Tag: nature

What if you could be frozen in time? What if, one day, you could step into a metal tube, and then wake up tens, hundreds, or maybe even thousands of years later? Would you do it?
While this possibility is just a fun thought experiment to some, it’s no joke to others.

Real-life labs are dedicated to the preservation of the human body for as long as it takes to figure out the science of resuscitation, and they’re offering this service to the paying public. The process is called cryonics (not cryogenics, which is an established branch of science that studies extremely low temperatures).
The science of cryonics may seem like science fiction, but a few pioneers are working towards making it science fact. There are only three cryonics labs in the world, but together, they’ve preserved more than 300 bodies since 1967.

There are many people who see it as a ray of hope despite the present day fact that it is untenable.

While Austin Powers made it all the way to the 1990s to stop Dr. Evil, and Philip J. Fry was thawed out in the year 3000, in the real world, we’re still working on the resuscitation side of the equation. We haven’t yet brought anyone safely back from the deep freeze.
But that doesn’t mean these labs aren’t trying.

Explaining Cryonics

So what exactly is cryonics? Cryonics is a life-extending procedure involving the vitrification process—more on that in a moment—and extremely low temperatures. The cryopreservation process can only be administered after a person is pronounced clinically dead. People can choose to preserve their entire body, or just their head, believe it or not.

Of course, there’s no point to the process if you can’t successfully resurrect the body, and we don’t have the science to do that yet. Cryonics labs and their customers are banking on the technological advances of the future. It may seem like a long shot, but between the highly specified preservation process and recent advances made in the biomedical field, cryonic resurrection could be closer to reality than we think.
For an in-depth look at the process, we spoke with Linda Chamberlain, one of the founders of the Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale, Arizona, and she explained the entire, highly detailed process.
Essentially, the goal of the cryopreservation process is to slow down death—biologically, Chamberlain explains. Most of us think of life and death as being absolutes. You’re either alive or not, with not much in between. However, it’s not a simple as that.

A person is pronounced clinically dead when their heart stops beating. But even though the heart has stopped, it doesn’t mean all other parts of the body instantly die. We couldn’t have organ transplants if that were the case (as explored in a fascinating article in the Texas Law Review). Cells, body tissue, and organs stay alive for a certain amount of time after the heart stops. The cryonics process uses this time to preserve a body with extremely cold temperatures.

Our best guess is that revival will not be possible or practical for probably 50 to 100 years.

“The body is basically still living, but it can’t sustain itself,” Chamberlain says of the time just after clinical death. “What we’re trying to do is slow down and stop that dying process, so that person has the possibility of being resuscitated in the future when medical science has the ability to do that.”

A Step-By-Step Guide to Cryonic Preservation

Chamberlain explains that, for the best results, the preservation procedure should start immediately after a patient is pronounced dead. The first steps are most effective if the cryonic staff is on the scene and by the person’s side when death occurs. Chamberlain does mention that this can be tricky—especially in cases of heart attacks or stroke victims.
However, if a patient learns they have a health issue, they can contact Alcor and a medical response director will call and check in with them as frequently as needed to monitor their status.

Chamberlain even encourages those who can to move to the Scottsdale area, where the Alcor lab is located, for final treatments or hospice care. The closer the patient can be, the better.
“When they are believed to only have a few days, we can have a standby team take the equipment and be with them in the hospice setting,” Chamberlain says. “Then as soon as they are pronounced, the procedures start.”
The first step is to cool the body down. There’s no freezing at this point, not yet, but you definitely want to lower the body’s temperature.
“Once the heart has stopped beating, we immediately move them into an ice bath. One of the best ways to slow down the biochemical dying process is hypothermia,” Chamberlain explains. “Cold is your friend in that kind of a situation.”
Then it’s time to bring on the medicine. While in the ice bath, two vital medications are administered: heparin and propofol. The first is an anticoagulant, while the second removes even the slightest chance that the patient will spontaneously awaken during the preservation process.

Next, a thumper is used to create a mechanical heartbeat and staff intubates their patient. They inject the body with other medications: antibiotics, epinephrine, and drugs that keep blood vessels from collapsing. Chamberlain stresses the importance of preserving the vasculature.
“We care about the vasculature because our procedure replaces the blood with an organ preservation type of fluid,” she says. “In order to get it circulated throughout the whole body, we have to use the circulatory system. A lot of attention is given to that.”
For a more detailed look at Alcor’s process, check out their cryopreservation protocol here.

Inside the Lab Itself

After all medications have been administered and the external body temperature has been lowered, the team moves the patient to the Alcor lab. The next step involves removing the patient’s blood and replacing it with an organ-transplant–style solution.
This is the same type of fluid used to keep organs for transplant alive and functional, and it helps to chill the body internally. (This article from the journal Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy explains the history of these cryoprotective solutions.) In addition to the chilled fluid, Alcor staff cool the outside of the body with nitrogen gas.

“They are being externally cooled as well as internally and we get them down to about two or three degrees above freezing. We don’t want any freezing going on yet,” explains Chamberlain.
Remember the somewhat macabre fact that people can decide to preserve either their whole body or just their head, or, more to the point, their brain. This is the point in the process where the surgeon will separate the body from the head, if that’s the agreement. Otherwise, the processes are essentially the same for both options.
With the body (or head) a few degrees above freezing, the Alcor team replaces the transplant solution with a cryoprotectant agent, which is really just a fancy term for medical-grade anti-freeze.
The most common misconception about cryopreservation is that the patients are frozen—that’s not entirely true. This cryoprotectant agent vitrifies the body, turning the tissues into something like glass. That way, the freezing won’t produce crystals, which damage tissues—instead, the body becomes a solid block. This is a necessary step, Chamberlain explains, “so that when solidification begins to take place, it’s not ice, there’s no shards, and they will turn into a glass-like substance.”
This is an incredibly long process, though, because at higher temperature the protectant is toxic. Chamberlain says they use a computerized injection system that ensures “every degree the temperature goes down, a little bit higher concentration of the cryoprotectant fluid goes in. We start with a very diluted, mild solution, so not to introduce damage,” she says.

This process lasts until the maximum capacity of the fluid is reached, which can take hours. When it’s complete, the patient will be close to solid-state vitrification.
Finally, the team takes the body to the patient care bay, where they will make their home for the coming decades—or longer.
“Now they are fully submerged in liquid nitrogen,” Chamberlain says of this stage. “Gradually, over seven days, the temperature is lowered until they reach -320 degrees Fahrenheit. At this point they will be a solid, mostly glass state, and are placed in the holding area where they will be held until resuscitation.”

What Does the Future Hold?

Alcor has more than 1,100 members signed up for this preservation process and currently has 153 patients. But what do these patients have in their future?

Even with the proof of concept, it will take time to develop the technology that is required to thaw a whole human being.

Researchers continue to study biopreservation technology and are discovering some interesting outcomes. In one study, scientists were able to successfully use radio waves to rewarm a vitrified tissue sample without any cell damage.

“Of course, a tissue slice is not the same thing as an entire brain, or entire human being,” Chamberlain cautions. “But it’s baby steps. It’s proof of concept that these things can be done. But even with the proof of concept, it will take time to develop the technology that is required to thaw a whole human being.”
Chamberlain is particularly hopeful about the possibility of nanotechnology to aid in the resuscitation process. The idea is that nanobots—tiny robots, no larger than a paramecium, perhaps—could enter the body, identify damaged cells or tissues, and repair the damage on a microscopic level.
“These are the kinds of things we envision for the future,” Chamberlain says. “That’s part of the reason why we tell people our best guess is that revival will not be possible or practical for probably 50 to 100 years, until these technologies can be developed.”
Tissue damage is the main concern when it comes to cryopreservation. Most of the patients are middle-aged or older, which means their bodies aren’t in perfect condition.

“At about [middle] age most of us begin to have arterial calcification, we get clots, all kinds of things, scar tissue from surgeries,” Chamberlain says. “These things will interfere with the circulation of our vitrification fluids. If there’s a blockage in some artery, the tissue beyond that blockage won’t get that very special fluid, and so they will freeze instead of vitrifying. There will be tissue damage in those areas.”
There are other unfortunate cases where a person may be deceased for a few days before anyone is aware that they’ve passed. When this happens, the only cryopreservation solution is to immediately lower their temperature to freezing for storage.
“We have about 18 hours after the heart stops that we can successfully use our procedures, with all these different chemicals and processes,” Chamberlain says. “If it’s longer than that, we usually have to do a straight freeze.” This will obviously lead to severe tissue damage, as explained in the journal Symposia of the Society for Experimental Biology, and these people will need even more advanced medical technology to be resuscitated.

So… Would You?

While the cryopreservation process is rooted in science, it seems like an awfully big (and expensive) risk to take.

Techniques to repair that damage would also have to be found if by some miracle the person could be reanimated.

Even with Chamberlain’s hopefulness about nanobots and medical advancements, it seems like a long shot to bring someone back after vitrification and liquid nitrogen storage, especially in the cases where tissue damage is inevitable.

Laurie Huget, the executive director of the Cryogenic Society of America (not cryonics, mind you), weighs in on the subject:
“There are many people who see it as a ray of hope despite the present day fact that it is untenable,” Huget says. “[The cryonics researchers] are sincere, if not knowledgeable about the physics and biology at play. I will just point out that legally a person cannot be cryonically preserved until they are dead. So even if great strides are made in medicine to cure diseases that are deadly today, the person will still be dead. And freezing does so much damage to the body that techniques to repair that damage would also have to be found if by some miracle the person could be reanimated.”
One thing that’s for sure is the discussion of cryonics will never be boring. On one hand, trusting in science so strongly you believe it can bring you back from the dead is an enviable act of faith. But maybe we’d be better off coming to terms with our mortality and enjoying each moment as it unfolds, aware that our time here is limited.

There’s growing concern over the catastrophic effects of a global increase in carbon dioxide: these include more droughts, stronger hurricanes, melting Arctic ice, and rising sea levels. For any who may not be aware, NASA has led the charge in educating the American people about the science and harmful results of climate change.
Certainly there’s a latent desire in mostly everyone to curb this historic warming trend and create a better world for ourselves and future generations. But, unlike other epic historical challenges, fighting climate change doesn’t have the immediate gratification of an American flag on the moon or kicking the Reich out of Paris.

Plus, even if you do your part, there’s still a significant segment of the population out there that seems to not care one iota. But the truth is that the seriousness of the situation is too stark to ignore.
Maybe you’ve decided you want to make a positive change by taking steps yourself—and, of course, getting some friends on board. But how can you get your best buds to battle this global threat without coming off like some rainwater-sipping hermit with impossible carbon standards?

Luckily, there are simple and easy ways to lessen personal carbon usage that you can pass on to all your friends, family, and strangers in a Jiffy Lube waiting room.

The first step: actually getting folks to care.

While it may seem like reminding friends of the horrible effects of climate change and putting them on the spot could successfully “guilt” or “shame” them into making some adjustments, a report from the University of California-San Diego suggests that is not the most effective way.
Research from Nick Obradovich, PhD, and Scott M. Guenther, PhD, shows that focusing on “the collective” efforts to reduce climate change can be more effective than focusing on an individual’s efforts. The report suggests that including friends in a discussion about a group, or collective, effort to combat climate change was the most likely method to enact change: “The collective responsibility treatment outperforms the control and personal responsibility treatments across multiple studies in altering both actual behavior and intentions about future behavior.”

What does this mean? Essentially, the study suggests that any discussion about climate change should start with “What can we do?” instead of “What can you do?” A good way to kick things off could be by initiating a carpool at work or planning a “Bike/Bus to the office” day once a week. Involving friends and coworkers in a collective effort will not only increase chances for others’ participation, but it will allow you to come off as more social and less snooty.

Simple Carbon Fixes Around the Home

Once you’ve got friends who are amenable to actually taking some action, you can start suggesting other ways for them to reduce their carbon footprint—while taking the same steps to bring your own carbon footprint down a size or two.
Brian McFarland, project director from the not-for-profit CarbonFund.org, says that there are a number of ways to enact personal carbon reduction that will be beneficial for yourself and your friends.

“It is important to emphasize that by reducing one’s energy usage and fuel consumption—both at home and at the office— … one can reduce their hard-earned money that is spent on energy and gasoline, while also simultaneously having a positive impact on the health of our shared environment,” McFarland says.
One very easy way to lower your energy consumption at home is to keep certain electronics off and unplugged when not in use. Honestly, how often are you printing things off your Epson? Or using that window AC unit in January? Keep those appliances unplugged until you need to have them on. This stops electronics from sucking “vampire power” from your outlets.

There are also a number of ways you can lessen the amount of energy needed to keep your home cool or warm. McFarland suggests using a programmable thermostat; using quality insulation to help your home retain heat or cold can also go a long way.

Getting Around With Less Carbon

It’s no surprise that cars can dump a significant amount of CO2 into the atmosphere—in fact, getting around in general has a major impact on climate change. CarbonFund reports that the transportation sector is the second largest source of the U.S.’s greenhouse gas emissions. Mitigating how often you or your friends drive can have a major impact on reducing one’s personal carbon footprint.

The best way to do reduce usage is to search for and utilize car alternatives whenever possible. Walk or ride a bike to work on a nice day. For regional transportation, try looking into taking a train instead of driving for hours or hopping on a short flight. Not only are trains more fuel efficient than airplanes, they’re also a more enriching way to travel and allow you to avoid the hassle of getting through the ordeal of an airport.

Plus, if you’re planning a raucous weekend somewhere, a friendly reminder that many trains have beverage cars that can keep the party going.
“If possible and when necessary, purchase more fuel efficient automobiles,” McFarland adds. The EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide provides a thorough look at cars that use less fuel, which is of course better for the environment and anyone’s personal finances.

Eating Better to Save the Earth

Many may not be aware that it’s not just home electric use and car exhaust that adds to global carbon levels: cattle is a massive contributor of carbon into the atmosphere. According to CarbonFund, vegetarians save at least 3,000 pounds of CO2 by not eating meat.
If going full meat-abstinent is a bridge too far, simply switching out one or two meat meals for vegetarian or seafood options a week can make a big difference. “Meatless Wednesdays” can be a great office tradition to encourage a collective effort to reduce carbon levels—and finally try that Tibetan place down the block.

Additionally, subbing poultry for meals instead of red meat is better for carbon reduction because raising poultry is a lesser contributor to greenhouse gases than cattle. And, for anyone interested in going a step further, McFarland suggests “starting a home vegetable or herb garden.” Growing your own veggies can lessen the amount of food being trucked around from far away farms. Plus, you and your friends will get the freshest food available next time you cook.

Big Picture Steps

All of these actions are great ways for you and others to reduce your carbon footprint without having to turn your life upside down. But what if reducing your carbon footprint, like munching on Cheez-Its, becomes a habit that’s difficult to stop?
The monumental nature of the task at hand can be overwhelming—corporations spend millions each year making sure they do as little as possible to reduce their carbon footprint, and whole populations either don’t know or don’t care—but there are a number of ways to fight the good carbon fight without becoming a full-time carbon warrior.
Carbon offsets
Are there certain things in your life that you simply cannot change to reduce your carbon footprint? Frequent air travel for work or a 45 minute freeway drive every day? Consider a carbon offset, then.

Carbon offsets are independently verified ways that individuals can contribute to specific projects that will offset their own personal carbon usage. “If your truck, for instance,” explains McFarland, “produces 3 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions each year, you could chose to annually offset your truck’s emissions by purchasing 3 carbon offsets (i.e., one offset is equivalent to one metric tonne of CO2) from a reforestation project in Minnesota, a wind project in Oklahoma, and/or a small-scale hydroelectric project in Brazil.”

Carbon offsets are a key component to reducing CO2 output. There are two types of carbon offsets: compliance offsets and voluntary offsets. According to McFarland, compliance offsets are “utilized by companies that have a legal requirement to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions” while voluntary offsets are “supported by millions of people around the world” as well as “leading companies such as Amtrak, jetBlue, and Virgin America.”
CarbonFund.org makes it easy for individuals to purchase carbon offsets via their website.
Donating
Finally, if you’ve unplugged, starting biking, gone veggie, and bought some carbon offsets for that girls trip to Cabo, you can continue to make an impact by helping organizations that all have their own approaches to carbon reduction. Each organization will usually have a mission statement and stated plan to try to change the tide on climate change.

Greenpeace focuses on pressuring large corporate polluters, while 350.org is attempting to build a global grassroots climate movement. Check out some of these impactful organizations and read through their “About Us” to see if they aligns with you and your friends’ hopes and goals.

• Greenpeace
• National Resource Defense Council
• Climate Reality Project
• Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
• CarbonFund

Nearly all these companies make it easy to set up recurring payments, so someone can donate just the cost of a night out each month and make a significant contribution to these organizations that are working tirelessly each day so that you don’t have to.

When it comes to reducing your carbon footprint, some steps are simple acts that will take just a few minutes; others are more significant changes that could take more time but will have a larger effect on your carbon footprint—while providing health or lifestyle improvements. And, best of all, none of these steps are so outlandish that anyone can accuse you of being snooty, smug, or overbearing.

Pumpkin spice lattes at coffee shops and Halloween decorations appearing in yards can only mean one thing: Fall is here. It’s the perfect time to enjoy nature while the leaves are turning and the weather is temperate.

Winter is coming, so get outside before it’s too late. Here are three classic fall activities to get you out in the fresh air.

1. Bonfires

Gathering around the fire on a chilly evening is a timeless activity. It’s the perfect opportunity to tell stories, cook food, and lose yourself staring into the flames (or up at the stars). Here are some accoutrements that will make your bonfire unforgettable.

Cook food the old-fashioned way while you warm up.

Searching for the perfect tree branch to roast a marshmallow on can be fun, but these telescoping marshmallow-roasting sticks provide a practical and reliable alternative. Avoid bits of bark and who-knows-what-else on your marshmallows by bringing your own tools to the party.

These compact sticks extend to 32 inches and then retract for easy transportation. The set comes with 10 bamboo skewers for removing that gooey goodness from hot tines. They’re perfect for making s’mores, hot dogs, or plain-old roasted marshmallows.

Get them from Amazon here.

Go easy on your hands with this ergonomic carrier.

This waxed-canvas log carrier makes it easy to move large loads of firewood. Avoid splinters in your hands and dirt on your clothes by using this heavy-duty product.

The rugged and practical tote makes moving firewood not just easy but stylish. It’s 39 inches long and 18 inches wide to accommodate large stacks. The fashionable design makes it perfect for your cabin or weekend getaway.

Get it from Amazon here.

Be the boss of the bonfire with rugged protection.

Leather fireplace-and-hearth long-arm gloves have fireproof stitching and sponge insulation to keep your hands safe from sparks while you’re tending a fire. They’re also perfect for moving kettles, pots, or pans that have red-hot handles.

Avoid burns and blisters with these heavy-duty, flame- and cut-resistant gloves. The leather is durable enough to protect your hands while being soft enough to ensure comfort and dexterity. They instantly make any bonfire safer and make tending a fire simpler.

Get them from Amazon here.

2. Picnics

If autumn nights are too chilly, you can stick to daytime activities instead. Head outside for a picnic without worrying about the sweltering heat or cold nights. Take these handy items along to make the most of your al-fresco dining.

Unless you’re headed to a park with picnic benches, you’ll need something to spread out on.

This water-resistant picnic blanket and tote in one offers protection from the damp, dirty ground without being too bulky. It spreads out to 60 by 78 inches and folds up to just 10.5 by 15 inches.

This large blanket keeps water out with a dual-layer design, so it’s great for the park, beach, or any outdoor event. It conveniently folds into a tote for easy transportation, and its polypropylene weave resists stains. If you spill something on it, simply wash it with soap and water, and you’ll be ready to go again, stain-free.

Get it from Amazon here.

Organization is key for a stress-free and relaxing journey.

Fit everything you need for an epic picnic in this bamboo 21-piece insulated picnic basket. The basket comes with four plastic plates, four plastic cups, and four sets of knives, forks, and spoons.

The stylish basket is made from seagrass, banana leaves, and bamboo. It is sturdy, yet light, and features an insulated inner compartment for all your foods and beverages. This impeccably designed basket makes packing a picnic easier and more stylish than ever.

Get it from Bed Bath & Beyond here.

Keep hot items hot and cold items cold with the biggest name in insulated containers.

A Thermos 24-oz. vacuum-insulated food jar makes transporting and insulating food or beverages quick and simple. Whether you’re packing coffee that needs to stay piping hot or water that you prefer icy cold, your Thermos will do the job.

This stainless steel (and BPA-free) Thermos has a double-wall construction to keep it cool on the outside even when it’s filled with hot contents.

The same double wall prevents the container from sweating when it’s filled with cold food or beverages. The lid doubles as a serving bowl, making this container well worth the space it takes up.

Get it from Bed Bath & Beyond here.

3. Hikes

Whether you stroll around a city park or head into the backcountry, hiking gets you out in the crisp air and among the fall foliage. There’s no better time for hiking than the sunny fall days.

While nature provides most of the enjoyment, you can pack a few things to make your trek even better. Here are some items that will make your nature walk unforgettable.

It’s hard to enjoy a hike when you have sore feet.

If you haven’t tried on a pair of Darn Tough socks, you’re missing out. They keep your feet warm without making them sweaty, and even more impressively, they have a lifetime guarantee.

Trekking for miles through hilly terrain can be tough even when you have great hiking boots. Darn Tough socks will keep your feet happy on the harshest of trails. As a bonus, they make great cozy socks for around the house during winter time.

Get them from Amazon here.

Even in cool weather, it’s important to stay hydrated on long walks.

There’s no shortage of options for quality water bottles, but this wide-mouth bottle is one of the best. The classic Nalgene product has stood the test of time.

It’s lightweight, durable, BPA-free, and doesn’t give your beverage the odd plastic taste like some other bottles do. It holds 32 ounces of refreshing water and is dishwasher safe.

As a bonus, the bottle doubles as a measuring cup, which comes in handy when making freeze-dried meals or coffee on longer trips. Try this expertly designed product and see why it’s been a bestseller for over 20 years.

Get it from Amazon here.

Get closer to wildlife without invading the animals’ space.

These Bushnell Falcon binoculars with case magnify your view sevenfold. They’re outfitted with an Instafocus System that allows for quicker focusing on moving targets.

Getting out in nature brings you close to the natural world. These binoculars bring you even closer. Check out birds and other animals without disturbing their peace with these very affordable and easy-to-use binocs.

Get them from Amazon here.

Learn about the natural world one bird at a time.

The National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Birds of North America will help you determine exactly what you’re looking at through your new binoculars. You’ll learn how to spot details like eye rings, wing shapes, and foraging behavior to determine which adorable species you’ve spotted.

This comprehensive book even gives tips on attracting birds to your yard, so you won’t have to hike to enjoy their presence in your midst. It’s great for beginners as it teaches about how to identify the most common birds using colorful photo spreads.

It’s also helpful for more advanced birders who are learning about seasonal range maps and other useful bits of information. Written by two birding experts, this book is fun to browse and indispensable for proudly identifying what birds you’ve spotted.

Get it from Amazon here.

Mosquitoes seem to have very specific tastes.

If you’re one of the lucky ones, the insects won’t want anything to do with you (although they’ll probably feed on you if they can’t find a more appetizing dish). If you’re unlucky, you won’t be able to leave a barbecue or campfire without scratching dozens of bites.

What is it about some people that seems to attract mosquitoes? More importantly, how do we stop the bugs from ruining our summers?

It’s helpful to understand how mosquitoes hunt.

They rely on sight and smell, according to professor Jonathan Day of the University of Florida in Vero Beach. They’re highly visual creatures, so they start out by looking for their victims.

Mosquitoes can easily see dark colors, including black, blue, and red. Like most insects, they’re also capable of picking up movement, so they’re more likely to home in on active targets (there’s another reason for this, which we’ll get to in a moment).

After they’ve spotted their prey, mosquitoes start to sniff.

Well, not “sniff,” exactly, but they rely on their sense of smell to help them track their targets.

The insects pick up on carbon dioxide, and if you’ve ever taken a middle-school biology class, you’ll know that you put out large amounts of carbon dioxide with every exhalation.

But not all breaths are created equal; people who are exercising will breathe more, and they’ll therefore become more attractive targets.

Likewise, larger people take larger breaths, so they’re more likely to discover a few mosquito bites after spending time outdoors.

That’s not the only cue that mosquitoes look for.

They’ll also look for acetone, estradiol (which the body creates when breaking down estrogen), and lactic acid.

There’s some evidence that pregnant women have an especially irresistible mix of chemical signals; a study published in The Lancet found that pregnant women attracted twice as many mosquitoes as their non-pregnant peers. Mosquitoes also seem to be capable of detecting body heat, which may have contributed to the outcome of that study.

Oh, and if you’re at a barbecue, we’ve got some bad news.

Another study indicated that “beer consumption consistently increased volunteers’ attractiveness to mosquitoes.” The alcohol seems to be the attractant, although we’ll need more research to confirm that theory.

But even if you abstain from your favorite summertime beverages, you might still be a target. A study published in the Journal of Medical Entomology demonstrated that mosquitoes have a preference for type O blood. The creatures’ least-favorite blood type was type A, while type B was in the middle.

If you want to avoid itchy red bumps, we’d recommend wearing bright, tightly woven clothing when heading outdoors in the summer. Use a mosquito repellant with DEET and/or lemon eucalyptus, as these seem to be the most effective way to mask your scent (all repellents work by masking, by the way—not by actually repelling). Oh, and don’t bother with citronella; according to a paper from the Journal of Insect Science, citronella torches are pretty much worthless.

Meet the Dahm triplets.
Nicole, Erica, and Jaclyn Dahm are indistinguishable from one another.
The identical triplets are so similar that Erica has no trouble getting into Nicole’s fingerprint-lock safe. Even the whorls of their fingertips are the same.
That shouldn’t be surprising when considering the way identical twins (and by extension, triplets, quadruplets, and so on) are formed in the first place. A single fertilized egg spontaneously splits in two—or, in this case, three. Each of these embryos then develops into a full fetus.
Because triplets like the Dahms share identical genetic information, common knowledge dictates that their DNA should match. Although environmental factors can switch certain genes on and off throughout a twin’s lifetime, the DNA itself shouldn’t differ among the sisters at all.

At least that’s what the science textbooks said about monozygotic twinning when we were in high school.
So what was the deal with the at-home DNA kit that the Dahm triplets sat discussing on 2017 episode of The Doctors?
“How would you feel if your ancestry was different?” Travis Stork, MD, host of The Doctors, asked the Dahm triplets.
“I don’t know how that could happen,” said Nicole. “We’re one egg that split, and we all came out of our mother, so maybe a little different DNA, but we still have the same ancestry, right?”

Note that Nicole expects to find slight differences in DNA among her and her sisters. She could be referring to the environmental effect on genetic expression—what doctors call “epigenetic factors”—or she might mean something deeper. Either way, the sisters seem willing to bet anything that they’ll share the same ancestral background.

The Results of the DNA Test

Investigative reporter Lisa Guerrero of Inside Edition arranged a little experiment with the Dahm triplets. She gave each of them two home DNA tests and then analyzed the results. She shared the news with the triplets on the set of The Doctors, and what she discovered left the triplets confused and even shocked.
The first test was no surprise. It verified that the Dahms are, in fact, identical triplets. But as Guerrero delved deeper into the second test, things started to get surprising.

“Nicole, you’re 18 percent British and Irish,” Guerrero told the stunned sisters. “Erica, you’re 15 percent British and Irish. But Jaclyn, you’re almost 19 percent British and Irish.”
The differences kept on coming. The test found that Nicole was 11 percent French and German, whereas her sister Erica had more than twice the Germano–Gallic blood that Nicole has. The test said Erica was 23 percent French and German.
“I am surprised, though, because we came from the same egg,” said Nicole. “And we have the same DNA.”
Do they though?
To get to the bottom of this, we reached out to 23andMe, the service that interpreted the genetic test for the Dahm sisters.

“It’s a misleading story,” a spokesperson told us via email. “Our Ancestry Composition feature allows you to select varying confidence levels, between 50 and 90 percent.”
“In this case I believe they were changing their confidence levels and making comparisons,” continues their spokesperson. “If you drop to the ‘speculative’ selection, which has a confidence level of 50 percent you are going throw off the comparisons. Even when they did that, there wasn’t that great of a difference.”
[pullquote align=”center”]“We’re not to a place yet where you can just spit in a cup and have every single answer that you’re looking for.”
—Travis Stork, MD[/pullquote]
“But the higher levels are extremely precise,” they continued. “Any result at the 90 percent level signifies we are highly confident in its accuracy. The lower confidence levels allow you to take a more speculative look at your ancestry breakdown, [meaning] the comparisons at that level didn’t produce much of a difference.”
In other words, the ancestry reports can change depending on the user’s selected confidence level, but the triplets’ data would have been largely the same. We asked about the accuracy of the site’s ancestry data.
“We’ve done a comprehensive evaluation of our algorithm and reference datasets, and are confident in the accuracy of the results we report for customers,” the spokesperson wrote. “If we say that a section of DNA is most likely Japanese or Chinese or Korean at one of our higher confidence thresholds, we stand behind it. If we weren’t sure that we could make the distinction, we’d go up a level and say that that DNA reflected ‘East Asian’ ancestry. The information would not be incorrect, simply less specific.”
That settles it, right? After all, it’s not like identical siblings really have different DNA.
Well, keep reading.

The Truth About Identical Twins and DNA

High school biology classes were very clear on this fact in the 1990s: At birth, identical twins have the exact same DNA. It was the accepted wisdom at the time, and it makes sense biologically. Over time, siblings’ DNA changes due to the epigenetic factors we mentioned earlier, but the DNA starts out identical.

In 2008, however, researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, along with universities in the Netherlands and Sweden, conducted a new round of studies on monozygotic twins. The researchers expected to find epigenetic differences. What they actually found went much deeper.
“What we found are changes on the genetic level, the DNA sequence itself,” Jan Dumanksi, a genetics professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and an author of the paper, told The New York Times shortly after the research was published in The American Journal of Human Genetics. The study showed that twins had more genetic variation than scientists had previously thought.
The research team found several copy number variations—in which genes occur multiple times within one individual, or in which certain DNA coding letters are missing—between pairs of twins they expected to have identical genetic profiles.

Scientists don’t know whether these slight variations were present in the womb or if they develop as the twins age. All they know is that the textbooks were wrong. Identical twins don’t necessarily have the same DNA, and that also holds for triplets.

Explaining the Differences Among the Dahm Triplets

After breaking the odd news to the Dahm triplets, Guerrero turned to Stork for answers.
“So, we found a few discrepancies,” Guerrero said that day on the set of The Doctors. “Dr. Travis, what does that say to you? When you look at the fact that they’re identical triplets, what is your takeaway from these tests?”
Ever the diplomat, Stork equivocated for a moment.

“I’m not a geneticist,” he said. “But I love the idea of these at-home tests for fun.”

What We Can Learn From Home Genetic Tests

Later, Stork told his audience that “we’re not to a place yet where you can just spit in a cup and have every single answer that you’re looking for.”
Perhaps not, but at-home testing services claim that their services are extremely accurate. 23andMe even offers reports that are authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which can provide customers with valuable data.
“We offer genetic health risk reports and carrier status reports that are authorized by the FDA,” the company’s spokesperson wrote. “If you choose, you can learn about how your genetics influences your risk for certain diseases and/or whether you are a carrier for certain inherited conditions.”
[pullquote align=”center”]“It is important that people understand that genetic risk is just one piece of the bigger puzzle.”
—Jeffrey Shuren, MD[/pullquote]
Those conditions include late-onset Alzheimer’s, celiac disease, Parkinson’s disease, early-onset primary dystonia, Gaucher disease, and a lung and liver disorder called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, among others.
In April 2017, the FDA issued a press release announcing its approval of 23andMe’s Personal Genome Service genetic Health Risk (GHR) test.
“Consumers can now have direct access to certain genetic risk information,” said Jeffrey Shuren, MD, director of the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, in the release. “But it is important that people understand that genetic risk is just one piece of the bigger puzzle, it does not mean they will or won’t ultimately develop a disease.”
Many at-home genetic testing companies also collect data for valuable medical research into new treatments and diagnostic tools. That data collection is an optional part of the DNA testing process.
“We offer customers a choice to participate in research if they wish,” the 23andMe spokesperson wrote. “Opting out of research doesn’t affect your experience, but about 85 percent of our customers opt in to the research program, a number that’s been consistent over time.”
The data is handled carefully, according to 23andMe, to prevent private information from becoming publicly accessible. “We use the de-identified, aggregated data for our research,” they wrote. “That means we decouple personally identifiable information from genetic information and store them in separate computing environments.”

That’s also why we couldn’t get direct access to the Dahm triplets’ results: They’re private. As such, it’s difficult to say definitively whether their tests showed any errors—but given the considerable complexity of genetics, we don’t think that a simple on-camera test of a single set of triplets can provide any sweeping insights.
For now, most people see at-home genetic tests as a bit of fun. Those tests, however, are rapidly becoming a useful tool for evaluating medical risks. They’re also showing that we don’t know as much as we think about genetics—even when it comes to identical siblings.

As summer vacation season gets underway, the tragic story of a 2-year-old Indiana girl is a stark reminder to parents to keep their eyes peeled for ticks while their families are enjoying the great outdoors.
Ticks are vectors of a number of dangerous diseases, including Lyme disease, Southern tick-associated rash illness (STARI), a newly discovered disease that makes you allergic to mammal meat, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

Most of these ailments aren’t fatal in adults, but they can trigger a series of dangerous symptoms. In children whose immune systems are still developing, these and other tick-borne diseases can prove to be fatal.
Kenley Conn was a playful 2-year-old until a fever that topped 103 degrees convinced her parents to rush her to the local emergency room. “She was always outside,” her aunt, Jordan Clapp, told Today. “Just recently she had gone camping.”

When the doctors examined the little girl, they assumed she was suffering from a virus or a bacterial infection. They prescribed the antibiotic amoxicillin and told her parents to make sure she remained hydrated.
A day later, the little girl’s fever had reached 104 degrees. Back at the ER, doctors told Kenley’s parents that it was strep and encouraged them to give the amoxicillin and hydration therapy time to work.
On day five of her high fever, the family headed to the regional Children’s Hospital.

It was only when they were there that the family and doctors began to notice a red rash spreading on the little girl’s arms and legs.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Initial signs and symptoms of Rocky Mountain spotted fever often are nonspecific and can mimic those of other illnesses: high fever; chills; severe headache; muscle aches; nausea and vomiting; restlessness and insomnia.”
A “red, nonitchy rash…typically appears a few days after the initial signs and symptoms begin. The rash usually makes its first appearance on your wrists and ankles, and can spread in both directions—down into the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet, and up your arms and legs to your torso.”

“Along with the rash,” Today explained, “Kenley started showing other symptoms of the tick-borne disease: Her brain began to swell and her organs started to fail. By the time doctors started to treat the little girl with the right antibiotic for Rocky Mountain spotted fever—doxycycline—it was too late for the little girl.”
Eight days after their first visit to the ER, Kenley “became an angel,” as her aunt put it on a GoFundMe page created to help the family cover medical and funeral expenses.
Following the unexpected tragedy, Kenley’s family has tried to spread awareness about the dangers of Rocky Mountain spotted fever to other families.

The Mayo Clinic says to “see your doctor if you develop a rash or become sick after a tick bite. Rocky Mountain spotted fever and other infectious diseases carried by ticks can progress rapidly and may be life-threatening. If possible, take the tick along with you to your doctor’s office for laboratory testing.”
“If we could save one child’s life then we will have done our job,” Clapp told Today. “Kayla [Kenley’s mom] is so devastated. Spreading awareness is therapeutic.”
“[Kenley] was a blessing on earth,” her aunt says, “and now she’s a blessing in heaven, still touching and impacting so many people.”

You likely use plastic so much, you don’t even notice it. This harsh reality is unfortunate because plastic is terrible for the environment. Since it’s non-biodegradable, plastic will just sit in landfills, waterways, or oceans forever. While some plastic can be recycled, the majority of plastic product waste will be around forever. In order to cut down on the waste of single-use plastics (one of the largest sources of waste in the United States), here are some tips you should follow that will help you break your dependence on plastic.

1. Get a reusable water bottle.

Bottled water is extremely convenient. It’s also very wasteful. Plastic bottles are so numerous that there’s actually a huge trash island of plastic bottles in the Pacific Ocean called “The Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” This infamous island about the size of Texas and continues growing larger.

Plastic bottles are especially wasteful when we consider that we have clean drinking water all around us that is as pure as most bottled water options available. To break your plastic water bottle habit, simply carry around a reusable water bottle and refill it at drinking fountains.

2. Bring your own bags to the store.

People are now realizing just how wasteful plastic bags actually are. Some cities have completely banned them while others are charging customers to use plastic instead of paper bags. This is good because there are affordable alternative ways to transport your groceries.

Aside from selecting paper bags at checkout, another option is to bring reusable tote bags to the store. You can keep some stored in your car for those spontaneous after-work trips to the supermarket so that you will always have at least one or two at your disposal. Just one tote bag can potentially save you from taking three or four plastic bags and eventually disposing of them in your garbage can.

3. Bring metal cutlery to work.

We don’t think about it, but that plastic fork, knife, and spoon are all wasteful. The problem is, at work, some people don’t have any other options.

That’s easy to fix, however, all you need to do is bring some metal cutlery and keep it at your desk. At lunch, you can use it and wash it off in the break room. Plastic cutlery may not be a large source of waste, but over time, it adds up when thrown away daily.

4. Bring your lunch in reusable steel containers.

Sandwich bags are convenient, but they aren’t good for the environment. Fortunately, there’s an alternative that will keep your food fresh and can easily be washed and reused.

Stainless steel food containers are durable, simple to clean, and can be used again and again. You can also use plastic Tupperware, but stainless steel is a much better choice.

5. Cut down on your online shopping.

Shopping online is something that has become routine for most of us. If we need something, we just hop onto Amazon and have it delivered to our house within a week. While this is a win for those of us who value convenience, it’s becoming a major source of waste in our environment.

How many times have you bought something small only to have it arrive in a much larger box? And how many times have you bought multiple items, only to have them shipped in multiple boxes? All of that waste adds up. While cardboard can be recycled, it may be best to travel to your nearest brick-and-mortar store and avoid that unnecessary box altogether.

Having a comfortable bedroom is essential. Not only is it the place you relax after a long day at work, but a comfortable bedroom can ultimately lead to a better night’s sleep. It’s no secret that getting a good night’s sleep helps us wake up refreshed, allows us to be more productive throughout the day, and aids with overall mental and physical health. If you’re struggling to catch those ZZZs, here are some indoor plants and flowers you should consider putting in your bedroom.

1. Snake Plant

Fresh oxygen will help make your room feel more comfortable and support a good night’s sleep. The charming snake plant will pump oxygen into the room day and night, keeping the oxygen circulating and ensuring you stay asleep all night.

The best part of all? The snake plant is very resilient and easy to care for. They are hearty and can live in just about any light, making them suitable for any room. They also only need to be watered about once every two weeks, which makes them great for people without a green thumb.

2. Peace Lily

This plant acts as a natural air purifier, removing toxins, dust, and other debris from the air in your bedroom. This will help keep your allergies at bay and enable you to breathe easier as you’re sleeping.

The peace lily is a good low light plant, meaning it can be hung just about anywhere in the bedroom. It only needs to be watered once a week, but if it’s near a window or your room is especially warm, you may want to water it twice per week.

3. Pink Jasmine

Pink Jasmine not only looks beautiful and makes the room more inviting, it also produces a pleasant scent. This scent serves as a natural relaxer, making it easier to [linkbuilder id=”6673″ text=”fall asleep”] when you climb into bed.

However, this pretty plant requires a little more care than others on this list. It does well in a sunny spot and should not be overwatered. It’s also best to buy it already potted. Fortunately, pink jasmine is relatively easy to find at most garden stores.

4. Gardenia

Like the peace lily, this plant also produces a lovely scent, making your bedroom smell clean and fresh. The aroma also has a sedative-like effect, helping you feel naturally tired as you unwind in bed. If you’re someone who tosses and turns, this plant can be a miracle worker.

The only negative aspect of the gardenia is that it may be difficult for some people to keep alive. The gardenia requires bright, indirect light. If it gets too much direct light, the leaves can burn. If your room doesn’t have a spot like the one previously described, the gardenia may not be the best option for you.

5. Lavender

Lavender has been shown to have a naturally relaxing aroma. This is why you’ll find many laundry detergents, scented candles, and air fresheners with this incredible scent. While dried lavender is effective, live lavender gives off a much stronger fragrance.

This plant does well in direct sunlight, so find a spot on a windowsill where it can bask in the sun all day long. You can water as needed. Sweet dreams!

On August 21, the United States will be directly in the path of a total solar eclipse. While total solar eclipses have touched portions of the country, the last time a total eclipse crossed the entire country was in 1918. Needless to say, stargazers are extremely excited.

While the whole country will catch a glimpse of the eclipse, some areas will experience total darkness for almost three full minutes. If you’re in that path, you’ll see a true wonder of nature.

Before you go out and observe this eclipse, scientists offer some words of warning so you don’t damage your eyesight. There are some rules that you and your family should follow when viewing this incredible phenomenon.

The path for best viewing will begin just south of Portland, Oregon. From there, the path travels through southern Idaho into the Boise area. It will then travel to Wyoming, go over Nebraska, then travel southeast. It will pass over Kansas City and St. Louis, with the greatest duration of total eclipse (two minutes, 40 seconds) just a few miles southeast of St. Louis in rural Illinois. It will then pass through Tennessee and into South Carolina. If you’re looking to get the best glimpse of the eclipse, travel to any of those places for a great view.

If you do plan on viewing this eclipse, the most important rule, scientists say, is to never stare directly at a partial eclipse. If any part of the sun is visible, you are damaging your eyes just as if you were staring directly at the sun. When the total eclipse is occurring, you can look directly at it. Once the moon begins moving and part of the sun is visible again, look away.

To view the eclipse safely, scientists recommend wearing eclipse glasses. The glasses have extremely powerful filters that are magnitudes darker than your typical sunglasses. This will protect your eyes, giving you a full glimpse of nature’s majesty.

For those who plan to bring binoculars or a camera, it’s important to note that these lenses won’t protect your eyes. You’ll need special filters specifically made for your piece of equipment. Using eclipse sunglasses with a pair of binoculars, a telescope, camera, etc., will ultimately result in eye damage. It is recommended that you speak with an astronomer or safety expert before purchasing a filter for your equipment to ensure safety.

If you don’t want to buy sunglasses to view the eclipse, you can look at it indirectly with a pinhole camera. This is a small hole that is pointed at the sun and reflected on a blank piece of cardboard. You can view the path of the moon over the sun via the reflection against the cardboard, then look at the sun when the reflection is completely blocked. For those who want to see the eclipse directly, the pinhole camera won’t work. You’ll need solar eclipse glasses.

When buying these glasses, make sure they are new glasses that meet the current safety standards of ISO 12312-2. Some older glasses may have different standards that were acceptable at the time they were created but aren’t today. For your safety, be certain that any glasses you buy meet this important standard.

Once you have your glasses, travel to the path of totality mentioned above and enjoy the brilliant spectacle! There won’t be another quite like it for about 100 years.

Have you ever compared yourself to your brothers and sisters and thought, “Why am I not successful like Tom?” “If only I was as good in school like Laura.”

Well, it looks as though you can now lighten up on yourself because as it turns out, it’s not your fault you are the way you are. It’s actually your siblings’ fault! Well, sorta.

Although there are many factors that go into the shaping of a personality, studies show that who you turn out to be is a direct result of the order that you were born in your family; your birth order. Psychologists have been studying (and fighting about) this subject for centuries and many believe that your birth order has a profound effect on your psychological development.

Want to find out who you really are? Hang on to your chair because we’re about to dive into (the good and the bad of) your psyche!

Firstborns

Out of Their Mouths: “Why do I always have to do that?” “Let me do it. I do it the right way.”

Strengths: Children born first in their families seem to have it all together—like they’ve really got it going on. Since they were the only child at first, Mom and Dad usually spent huge amounts of time with them, reading to them, explaining things, playing with them.

It’s believed that this early onset nurturing and undivided attention may be what propels firstborns to be overachievers. They are more likely to be conventionally successful, hold leadership positions, have higher IQs and generally have more education than their siblings.

They grow up around adults instead of surrounded by siblings, so they tend to be like mini adults themselves: conscientious and reliable, as well as responsible and protective.

Firstborns also display a lot of confidence and are extremely achievement-oriented. Interestingly, more than half of the U.S. presidents have been firstborns.

Firstborns

Challenges: The perfectionist, do-gooder side of firstborns may cause them to never cut themselves any slack. They tend to stress more about being perfect and dread making mistakes, which causes them to hesitate to jump into new situations. When they do try something new, they’re usually very cautious.

They’re given a whole lot of responsibility at home, which can make them bossy and inflexible. Firstborns are quick to take charge but can be pretty controlling. They’re used to being right and receiving praise and often have trouble admitting when they’re wrong.

Stress and pressure runs high in these kids because parents hold them to higher standards. They’re often compared to adults and can be expected to be role models for younger children; a position that they often find burdensome.

Famous Firstborns: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Kate Middleton, Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone

Middle Children

Out of Their Mouths: “No one ever listens to me.” “Why do you always pay attention to baby Michelle?” “It’s not fair.”

Strengths: Middleborns are typically easy going and “go with the flow” types. They don’t have the automatic rights of a firstborn so they learn early on how to compromise and negotiate in order to get what they need.

Mid-kids also are the most independent of all children, have the most realistic life expectations, and are the least likely to be spoiled. They’re often the “forgotten children” so they have higher tendencies to have strong friendships outside the family.

They’re normally quite successful socially as they have a lot of friends. They are more nurturing and show great concern for others. Because parents normally concentrate on the eldest and youngest, mid-kids often seek approval from their siblings or peers, instead of from their parents.

Middle Children

Challenges: Most mid-kids feel like their needs and wants are ignored because they’re not the “trailblazing” firstborns or the babies of the family. As a result, they can develop a silent animosity or feelings of resentment toward their older and younger siblings.

They can feel that they are not valued and need to fight for everything they want. This can often cause mid-kids to become rebellious and obsessed with fairness. They’re usually left out, which leaves them feeling like they didn’t get enough attention and that they’re not special. This can cause them to be secretive and do radical things to get the attention they so crave.

In order to set themselves apart from their overachieving firstborn siblings, they will go to extremes to become the complete opposites. They often think that life is unfair and can be very competitive.

Famous Middle Children: Donald Trump, Bill Gates, Martin Luther King Jr., Princess Diana, Abraham Lincoln, Julia Roberts

The Youngest

Out of Their Mouths: “No one ever takes me seriously.” “Where are my baby pictures?” “Let’s go sky diving!”

Strengths: Lastborns typically aren’t the smartest or keenest in the room, but what they lack in smarts, they make up for in personality! They’re known to be charismatic, witty, and natural charmers who seek the limelight. Many comedians and actors are well known lastborns!

They’re incredibly fun to be around, have ranked high on the “agreeableness” scale, and are exciting adventurers. They aren’t required by parents to be as responsible, so lastborns are known to to take risks (studies show that they’re the most likely to participate in dangerous sports).

Because their parents have already been around the block and usually give them a lot of room, lastborns become laid back and unaffected. Their tolerance for risk and adventure makes them great entrepreneurs and they are usually self employed.

The Youngest

Challenges: Lastborns often believe that nothing that they do matters or is important. They can’t compete with the achievements of their older siblings because their parents have seen it all and often react with disinterest. This causes last borns to feel that they are never taken seriously and are always climbing an uphill battle.

Parents are most lax with these kids and, as a result, most lastborns have trouble following rules and can seem scattered, irresponsible, and careless. They also can appear to be self-centered and narcissistic and often will manipulate to get what they need, feeling that it can never be earned.

Lastborns can act out out of rebellion if they perceive their other siblings as bigger, faster, and stronger than they are. This may throw them into competitive fury and cause them to feel the need to prove their worth.

Famous Last Borns: Eddie Murphy, Rosie O’Donnell, Cameron Diaz, Jim Carrey

Only Children

Strengths: Known as “super firstborns,” only children typically mirror the traits of firstborns because they too share a parent’s undivided attention…but they exhibit these traits to the highest degrees.

They are expected to act like adults (mostly because they’re around them the most) and are described as mature, diligent, precocious perfectionists. They’re great leaders and aspire to be model human beings who are always trying to impress their parents and others. These kids are great self-entertainers and the most creative of all birth orders.

Challenges: Onlies tend to be perfectionists who are burdened with high parental expectations. They expect a lot from others, hate to be criticized, and can get quite upset when they feel undervalued or when things don’t go their way. Because they never had to share (their parents’ attention or their toys), these kids can develop a self-centered streak.

Famous Only Children: Alicia Keys, Tiger Woods, Natalie Portman, Rudy Giuliani