Hemp-Based Batteries Could Change the Way We Store Energy Forever

(Global Research) As hemp makes a comeback in the U.S. after a decades-long ban on its cultivation, scientists are reporting that fibers from the plant can pack as much energy and power as graphene, long-touted as the model material for supercapacitors. They’re presenting their research, which a Canadian start-up company is working on scaling up, at the 248th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world’s largest scientific society.

Although hemp (cannabis sativa) and marijuana (cannabis sativa var. indica) come from a similar species of plant, they are very different and confusion has been caused by deliberate misinformation with far reaching effects on socioeconomics as well as on environmental matters.

Hemp is the most universally useful plant we have at our disposal. The history of mankind’s use of hemp can be traced way back in time to between about 5000 – 7000 BC.

Seeking a medical miracle? Cannabis may hold the answer

Meet Charlotte, a young girl with Dravet syndrome who not so long ago was catatonic and experiencing over 300 seizures per week. Then cannabis entered the picture, and her life changed forever. Down to one seizure each week, Charlotte also began to walk and talk. A feeding tube had been the norm; now she feeds herself unassisted. And this is just one of many miracles attributed to this highly controversial plant.

A beneficial 'weed'

William L. Courtney, M.D. a dietary raw cannabis specialist, makes an important distinction between marijuana and cannabis. When cannabis is juiced or consumed in a raw state, the plant is a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune stimulator -- with no psychedelic effect. According to Courtney, marijuana on the other hand is the product of human manipulation by heating the plant, which changes the chemical components of the plant into mind-altering tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Both forms have their medicinal benefit, although many believe that cannabis in a raw state is the most powerful. Ingesting raw cannabis is effective for pain, epilepsy, depression, anxiety, cancer and autism, as well as a number of different disorders involving dysfunctional immune response, like lupus.

Sungazing: Discover the bright rewards of this ancient practice

Reserved for the elite priests and shamans of ancient sun worshiping civilizations, sungazing was considered a powerful tool for spiritual and physical transformation. Today, the practice has been revived and embraced once again - gaining popularity with those who seek heightened vibrancy and joyful states of being. Proponents also believe sungazing reduces hunger and helps to maintain a slim body.

How to feast on sunlight

The fundamental sungazing protocol is quite simple. During sunrise or sunset, stand barefoot on the earth and gaze at the sun for 10 seconds. Each day, look 10 seconds longer until you build up to 44 minutes - about 10 months' worth of daily practice. Remain relaxed and calm, do not squint or strain. Once you have reached the 44 minute mark, the program is complete, further sungazing isn't necessary - although many continue the practice throughout their lives.

3 unexpected foods that can help you beat the blues

Who hasn't, at one point or another, battled with depression? That unmistakable energy-zapping, soul-crushing and utterly unpleasant state. In these uncertain times of economic failure, joblessness and threats to home and food security, it's no wonder rates of depression are on the rise. But before relying on risky pharmaceutical antidepressants, consider food-based solutions instead.

Nature's antidepressant

A nutrient dense diet can go a long way in fending off, if not downright curing, fits of depression. Be that as it may, certain edibles are better at targeting the blues than others. The following three examples have shown exceptional promise in helping to defeat depressive mental states.

Make a Biogas Generator to Produce Your Own Natural Gas

(Mother Earth News) You can use many household organic “waste” materials to produce your own natural gas for cooking, lighting, and space and water heating. This gas, known as “biogas,” can also replace fossil-based natural gas to fuel an engine or an absorption cooling system, such as a gas refrigerator or chiller. Some gasoline engines are designed for or can be modified for use with natural gas, propane or biogas. Diesel engines can accept up to 80 percent biogas.

Biogas is a mixture of primarily flammable gases — mostly methane — along with carbon dioxide that forms anywhere organic material decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen), such as in water, deep in a landfill, or in the guts of animals, including you.

Love coffee but not the toxicity? Minimize health risks with these tips

Coffee beverages are big business in America, generating a whopping $30 billion in annual revenue. Controversy continues to plague this beloved drink, however, with reports of toxicity stemming from dangerous growing methods and the roasting process. Then there's the addicting properties of caffeine, as well as the issue of acidity. In spite of the bad rap, research has shown that coffee also lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, depression, stroke, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and asthma, along with cancers of the of liver, colon, kidney and prostate. Coffee contains a hearty dose of beneficial antioxidants too. Fortunately, we don't have to banish coffee completely from our lives - a happy medium can be struck if we pay attention to the bean type, growing practices, roast and brewing technique.