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Trees, like animals, can also experience albinism, though it is extremely rare.
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Pre-Viking Decorated Strainer, 6th Century AD
A silver strainer, originally of Byzantine origin, stamped in the Viking era with opposed triangles to the outer face; bulb finial with openwork plaque, further later stamped pellets and lozenges, loop above; similar finial to the lower end with discoid extension and shallow bowl with five piercings, flange also stamped with bands of pellets, annulets, triangles and pelleted triangles.
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eSHINTO:
SHINTO, meaning ‘way of the gods,’ is the oldest religion in Japan. The faith has neither a founder or prophets and there is no major text which outlines its principal beliefs. The resulting flexibility in definition may well be one of the reasons for Shinto’s longevity, and it has, consequently, become so interwoven with Japanese culture in general that it is almost inseparable as an independent body of thinking. Thus, Shinto’s key concepts of purity, harmony, family respect, and subordination of the individual before the group have become parts of the Japanese character whether the individual claims a religious affiliation or not.
Unlike many other religions, Shinto has no recognised founder. The peoples of ancient Japan had long held animistic beliefs, worshipped divine ancestors and communicated with the spirit world via shamans; some elements of these beliefs were incorporated into the first recognised religion practised in Japan, Shinto, which began during the period of the Yayoi culture (c. 300 BCE - 300 CE).
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Article by Mark Cartwright on AHE
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The World of Flowers, 1968.
This map was published in 1968 by National Geographic. It shows a representative sample of native flowers across the World.
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6 things i stopped buying: minimalism journey (+ reduce waste)
1. Makeup Remover Wipes: instead, use a washcloth (preferably black) and apply coconut oil or almond oil to the cloth (or face), then use the cloth to wipe your entire makeup off until satisfied. *(continue with face wash routine or face mask)
benefits: reusable // machine washable // save money // gentle on the skin // effectively removes makeup
2. Plastic Toothbrushes: instead, buy a pack of bamboo toothbrushes on amazon or a general store. use these brushes as you would any other brush and thoroughly brush to improve oral health.
benefits: organic // reusable // decomposable // cleanses teeth effectively // eco-friendly // BPA free bristles
3. Multi-Step Facial Cleansers & Name Brand Body Washes: instead, use African Black soap for both your body and face with your preferred method of washing (electronic brush, hands, or wash cloth). for more simple face washes, consider using vegan and/or organic facial washes that work for your skin type.
benefits: multipurpose // improves overall skin health // all skin types (especially acne prone or oily) // single-step process // organic // save money
4. Plastic Water Bottles: instead, use a simple stainless steel bottle that you can refill throughout the day and keep up with.
benefits: reusable // washable // aesthetic // easy to monitor and handle // eco-friendly
5. Face Moisturizers: instead, use carrier oils (such as coconut oil, argan oil, almond oil, castor oil) that work with your skin type/skin needs *(you can try combining them with essential oils such as tea tree oil, lavender oil, etc.)
benefits: organic // improves skin health // no harsh chemicals // save money // longer lasting // multipurpose
6. Animal Cruelty Makeup: instead, buy makeup products that you truly need (wear daily) from companies that are Animal-Cruelty FREE and/or vegan. do your research and spend your money wisely. some may seem expensive, but consider how much some high-end brands benefit from not being animal-cruelty free *(invest in vegan and/or organic products too).
benefits: eco-friendly // animal-cruelty free // healthier for skin // long-term benefits // *vegan and/or organic
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Dutch trains now run entirely on wind energy. The wind powers 5,500 trips per day, enabling 600,000 daily train passengers to commute without any emissions. Over the course of an hour, a single windmill can power a train for 120 miles. Source Source 2
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Molecule of the Day - Serotonin
Serotonin (C10H12N2O), also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), is a white solid that is slightly soluble in water under standard conditions. Like dopamine (Day 44), it is an important neurotransmitter that regulates vital processes in the body.
In the brain, serotonin is largely produced in the neurons of raphe nuclei, which are found in the brain stem. It regulates perceptions of resource availability, which can affect bodily functions and sensations such as mood, appetite, digestion, and sleep.
Serotonin is released from the presynaptic neuron into the synaptic cleft via the fusing of serotonin-containing vesicles with the presynaptic membrane. It then binds to 5-HT receptors on the postsynaptic membrane.
There are many different subtypes of 5-HT receptors, and each produces a different cellular response upon binding of serotonin. For example, the binding of serotonin to 5-HT2A receptors results in psychedelia, whereas the binding of serotonin to 5-HT3 receptors results in vomiting.
Due to the diverse functions of serotonin in different cells, many classes of drugs, such as anxiolytics, antidepressants, antiemetics, and antimigraine drugs, are designed to target the serotonin system.
For example, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as sertraline (Zoloft) inhibit the reuptake of serotonin into the presynaptic membrane from the synaptic cleft. This increases the concentration of serotonin in the synaptic cleft, and the increased binding of serotonin to the 5-HT receptors. This results in an anxiolytic, antidepressive effect.
On the other hand, drugs such as ondansetron act on the receptors themselves; they act as antagonists to 5-HT3 receptors, preventing serotonin from binding to it. As a result, there is a reduction in nausea and vomiting, which are common side-effects in chemotherapy. Hence, such antiemetics are useful and are often co-administered together with chemotherapeutic agents.
In the human body, tryptophan is first hydroxylated via the action of tryptophan hydroxylase to produce 5-hydroxytryptophan, which is then decarboxylated by aromatic amino acid decarboxylase to produce serotonin.
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Botanical Illustration Sites
http://plantillustrations.org/
https://archive.org/details/botanicus
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Curtis%27s_Botanical_Magazine
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Botanical_illustrations
http://biodivlib.wikispaces.com/Art+of+Life
http://www.botanicus.org/
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Edwards%27s_Botanical_Register
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Botanical_illustrations_by_illustrator
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Botany_journals
http://botanicalsketches.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-temple-of-flora.html
http://plantillustrations.org/
https://archive.org/details/botanicus
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GODS AND GODDESSES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD: Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli (Mesoamerican god)
TLAHUIZCALPANTECUHTLITl 'Dawn Lord,’ was a Mesoamerican god who represented a menacing aspect of Venus, the morning star, and was one of the four gods which held up the sky. The people of the ancient Americas believed his rays could damage people, crops, and water sources. Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli played a key role in the Aztec creation myth and was 12th of the 13 Lords of the Day in the Aztec calendar.
Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli (also spelt Tlauixcalpantecuhtli) represented the dual aspect of the planet Venus, known to the Mesoamericans as a bright star. Venus was especially important in the religious and agricultural calendar with its average 584-day cycle being carefully observed and precisely calculated. Even the architectural layout of cities, notably at Teotihuacan, Toltec Tollan, Maya Uxmal, and Chichen Itza, were built and aligned in accordance with the appearance of Venus at particular moments during its cycle.
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Article by Mark Cartwright on AHE
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