WHAT IN THE WORLD

CURRENT

HAIR MATS MOP UP OIL SPILLS

UNITED KINGDOM

Hairdressers in the United Kingdom are protecting the environment with hair clippings. A company, Matter of Trust, makes hair mats and booms— tubes packed with hair placed on the shores of beaches—to clean up oil spills and prevent oil from getting into waterways. A one kilogram mat can soak up five times its weight in oil. Over 550 salons and pet groomers have joined the initiative and many individuals are also donating their hair.—The Guardian

RECORD FOR EVEREST

NEPAL

After 36 days, 10 members of an all-black climbing team reached the summit of Mount Everest. Even though hundreds attempt to climb Everest each year, only 10 black people have reached the peak. The team, aged 29 to 60, wanted to inspire people of all colours to interact with the outdoors and to chase their own personal mountains.—CNN

CONNER BAKER—UNSPLASH, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, DAMLA OZKAN—UNSPLASH, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

PLANES FUELLED BY ANIMAL FAT

AUSTRALIA

Used vegetable oils, animal fat and canola oil will be transformed into a sustainable fuel for planes in an Australia-first project in central Queensland. The new plant in Gladstone will convert these fats and oils into sustainable lowcarbon aviation fuel. The plant will manufacture fuel similar to diesel but will be 100 per cent sustainable. They hope to roll it out by 2025. —The Queenslander

NEW FROG SPECIES

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

A team of scientists have discovered a new frog species in the crocodileinfested swamps of New Guinea. The frog's closest known relative is the Australian green tree frog. However, due to its cacao-coloured skin, researchers dubbed it the “chocolate frog”—also known as Litoria mira, which means “surprised” or “strange” in Latin.—9 News

“HE TĀNGATA, HE TĀNGATA… THE PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE”

A Māori proverb expresses that people are the most important thing in the world. Could it be true? Below are 5 surprising benefits of being part of a community:

1. It helps us be better and do better

We are more likely to implement better lifestyle habits and achieve goals when we belong to a group of people who care for and believe in us.

2. It benefits our physical health

Loneliness causes our cortisol levels to soar and can cause as much stress on the body as experiencing a physical attack. Combined results of more than 100 studies show that strong social relationships are as important to our health as not smoking.

3. We’re happier

Good social relationships are the single most individual factor for the world's top 10 per cent of happy people. When we have positive interactions with people, our bodies generate dopamine, killing pain and giving us a little high.

4. It brings healing

Just as some of our biggest wounds come from people, so can some of our biggest healing come from people. Being a part of a community can help individuals recover from depression, trauma, hurt and grief.

5. We live longer

Friendship in our day-to-day lives has been shown to add years to life and life to our years.

References:

Dr Darren Morton, Live More Happy (Victoria: Signs Publishing, 2018) Jennifer Jill Schwirzer, 13 Weeks to Joy (Idaho: Pacific Press, 2019)