theheartysoul--2020-10-01--Parrots in wildlife park moved after swearing at visitors

Humans have always found parrots ’ ability to “ talk ” and make funny noises entertaining .
Recently , however , some parrots brought in to a British wildlife park used their talents to make rather unsavory comments .
Five new feathered and chatty residents were removed from public viewing areas after the swearing parrots hurled insults at each other and guests .
Five African Grey Parrots recently were given to the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park , each from different owners .
( 1 ) Eric , Jade , Elsie , Tyson , and Billy were all quarantined together before being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Here park visitors could come and see them .
( 1 , 2 ) The birds , however , seemed to have picked up some nasty phrases that they liked to throw around the quarantine room .
The staff hoped the swearing parrots would kick the habit once they were in a larger , outdoor space , however , this was not the case .
( 2 ) While the birds may not know exactly what they are saying , they know the reaction it brings about .
The more people gasp in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it .
( 2 ) Many of the park visitors loved it and had no qualms about dishing it right back to the birds .
Out of concern for the children at the park , particularly with a busy weekend coming up , they opted to move the birds and separate them into different colonies .
( 1 ) Not the First Swearing Birds According to Nichols , taking in swearing birds is not uncommon .
It happens three to four times per year .
( 1 ) This is because parrots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the air that flows over their syrinx , where the trachea splits into the lungs .
( 3 ) The birds best at imitating human sounds are ( 3 ) : Essentially , they just mimic what they hear .
If these come from a home where they hear exploitatives often , they will pick them up .
( 3 ) Normally the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park has only one or two parrots in a fourteen-day period .
When the pandemic hit and people were at home more with their birds , many decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space .
( 1 ) This caused the park to experience a surge in parrot donations , seeing eight in just one day .
( 1 ) The five swearing parrots aren ’ t the first birds to become famous at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park .
Earlier this year , Chico the Parrot went viral after he began entertaining guests with his own cover of “ If I Were a Boy ” by Beyoncé .
He now has his own Instagram page where you can see videos of him singing along with some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( 2 ) So while you won ’ t be able to see the swearing parrots at the park any longer , you can still expect a pretty great show .
Keep Reading : 32 Comedy Wildlife Photos That Will Brighten Up Your 2020

Humans have always found parrots’ ability to “talk” and make funny noises entertaining. Recently, however, some parrots brought in to a British wildlife park used their talents to make rather unsavory comments. Five new feathered and chatty residents were removed from public viewing areas after the swearing parrots hurled insults at each other and guests.
Swearing Mouth Parrots Removed From Public Viewing
Five African Grey Parrots recently were given to the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park, each from different owners. (1) Eric, Jade, Elsie, Tyson, and Billy were all quarantined together before being moved into the main outdoor aviaries. Here park visitors could come and see them. (1, 2)
The birds, however, seemed to have picked up some nasty phrases that they liked to throw around the quarantine room. The staff hoped the swearing parrots would kick the habit once they were in a larger, outdoor space, however, this was not the case. (2)
“It just went ballistic, they were all swearing,” said the park’s chief executive Steve Nichols. “I get called a fat t**t every time I walk past.” (1)
Elsie, one of the birds with a ‘unique vocabulary’
Image Credit: Lincolnshire Wildlife Park
While the birds may not know exactly what they are saying, they know the reaction it brings about. The more people gasp in shock or laugh, the more they do it. (2)
“With the five, one would swear and another would laugh and that would carry on,” he said. (2)
Many of the park visitors loved it and had no qualms about dishing it right back to the birds. Out of concern for the children at the park, particularly with a busy weekend coming up, they opted to move the birds and separate them into different colonies. (1)
“I’m hoping they learn different words within colonies – but if they teach the others bad language and I end up with 250 swearing birds, I don’t know what we’ll do,” Nichols explained. (2)
Not the First Swearing Birds
According to Nichols, taking in swearing birds is not uncommon. It happens three to four times per year. (1) This is because parrots mimic human words and sounds by modifying the air that flows over their syrinx, where the trachea splits into the lungs. (3) The birds best at imitating human sounds are (3):
Yellow Naped Amazons
Timneh Greys
African Greys
Essentially, they just mimic what they hear. If these come from a home where they hear exploitatives often, they will pick them up. (3)
Pandemic Parrots
Normally the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park has only one or two parrots in a fourteen-day period. When the pandemic hit and people were at home more with their birds, many decided that the animals deserved a bigger living space. (1)
This caused the park to experience a surge in parrot donations, seeing eight in just one day. (1)
A Park Full of Famous Birds
The five swearing parrots aren’t the first birds to become famous at the Lincolnshire Wildlife Park. Earlier this year, Chico the Parrot went viral after he began entertaining guests with his own cover of “If I Were a Boy” by Beyoncé. He now has his own Instagram page where you can see videos of him singing along with some of his other musically gifted parrot pals. (2)
So while you won’t be able to see the swearing parrots at the park any longer, you can still expect a pretty great show.
Keep Reading: 32 Comedy Wildlife Photos That Will Brighten Up Your 2020


theheartysoul--2020-09-30--The Gorillas in This Selfie Want to Be Just as Cool as the Man Who Protects Them

Just a casual day at the office has a whole different meaning when your job is to protect the gorillas in Virunga National Park .
A worker snapped a gorilla selfie with two of the animals he takes care of daily that quickly went viral .
It ’ s clear in the photo that the animals want to be just as cool as their caretaker .
Mathieu Shamavu is a full-time ranger at Virunga National Park in the Congo .
His job is to protect the population of gorillas that call the park home from poachers .
( 1 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he snapped a gorilla selfie with two of the mountain gorillas when they struck a rather human-like pose .
He captioned the photo “ Just another day at the office ” .
( 1 ) The gorillas in the photo are Ndakazi and Ndeze .
The female pair were both orphaned at the hands of poachers when they were young .
They spent part of their lives at the Senkwekwe Center , a facility at the park for gorillas going through tough times .
( 1 ) AdvertisementAdvertisement According to park director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they are watching their human caretakers closely and learning to act like them .
( 1 ) The park reposted the selfie on its Instagram page .
In the caption , they stated this : Read : Canines to the Rescue : Dogs Trained To Protect Wildlife Have Saved 45 Rhinos from Poachers in South Africa Looking at the photo , some may be concerned that the gorillas seem so comfortable around humans .
Called “ habituation ” , this is actually a very good thing , as it allows researchers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This research helps the park better protect its most endangered inhabitants .
( 3 ) The process of habituation , however , is a very slow one .
It is completed over two to three years with daily visits from rangers and researchers , or until the gorilla is comfortable having humans around them .
( 3 ) Located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo , Virunga National Park is Africa ’ s first-ever national park and is a UNESCO World Heritage site .
Established in 1925 , their goal has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poachers and other threats .
Currently , there are only about 1000 mountain gorillas left in the wild .
About one-third of them live in Virunga .
( 3 ) The park is also home to over one thousand species of mammals , birds , reptiles , and amphibians .
( 3 ) Some of their other most prominent animals include ( 3 ) : Not only do they protect animals , but they are also dedicated to making a better life for the four million people who live under one day ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ park .
( 3 ) They have a team of 700 rangers made up of local men and women who guard the more than 3,000 square-mile park and its inhabitants .
Each day , these brave people risk their own lives to protect the endangered mountain gorillas .
( 3 ) Virunga is committed to sustainability .
To achieve this , they focus on three primary areas ( 3 ) : AdvertisementAdvertisement The park actively works to create jobs for the local people to help end the cycle of poverty in their region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Help There are several ways you can help support Virunga National Park and its fight to protect the mountain gorillas .
• Partner with the park and sponsor new projects • Participate in or Support the Ranger Challenge You may also visit the park to see what they do each day in person .
There are a variety of accommodation options for you , as well as treks and packages to choose from .
Keep Reading : Guy Saved Elephants From Poachers , They Mourned His Death Outside His Home

Just a casual day at the office has a whole different meaning when your job is to protect the gorillas in Virunga National Park. A worker snapped a gorilla selfie with two of the animals he takes care of daily that quickly went viral. It’s clear in the photo that the animals want to be just as cool as their caretaker.
The Viral Gorilla Selfie
Mathieu Shamavu is a full-time ranger at Virunga National Park in the Congo. His job is to protect the population of gorillas that call the park home from poachers. (1)
While on the job in April 2019, he snapped a gorilla selfie with two of the mountain gorillas when they struck a rather human-like pose. He captioned the photo “Just another day at the office”. (1)
The gorillas in the photo are Ndakazi and Ndeze. The female pair were both orphaned at the hands of poachers when they were young. They spent part of their lives at the Senkwekwe Center, a facility at the park for gorillas going through tough times. (1)
According to park director Innocent Mburanumwe, their upright pose suggests that they are watching their human caretakers closely and learning to act like them. (1)
The park reposted the selfie on its Instagram page. In the caption, they stated this:
“Those gorilla gals are always acting cheeky so this was the perfect shot of their true personalities! Also, it’s no surprise to see these girls on their two feet either—most primates are comfortable walking upright (bipedalism) for short bursts of time.” (2)
Gorilla Habituation
Looking at the photo, some may be concerned that the gorillas seem so comfortable around humans. Called “habituation”, this is actually a very good thing, as it allows researchers to conduct detailed research on the species. This research helps the park better protect its most endangered inhabitants. (3)
The process of habituation, however, is a very slow one. It is completed over two to three years with daily visits from rangers and researchers, or until the gorilla is comfortable having humans around them. (3)
Virunga National Park
Located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Virunga National Park is Africa’s first-ever national park and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Established in 1925, their goal has been to protect the vulnerable gorilla population from poachers and other threats. Currently, there are only about 1000 mountain gorillas left in the wild. About one-third of them live in Virunga. (3)
The park is also home to over one thousand species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. (3) Some of their other most prominent animals include (3):
Elephants
Hippos
Okapis
Lions
Not only do they protect animals, but they are also dedicated to making a better life for the four million people who live under one day’s walk to the borders of the park. (3)
They have a team of 700 rangers made up of local men and women who guard the more than 3,000 square-mile park and its inhabitants. Each day, these brave people risk their own lives to protect the endangered mountain gorillas. (3)
Sustainability at Its Core
Virunga is committed to sustainability. To achieve this, they focus on three primary areas (3):
Hydropower
Sustainable agriculture and fisheries
Tourism
The park actively works to create jobs for the local people to help end the cycle of poverty in their region. (3)
How You Can Help
There are several ways you can help support Virunga National Park and its fight to protect the mountain gorillas.
Adopt a gorilla Donate Shop at their online store Partner with the park and sponsor new projects
You may also visit the park to see what they do each day in person. There are a variety of accommodation options for you, as well as treks and packages to choose from.
Keep Reading: Herd Of Elephants Tramples And Kills Suspected Poacher In South Africa
Sources


theheartysoul--2020-10-02--The Carrot Gardening Hack for the Best Harvest Every Time

When people plant their first vegetable gardens , they tend to start with herbs , tomatoes , and similarly easy crops .
Since carrots grow below ground , they seem more complicated to grow , but this is not the case .
With proper guidance , anyone could be growing a crop of delicious carrots without fuss .
For a successful harvest , check out this secret tip that ensures delicious , bright , and crunchy carrots every time .
Introduction to Carrots and Their Varieties Carrots are root vegetables , which means they grow in the earth with only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most well-known varieties are brilliant orange colors , but others look purple and pale yellow .
Here are some varieties you can try : Advertisement • Nantes : Nantes carrots are named after the French city where they do exceptionally well .
They ’ ve also become popular for home gardeners because their growth cycle is short and their taste is delicious .
• Danvers : These carrots are what you think of what you imagine the perfect carrot : about eight inches long , thick , and bright reddish-orange .
• Mini @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gardens and they are often served with their greens still attached .
They add a perfect touch of delicious ruggedness to any meal .
• Chantenay : These carrots work well with rockier soils and can grow to about seven inches long .
Therefore , they can thrive in gardens or large containers .
Keep in mind that if they grow too long , they will lose their sweet flavor .
• Imperator : These are the standard carrots most people buy from grocery stores , thick , long , and sweet .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be planted early in the spring before the summer heat comes .
Don ’ t worry about a false spring since many types of carrots can survive some frost .
Plant them in a sunny area .
Full sunlight is best but they can also grow in partial sunlight .
The soil should generally be loose , loamy , and rock-free .
Any kind of debris in the earth can force the carrots to mold into strange shapes .
Additionally , keep the soil as neutral pH as possible .
No matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ground , in containers , or a raised bed , the method of planting carrots is the same .
Scatter the seeds and hide them under a thin amount of soil .
The carrots should be given about an inch or two of space to grow — a little like spacing out cookie dough on a pan before baking them .
Carrots require plenty of water to keep the soil moist until the tops of greenery emerge .
Read : This Wooden Potato Planter Has a Door To Easily Access Your Home-Grown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : ensuring the carrots sprout .
They need constant moisture in order to do so and they could be a little temperamental .
Fortunately , our resident farmer , Thomas , shared a secret for growing carrots from his grandfather .
After you seed the row of soil and water them , place a 1″ x 4″ board over them .
You read that right ; place the board over the soil with the seeds .
Lift it daily to check the seeds and water them .
Once they begin to sprout , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either side of the row .
This way , the soil is still shaded but the sprouts have room to grow .
Once the seedlings can reach the board , you can remove it .
This hack will keep the seeds moist and shaded as they sprout — the most vital part of the process .
Read : 10 vegetables you can buy once and regrow forever !
Before you seed , ensure you are rotating your crops .
Planting carrots in the same place makes them more susceptible to pests , particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of fungal infection that makes the crops inedible .
Additionally , till the soil , if you have had issues with wireworms before you plant .
Once the carrots are growing , there ’ s little to do to fight a wireworm infestation if you want to keep the crops .
Harvest depends on the type of carrot , but it should be anywhere between 50 to over 75 days .
Baby carrots are pulled when they are still small , but regular-sized carrots are usually about a half of an inch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the carrots are ripe for the pulling : Feel the base of the vegetable , just beyond the greens .
If a carrot is ready , it will have “ shoulders ” about three-quarters of an inch .
Loosen the soil with a fork or a similar tool before pulling the carrots .
You don ’ t want to disconnect the stem from a stubborn vegetable .
Carrots can become soft when they are left in storage for too long .
They are best consumed fresh so don ’ t harvest more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short amount of time .
Unlike lettuce that turns bitter or tomatoes that become overripe , carrots can be left in the garden for weeks with no unsavory effects on them .
Just be sure that the garden is weed-free , the soil is well-balanced , and the weather is still warm .
[ 3 ] Carrots make delicious and crunchy snacks .
They could also be enjoyed in so many recipes .
If you produce more carrots than you know what to do with , you could juice them , pickle them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use .
Keep Reading : Gardening Experts Say You Should Always Plant Flowers in Your Vegetable Patch

When people plant their first vegetable gardens, they tend to start with herbs, tomatoes, and similarly easy crops. Since carrots grow below ground, they seem more complicated to grow, but this is not the case. With proper guidance, anyone could be growing a crop of delicious carrots without fuss.
For a successful harvest, check out this secret tip that ensures delicious, bright, and crunchy carrots every time.
Introduction to Carrots and Their Varieties
Carrots are root vegetables, which means they grow in the earth with only their leafy green tops visible. The most well-known varieties are brilliant orange colors, but others look purple and pale yellow.
Here are some varieties you can try:
Nantes : Nantes carrots are named after the French city where they do exceptionally well. They’ve also become popular for home gardeners because their growth cycle is short and their taste is delicious.
: Nantes carrots are named after the French city where they do exceptionally well. They’ve also become popular for home gardeners because their growth cycle is short and their taste is delicious. Danvers : These carrots are what you think of what you imagine the perfect carrot: about eight inches long, thick, and bright reddish-orange.
: These carrots are what you think of what you imagine the perfect carrot: about eight inches long, thick, and bright reddish-orange. Mini : Mini carrots are ideal for container gardens and they are often served with their greens still attached. They add a perfect touch of delicious ruggedness to any meal.
: Mini carrots are ideal for container gardens and they are often served with their greens still attached. They add a perfect touch of delicious ruggedness to any meal. Chantenay : These carrots work well with rockier soils and can grow to about seven inches long. Therefore, they can thrive in gardens or large containers. Keep in mind that if they grow too long, they will lose their sweet flavor.
: These carrots work well with rockier soils and can grow to about seven inches long. Therefore, they can thrive in gardens or large containers. Keep in mind that if they grow too long, they will lose their sweet flavor. Imperator: These are the standard carrots most people buy from grocery stores, thick, long, and sweet.
Read More: 10 Vegetables That Tolerate Partial Sun And Shade
How To Grow Carrots
Carrots thrive in cool weather so they should be planted early in the spring before the summer heat comes. Don’t worry about a false spring since many types of carrots can survive some frost. Plant them in a sunny area. Full sunlight is best but they can also grow in partial sunlight.
The soil should generally be loose, loamy, and rock-free. Any kind of debris in the earth can force the carrots to mold into strange shapes. Additionally, keep the soil as neutral pH as possible.
No matter if you choose to raise them in the ground, in containers, or a raised bed, the method of planting carrots is the same. Scatter the seeds and hide them under a thin amount of soil. The carrots should be given about an inch or two of space to grow — a little like spacing out cookie dough on a pan before baking them.
Carrots require plenty of water to keep the soil moist until the tops of greenery emerge.
The Best Carrot Planting Hack
Here’s the hardest part: ensuring the carrots sprout. They need constant moisture in order to do so and they could be a little temperamental.
Fortunately, our resident farmer, Thomas, shared a secret for growing carrots from his grandfather.
After you seed the row of soil and water them, place a 1″ x 4″ board over them. You read that right; place the board over the soil with the seeds. Lift it daily to check the seeds and water them. Once they begin to sprout, prop up the board with bricks on either side of the row. This way, the soil is still shaded but the sprouts have room to grow. Once the seedlings can reach the board, you can remove it.
This hack will keep the seeds moist and shaded as they sprout — the most vital part of the process.
Read More: 12 Vegetables You Can Grow All Winter
More About Planting Carrots
Avoiding Pests
Before you seed, ensure you are rotating your crops. Planting carrots in the same place makes them more susceptible to pests, particularly nematodes, and cavity spot — a kind of fungal infection that makes the crops inedible.
Additionally, till the soil, if you have had issues with wireworms before you plant. Once the carrots are growing, there’s little to do to fight a wireworm infestation if you want to keep the crops.
Harvesting the Carrot Crop
Harvest depends on the type of carrot, but it should be anywhere between 50 to over 75 days. Baby carrots are pulled when they are still small, but regular-sized carrots are usually about a half of an inch.
Here’s how you know if the carrots are ripe for the pulling: Feel the base of the vegetable, just beyond the greens. If a carrot is ready, it will have “shoulders” about three-quarters of an inch.
Loosen the soil with a fork or a similar tool before pulling the carrots. You don’t want to disconnect the stem from a stubborn vegetable.
Carrots can become soft when they are left in storage for too long. They are best consumed fresh so don’t harvest more carrots than you can eat in a short amount of time. Unlike lettuce that turns bitter or tomatoes that become overripe, carrots can be left in the garden for weeks with no unsavory effects on them. Just be sure that the garden is weed-free, the soil is well-balanced, and the weather is still warm.
Keep Reading: How To Store Carrots For 5+ Months


theheartysoul--2020-10-02--The Incredible Ruins of 11 Abandoned Islands

Abandoned places are creepy – houses , buildings , theme parks – all could be the setting of a horror film .
What ’ s potentially even creepier , however , are abandoned islands .
As eerie as they are , however , these ruins of twelve deserted islands have some pretty interesting backstories .
These islands all have long been deserted by their former inhabitants .
While the towns and cities built on them have been left largely to ruin , they all have an interesting story of how they became that way .
This small island off the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely uninhabited for the last 40 years .
Gunkanjima was established by Mitsubishi at the beginning of the twentieth century because they suspected it was sitting on top of a large submarine coal deposit .
Their suspicions were correct , and by the 1940s the tiny island was powering Japan ’ s industrial revolution , producing 400,000 tonnes of coal every year .
The city was built up around the mine and given a name which means “ the city without green ” .
Eventually , the coal was used up and no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer .
Advertisement A short boat ride from Venice , this was a forbidden island used as a quarantine station during the late 17th/early 18th-century plague .
It is said that over 160,000 people lived out their final days on that island and that there are so many people buried there that the soil is 50 % human remains .
Naturally , the place is thought to be haunted and was an attractive place for ghost hunters .
Today , visitors and tourists are no longer allowed in Poveglia .
Off the coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Palmerston ’ s Follies ” .
These are a variety of Victorian-era fortresses built to defend the country from the potential threat of a French invasion .
Built during peacetime , these perceived threats never came to fruition .
No Man ’ s Island was used as a defense station against submarine attacks during WWI and was then later turned into a luxury resort .
The £6 million investment didn ’ t work out , however , because contaminated pool water caused an outbreak of Legionnaire ’ s Disease .
Not wanting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owner locked himself inside the hotel and lived there until authorities evicted him in 2009 .
AdvertisementIn Bay Lake , Florida sits what was once one of Disney ’ s most popular attractions .
A wide variety of exotic animals called the island zoo home , however , Disney closed the island in 1999 and moved all of the animals to what is now their Animal Kingdom .
Today nature is all but taking over the dilapidated buildings .
The island is off-limits , and anyone caught trying to sneak on will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Off the coast of Halifax on the East Coast of Canada sits McNab ’ s Island .
First settled by Peter McNab in the 1780s , the McNab family lived on the island for generations until 1934 .
( 1 ) The island has been mostly abandoned since WWII , however , there are several different ruins you can find there , including ( 1 ) : • A burial place for victims of the cholera epidemic who were unknown or unclaimed • A former soda factory that ran bootleg alcohol during prohibition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ navy deserters during the Napoleonic wars It ’ s no wonder no one wants to live there anymore .
This Antarctic island has been used and deserted by many countries .
Prized for being a safe place from storms and icebergs , the island has been both used and abandoned by many countries .
Several scientific discoveries occurred there , and it spent many years as a functioning Norwegian-Chilean whaling station .
AdvertisementAdvertisement The island , however , is not as safe as it seems : It is an active volcano .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but destroying everything on the island .
Today tourists go there to soak in the island ’ s hot springs .
On Cumberland Island in St. Mary ’ s , Georgia , stands the ruins of the Carnegie Mansion .
The Carnegie Family was an extremely wealthy 19th-century family who owned 90 % of the island .
There they built a 59-room mansion on the island ’ s south shores to use as a summer home .
Abandoned during the Great Depression , it slowly fell to ruin until a fire in 1959 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : 21 Unbelievable Places That Look Like They ’ re From Another Planet In the Andaman archipelago is an island established by British colonialists in the 18th century .
People lived there in 1788 and 1789 after Archibald Blair ’ s survey of the Andaman and Nicobar islands .
( 1 ) Several residential ruins , now covered in roots and vines , still stand , including : In 1942 Japanese troops invaded the island and took control away from the British of all of the Andaman and Nicobar islands .
You can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bunkers there .
When Juan Ponce de Leon discovered these clusters of coral in 1513 , the only residents were sea turtles .
He named the islands Las Tortugas ( the turtles ) and they quickly became an important shipping corridor .
Even faster , however , the islands were given another name : Ship Trap .
Despite their frequent use , hundreds of ships sunk there .
Fort Jefferson , a massive military fortress , was built there .
After 30 years of construction , however , it still was fully completed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1874 .
Since then it has been a coaling station and a quarantine hospital , though today it is known as one of the most remote and least visited national parks in America .
Off the coast of Nome , Alaska is the Stilt Village of Ukivok on King Island .
An indigenous population called the Aseuluk people built a small village of huts on stilts on the sloping hillside of the tiny island .
They lived there until the mid 1900s when they were forced to evacuate to mainland Alaska .
Their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another island off the coast of Venice , humans have been living on San Giorgio since 1000 C.E .
It has been used both as monasteries and as a Nazi operations base , however , it has been abandoned since WWII .
Religious and military artifacts have all been removed and now it just sits as an empty ruin .
Most of these islands are off-limits for tourists , but those that aren ’ t could certainly make for a creepy little excursion on your next vacation .
For those interested in ghost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ definitely worth the trip .
Keep Reading : The Montezuma Castle – The Incredible Stone Dwelling Built Almost a Millennium Ago Is Still Intact

Abandoned places are creepy – houses, buildings, theme parks – all could be the setting of a horror film. What’s potentially even creepier, however, are abandoned islands. As eerie as they are, however, these ruins of twelve deserted islands have some pretty interesting backstories.
The Ruins of 12 Abandoned Islands
These islands all have long been deserted by their former inhabitants. While the towns and cities built on them have been left largely to ruin, they all have an interesting story of how they became that way.
1. Mitsubishi’s Gunkanjima Island
This small island off the coast of Nagasaki, Japan has been completely uninhabited for the last 40 years. Gunkanjima was established by Mitsubishi at the beginning of the twentieth century because they suspected it was sitting on top of a large submarine coal deposit. Their suspicions were correct, and by the 1940s the tiny island was powering Japan’s industrial revolution, producing 400,000 tonnes of coal every year.
The city was built up around the mine and given a name which means “the city without green”. Eventually, the coal was used up and no one had any reason to stay any longer.
2. Poveglia Plague Island
A short boat ride from Venice, this was a forbidden island used as a quarantine station during the late 17th/early 18th-century plague. It is said that over 160,000 people lived out their final days on that island and that there are so many people buried there that the soil is 50% human remains.
Naturally, the place is thought to be haunted and was an attractive place for ghost hunters. Today, visitors and tourists are no longer allowed in Poveglia.
3. No Man’s Island
Off the coast of Nettlestone in England sits one of “Palmerston’s Follies”. These are a variety of Victorian-era fortresses built to defend the country from the potential threat of a French invasion. Built during peacetime, these perceived threats never came to fruition.
No Man’s Island was used as a defense station against submarine attacks during WWI and was then later turned into a luxury resort. The £6 million investment didn’t work out, however, because contaminated pool water caused an outbreak of Legionnaire’s Disease.
Not wanting to lose the island, the hotel owner locked himself inside the hotel and lived there until authorities evicted him in 2009.
4. Disney’s Discovery Island
In Bay Lake, Florida sits what was once one of Disney’s most popular attractions. A wide variety of exotic animals called the island zoo home, however, Disney closed the island in 1999 and moved all of the animals to what is now their Animal Kingdom.
Today nature is all but taking over the dilapidated buildings. The island is off-limits, and anyone caught trying to sneak on will be banned from all Disney parks forever.
5. McNab’s Island
Off the coast of Halifax on the East Coast of Canada sits McNab’s Island. First settled by Peter McNab in the 1780s, the McNab family lived on the island for generations until 1934. (1) The island has been mostly abandoned since WWII, however, there are several different ruins you can find there, including (1):
Three old military forts
A burial place for victims of the cholera epidemic who were unknown or unclaimed
Old family homes
A family graveyard
A former soda factory that ran bootleg alcohol during prohibition
A shipwreck cove
A beach where the English hung navy deserters during the Napoleonic wars
It’s no wonder no one wants to live there anymore.
6. Deception Island
This Antarctic island has been used and deserted by many countries. Prized for being a safe place from storms and icebergs, the island has been both used and abandoned by many countries. Several scientific discoveries occurred there, and it spent many years as a functioning Norwegian-Chilean whaling station.
The island, however, is not as safe as it seems: It is an active volcano. It erupted twice in the 1960s, all but destroying everything on the island. Today tourists go there to soak in the island’s hot springs.
7. Cumberland Island
On Cumberland Island in St. Mary’s, Georgia, stands the ruins of the Carnegie Mansion. The Carnegie Family was an extremely wealthy 19th-century family who owned 90% of the island. There they built a 59-room mansion on the island’s south shores to use as a summer home.
Abandoned during the Great Depression, it slowly fell to ruin until a fire in 1959 all but completely destroyed it.
Read: 21 Unbelievable Places That Look Like They’re From Another Planet
8. Ross Island
In the Andaman archipelago is an island established by British colonialists in the 18th century. People lived there in 1788 and 1789 after Archibald Blair’s survey of the Andaman and Nicobar islands. (1) Several residential ruins, now covered in roots and vines, still stand, including:
Houses
A church
A bazaar
Stores
A swimming pool
A hospital
In 1942 Japanese troops invaded the island and took control away from the British of all of the Andaman and Nicobar islands. You can still see some leftover remains of Japanese bunkers there.
9. Dry Tortugas
When Juan Ponce de Leon discovered these clusters of coral in 1513, the only residents were sea turtles. He named the islands Las Tortugas (the turtles) and they quickly became an important shipping corridor.
Even faster, however, the islands were given another name: Ship Trap. Despite their frequent use, hundreds of ships sunk there.
Fort Jefferson, a massive military fortress, was built there. After 30 years of construction, however, it still was fully completed and was abandoned by the army in 1874. Since then it has been a coaling station and a quarantine hospital, though today it is known as one of the most remote and least visited national parks in America.
10. King Island
Off the coast of Nome, Alaska is the Stilt Village of Ukivok on King Island. An indigenous population called the Aseuluk people built a small village of huts on stilts on the sloping hillside of the tiny island. They lived there until the mid 1900s when they were forced to evacuate to mainland Alaska. Their village, however, still stands.
11. San Giorgio in Alga
Another island off the coast of Venice, humans have been living on San Giorgio since 1000 C.E. It has been used both as monasteries and as a Nazi operations base, however, it has been abandoned since WWII. Religious and military artifacts have all been removed and now it just sits as an empty ruin.
Most of these islands are off-limits for tourists, but those that aren’t could certainly make for a creepy little excursion on your next vacation. For those interested in ghost stories and ancient history, they are definitely worth the trip.
Keep Reading: The Montezuma Castle – The Incredible Stone Dwelling Built Almost a Millennium Ago Is Still Intact


theheartysoul--2020-10-02--Bee Populations Are Increasing In Many States–With Maine Seeing 70% Rise In 2 Years

Honey bees are one of the most important agricultural commodities in the United States and around the world .
They are essential for pollinating flowers , fruits , and vegetables , and support approximately twenty billion dollars worth of crop production in the US every year .
Worldwide , that number is 170 billion [ 1 ] .
Over the last fifteen years , however , bee populations have been declining at an alarming rate .
Because of a phenomenon called “ colony collapse disorder ” , some regions have lost up to ninety percent of their honey bee numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The good news ?
Bee populations are increasing .
Finally , however , there is some good news .
Recent data collections from the US Department of Agriculture show that in some states , bee populations are making a comeback .
According to the USDA , there was a fourteen percent increase in the number of honeybee colonies from January 2019 to January 2020 .
Michigan , Nebraska , Oklahoma , and Maine are experiencing the largest increases .
There are now tens of thousands of new colonies in these states [ 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , the United States as a whole added approximately 420 thousand more colonies than were lost .
Here is a breakdown of some of the states that saw the largest increases since 2018 : Advertisement Nebraska : colony numbers grew by more than 60 percent .
While this news is a welcome change from what we ’ ve come to expect regarding bee populations , it isn ’ t consistent across the entire country .
Other states , like California and Florida , have suffered significant losses in the same period of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousand colonies since 2018 , and California has lost a staggering 160 600 .
Despite this , California is still home to the largest number of bees in the country [ 4 ] .
So what is going on here ?
Why are some states ’ bee populations growing , while others are disappearing ?
There are a number of reasons why bee populations in some regions are declining .
One of the biggest problems is the varroa mite .
This parasite invades hives and spreads disease .
Scott McArt is an assistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He says other reasons populations are declining are a loss of habitat and poor management practices .
Exposure to pesticides , pests , and other diseases within the hive are also contributing to the declining numbers [ 1 ] .
Most experts agree that these issues in combination are what is causing colony collapse disorder .
Some studies found that toxic levels of agricultural pesticides , called neonicotinoids , in honeybee colonies is the main issue .
These substances kill queen bees and interfere with bees ’ ability to navigate back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that they need to do more research to understand the role of neonicotinoids in colony collapse disorder .
It is critical information , because in the United States , neonicotinoids are used on 95 percent of corn and canola crops .
They are also used on the majority of cotton , sorghum , sugar beets , apples , cherries , peaches , oranges , berries , leafy greens , tomatoes , potatoes and about half of all soybeans [ 5 ] .
How to Keep Bee Populations Increasing in Your State Whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are thriving or not , there are ways that you can help the pollinators in your area .
Ohio State University offers the following four suggestions : Not all flowers provide the amount of pollen bees need to survive .
On top of that , with so much of our modern world covered in concrete , the bees are running out of places to pollinate .
Whether you have a large backyard or a small balcony , planting a variety of flowers and trees within the space you have can go a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for bees include crocus , sweet alyssum , sunflowers , coneflower , butterfly weed , geranium , bee balm , poppies , black-eyed susan , clover or apple trees [ 6 ] .
Insecticides are toxic to bees , so avoid using them at all costs .
If you must use them on your lawn , look for one that is not toxic to honey bees .
It is also important to avoid using herbicides on your lawn as well .
They are not directly toxic to bees , but they kill flowering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are important sources of pollen [ 6 ] .
As annoying as it can be to have a bee buzzing around your head , resist the urge to kill it .
Two mating bees could be the difference between an eventually thriving hive or none at all [ 6 ] .
Our changing environment has a direct impact on bee populations .
Without bees , we won ’ t be able to produce the amount of food we need to feed the world .
While the increased numbers in some states are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to improve conditions so that these important insects can survive .
While bee populations are increasing , we still still want to do our part .
When we protect the bees , we protect ourselves .
Keep Reading : A small city is devoting 1,000 acres of land to America ’ s vanishing bees

Honey bees are one of the most important agricultural commodities in the United States and around the world. They are essential for pollinating flowers, fruits, and vegetables, and support approximately twenty billion dollars worth of crop production in the US every year. Worldwide, that number is 170 billion [1]. Over the last fifteen years, however, bee populations have been declining at an alarming rate. Because of a phenomenon called “colony collapse disorder”, some regions have lost up to ninety percent of their honey bee numbers as of 2019 [2]. The good news? Bee populations are increasing.
Finally, however, there is some good news. Recent data collections from the US Department of Agriculture show that in some states, bee populations are making a comeback.
Bee Populations are Increasing
According to the USDA, there was a fourteen percent increase in the number of honeybee colonies from January 2019 to January 2020. Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Maine are experiencing the largest increases. There are now tens of thousands of new colonies in these states [3].
In the first half of 2020, the United States as a whole added approximately 420 thousand more colonies than were lost. Here is a breakdown of some of the states that saw the largest increases since 2018:
Maine: colony numbers grew by 73 percent.
Oklahoma: colony numbers grew by nearly 70 percent.
Nebraska: colony numbers grew by more than 60 percent.
Michigan: colony numbers grew by 50 percent.
Montana: colony growth of over 48 percent.
Wyoming: colony growth of over 42 percent.
Texas: colony growth of nearly 38 percent.
North Dakota: colony growth of over 35 percent.
Mississippi: colony growth of over 34 percent [4].
What’s Happening to the Bees?
While this news is a welcome change from what we’ve come to expect regarding bee populations, it isn’t consistent across the entire country. Other states, like California and Florida, have suffered significant losses in the same period of time.
Florida has lost nearly 43 thousand colonies since 2018, and California has lost a staggering 160 600. Despite this, California is still home to the largest number of bees in the country [4].
So what is going on here? Why are some states’ bee populations growing, while others are disappearing?
There are a number of reasons why bee populations in some regions are declining. One of the biggest problems is the varroa mite. This parasite invades hives and spreads disease.
Scott McArt is an assistant professor of pollinator health at Cornell University. He says other reasons populations are declining are a loss of habitat and poor management practices. Exposure to pesticides, pests, and other diseases within the hive are also contributing to the declining numbers [1].
Most experts agree that these issues in combination are what is causing colony collapse disorder. Some studies found that toxic levels of agricultural pesticides, called neonicotinoids, in honeybee colonies is the main issue. These substances kill queen bees and interfere with bees’ ability to navigate back to their hives.
Experts say, however, that they need to do more research to understand the role of neonicotinoids in colony collapse disorder. It is critical information, because in the United States, neonicotinoids are used on 95 percent of corn and canola crops.
They are also used on the majority of cotton, sorghum, sugar beets, apples, cherries, peaches, oranges, berries, leafy greens, tomatoes, potatoes and about half of all soybeans [5].
How to Keep Bee Populations Increasing in Your State
Whether you live in a state where bees are thriving or not, there are ways that you can help the pollinators in your area. Ohio State University offers the following four suggestions:
Make your backyard honey bee-friendly.
Not all flowers provide the amount of pollen bees need to survive. On top of that, with so much of our modern world covered in concrete, the bees are running out of places to pollinate. Whether you have a large backyard or a small balcony, planting a variety of flowers and trees within the space you have can go a long way.
Some blooms that are better for bees include crocus, sweet alyssum, sunflowers, coneflower, butterfly weed, geranium, bee balm, poppies, black-eyed susan, clover or apple trees [6].
Don’t use insecticides.
Insecticides are toxic to bees, so avoid using them at all costs. If you must use them on your lawn, look for one that is not toxic to honey bees. It is also important to avoid using herbicides on your lawn as well. They are not directly toxic to bees, but they kill flowering “weeds” (like dandelions) that are important sources of pollen [6].
Don’t kill bees.
As annoying as it can be to have a bee buzzing around your head, resist the urge to kill it. Two mating bees could be the difference between an eventually thriving hive or none at all [6].
Our changing environment has a direct impact on bee populations. Without bees, we won’t be able to produce the amount of food we need to feed the world. While the increased numbers in some states are encouraging, we must continue to work to improve conditions so that these important insects can survive.
While bee populations are increasing, we still still want to do our part. When we protect the bees, we protect ourselves.
Keep Reading: A small city is devoting 1,000 acres of land to America’s vanishing bees


theheartysoul--2020-10-01--Man Spots Dog Friends Sitting Side-by-Side on Chairs in a Field, Posts Odd Encounter on TikTok

Animal Farm ’ s about to happen in real life and these two pooches are leading the take-over .
You better warn the residents !
In a recent viral video making the rounds on social media , TikTok user @ saxby2.0 was driving home from work when he spotted an adorably weird scene in the distance – two big dogs sitting side-by-side on seats in a deserted field [ 1 ] .
Saxby didn ’ t know whose dogs they were or where they ’ d come from , but he was terrified by the sight and had to circle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Speaking into the camera , Saxby said he was scared out of his mind and had no idea what to make of the whole encounter .
Watching the world go by – and keeping an eye out for trouble When Saxby got close enough , the video revealed a yellow Labrador and her pitbull friend , seated exactly like humans on two plastic seats , and surrounded by tall grasses in a fenced field .
It ’ s uncertain how they got there , but some people in the comments figured they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ watch.Advertisement Saxby ’ s video has been liked more than 90,000 times on TikTok as people can not get enough of the adorable pair .
Dogs are experts at imitating humans and the only really weird thing about the video was how the puppy pair sat as though they were in deep conversation .
It ’ s not unusual to find your dog sitting on your favorite chair , trying to imitate the same position you sit in while keenly watching a soccer game or The Army Wives .
Read : Holland breaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zero stray dogs Your pooches can ’ t actually help it .
Dogs automatically imitate the movements and behaviors of their owners , even without being explicitly trained to do so .
This is how dogs learn to shake people with their front paws , jump up on the toilet seat and try to pee like a human , or curl up on the sofa and wear a sulking look when they are sad .
An interesting study from 2010 by scientists at the universities of Vienna and Oxford proves that dogs are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their owners [ 2 ] .
The study observed ten adult dogs that were trained to open a sliding door with their paws .
The pooches watched as their owners got down on all four to demonstrate the movements .
The dogs were then divided into two groups .
One group was rewarded for imitating their owners perfectly and the other group was gifted for doing the opposite .
AdvertisementIt was an amazing result as the scientists observed that nearly all the dogs attempted to copy their owners exactly , even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They just couldn ’ t resist the urge to as their owners had done .
“ This suggests that , like humans , dogs are subject to ‘ automatic imitation ; ’ they can not inhibit online , the tendency to imitate head use and/or paw use , ” the lead author Friederike Range wrote in the paper .
“ For example , if people are instructed to open their mouths as soon as they see the letters ‘ OM ’ appear on a screen , responses are slower when the letters are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand than when they are accompanied by an image of an opening mouth.
” The dogs in the video might have regularly watched their owners sitting in the same spot for long periods , perhaps watching the neighborhood as people suggested .
When their owners left the seats , the pets probably couldn ’ t resist the urge to take over and just be the regular , conversational pooches .

Animal Farm’s about to happen in real life and these two pooches are leading the take-over. You better warn the residents!
In a recent viral video making the rounds on social media, TikTok user @saxby2.0 was driving home from work when he spotted an adorably weird scene in the distance – two big dogs sitting side-by-side on seats in a deserted field [1]. Saxby didn’t know whose dogs they were or where they’d come from, but he was terrified by the sight and had to circle back to record the “chairmen”.
Speaking into the camera, Saxby said he was scared out of his mind and had no idea what to make of the whole encounter.
“I’m on my way home from f***ing work and I’m looking out of my window and I’m thinking, ‘What the f*** is that?'”
Watching the world go by – and keeping an eye out for trouble
When Saxby got close enough, the video revealed a yellow Labrador and her pitbull friend, seated exactly like humans on two plastic seats, and surrounded by tall grasses in a fenced field. It’s uncertain how they got there, but some people in the comments figured they were part of the neighborhood or block watch.
Still a bit shaken up, Saxby continued: “That scared the f— out of me!” He then spoke to the pets. “What are you two doing?! I don’t know who you are or who you belong to, but why are you sitting on chairs like that?”
Saxby’s video has been liked more than 90,000 times on TikTok as people cannot get enough of the adorable pair.
Dogs are experts at imitating humans and the only really weird thing about the video was how the puppy pair sat as though they were in deep conversation. It’s not unusual to find your dog sitting on your favorite chair, trying to imitate the same position you sit in while keenly watching a soccer game or The Army Wives.
Read: Holland breaks record as first country ever to have zero stray dogs
Imitating humans – involuntary behavior for dogs
Your pooches can’t actually help it. Dogs automatically imitate the movements and behaviors of their owners, even without being explicitly trained to do so. This is how dogs learn to shake people with their front paws, jump up on the toilet seat and try to pee like a human, or curl up on the sofa and wear a sulking look when they are sad.
An interesting study from 2010 by scientists at the universities of Vienna and Oxford proves that dogs are more inclined to spontaneously imitate the movements of their owners [2]. The study observed ten adult dogs that were trained to open a sliding door with their paws. The pooches watched as their owners got down on all four to demonstrate the movements. The dogs were then divided into two groups. One group was rewarded for imitating their owners perfectly and the other group was gifted for doing the opposite.
It was an amazing result as the scientists observed that nearly all the dogs attempted to copy their owners exactly, even if it meant not getting a reward. They just couldn’t resist the urge to as their owners had done.
“This suggests that, like humans, dogs are subject to ‘automatic imitation;’ they cannot inhibit online, the tendency to imitate head use and/or paw use,” the lead author Friederike Range wrote in the paper. “For example, if people are instructed to open their mouths as soon as they see the letters ‘OM’ appear on a screen, responses are slower when the letters are accompanied by an image of an opening hand than when they are accompanied by an image of an opening mouth.”
The dogs in the video might have regularly watched their owners sitting in the same spot for long periods, perhaps watching the neighborhood as people suggested. When their owners left the seats, the pets probably couldn’t resist the urge to take over and just be the regular, conversational pooches.
Adorable!
Keep Reading: Texas Shelter Builds Tiny Homes to Give Rescue Dogs Awaiting Adoption a ‘Home-Like Environment’


theheartysoul--2020-10-03--Farmer Plants Field of Sunflowers to Make You Smile

The world has had a troubled year so far between the pandemic , locusts , and fires — life feels bleak , and we ’ re only in October .
Still , there are many things to smile about .
Like freshly brewed coffee , music that vibes exactly with your mood , warm towels from the dryer , or the eagerly-awaited season of your favorite show coming to your streaming service .
Or a chance to wander in a meadow with over two million sunflowers .
A fourth-generation berry farmer based in rural Kenosha County wanted to give the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So he chose to plant the flower that depicts pure happiness : sunflowers .
Over two million of them .
Scott Thompson runs the Thompson Strawberry Farm in Bristol .
It ’ s several miles outside of Kenosha , just off Interstate 94 .
He usually offers customers strawberry- , raspberry- , and pumpkin-picking .
And now he has welcomed people to stop on by to be mentally healed by his bright meadow of blooming sunshine .
From the street , you could see the sunflowers bending in the breeze , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1 ] Advertisement “ We just did it… and we just kept building , ” Thompson said .
“ As the season went on , the pandemic never went anywhere … and we thought people might be looking for something to do.
” “ And what a great way to social distance and … smile , basically.
” [ 2 ] For a $ 25 admission fee , which includes the purchase of a dozen sunflowers , people can visit the gorgeous field for as long as they like .
Photography is encouraged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sunflowers to take home .
Thompson explained that many people have visited his farm from nearby cities like Racine , Kenosha , Milwaukee and suburban Chicago .
“ We ’ ve heard a lot from people in the cities who came out here , ” he said .
“ A lot of people are saying , ‘ We just needed to get out of the city and come out to a place where I could take my mask off for a couple of hours . '
” AdvertisementAdvertisementHe hopes his attraction would allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what reality used to be like instead of what it is now.
” The sunflowers were originally Thompson ’ s wife ’ s idea .
It began with a small , 2-acre field then grew into a gigantic 22-acre sunflower haven as the tall green stalks continue to grow .
In general , sunflowers take about 60 days to mature and the first planting took place on Memorial Day weekend .
The most recent one was on July 20 and already blooming .
“ We planted one short ones .
A lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not really good for pictures , ” Thompson said .
“ One of the best things about sunflowers is it makes for pretty awesome pictures .
We grew shorter ones for the perfect selfie so you can get that sea of yellow behind you.
” The visitors were few at first but word spread fast once his neighborhood learned about Thompson ’ s endeavor .
AdvertisementAdvertisement “ At first , we could sit in our front yard and ask Siri where the nearest sunflower field was , and it would send @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
Once more people began coming , their photos on social media began to spread across the internet .
This led to the farm being featured on Good Morning America and USA Today .
Thompson was even contacted from an English media outlet .
[ 3 ] Here ’ s How You Can Visit the Sunflower Field Here is the address information to the farm : The contact number is 262-857-2353 .
Admission is $ 25 per car ( up to six people ) — this price includes a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The sunflower season should last until the beginning of October , so don ’ t push off a trip if you ’ re interested in an afternoon wandering among the blooms .
Share all of the photographs of the stunning place to spread some joy in a rather depressing news feed .
“ One of the things that ’ s so cool about this is everyone is so happy , ” Thompson said .
“ We get all these comments on Facebook , or if I ’ m out in the field @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for doing this , ’ [ and ] ‘ This is what I needed . '
” After all , the entire point of the field is to cheer everyone up .
If you can ’ t make it there , hopefully these stunning photographs will suffice to bring a smile to your face .
Thompson wasn ’ t the first one to plant flowers to bring people joy .
This Japanese man has planted thousands of flowers for his blind wife .
There ’ s also this Japanese park with 4.5 million @ @ @

The world has had a troubled year so far between the pandemic, locusts, and fires — life feels bleak, and we’re only in October. Still, there are many things to smile about. Like freshly brewed coffee, music that vibes exactly with your mood, warm towels from the dryer, or the eagerly-awaited season of your favorite show coming to your streaming service.
Or a chance to wander in a meadow with over two million sunflowers.
A Field of Sunflowers, a Field of Smiles
A fourth-generation berry farmer based in rural Kenosha County wanted to give the people of 2020 a reason to smile. So he chose to plant the flower that depicts pure happiness: sunflowers. Over two million of them.
Scott Thompson runs the Thompson Strawberry Farm in Bristol. It’s several miles outside of Kenosha, just off Interstate 94. He usually offers customers strawberry-, raspberry-, and pumpkin-picking. And now he has welcomed people to stop on by to be mentally healed by his bright meadow of blooming sunshine. From the street, you could see the sunflowers bending in the breeze, and the people milling around them. [1]
“We just did it… and we just kept building,” Thompson said. “As the season went on, the pandemic never went anywhere … and we thought people might be looking for something to do.”
“And what a great way to social distance and … smile, basically.” [2]
For a $25 admission fee, which includes the purchase of a dozen sunflowers, people can visit the gorgeous field for as long as they like. Photography is encouraged and they can pick their own 12 sunflowers to take home.
Thompson explained that many people have visited his farm from nearby cities like Racine, Kenosha, Milwaukee and suburban Chicago.
“We’ve heard a lot from people in the cities who came out here,” he said. “A lot of people are saying, ‘We just needed to get out of the city and come out to a place where I could take my mask off for a couple of hours.'”
He hopes his attraction would allow people to relax and “just enjoy what reality used to be like instead of what it is now.”
Starting Small…
The sunflowers were originally Thompson’s wife’s idea. It began with a small, 2-acre field then grew into a gigantic 22-acre sunflower haven as the tall green stalks continue to grow.
In general, sunflowers take about 60 days to mature and the first planting took place on Memorial Day weekend. The most recent one was on July 20 and already blooming.
“We planted one short ones. A lot of people plant tall ones, but they’re not really good for pictures,” Thompson said. “One of the best things about sunflowers is it makes for pretty awesome pictures. We grew shorter ones for the perfect selfie so you can get that sea of yellow behind you.”
The visitors were few at first but word spread fast once his neighborhood learned about Thompson’s endeavor.
“At first, we could sit in our front yard and ask Siri where the nearest sunflower field was, and it would send you to a spot 40 miles away,” he said.
Once more people began coming, their photos on social media began to spread across the internet. This led to the farm being featured on Good Morning America and USA Today. Thompson was even contacted from an English media outlet. [3]
Here’s How You Can Visit the Sunflower Field
Here is the address information to the farm:
Thompson Strawberry Farm
14000 75th Street
Bristol, WI 53104
The contact number is 262-857-2353. Admission is $25 per car (up to six people) — this price includes a dozen flowers to pick and bring home. The sunflower season should last until the beginning of October, so don’t push off a trip if you’re interested in an afternoon wandering among the blooms. Share all of the photographs of the stunning place to spread some joy in a rather depressing news feed.
“One of the things that’s so cool about this is everyone is so happy,” Thompson said. “We get all these comments on Facebook, or if I’m out in the field, everybody is like, ‘Thanks for doing this,’ [and] ‘This is what I needed.'”
After all, the entire point of the field is to cheer everyone up. If you can’t make it there, hopefully these stunning photographs will suffice to bring a smile to your face.
Thompson wasn’t the first one to plant flowers to bring people joy. This Japanese man has planted thousands of flowers for his blind wife. There’s also this Japanese park with 4.5 million blue flowers.
Turns out Flower Power is real…


theheartysoul--2020-10-03--Contact Lenses Could Give Your Eyes Superpowers

Imagine contact lenses that didn ’ t just improve your vision , but gave your eyes superpowers ?
These new augmented reality contact lenses can almost do just that .
This is everything you need to know about this exciting new technology .
Mojo Vision has taken technology that you can find in smart glasses or a VR headset and are translating that into a contact lens .
( 1 ) Not only will these lenses help improve your vision , but when you move your eye in a certain direction , you can find information as you would on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ project has been in motion since 2015 , however , the research for it dates back to 2008 .
Having kept their plans in stealth-mode for more than three years , they are finally ready to go public about the upcoming product .
The consumer model is still two to three years away , but nevertheless , it is an exciting prospect .
( 1 ) It is said that necessity is the driving force for invention , so it is no surprise that two of the three co-founders of Mojo Vision are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great vision .
( 1 ) Advertisement The first of these men is CEO Drew Perkins .
Perkins has co-founded several companies already , including optical networking company Infera in 2007 and cable network architecture company Gainspeed in 2012 .
( 1 ) While acting as CEO of Gainspeed he developed cataracts .
Cataracts are a common vision problem that causes the cornea , the clear outer layer at the front of your eye , to become cloudy .
Perkins had surgery to correct for as much as this as possible , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited .
( 1 ) This experience is what pushed him to sell Gainspeed and pursue the idea of “ the bionic eye ” .
The second co-founder and now Chief Science Officer is Michael Deering .
The former Sun Microsystems engineer also suffers from poor vision and was having similar thoughts .
He was an expert in the field of artificial intelligence , computer vision , and virtual reality .
He left Sun in 2001 with the goal of figuring out how to have a micro-display either embedded into a contact lens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
By 2008 he actually had some success .
( 1 ) Mojo ’ s latest display is made of 70,000 pixels in a space that is less than half a millimeter across – that ’ s smaller than a single grain of sand .
It is positioned so that it sits right in front of the pupil and projects light to a specific area of the retina at the back of the eye .
( 1 ) This area is called the fovea .
The Fovea is responsible for seeing the fine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at .
It is a small indentation at the back of the retina that contains nearly all of its nerve endings .
This is what allows us to see things crisp , clear , and in detail , as opposed to the blurrier images we get in our peripherals .
( 1 ) Other components of the Mojo lens will include ( 1 ) : • A thin-film , solid-state battery within the lens ( first version ) The lens will rely on an internet connection , most likely provided by a smartphone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 1 ) Read : Meet the Frostbitten Cat That Has Become the First in the World to Receive Four Prosthetic Limbs Mojo is not looking at using augmented reality ( AR ) technology for just regular , consumer use .
They want to use it to improve as many functions as possible .
Currently , they are working on a prototype that will be used by firefighters that will enable them to do their job faster , safer , and more effectively .
( 1 ) Advertisement One of the biggest challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is knowing what they are coming into .
Normally , thick smoke makes it very hard to see .
( 1 ) The lens is able to give them valuable information they wouldn ’ t otherwise have , including ( 1 ) : • Floor plans and placement of things like tables and chairs • Symbols showing the position of the other firefighters • Alerts warning them to exit the building quickly It allows them to survey and see the situation without having to set down tools like axes or a hose to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Mojo is working with Motorola to develop this technology for first responders and is also in conversation with the U.S. Department of Defense about a potential application for the military .
( 1 ) The company is also hoping to develop a version for the hospitality and service industry that allows concierges to greet guests based on information brought up on the lens when the guest walks in .
( 1 ) While all of these potential applications are very exciting , the first lens will be focused on helping the 258 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degree of vision impairment .
It should be available in the next two to three years .
( 1 ) The lens will be able to help people with man vision loss problems .
It will be able to display the text written on a road sign that the wearer couldn ’ t otherwise read .
It will be able to detect objects in front of people , magnify objects and display them on parts of the retina that can still see well , fix shadowing and lighting , and display lines to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them more clearly .
( 1 ) Optometrist and Mojo ’ s VP of medical devices Ashley Tuan says that this technology could greatly increase many people ’ s quality of life .
( 1 ) Mojo has been approved by the FDA and was admitted into the administration ’ s Breakthrough Devices Program .
This program will help them to get the lenses approved as a medical device .
More studies as well as clinical trials to prove their safety and effectiveness still need to occur , however , before they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For the everyday consumer , these lenses will be focused on making regular life a little easier .
This will include items like ( 1 ) : • Showing you where your uber driver is and giving details without having to look at your phone • Video display of who is on your porch , ringing your doorbell Optometrists will be crucial , as they have to send information about the consumer ’ s eyes to Mojo in order for the company to create the custom lenses .
Their involvement is also key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the product .
( 1 ) As always with new technology , concerns over personal information and data storage come up .
Mojo knows that consumer education will be key here .
According to the company , the only data the lenses will store is facial recognition for people you may have to remember later .
Even that , they say , will only be stored for a short amount of time .
( 1 ) Though there are certainly a number of hurdles for Mojo to overcome before the lenses become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prospects of what it can do are exciting .
While we wait for the first augmented reality contact lens prototypes to come out , we can dream about a not-so-distant sci-fi future where everyone has access to supervision .
Keep Reading : Should LASIK Eye Surgery Be Banned ?
Here ’ s Why Some People Say Yes

Imagine contact lenses that didn’t just improve your vision, but gave your eyes superpowers? These new augmented reality contact lenses can almost do just that. This is everything you need to know about this exciting new technology.
Mojo Vision’s Augmented Reality Contact Lenses
Mojo Vision has taken technology that you can find in smart glasses or a VR headset and are translating that into a contact lens. (1) Not only will these lenses help improve your vision, but when you move your eye in a certain direction, you can find information as you would on your phone (1):
The weather
Your to-do list and calendar
Maps
Music
This project has been in motion since 2015, however, the research for it dates back to 2008. Having kept their plans in stealth-mode for more than three years, they are finally ready to go public about the upcoming product. The consumer model is still two to three years away, but nevertheless, it is an exciting prospect. (1)
“We’re really confident about this working,” said VP of product and marketing Steve Sinclair.“That’s why we’ve come out of stealth, because we’re seeing all the pieces coming together into a product that does everything we want it to do.” (1)
The Origin
It is said that necessity is the driving force for invention, so it is no surprise that two of the three co-founders of Mojo Vision are two people who don’t have great vision. (1)
The first of these men is CEO Drew Perkins. Perkins has co-founded several companies already, including optical networking company Infera in 2007 and cable network architecture company Gainspeed in 2012. (1)
While acting as CEO of Gainspeed he developed cataracts. Cataracts are a common vision problem that causes the cornea, the clear outer layer at the front of your eye, to become cloudy. Perkins had surgery to correct for as much as this as possible, however, his mid-range vision was still rather limited. (1)
This experience is what pushed him to sell Gainspeed and pursue the idea of “the bionic eye”.
“I thought, ‘How can I give people this kind of super-vision?’” he said. “There’s got to be a way to give people advanced or elevated vision without surgery.” (1)
The second co-founder and now Chief Science Officer is Michael Deering. The former Sun Microsystems engineer also suffers from poor vision and was having similar thoughts. He was an expert in the field of artificial intelligence, computer vision, and virtual reality. He left Sun in 2001 with the goal of figuring out how to have a micro-display either embedded into a contact lens or actually implanted into the eye itself. By 2008 he actually had some success. (1)
How Augmented Reality Contact Lenses Work
Mojo’s latest display is made of 70,000 pixels in a space that is less than half a millimeter across – that’s smaller than a single grain of sand. It is positioned so that it sits right in front of the pupil and projects light to a specific area of the retina at the back of the eye. (1)
This area is called the fovea. The Fovea is responsible for seeing the fine details of the objects we are looking at. It is a small indentation at the back of the retina that contains nearly all of its nerve endings. This is what allows us to see things crisp, clear, and in detail, as opposed to the blurrier images we get in our peripherals. (1)
Other components of the Mojo lens will include (1):
A single-core ARM-based processor and image sensor
Eye-tracking sensor and communications chip
A thin-film, solid-state battery within the lens (first version)
The lens will rely on an internet connection, most likely provided by a smartphone, for some of its functions. (1)
Read: Meet the Frostbitten Cat That Has Become the First in the World to Receive Four Prosthetic Limbs
Possible Applications For Augmented Reality Contact Lenses
Mojo is not looking at using augmented reality (AR) technology for just regular, consumer use. They want to use it to improve as many functions as possible. Currently, they are working on a prototype that will be used by firefighters that will enable them to do their job faster, safer, and more effectively. (1)
One of the biggest challenges when a firefighter enters a burning building is knowing what they are coming into. Normally, thick smoke makes it very hard to see. (1) The lens is able to give them valuable information they wouldn’t otherwise have, including (1):
Floor plans and placement of things like tables and chairs
Symbols showing the position of the other firefighters
Oxygen tank level
Communication signal strength
Alerts warning them to exit the building quickly
It allows them to survey and see the situation without having to set down tools like axes or a hose to look at a screen. (1)
Mojo is working with Motorola to develop this technology for first responders and is also in conversation with the U.S. Department of Defense about a potential application for the military. (1)
The company is also hoping to develop a version for the hospitality and service industry that allows concierges to greet guests based on information brought up on the lens when the guest walks in. (1)
Vision Enhancement
While all of these potential applications are very exciting, the first lens will be focused on helping the 258 million people worldwide who suffer from some degree of vision impairment. It should be available in the next two to three years. (1)
The lens will be able to help people with man vision loss problems. It will be able to display the text written on a road sign that the wearer couldn’t otherwise read. It will be able to detect objects in front of people, magnify objects and display them on parts of the retina that can still see well, fix shadowing and lighting, and display lines to define objects so the wearer can see them more clearly. (1)
Optometrist and Mojo’s VP of medical devices Ashley Tuan says that this technology could greatly increase many people’s quality of life. (1)
“We can give them the essential tools they need for mobility,” she explains. “They just want to feel that they are normal. They don’t want people to feel pity for them or take advantage of them.” (1)
Mojo has been approved by the FDA and was admitted into the administration’s Breakthrough Devices Program. This program will help them to get the lenses approved as a medical device. More studies as well as clinical trials to prove their safety and effectiveness still need to occur, however, before they are granted that certification. (1)
For Consumers
For the everyday consumer, these lenses will be focused on making regular life a little easier. This will include items like (1):
Airport directions
Showing you where your uber driver is and giving details without having to look at your phone
Video display of who is on your porch, ringing your doorbell
Optometrists will be crucial, as they have to send information about the consumer’s eyes to Mojo in order for the company to create the custom lenses. Their involvement is also key for ensuring consumer trust in the safety of the product. (1)
As always with new technology, concerns over personal information and data storage come up. Mojo knows that consumer education will be key here. According to the company, the only data the lenses will store is facial recognition for people you may have to remember later. Even that, they say, will only be stored for a short amount of time. (1)
The Bottom Line
Though there are certainly a number of hurdles for Mojo to overcome before the lenses become a regular, house-hold product, the prospects of what it can do are exciting. While we wait for the first augmented reality contact lens prototypes to come out, we can dream about a not-so-distant sci-fi future where everyone has access to supervision.


theheartysoul--2020-10-03--Court rules Subway sandwiches too sugary to meet legal definition of ‘bread’

When it comes to fast food , many people consider Subway to be a healthier option .
It ’ s true that among the McDonalds , Taco Bells , and Burger Kings of the world , Subway seems healthier .
After all , it does at least provide a few more veggies and a little less fried food .
But it turns out that the Sandwich purveyor may not be as healthy as we want to believe .
In a recent court case , the Supreme Court of Ireland ruled that Subway ’ s bread is too sugary to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court of Ireland recently ruled that the bread Subway uses for its hot sandwiches contains too much sugar to be considered bread .
But how did this reach all the way to the Supreme Court ?
As the saying goes , you just have to follow the money .
The story starts in 2006 .
Subway franchisee , Bookfinders Ltd. in County Galway submitted a claim to the Irish Revenue Commissioners .
They asked to receive a refund for VAT payments they made between January/February 2004 to November/December 2005 at a rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ VAT stands for Value-Added Tax .
It is a consumption tax that the government places on products .
It occurs whenever value is added at each stage of the supply chain , from production to the point of sale .
The amount the users pays is on the cost of the product , less the cost of the materials in the product that have already been taxed .
The tax is based on the user ’ s consumption , not on their income .
For this reason , many consider it to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highly controversial [ 2 ] .
The case calls into question “ the 1972 Act ” .
This act exempts certain products from the VAT tax as long as the product is considered essential .
In other words , goods and services that are “ staples ” receive a zero percent VAT tax rate .
The 1972 act provides a definition of what we can consider to be bread .
In this definition , the Act says that the weight of ingredients like sugar , fat , and bread improver , can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the flour in the dough .
The purpose of this definition was to distinguish between what is a “ staple ” ( ie- bread ) , and what is not ( ie- baked goods , brownies , etc. )
.
AdvertisementAdvertisementThe five-judge court ruled that Subway ’ s bread falls outside of this definition .
Why ?
Because it ’ s dough has a sugar content of roughly ten percent the weight of its flour content .
For this reason , a Subway sandwich does not contain “ bread ” , and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purpose of the Act [ 3 ] .
According to the nutrition facts from the restaurant itself , most of their bread contains between five and nine grams of sugar for a six-inch sandwich [ 4 ] .
So Subway Bread is Sugary , Should I Still Eat It ?
If Subway ’ s bread is so sugary that the Supreme Court does not consider it to be “ food ” , does that mean you should ditch it altogether ?
Not necessarily .
As far as fast-food restaurants go , Subway does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional burger , fries , or fried chicken .
Though that ’ s not seeing the bar very high .
For this reason , when you ’ re looking for a quick bite on a road trip with limited choice , Subway , relatively speaking , might be your best option .
All the more reason to have a packed lunch ?
Maybe.AdvertisementAdvertisement That being said , not all sandwiches at the restaurant are made equal .
According to eatthis.com , the rotisserie or oven-roasted chicken sandwich , or the veggie delight , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially true when compared to the bacon ranch melt or the meatball sub .
Remember the bread is only part of the sandwich- the fillings matter , too [ 5 ] .
Of course , if you really want to be health-conscious , most Subway locations give you the option to skip the bread altogether and make your sandwich a salad .
Doing this takes the sugar content of the bread out of the question entirely .
It is also important to remember that an occasional trip to Subway is not going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If it ’ s your daily lunch spot , you may want to consider how healthy it actually is .
If you only go there once in a while when you ’ re in a pinch , you likely have nothing to worry about .
Even if you get the meatball sub .
Keep Reading : How I Get By : A Week in the Life of a McDonald ’ s Cashier

Likely from time to time, you purchase something at the store that contains another item that wasn’t supposed to be there. Usually, these items are perfectly harmless. A woman in Sydney, Australia, however, claims that she found a live snake in a bag of lettuce that she purchased at her local Aldi supermarket. The grocery chain is now investigating. (1)
Woman Finds Live Snake in Bag of Lettuce From Aldi’s
Last week, Australian supermarket giant Aldi launched an investigation after a customer claimed to find a live snake in a bag of lettuce she bought at one of their Sydney locations. Of course, the woman posted about the incident on social media. Not only is it, well, kind of crazy, but she also wanted to warn other shoppers to be careful while doing their shopping. (1)
“Last night my son found a baby pale-headed snake in with his baby cos lettuce from Aldi,” she wrote. “Check packaged lettuces carefully.” (1)
Lesley Kuhn Facebook
Aldi’s Response
Naturally, Aldi is shocked at the incident and is unsure how the snake could have possibly even gotten in there. They launched an investigation to determine how this happened and what can be done to prevent it from occurring in the future. (1)
“We’ve worked with the customer and the team at WIRES [Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service] to identify the snake’s natural habitat, which is certainly not an ALDI store,” (1)
WIRES says that the only way they can imagine this happening is that the snake was picked along with the lettuce when it was very young and somehow managed to survive the entire lettuce production and packaging process. Though this type of snake is known for being shy and timid, they will quickly become aggressive if they feel threatened. (1)
From a Bag of Lettuce and Back into to the Wild
Though the woman who discovered the snake lives in Sydney, the snake’s home is actually 1,000km away in Queensland. A team from WIRES drove the snake back to Toowoomba, the region where Aldi’s lettuce is grown, and released it back into the wild. (2)
“You get the haters that would rather see [a snake] chopped up in a million pieces,” says Amy Wregg, WIRES emergency responder. “But he’s a little hatchling that just got himself into a bit of mischief. He’s venomous but he’s not deadly so it’s enough to make you sick but not kill you.” (2)
Roughly the size of a pen, the little snake spent a week in WIRES care before making the trip back home. Wregg says the week-long recovery period was to ensure his health after spending so much time in a cold environment. Thankfully, his recovery went well, and he can return to regular daily snake life. (2)
“It’s such a joy to be able to bring them back to the wild. They’re always a big part of the ecosystem,” says Wregg. (2)
Other Strange Things Found in Groceries
Though finding a live snake in a bag of lettuce is certainly up there in terms of things you don’t expect to find in your groceries, these next few are also as strange. Be careful – some may turn you off of eating a certain food item ever again!
If you’re anything like me, I will be thoroughly inspecting all packaged food items from now on!
Keep Reading: Baby Shark With ‘Human’ Face Leaves Fisherman Baffled
Sources


theheartysoul--2020-10-02--Quantum Glass Battery Will Change The World

In the 1980s , John Goodenough co-invented the lithium-ion battery .
Initially , no one in the battery or consumer electronics industry took his invention seriously .
Today , however , lithium ions power nearly every portable device on the market .
They also power electric vehicles .
Forty years later , now 94-year-old Goodenough has done it again .
This time , however , he ’ s invented a new quantum glass battery that ’ s meant to usurp his wildly successful invention .
To make the battery , the inventors smeared a form of glass with “ alkali @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sodium .
This is what the battery uses as its electrolyte .
The electrolyte is the medium between the cathode and the electrode that ions travel across when the battery charges and discharges .
In their research paper , the creators said that this innovative electrolyte is offering a new strategy for an all-solid-state , rechargeable , metal-plating battery [ 1 ] .
Advertisement One of the biggest issues with lithium-ion batteries has been their tendency to repeatedly build up spikey “ dendrites ” as they charge and discharge .
This can cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fire .
This lithium or sodium-doped quantum glass battery is neither flammable nor volatile , and does not have this dendrite issue .
It can also store three times more energy than a lithium-ion battery .
This means that your laptop or cell phone will hold its charge much longer .
It also means you won ’ t have to worry about it suddenly exploding on you .
Charge in minutes rather than hours Co-developer Maria Helena Braga from the University of Porto in Portugal says that an additional benefit to this battery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than hours .
This is because the glass in the battery gives it the ability to store a far greater amount of energy in the electric field .
She added that early tests of the battery indicate that it will be capable of thousands of charge/discharge cycles .
It will also be able to perform in extremely cold ( -4F or -20C ) and extremely hot ( 140F or 60C ) temperatures [ 2 ] .
Read : Scientists Create Liquid Fuel That Can Store The Sun ’ s Energy For Up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development , Goodenough believes they could replace lithium with sodium .
Sodium is a much more abundant element , and can be found in everything from underground seams of salt to the vast expanses of ocean water [ 3 ] .
This will make things like electric-powered cars much more affordable to make .
Goodenough also added that quantum glass battery could store intermittent solar and wind power on the electric grid .
But is this really possible ?
According to Donald Sadoway , a preeminent battery researcher and MIT materials science and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Flying car ’ gets off ground , with a person aboard The quantum glass battery is still in the early stages of development , so it is not commercially viable just yet .
Goodenough says that the next step is to verify that the cathode problem ( those spikes that cause batteries to catch fire ) is solved .
Sadoway says that addressing the safety issues will be a big leap forward .
He noted that people have been talking about solid-state electrolytes for years ( as opposed to liquid lithium ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of it .
Once they ’ ve done that , however , Goodenough is leaving the development of the quantum glass battery up to the manufacturers .
Keep Reading : Nano-diamond self-charging batteries could disrupt energy as we know it

In the 1980s, John Goodenough co-invented the lithium-ion battery. Initially, no one in the battery or consumer electronics industry took his invention seriously. Today, however, lithium ions power nearly every portable device on the market. They also power electric vehicles. Forty years later, now 94-year-old Goodenough has done it again. This time, however, he’s invented a new quantum glass battery that’s meant to usurp his wildly successful invention.
The Quantum Glass Battery
To make the battery, the inventors smeared a form of glass with “alkali” metals, such as lithium or sodium. This is what the battery uses as its electrolyte.
The electrolyte is the medium between the cathode and the electrode that ions travel across when the battery charges and discharges.
In their research paper, the creators said that this innovative electrolyte is offering a new strategy for an all-solid-state, rechargeable, metal-plating battery [1].
One of the biggest issues with lithium-ion batteries has been their tendency to repeatedly build up spikey “dendrites” as they charge and discharge. This can cause them to short-circuit or cause a battery fire.
This lithium or sodium-doped quantum glass battery is neither flammable nor volatile, and does not have this dendrite issue. It can also store three times more energy than a lithium-ion battery. This means that your laptop or cell phone will hold its charge much longer. It also means you won’t have to worry about it suddenly exploding on you.
Charge in minutes rather than hours
Co-developer Maria Helena Braga from the University of Porto in Portugal says that an additional benefit to this battery is that it can charge in minutes rather than hours. This is because the glass in the battery gives it the ability to store a far greater amount of energy in the electric field.
She added that early tests of the battery indicate that it will be capable of thousands of charge/discharge cycles. It will also be able to perform in extremely cold (-4F or -20C) and extremely hot (140F or 60C) temperatures [2].
Read: Scientists Create Liquid Fuel That Can Store The Sun’s Energy For Up to 18 Years
Endless Possibilities
With a little more development, Goodenough believes they could replace lithium with sodium. Sodium is a much more abundant element, and can be found in everything from underground seams of salt to the vast expanses of ocean water [3].
This will make things like electric-powered cars much more affordable to make.
“I think we have the possibility of doing what we’ve been trying to do for the last 20 years,” said Goodenough. “That is, to get an electric car that will be competitive in cost and convenience with the internal combustion engine.” [2]
Goodenough also added that quantum glass battery could store intermittent solar and wind power on the electric grid.
But is this really possible? According to Donald Sadoway, a preeminent battery researcher and MIT materials science and engineering professor, yes.
“When John Goodenough makes an announcement, I pay attention,” he says. “He’s tops in the field and really a fantastic scientist. So, his pronouncements are worth listening to.” [2]
Read: ‘Flying car’ gets off ground, with a person aboard
Next Steps
The quantum glass battery is still in the early stages of development, so it is not commercially viable just yet. Goodenough says that the next step is to verify that the cathode problem (those spikes that cause batteries to catch fire) is solved.
“And when we do [that] we can scale up to large-scale cells,” he said. “So far, we’ve made jelly-roll cells, and it looks like they’re working fairly well. So I’m fairly optimistic we’ll get there.” [2]
Sadoway says that addressing the safety issues will be a big leap forward. He noted that people have been talking about solid-state electrolytes for years (as opposed to liquid lithium), but no commercial product has come of it.
“If he can give us an electrolyte that is devoid of these flammable, organic solvents, that’s salutary in my opinion.” [2]
Once they’ve done that, however, Goodenough is leaving the development of the quantum glass battery up to the manufacturers.
“I don’t want to do development. I don’t want to be going into business. I’m 94. I don’t need the money.” [2]
Keep Reading: Nano-diamond self-charging batteries could disrupt energy as we know it