ s economy , if not more , is derived from biological resources [ 6 ] .
If the loss of biodiversity continues at its current rate , it could cost the United States 338 billion dollars per year [ 7 ] .
By contrast , investing in global sustainable business opportunities and natural resources could be worth between two and six trillion dollars by the year 2050 [ 7 ] .
Most importantly , many of the world ’ s poorest communities rely heavily on the biodiversity of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sustain themselves , and so destroying that could have devastating effects on those people [ 4 ] .
These Findings Will Protect the Region from Deforestation Conservation International is hopeful that these findings will help protect the region from the deforestation that so much of the rainforest has already been subjected to .
Read : Blue Whales Have ‘ Unprecedented ’ Bounce Back From Brink Of Extinction

In 2017, a team of researchers from Conservation International went on a three-week research expedition after ancient ruins were discovered deep within the Mosquitia forest dubbed “the lost city of the monkey god”, or “the white city” [1].
Climate change has had a devastating impact on our planet, an alarming number of animal species have either gone extinct or are under the threat of extinction as a direct result of human activity.
In fact, scientists have now determined that humanity has killed 83 percent of all wild mammals, and half of all plants.
Statistics like these can be incredibly disheartening, however, scientists finally have some good news for us: they have found an astonishing amount of biodiversity in a previously unexplored area of the rainforest.
Plumed basilisk – Trond Larsen / Conservation International
The Lost City
In 2017, a team of researchers from Conservation International went on a three-week research expedition after ancient ruins were discovered deep within the Mosquitia forest dubbed “the lost city of the monkey god”, or “the white city” [1].
What they found was a pristine, thriving ecosystem, abundant with rare and unique species, some new species, and some that were previously thought to be extinct. They documented 198 species of birds, 94 of butterflies, 40 of small mammals, 56 of amphibians and reptiles, 30 of large mammals [1].
Plumed basilisk – Trond Larsen / Conservation International
Trond Larsen, Director of Conservation International’s Rapid Assessment Program, explained the team’s excitement:
“Our team of scientists were shocked at the discovery of tremendously rich biodiversity, including many rare and threatened species,” said Larsen [1].
Read: Archeologists discovered a 17th-century Polish ‘vampire’ with a sickle across her neck meant to prevent a return from the dead
Plumed basilisk – Trond Larsen / Conservation International
Why Is Biodiversity So Important?
The more biodiversity an ecosystem has, the more productive it will be, and the more species and ecosystem has, the more sustainable it will be for all life forms. When disasters occur, healthy ecosystems are better able to bounce back [2].
A healthy, diverse ecosystem provides resources for everyone, including:
Ecosystem services: Protection of water resources Soils formation and protection Nutrient storage and recycling Pollution breakdown and absorption Contribution to climate stability Maintenance of ecosystems Recovery from unpredictable events
Biological resources: Food Medicinal resources and pharmaceutical drugs Wood products Ornamental plants Breeding stocks, population reservoirs Future resources Diversity in genes, species, and ecosystems
Social benefits: Research, education, and monitoring Recreation and tourism Cultural values [2]
According to the United Nations, humanity faces extinction itself if it cannot stop the pace of wildlife extinction [3].
Olivier Langrand, executive director of the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), explained the importance of a diverse ecosystem at the 15th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity:
“Biodiversity is life on Earth, and every extinction chips away at it, undermining the stability of the planet,” he said [4].
Humans, whether they are living in a tribe in the jungle or in urban areas, depend on the services ecosystems provide. This includes freshwater, pollination, soil fertility and stability, food and medicine [4].
The larger our population gets, the more important it becomes to protect these resources, which means protecting the biodiversity of our ecosystems.
Read: Archaeologists In Pompeii Break Into a Secret Room, Then Freeze At The Sight Within
Biodiversity and Climate Change
Biodiversity is also a crucial part of the solution to climate change. Eleven percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions are a direct result of deforestation, so protecting these areas would go a long way in reducing our global CO2 emissions [5].
“For a relatively small investment, high-biodiversity forests and other ecosystems can be conserved and restored as a powerful means to rein in climate change while also helping communities cope with associated storms, flooding and other impacts,” said Langrand [4].
Biodiversity and the Economy
Forty percent of the world’s economy, if not more, is derived from biological resources [6]. If the loss of biodiversity continues at its current rate, it could cost the United States 338 billion dollars per year [7].
By contrast, investing in global sustainable business opportunities and natural resources could be worth between two and six trillion dollars by the year 2050 [7].
Most importantly, many of the world’s poorest communities rely heavily on the biodiversity of the region in which they live in order to sustain themselves, and so destroying that could have devastating effects on those people [4].
These Findings Will Protect the Region from Deforestation
Conservation International is hopeful that these findings will help protect the region from the deforestation that so much of the rainforest has already been subjected to.
“Overall, our findings demonstrate that the area is of global environmental as well as archaeological significance,” said Larsen. “Armed with this knowledge, stakeholders can now begin to design and implement conservation strategies to protect this critical ecosystem.” [1]
Keep Reading: Scientists Discover Plastic-Eating Worms That Digest Styrofoam
Sources
“Dozens of Creatures Thought to Be Extinct Found Alive in ‘Lost City’ in the Jungle (Photos).” Good News Network. June 23, 2019. “Why Is Biodiversity Important? Who Cares?” Global Issues. Anup Shah. January 19, 2014. “Stop biodiversity loss or we could face our own extinction, warns UN.” The Guardian. Jonathan Watts. November 6, 2018. “Why is biodiversity important? Conservation. Julie Shaw. November 2015. “CLIMATE CHANGE:11 FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW.” Conservation “Failed Efforts in Protecting Biodiversity.” NY Times “The Business of Biodiversity.” SSIR. Sofia Faruqi. February 3, 2017.


theheartysoul--2020-03-18--This Artist Creates “Henna Crowns” for Women with Cancer and alopecia

Hair loss from chemotherapy or alopecia doesn ’ t have to be covered up with wigs , scarves , or caps .
In fact , it doesn ’ t need to be covered at all if that ’ s what you want .
However , some women are now choosing to decorate their hair with beautiful henna patterns to showcase their strength , struggle , and triumph to the world [ 1 ] .
Chemotherapy is the most common treatment option for cancer , and it can come with a host of side effects .
Hair loss is one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to experience during a battle with cancer .
Chemotherapy medications are intended to destroy cancer cells .
However , as many know , they negatively affect healthy cells as well , and this includes any that grow hair on our bodies .
Chemo eventually leads to hair loss all over the body , not just the scalp .
Uncontrollable hair loss can also be caused by a host of other physical and mental conditions , such as alopecia areata , an autoimmune condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wake up in the morning and find a large patch of hair on your pillow or tiny fibers all over your sheets is heartbreaking .
Reports from a study conducted in 2010 showed that 47 % of women undergoing chemo describe hair loss as the “ most traumatic aspect ” of the treatment [ 2 ] .
It can be hard to predict when a patient will lose their hair and or what rate , but it ’ s a heartbreaking process regardless .
Henna dye is used in many places around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aesthetic purposes .
Henna is made from the seeds of the Hina plant and is used to stain the skin with long-lasting and penetrating patterns .
In some Arabic traditions , the length of time a bride ’ s henna lasts on her hands signifies the length of her honeymoon .
In Morocco , doors are painted with henna to welcome spirits of prosperity and drive away evil .
For others , henna is an alternative to tattoos and is simply used to decorate the body .
Henna crowns on the bare scalp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mostly worn to portray a person ’ s religious or spiritual significance .
Read : Chemo Brain & 18 Long-Term Chemo Side Effects You Never Hear About Leah Reddell , a Denver-based henna artist found a use for henna in giving women with cancer a positive side to hair loss .
With over 12 years of experience in the business , Reddell is the primary artist for Face Fiesta and Denver Henna .
She started providing henna crowns when some of her clients dealing with chemo requested them .
She wrote on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specifically request elements that mean something to them to be incorporated into their patterns .
While henna crowns are mostly worn by women , men and kids going through hair loss can also choose to have them done .
These lovely ink patterns on the scalp provide a way for a person to say so much without any words .
The patterns , the elements , the contours , and rhythm all come together to pass on a message dripping with strength and resilience , showing so much pride and bravery in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the bright side Lots of people don ’ t understand that “ politely asking ” could still be offensive .
A person dealing with hair loss from chemo might not want to talk about it .
They don ’ t want to be pitied , hounded with questions or given unsolicited advice about what would look best on them .
However , people are definitely going to talk .
Henna crowns give whoever wears them an air of confidence and something to be excited about .
Instead of drawing feelings and words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspire admiration and cheer .
Reddell says that the henna crowns have helped women cope with the condition in so many ways .
Even before they had their first chemo session , some clients already opted to shave off their hair and have their henna crowns done .
The entire experience would often be less traumatic as they get in front of the pain , giving themselves a real sense of control .
Final verdict : Go for it Henna crowns are truly amazing !
If you ’ re not sure whether to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what people would say , here ’ s a boost of confidence : “ DO IT , DO IT , DO IT !
” We ’ re rooting for you because you ’ re beautiful regardless of the amount of hair on your head .
Pour your emotions into the patterns you ’ d select and wear your strength like a crown .
Your henna crown would always be a reminder that no matter what cancer has taken from you , you ’ re still in charge .
“ Seriously , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting a crown—I ’ ve only had clients regret that they didn ’ t do it earlier in their treatments , ” Reddell says .
However , it ’ s important to ensure that your artist uses the right kind of henna to prevent side effects from arising in the future .
According to the American Academy of Dermatology , henna mixed with p-Phenylenediamine ( PPD ) is dangerous and can cause intense itching , scaring , and inflammation .
This chemical is an illegal additive often added to make the ink last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Old Who Inspired Thousands By Skipping Chemotherapy To Go On End Of Life Road Trip Dies

Hair loss from chemotherapy or alopecia doesn’t have to be covered up with wigs, scarves, or caps. In fact, it doesn’t need to be covered at all if that’s what you want. However, some women are now choosing to decorate their hair with beautiful henna patterns to showcase their strength, struggle, and triumph to the world [1].
Chemotherapy is the most common treatment option for cancer, and it can come with a host of side effects. Hair loss is one of them, and it can be disheartening to experience during a battle with cancer. Chemotherapy medications are intended to destroy cancer cells. However, as many know, they negatively affect healthy cells as well, and this includes any that grow hair on our bodies.
Chemo eventually leads to hair loss all over the body, not just the scalp. Uncontrollable hair loss can also be caused by a host of other physical and mental conditions, such as alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the scalp and body.
To wake up in the morning and find a large patch of hair on your pillow or tiny fibers all over your sheets is heartbreaking. Reports from a study conducted in 2010 showed that 47% of women undergoing chemo describe hair loss as the “most traumatic aspect” of the treatment [2]. It can be hard to predict when a patient will lose their hair and or what rate, but it’s a heartbreaking process regardless.
Henna crowns and words unspoken
Henna dye is used in many places around the world for spiritual, cultural, and aesthetic purposes. Henna is made from the seeds of the Hina plant and is used to stain the skin with long-lasting and penetrating patterns. In some Arabic traditions, the length of time a bride’s henna lasts on her hands signifies the length of her honeymoon. In Morocco, doors are painted with henna to welcome spirits of prosperity and drive away evil. For others, henna is an alternative to tattoos and is simply used to decorate the body.
Henna crowns on the bare scalp have been around for a long time, mostly worn to portray a person’s religious or spiritual significance.
Leah Reddell, a Denver-based henna artist found a use for henna in giving women with cancer a positive side to hair loss. With over 12 years of experience in the business, Reddell is the primary artist for Face Fiesta and Denver Henna. She started providing henna crowns when some of her clients dealing with chemo requested them. She wrote on Instagram that a lot of her ladies specifically request elements that mean something to them to be incorporated into their patterns.
“Part of what makes henna crowns so special for me is incorporating important symbols or elements that are significant to the person wearing the crown. Also, I love a good challenge!! The request here was for Otters, Lotuses, and Dragonflies. From my client: Otters represent “going with the flow and playfulness; the Lotus blossom is for beauty out of ugliness; and the Dragonfly is for making the most of life and rising above hardship,” Reddell wrote.
While henna crowns are mostly worn by women, men and kids going through hair loss can also choose to have them done.
These lovely ink patterns on the scalp provide a way for a person to say so much without any words. The patterns, the elements, the contours, and rhythm all come together to pass on a message dripping with strength and resilience, showing so much pride and bravery in the face of a painful struggle.
“Sometimes I can’t believe I get to do this,” says Reddell. “I’m always amazed at the adventures my art gets to have out there in the world once it leaves me, and the fact that my art gets to be on these women, to embody and to change the experience they’re having in a positive way, is one of the best things I get to do.”
Read: At 10 years old, boy who spent two years growing his hair, donates it to make wigs for kids with cancer
Looking to the bright side
Lots of people don’t understand that “politely asking” could still be offensive. A person dealing with hair loss from chemo might not want to talk about it. They don’t want to be pitied, hounded with questions or given unsolicited advice about what would look best on them. However, people are definitely going to talk. Henna crowns give whoever wears them an air of confidence and something to be excited about. Instead of drawing feelings and words of pity from people, they would inspire admiration and cheer.
“People in public approach them to talk about the art they’re wearing, not just the cancer they’re dealing with,” says Reddell. “Also, many women simply don’t like wearing wigs and scarves—the crowns help them embrace their baldness in a beautiful way.”
Reddell says that the henna crowns have helped women cope with the condition in so many ways. Even before they had their first chemo session, some clients already opted to shave off their hair and have their henna crowns done. The entire experience would often be less traumatic as they get in front of the pain, giving themselves a real sense of control.
“They wanted to feel good in that moment (not sick with chemo) and confront [and] embrace baldness on their own terms. They feel excited and empowered, out there in the world, owning the art they’re wearing,” she says
Final verdict: Go for it
Henna crowns are truly amazing! If you’re not sure whether to go for or you’re worried about what people would say, here’s a boost of confidence: “DO IT, DO IT, DO IT!” We’re rooting for you because you’re beautiful regardless of the amount of hair on your head. Pour your emotions into the patterns you’d select and wear your strength like a crown. Your henna crown would always be a reminder that no matter what cancer has taken from you, you’re still in charge.
“Seriously, I’ve never had a client regret getting a crown—I’ve only had clients regret that they didn’t do it earlier in their treatments,” Reddell says.
However, it’s important to ensure that your artist uses the right kind of henna to prevent side effects from arising in the future. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, henna mixed with p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) is dangerous and can cause intense itching, scaring, and inflammation. This chemical is an illegal additive often added to make the ink last longer.
“I can’t say enough about the importance of using real, handmade, natural henna for henna crowns. Real henna paste is handmade with very simple ingredients and must be kept frozen” says Reddell.
Keep Reading: 50 Weird Signs That Lead To a Cancer Diagnosis
This article originally appeared on The Hearty Soul in March 2020 and has been published here with permission.


theheartysoul--2020-03-18--Japanese Man Spends 2 Years Planting Thousands of Flowers to Bring His Blind Wife Joy

You can really love someone so much that you ’ d be willing to go to the ends of the earth to make them happy .
It doesn ’ t matter what it would take , because as long as there ’ s something out there that can put a smile on their faces , you ’ d give everything to bring it to their feet .
Yes , that kind of love exists .
If a single flower can make someone happy , think of what a garden overflowing with thousands of beautiful , lovely-smelling flowers would do .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ been married for 64 years [ 1 ] .
The couple owned a dairy farm in Shintomi , Miyazaki , Japan .
For 30 years , they toiled and worked hard on their farm , and then it was time to retire .
They planned to travel the country and see the world , but they were unable to achieve their dreams when Mrs. Kuroki lost her sight due to complications from diabetes , according to RocketNews24 .
She was 52 at the time .
The couple was heartbroken , especially Mrs. Kuroki @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became reclusive , shutting herself away from the world and spending every hour of every day indoors .
She was suffering greatly , and so her loving husband decided to do something that would cheer her up forever .
If Mrs. Kuroki could no longer see the world , her husband was determined to bring the world to her .
Read : If You Love Someone , Tell Them , Because Life is Too Short to Take Your Time .
A thousand roses I would give to you , just to see you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pink shibazakura flowers that people would often stop to admire .
His wife had loved the flowers as well , and even though he knew she would not be able to see them , he decided to plant more flowers all over the field on their dairy farm .
He hoped their wonderful fragrance would make her happy and she would find joy knowing that she ’ s surrounded by thousands of blooming little flowers planted with so much love .
Luckily , Mr. Kuroki ’ s plan was a hit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the garden with pink shibazakura flowers .
At the end of his planting spree , there were thousands of flowers everywhere .
The small dairy farm that had formerly held about 60 cows had been transformed into a major tourist attraction in Miyazaki .
When the flowers are in bloom every spring , not less than 7,000 visitors flock to the garden each day to admire the wonderful scene .
From neighboring towns , cities , and even other countries , people come in to admire the pink garden inspired by a powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world to his wife .
Lots of people who visit the garden also want to meet the lovely Mrs. Kuroki .
When the flowers are in bloom , she can often be seen walking around the garden with a big smile on her face , meeting people and socializing .
For her husband , this is what matters the most .
If you ’ re ever in Japan , you should go visit them .
They ’ ll inspire you to love with everything you ’ ve got .
Keep Reading : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Husband Could Meet His Baby Girl

You can really love someone so much that you’d be willing to go to the ends of the earth to make them happy. It doesn’t matter what it would take, because as long as there’s something out there that can put a smile on their faces, you’d give everything to bring it to their feet. Yes, that kind of love exists.
If a single flower can make someone happy, think of what a garden overflowing with thousands of beautiful, lovely-smelling flowers would do.
Mr. and Mrs. Kuroki from Japan have been married for 64 years [1]. The couple owned a dairy farm in Shintomi, Miyazaki, Japan. For 30 years, they toiled and worked hard on their farm, and then it was time to retire. They planned to travel the country and see the world, but they were unable to achieve their dreams when Mrs. Kuroki lost her sight due to complications from diabetes, according to Metro News. She was 52 at the time.
The couple was heartbroken, especially Mrs. Kuroki. She was so traumatized that she became reclusive, shutting herself away from the world and spending every hour of every day indoors. She was suffering greatly, and so her loving husband decided to do something that would cheer her up forever. If Mrs. Kuroki could no longer see the world, her husband was determined to bring the world to her.
A thousand flowers I would give to you, just to see you smile
Mr. Kuroki had a small garden of pink shibazakura flowers that people would often stop to admire. His wife had loved the flowers as well, and even though he knew she would not be able to see them, he decided to plant more flowers all over the field on their dairy farm. He hoped their wonderful fragrance would make her happy and she would find joy knowing that she’s surrounded by thousands of blooming little flowers planted with so much love.
Luckily, Mr. Kuroki’s plan was a hit. For two years, he gradually filled the garden with pink shibazakura flowers. At the end of his planting spree, there were thousands of flowers everywhere. The small dairy farm that had formerly held about 60 cows had been transformed into a major tourist attraction in Miyazaki. When the flowers are in bloom every spring, not less than 7,000 visitors flock to the garden each day to admire the wonderful scene. From neighboring towns, cities, and even other countries, people come in to admire the pink garden inspired by a powerful love story.
He really did bring the world to his wife.
Lots of people who visit the garden also want to meet the lovely Mrs. Kuroki. When the flowers are in bloom, she can often be seen walking around the garden with a big smile on her face, meeting people and socializing. For her husband, this is what matters the most.
If you’re ever in Japan, you should go visit them. They’ll inspire you to love with everything you’ve got.
Keep Reading: 7 Secrets To Living A Beautiful Life


theheartysoul--2020-03-18--Teacher’s Dying Wish: Backpacks Full of Supplies Instead of Flowers at Her Funeral

Going through cancer is tough on everyone involved , in particular the person who is suffering from the illness .
When the disease reaches the terminal phase , the sick person is most concerned about making sure their loved ones will be taken care of when they are gone .
Rarely are they thinking about the well-being of people that they do not know and will never meet .
This is not the case for elementary school teacher Tammy Waddell .
On June 9th , 2018 , Tammy Weddell passed away from cancer at the age of 58 after 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County , Georgia .
( 2 ) Surrounded by family , she had one final wish : Instead of people buying flowers at her funeral , she requested that each person bring a backpack filled with school supplies .
( 1 , 2 ) Her wish was granted , and her family members posted some incredible photos from the service with the stage and aisle lined with full-to-bursting backpacks .
Lined up outside the service where many of the teachers that Tammy had spent her career working alongside , each with a full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s cousin referred to them on twitter as “ honorary pallbearers ” .
( 1 ) To say that she was dedicated to her students is an understatement : Tammy was a National Board Certified teacher and Forsyth County Teacher of the Year in 2003 .
( 2 ) Having taught at three different schools in the region , she was known as a selfless teacher who was always there to support her colleagues and her students alike .
( 2 ) Tammy was also a member of the Rainbow Girls , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helps girls grow up to be confident , self-sufficient young women .
( 3 ) She was also a volunteer firefighter with the Forsyth County Volunteer Fire Department Four Ladies Auxiliary ( 2 ) Read : Family Honors Grandma ’ s Memory By Displaying All Of Her Quilts at Her Funeral A legacy that will love on .
Those backpacks will provide underprivileged children with the supplies they need to go to school , ultimately helping to end the cycle of poverty and allow them to fulfill their potential as successful adults .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ attend the service or donate a backpack , the family asked for them to make a donation to Project Connect at Forsyth Central Highschool .
If you would like to make a donation , use the information below : Let ’ s help Tammy ’ s legacy of love and compassion live on !
Keep Reading : Dentistry Student Shares Touching Story of Being Raised by Father with Down Syndrome

Teacher’s Dying Wish: Backpacks Full of Supplies Instead of Flowers at Her Funeral
Going through cancer is tough on everyone involved, in particular the person who is suffering from the illness. When the disease reaches the terminal phase, the sick person is most concerned about making sure their loved ones will be taken care of when they are gone. Rarely are they thinking about the well-being of people that they do not know and will never meet.
This is not the case for elementary school teacher Tammy Waddell.
“A teacher to the end”
On June 9th, 2018, Tammy Weddell passed away from cancer at the age of 58 after 30 years of teaching elementary school in Forsyth County, Georgia. (2)
Surrounded by family, she had one final wish: Instead of people buying flowers at her funeral, she requested that each person bring a backpack filled with school supplies. (1, 2)
Her wish was granted, and her family members posted some incredible photos from the service with the stage and aisle lined with full-to-bursting backpacks. Lined up outside the service where many of the teachers that Tammy had spent her career working alongside, each with a full backpack of their own. Tammy’s cousin referred to them on twitter as “honorary pallbearers”. (1)
A true angel on earth.
To say that she was dedicated to her students is an understatement: Tammy was a National Board Certified teacher and Forsyth County Teacher of the Year in 2003. (2)
Having taught at three different schools in the region, she was known as a selfless teacher who was always there to support her colleagues and her students alike. (2)
Tammy was also a member of the Rainbow Girls, a philanthropic sorority for girls aged 10-20 that helps girls grow up to be confident, self-sufficient young women. (3)
She was also a volunteer firefighter with the Forsyth County Volunteer Fire Department Four Ladies Auxiliary (2)
Read: Family Honors Grandma’s Memory By Displaying All Of Her Quilts at Her Funeral
A legacy that will love on.
Those backpacks will provide underprivileged children with the supplies they need to go to school, ultimately helping to end the cycle of poverty and allow them to fulfill their potential as successful adults.
For those who were not able to attend the service or donate a backpack, the family asked for them to make a donation to Project Connect at Forsyth Central Highschool.
If you would like to make a donation, use the information below:
Project Connect
c/o Forsyth Central High School
131 Almon C. Hill Drive
Cumming, GA 30040
Let’s help Tammy’s legacy of love and compassion live on!
Keep Reading: Dentistry Student Shares Touching Story of Being Raised by Father with Down Syndrome


theheartysoul--2020-03-19--Remembering Typing Class: The Class That Actually Mattered In The Long Run

Over the last several hundred years , technology has had a profound impact on education .
At one point in human history , formal education was only accessible to an elite few , since books were rare and individuals had to travel to educational centers to receive any kind of formal instruction [ 1 ] .
Technology has significantly expanded access to education .
In today ’ s world , the internet has made seemingly unending amounts of information , in the form of websites , online books , audio , video , webinars , and images .
Almost every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , making formal educational training accessible to individuals all over the world [ 1 ] .
Access to information has shifted educational models from a traditional “ sage on the stage ” approach , wherein the teacher is the primary source of information and the students passively receive it , to a “ guide on the side ” approach , wherein students take a more active role in their learning and use technology to gather information [ 1 ] .
One technological advancement that often gets forgotten about amongst the dizzying amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ typewriter .
The art of typing has almost become second-nature for most people , and it seems today ’ s children are born with an iPad in their hands .
At one point in history , however , typing was a brand-new skill that needed to be learned by the public , and while it seems minor , the introduction of the typewriter , and subsequently typing class , had a significant impact on our educational system .
Read : This School Banned iPads , Going Back to Regular Textbooks—But What Does the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Typewriter The introduction of the typewriter in the late twentieth century transformed the way we communicate , both in the workplace and in everyday life .
The typewriter allowed people to communicate more efficiently and effectively and eliminated some of the stigma and discrimination that existed with pen and paper [ 2 ] .
The typewriter ’ s consistent font and simple design gave every writer the same professional tone and eliminated the ability to identify one ’ s gender through their writing , or other stigmatized identities such as people with blindness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The typewriter ’ s universal “ look ” opened up opportunities for these people to get jobs that they previously could not have , and allowed for educational opportunities that were not formerly available to them .
This was particularly true for women , many of whom took up jobs as typists , allowing them to become more present in the office .
Typing gave women who were previously unemployed or who were working in factory jobs a chance to work in a cleaner , more well-paying role [ 2 ] .
Read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Live The Life of a 1950s Housewife By the end of the nineteenth century , typewriters had gained a reputation as reliable tools for communication and writing .
In the later part of the century , roughly around 1880 , typewriting manufacturers began offering typewriting courses in an effort to establish the typewriter ’ s status as an essential piece of technology [ 3 ] .
The twentieth century saw typing courses being taught in American high schools .
Gradually , experts began realizing that students experienced a range of benefits from learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learned , the better .
A study in 1934 found that students as young as first and second grade were capable of learning the proper way to type , and teaching them this necessary skill at such a young age was important in ensuring they didn ’ t develop any bad habits .
Conversely , students who learned later had a much more difficult time , because they had to overcome the improper typing techniques they had adopted [ 4 ] .
Proper typing technique was not the only skill these children learned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the process of learning to type , children improved their reading capacity and spelling skills and that students enjoyed writing more when they were doing so on a typewriter [ 3 ] .
Typewriting was taught in elementary schools in the fifties and sixties , and most educators believed that this skill might accelerate students ’ mastery of the English language .
In his research , “ Keyboarding/Typewriting in Elementary School , ” Bartholome W. Lloyd reported that students were better able to learn the forms that letter patterns take , particularly at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through typing [ 3 ] .
When you look back at images and photographs of typing classes throughout the decades , you might notice an interesting shift in the demographics of the classroom .
Many classes were predominantly female since typing was considered to be the work of a secretary , a female-dominated profession [ 5 ] .
As typing class was switched from being an elective course to being mandatory , you can see the ratio of boys to girls even out .
Read : 129 Ways to Get a Husband in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Typing teachers sometimes appeared to have fairly unconventional methods for teaching their students .
Perform a quick internet search and you can find images of classrooms of students with blindfolds on , each of them typing furiously .
Other teachers preferred to place a towel or cloth over the top of students ’ hands so that they couldn ’ t see the keys while they were typing , and others opted to use a pseudo latex overlay to ensure students couldn ’ t look at the keys [ 5 ] .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very seriously , and wanted to ensure that their students were capable of typing efficiently and effectively .
Even as early as the turn of the twentieth century , educators realized that typing technology was going to impact not only education but the workforce as well , in a meaningful way .
As the typewriter became a prominent part of office culture in the United States , teachers understood that typing was going to be a necessary skill as their students entered the working world , and wanted to prepare them for it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important over the years , online communication and typing have only become increasingly crucial , and the introduction of typing class is an example of how important it is for our education system to adapt to changing technology , for the benefit of our children .
Keep Reading : 12 Survival Skills Your Great-Grandparents Knew ( That Most Of Us Have Forgotten )

Over the last several hundred years, technology has had a profound impact on education. At one point in human history, formal education was only accessible to an elite few, since books were rare and individuals had to travel to educational centers to receive any kind of formal instruction [1].
Technology has significantly expanded access to education. In today’s world, the internet has made seemingly unending amounts of information, in the form of websites, online books, audio, video, webinars, and images.
Almost every educational institution now offers online distance learning, making formal educational training accessible to individuals all over the world [1].
Access to information has shifted educational models from a traditional “sage on the stage” approach, wherein the teacher is the primary source of information and the students passively receive it, to a “guide on the side” approach, wherein students take a more active role in their learning and use technology to gather information [1].
One technological advancement that often gets forgotten about amongst the dizzying amount of technology today is the invention of the typewriter. The art of typing has almost become second-nature for most people, and it seems today’s children are born with an iPad in their hands.
At one point in history, however, typing was a brand-new skill that needed to be learned by the public, and while it seems minor, the introduction of the typewriter, and subsequently typing class, had a significant impact on our educational system.
The Introduction of the Typewriter
The introduction of the typewriter in the late twentieth century transformed the way we communicate, both in the workplace and in everyday life. The typewriter allowed people to communicate more efficiently and effectively and eliminated some of the stigma and discrimination that existed with pen and paper.
The typewriter’s consistent font and simple design gave every writer the same professional tone and eliminated the ability to identify one’s gender through their writing, or other stigmatized identities such as people with blindness or other physical or mental disabilities.
The typewriter’s universal “look” opened up opportunities for these people to get jobs that they previously could not have, and allowed for educational opportunities that were not formerly available to them.
This was particularly true for women, many of whom took up jobs as typists, allowing them to become more present in the office. Typing gave women who were previously unemployed or who were working in factory jobs a chance to work in a cleaner, more well-paying role [2].
Typing in the Classroom
The twentieth century saw typing courses being taught in American high schools. Gradually, experts began realizing that students experienced a range of benefits from learning to type and teaching the earlier they learned, the better.
By the end of the nineteenth century, typewriters had gained a reputation as reliable tools for communication and writing. In the later part of the century, roughly around 1880, typewriting manufacturers began offering typewriting courses in an effort to establish the typewriter’s status as an essential piece of technology [3].
A study in 1934 found that students as young as first and second grade were capable of learning the proper way to type, and teaching them this necessary skill at such a young age was important in ensuring they didn’t develop any bad habits. Conversely, students who learned later had a much more difficult time, because they had to overcome the improper typing techniques they had adopted [4].
Proper typing technique was not the only skill these children learned, however. Studies showed that in the process of learning to type, children improved their reading capacity and spelling skills and that students enjoyed writing more when they were doing so on a typewriter [3].
Typewriting was taught in elementary schools in the fifties and sixties, and most educators believed that this skill might accelerate students’ mastery of the English language.
In his research, “Keyboarding/Typewriting in Elementary School,” Bartholome W. Lloyd reported that students were better able to learn the forms that letter patterns take, particularly at the beginning and end of words, through typing [3].
A Gender Gap
When you look back at images and photographs of typing classes throughout the decades, you might notice an interesting shift in the demographics of the classroom. Many classes were predominantly female since typing was considered to be the work of a secretary, a female-dominated profession.
As typing class was switched from being an elective course to being mandatory, you can see the ratio of boys to girls even out.
Unconventional Methods
Typing teachers sometimes appeared to have fairly unconventional methods for teaching their students. Perform a quick internet search and you can find images of classrooms of students with blindfolds on, each of them typing furiously.
Other teachers preferred to place a towel or cloth over the top of students’ hands so that they couldn’t see the keys while they were typing, and others opted to use a pseudo latex overlay to ensure students couldn’t look at the keys [5].
It is clear that typing teachers took their jobs very seriously, and wanted to ensure that their students were capable of typing efficiently and effectively. Even as early as the turn of the twentieth century, educators realized that typing technology was going to impact not only education but the workforce as well, in a meaningful way.
As the typewriter became a prominent part of office culture in the United States, teachers understood that typing was going to be a necessary skill as their students entered the working world, and wanted to prepare them for it.
Although typing class has become less important over the years, online communication and typing have only become increasingly crucial, and the introduction of typing class is an example of how important it is for our education system to adapt to changing technology, for the benefit of our children.
Keep Reading: What’s the Worst Thing That Is Legal? Here’s What People Said.
Sources