Plastic pollution is haunting the planet for a long time. We may have realized the devil that plastic is quite recently, but we are also trying to bring the use of plastic to a halt. In Australia, a teenager has taken up this battle against plastic too, and she has come up with a new solution – prawn shells.

The 17-year-old, Angelina Arora, has been able to produce compostable plastic using prawn shells. This kind of plastic can decompose within 33 days. Her amazing invention has been praised in Australia too. She has earned a BHP Science and Engineering Award. She was also named the Australian Geographic Society’s Young Conservationist of the Year.


Angelina has mentioned that she is in the final talks regarding acquiring a patent over the compostable plastic. However, she has built the final prototype, and it will soon be ready for commercial distribution.

The best part – the compostable plastic is quite cheap and can be used for various purposes. She has been in talks with many companies, and they have found the product promising. It is insoluble, flexible, and durable – the most necessary things desired from plastic.


The product has been developed by mixing a protein from a silk cocoon and an element from prawn shells, which was able to create this compostable plastic.

Angelina is a medical student and is testing out the product as medical packaging too.

To reach her goal, Angelina conducted a few experiments. At first, she tried to make the plastic using organic materials like banana peels and cornstarch, but solubility became a factor for them. While having her dinner, she noticed that prawn shells have a plastic texture to them and that’s when the plan started to form. She started researching the shell and extracted carbohydrate chitin from it. She then used chemicals and transformed the carbohydrates into chitosan. Angelina then mixed the chitosan with fibroin, an insoluble protein found in silkworms. Thus, the new compostable plastic was formed which broke down in just 33 days.


She knew that her age might be seen as a barrier, but she did not think of it like that. For her, age is just another number. She kept on with her research, and in due course, she gained success.

She mentioned how her generation was slowly finding the voice to shout out against plastic pollution and climate change.

Angelina was inspired to make such a product after she saw that her parents had to pay for plastic at the stores. She became curious and asked about the reason, only to learn that plastic harms the environment. So, she wanted to make a cheap substitute. She loved science and experiments and so, she enrolled herself in the science field.

A YouGov study, which was commissioned by the Marine Stewardship Council, looked at about 1000 young people within the ages of 18-24, and they found out that they were most concerned about the environment and its impact on marine life.

Anne Gabriel of Marine Stewardship Council mentioned that oceans are the only wild food source left for us and if we don’t plan to preserve it, our next generation would suffer.

Maybe heroes like Angelina can save the world along with our help.

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Fire rainbows aren’t actually rainbows and they have nothing to do with fire, either. Technically known as circumhorizontal arcs, these optical phenomena occur when the sun is higher than 58° in the sky. The other ingredient forming these arcs are cirrus clouds, which are thin, feathery clouds occurring at higher altitudes. The temperature where these clouds exist is low; therefore, they are made of hexagonal ice crystals. When optimally aligned, these crystals act as a prism and that results in refraction that is reminiscent of a rainbow.

There is a popular misconception that such halos are rare. However, their frequency depends on location in particular latitude. In the United States, it is relatively common to see them several times each summer, while the phenomenon is quite rare in mid-latitude and northern Europe. So, for example, the potential for these “fire rainbows” to form in Los Angeles is 5-10 times higher than in London.

More info: Instagram | Official website

Photographer Cessna Kutz captured a magnificent fire rainbow over Lake Sammamish

Image credits: Cessna Kutz
“Witnessed a pretty cool phenomenon out on lake Sammamish today,” Cessna writes on her Instagram upon sharing the mesmerizing shot. “A horizontal rainbow! To me, it was a little reminder to hold onto hope and love instead of fear and panic in these unknown times. Stay safe out there, friends.”

It’s an optical phenomenon that occurs when the sun is higher than 58° above the horizon

Image credits: Cessna Kutz
After the photographer shared the photos, they almost instantly went viral. “I honestly had no idea these photos would make the news,” Cessna shared with one news outlet. “I was just wanting to share a beautiful moment I got to witness. I’m super passionate about photography so I’m grateful that God has used my photos to touch people, not only throughout the nation but throughout the world. It’s boosted my photography business as well as make an impact on people so it feels pretty amazing.”

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The climate change is dramatically remodeling the biodiversity and ecosystems on planet Earth. With Africa and Antarctica among the most affected areas. The situation looks alarming in the Tsavo West National Park in Kenya where there wasn’t a single raindrop since June 2018. Here lots of animals species seems to have their fate sealed. But this kind-hearted man decided to keep them alive.

Patrick Kilonzo Mwalua is a pea farmer who delivers truckloads of water, everyday for the thirsty animals. And as soon as they heard the sounds of his truck, animals come in a rush to Patrick. He’s carrying 3,000 gallons of water, every single day.


“IT WAS IN JUNE LAST YEAR WHEN VISITING THE TSAVO THAT I NOTICED THAT THE WATERHOLES WERE DRY AND ANIMALS WERE SITTING AROUND THEM LOOKING VERY DESPERATE,” MWALUA TOLD NAIROBI WIRE.

“THERE IS COMPLETELY NO WATER, SO THE ANIMALS ARE DEPENDING ON HUMANS,” MWALUA TOLD THE DODO. “IF WE DON’T HELP THEM, THEY WILL DIE.”


Patrick know that “water is life,” so hopes others will join his noble mission. He has set up a GoFundMe page where people can help him to save those animals. And his beautiful act of compassion hasn’t gone unnoticed.

“LAST NIGHT, I FOUND 500 BUFFALO WAITING AT THE WATER HOLE,” MWALUA SAID. “WHEN I ARRIVED, THEY COULD SMELL THE WATER. THE BUFFALO WERE SO KEEN AND COMING CLOSE TO US. THEY STARTED DRINKING WHILE I WAS STANDING THERE. THEY GET SO EXCITED.”

Three women from United States decided to give a hand. Angie Brown, Cher Callaway, and Tami Calliope are now helping Patrick on his mission. Now they own several truck and in this way they are able to carry water in more drought locations across the African savanna.


“HIS COMMITMENT TO THE WILDLIFE AND HIS HERITAGE IS UNMEASURABLE,” CALLAWAY SAID. “EVEN RISKING HIS OWN LIFE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO DELIVER WATER TO A DRY WATER HOLE.”

“I WAS BORN AROUND HERE AND GREW UP WITH WILDLIFE AND GOT A LOT OF PASSION ABOUT WILDLIFE,” HE SAID. “I DECIDED TO BRING AWARENESS TO THIS SO WHEN THEY GROW UP THEY CAN PROTECT THEIR WILDLIFE.”

It is so great to see there are still people who understand the the importance of wildlife and conservation. With so deep care and passion about Mother Nature!


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We may have our own opinions as to what is important in life but when it comes to important creatures, it seems as if bees have that title sewn up.

At the last meeting of the Royal Geographical Society of London, the EarthWatch Institute came to a startling conclusion. They declared that bees are the most important living being on the planet, and for good reason.



The Science Times reports that 70% of the world’s agriculture is dependent on pollination that happens exclusively by bees. Bees may do many different things but pollinating plants, allowing them to reproduce is by far their most important. Without pollination, those plants would disappear quickly.

A study conducted by the Apiculture Entrepreneurship Center of the Universidad Mayor (CeapiMayor) and the Apiculture Corporation of Chile (Cach), with the support of the Foundation for Agrarian Innovation (FIA) also came to an interesting conclusion. Bees are the only living thing on earth that doesn’t carry any type of pathogen, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Even though that’s the case, bees are now on the endangered species list with a dramatic decline being shown in the numbers of those insects worldwide. Within the past few years, almost 90% of the bee population has been wiped out.


Uncontrolled use of pesticides is probably the main reason for their decline. You can also blame it on deforestation and a lack of flowers. Activists are now saying that the use of pesticides needs to be stopped immediately and we need to look to more natural agricultural alternatives as we keep a close eye on the health and welfare of bees.

Greenpeace also weighed in on the situation, saying it is possible to use ‘commonsense actions’ to restore and protect bees around the world. This would include eliminating the seven most dangerous pesticides, restoring ecological agriculture and preserving wild habitat to protect the health of pollinators.

In other words, ecological farming is important for the preservation of bee habitats. It would require diversifying the ecosystem and avoiding mono-crops.


In addition to saving the health of bees, it can also restore soil nutrients through the use of natural composting, limit wind and water erosion and eliminate the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

When these factors are put into place, bee populations will be restored and pollination will be improved, along with crop yields.

Learn more about saving the bees on this website.

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Known by a few names, such as African Pheasant and Guinea Hens, one could also call this African native the “Tick Assassin.”

In their homeland, these loud and prehistoric-looking fowl follow around the grazing herds and reportedly eat up to 4000 ticks a day.

Guinea fowl are relatively low maintenance. In the summertime, guinea will forage all of their food. They eat ticks, fleas, crickets, mosquitos, slugs, grasshoppers and small rodents (basically anything they can get their beaks on) without destroying the yard or garden as chickens do. Flocks of guineas have been known to eat snakes. They also love to eat weeds. A bit of feed in the coop will encourage them to come home at night. Coops can be provided, although flocks will find homes high in treetops, away from the threat of raccoons.

They are also free from most diseases that plague other poultry. They will give warning calls when unknown guests arrive, which helps to protect other farm animals. Their call will also keep unwanted rodents away.

Guinea fowl manure can be added to your compost and is a wonderful addition to nurturing the soil where your food is grown. Your plants will thrive.

Guineas are known for their hardiness, being able to withstand both hot and cold.

While not laying as often as chickens, guinea eggs may still be collected and eaten. Guineas tend to make their nests in hidden areas, so finding their eggs may be an adventure.


When starting your guinea flock, it’s best to buy them from keets (babies) so they will know where home is. Imported adult guineas will wander off.

If you have nearby neighbors, it’s best to check in with them, as their squawking can be unbearable for some. However, given their reputation as tick assassins, having them in the neighborhood can be a helpful, healthy alternative to pesticides if you are living in a tick-ridden area.

Bear in mind that guinea meat is also a known delicacy, so if you start your flock and someone complains, you can also have guinea stew.

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Minnesota is asking homeowners to turn their lawns into prairie to help bring back the bees


Minnesota just allocated nearly a million dollars in incentives for people to transform their lawns into bee-friendly wildflowers, clover and native grasses.

The state is asking citizens to stop spraying herbicide, stop mowing so often, and let their lawns re-wild into a more natural state.

The goal is to provide “food sources for pollinators of all kinds, but will specifically aim at saving the rusty patched bumblebee, a fat and fuzzy species on the brink of extinction that seems to be making its final stand in the cities of the Upper Midwest,” the Star Tribune reports.

Research has shown bumblebees are particularly important to the region, as they vibrate at frequency that unlocks pollen other insects can’t reach.

The loss of native prairies and forests across the country has made pollinators more dependent on urban and suburban lawn flowers, says James Wolfin, a bee habitat researcher at University of Minnesota.

His research has focused on “bee lawns” – grassy yards interspersed with small flowers such as Dutch white clover, creeping thyme, self heal, ground plum and dandelions.


The flowers make excellent food source for bees, while being cheap to plant and easy maintain.

“A pound of Dutch white clover is about $7 and it grows low enough that people wouldn’t even have to change the way they mow their lawn,” Wolfin
told the Star Tribune.

Around 55 of Minnesota’s 350 bee species depend on white clover alone, he notes.



“So just by not treating white clover like a weed and letting it grow in a yard provides a really powerful resource for nearly 20% of the bee species in the state,” Wolfin said.


The program is set to begin in spring of 2020.

Citizens living in rusty patch bumblebee zones are eligible for grants up to $500, while people living in zones of secondary and tertiary importance to bees are eligible for $350 and $150 respectively.

Considering a 1-pound bag of clover seeds costs as little as $10, and spreads “like a weed,” that should be plenty to cover it.

In fact, letting your lawn go to the bees is so easy, those of us living outside Minnesota might want to consider joining in the effort!

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