Solar fabric allows you to charge your phone with your shirt.

This Solar fabric allows you to charge your phone with your shirt.Solar energy is becoming ever more widespread, with panels going up not only on houses and office buildings, but on cars, buses, and road signs. The latest advancement in solar technology will put solar energy on another new and somewhat unexpected surface: people. Not directly on us, though—on our clothes. Scientists are developing wearable energy-smart ribbons that can be woven into fabric, with miniature solar cells to capture and store the sun’s energy. The solar cells don’t look anything like the ones we’re used to seeing on houses or cars. What we can see is a thin copper ribbon, or filament, that has perovskite solar cells on one side and a layer of material acting as a supercapacitor on the other. The copper serves as a shared electrode, directly transferring and storing the charges generated by the perovskite. Most existing solar cells are made of silicon, which requires silica rock to be converted to silicon crystals using ultra-high temperatures. Perovskite is a crystalline material that can be processed in a lab at room temperature for about half the current cost of silicon panels. Perovskite also has a more flexible structure and higher theoretical conversion efficiency than silicon. Perhaps the biggest difference between the copper filament and existing solar technology is that it can store the energy it collects, rather than having to transfer it to the grid or to a battery. So, how might solar clothing be used? Going to the trouble of weaving thin metallic threads into our clothes just so we have a convenient way to charge our phones seems unnecessary (though there are those times it would come in handy!). But what about some more useful applications that would really make it worth mass-producing solar vests or jackets? The area with probably the most potential to put solar clothing to good use is the military. On a typical 72-hour mission, soldiers and marines carry 17 to 30 pounds of batteries with them; that’s on top of the water, gear, and everything else in their packs. Total weight can add up to 70 pounds or more. That’s a lot to carry around, especially for days at a time. Wearable solar technology could provide soldiers with on-the-go power and significantly lighten their packs.continue

Fighting climate change with agritech.

The war on climate action is far from over with many sectors seeking out ways to fight or rather reduce or eliminate the effects of these changes. Agriculture has been fingered as a major contributor to heating up of the environment through increased emission from various agricultural practices. In the heat of the climate action talks ,some school of thought proposed a zero beef diet noting that inefficiencies of cattle to properly utilize feed(basically corn) is increasing emissions in the atmosphere.Another school of thought proposed modification of feed by using certain additives to assist better utilization of feed and hence less emissions to the atmosphere ,some others came up with another solution of better enclosure for the cattle to trap the gases when released and prevent exposure to the atmosphere. Agricultural practices also was linked to climate change with exposure of top soil to carbon emissions from chemical run offs,excessive plowing e.t.c thus increasing carbon footprints and contributing to climatic changes. There is a paradigm shift now,with another school of thought proposing to fight climate change with technology that is agritech. Micheal Pollan in his new book,Cooked: A natural history of transformation explains further:Technology is central to Pollan’s vision, but, he says, “We have to think about what technology means.With the right kind of technology, Pollan believes that eating meat can actually be good for the planet. That’s right: Raising livestock, if done properly, can reduce global warming. Pollan alongside other contributors believe that that new agricultural methods wouldn’t just reduce the volume of heat-trapping gases emitted by our civilization—they would also, and more importantly, draw down the total amount of those gases that are already in the atmosphere. Depending on how you farm, your farm is either sequestering or releasing carbon,” says Pollan. Currently, the vast majority of farms, in the United States and around the world, are releasing carbon—mainly through fertilizer and fossil fuel applications but also by plowing before planting. “As soon as you plow, you’re releasing carbon,” Pollan says, because exposing soil allows the carbon stored there to escape into the atmosphere. One method of avoiding carbon release is no-till farming: Instead of plowing, a tractor inserts seeds into the ground with a small drill, leaving the earth basically undisturbed. But in addition to minimizing the release of carbon, a reformed agriculture system could also sequester carbon, extracting it from the atmosphere and storing it—especially in soil but also in plants—so it can’t contribute to global warming.continue

Veterinary Acupuncture.

Veterinary Acupuncture is defined as the insertion of needles into specific points on the animal body to elicit a healing response. There are various acupuncture points and each performs specific actions when stimulated. T This technique has been used in veterinary practice in China for thousands of years to treat many ailments,the Chinese also it as preventative medicine. Acupuncture is used all around the world, either alone or in conjunction with Western medicine, to treat a wide variety of conditions in every species of animal. Clinical research has been conducted showing positive results in the treatment of both animals and humans, and this has increased the use of acupuncture. Acupuncture will not cure every condition, but it can work very well when it is indicated. Veterinary Acupuncture is indicated for functional problems such as paralysis, noninfectious inflammation especially allergies and pain. Veterinary Acupuncture in small animals are usually for some of the general conditions such as arthritis, inter vertebral disk disease, or traumatic nerve injury.Respiratory problems such as feline asthma ,git disorders especially diarrhoea. Skin conditions are also included in the scope of treatment such as allergic dermatitis and lick granuloma. Veterinary Acupuncture in large animals especially horses has a place of importance as this practice actually started with horses before use in other animals. The use of acupuncture in horses is beneficial as part of routine training especially for sporting/athletic ones to keep them in top shape. The scope of treatment in large animals include colic, heaves,allergic dermatitis,facial paralysis e.t.c. . The practice of acupuncture has been on for thousands of years but not all pet lovers or farmer subscribes to this,many believe in the conventional practice and many other believe in a bit of a mix-match just going with the flow of the situation at hand and tipping to the option with better prognosis. Do you think your pet needs acupuncture? check this out

Tomatoes our wasted resource.

Nigeria's characteristic inability to meet its local demand for specific agricultural items may seem evident in tomato, whereby despite the country's position as the 14th largest producer in the world (accounting for 10.79 per cent of Africa's production and 1.2 per cent of total world production), it used imported tomato paste worth US$ 360 million. Nigeria produces more than enough tomatoes but 45% of what is produced is lost through post harvest losses,such as poor handling techniques, lack of adequate storage facilities , transportation coupled with bad roads and tortuous distance to markets. This shows the major production areas in the country,you can picture how the state of the produce when it arrives to the south-west area. Adequate training on handling,storage and transportation will help prevent losses and ensure more tomatoes are exchanged for cash. Post harvest losses can be prevented by proper handling and storage, the use of returnable plastic crates come into play here. The plastics are of global standards,they improve post harvest losses and boost earnings for fresh produce. The plastics aside from being colorful,are 1) hygienic. 2)prevent fruit damage and puncture 3)improve fruit ventilation 4) prevent fruit compression. How to use crates to ensure produce is fresh from farm to table. 1) harvest produce 2) sort and clean produce 3) load into crates 4) transport in cooling trucks. Want to invest in tomato production? then think of how to shorten the farm to market curve and how to ensure freshness of produce. #transport #cooling trucks #returnable plastic crates #training #out growers scheme. more

Tomatoes ,your health and wealth.

Tomatoes are an excellent source of vitamin C and beta-carotene and Studies show that lycopene in tomatoes is responsible for the deep redness which is a powerful antioxidant. Lycopene is an antioxidant compound and the natural pigment that is responsible for the deep color of several fruits, most commonly tomatoes and watermelons. The primary benefit of lycopene is its ability to help protect our cells from free radicals and scientists have been able to amass quite a significant amount of research that supports the role of lycopene in human health. lycopene does not get converted into vitamin A as does beta carotene. This means the health benefits of lycopene are attributed to its own powerful antioxidant actions. In fact, laboratory experiments indicate that lycopene is a more effective antioxidant than other carotenoids, including beta carotene. The antioxidant benefit of lycopene acts on cancer with some positive results. Lycopene appears to be one of the best measures to prevent cancer, mainly prostate and bladder types. When used in conjunction with a full-complex, natural vitamin E and green tea extract, studies indicate that it may inhibit prostate cancer proliferation by some 90%. Lycopene also acts on prostate cancer, it may help in the prevention of cancers of the pancreas, stomach, breast, cervix, and lung, as well as in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cataracts. A study in postmenopausal women, shown that a lack of lycopene was likely to put women at increased risk of osteoporosis. Lycopene also help with coronary artery disease,infertility,type 2 diabetes cancer prevention, cataracts ,reducing symptoms of menopause,reducing risk of heart disease,relieving pain associated with diabetic neuropathy ,repairing damage from seizures and improving overall bone health. Increase your lycopene intake by adding lots of tomatoes, tomato juices and watermelon to your diet.Nigeria's characteristic inability to meet its local demand for specific agricultural items may seem evident in tomato, whereby despite the country's position as the 14th largest producer in the world (accounting for 10.79 per cent of Africa's production and 1.2 per cent of total world production), it used imported tomato paste worth US$ 360 million. However, after cursory analysis of demand-supply gap, what appears in real term, is not excess demand but on-season excess supply that could not be channeled into production of alternative tomato products. This excess estimated to be about 45 per cent of annual production, is routinely is wasted thereby discouraging sustainable and increasing investment. investment opportunities in tomato production

The veterinary medicine daily.

The veterinary medicine daily is out, read about practice,research ,job placements and scholarships. The daily is a periscope to the world of veterinary medicine and a cross over /fusion with human health. Read

Farmer makes money from bees

Stanley Imbusi’s grandfather Lumbasio was a traditional medicine man whose trick for curing varied ailments was centred on honey from stingless bees found in Kakamega tropical rain forest.Today, Imbusi is a renowned stingless bee farmer in Kakamega Imbusi recalls how they dug the ground and peeled tree backs to extract the honey with tested ability to cure many diseases. In 1994, as a hobby of trapping the bees and keeping them at home, he made his first catcher-box that he set in the forest and carried the trapped stingless bee home. This is how he started his meliponiculture venture. “Increasing population around the forest affected the vegetation cover and distribution of the stingless bees, which is disappearing deeper into the forest. That is why I resolved to keeping them in my home where I planted flowers for their nectar,” says Imbusi. He adds that after giving them nectar, the bees “pay back” by aiding pollination of macadamia trees in his compound. Mbusi has over 60 hives with different breeds of the meliponines, ranging from Meliponula, Bocandei, Ferruginia to Hyporiconna, which he traps from Kakamega Forest and rears at home. He made smaller hives compared to those the common honey bees inhabit, measuring 24 by 10 by 10 inches and 18 by 6 by 6 inches. more