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Amazing news from around the world.

NASA Research and Innovations are Spinning

From reducing greenhouse gas emissions to advancing renewable energy technologies to better understanding the processes leading to warming, NASA’s research and innovation spinoffs are growing.

All-Electric Flight

With NASA’s help, a company designed a high- power battery pack that could meet safety requirements for the agency’s all-electric experimental airplane. Now the company is selling batteries based on that development for use in some of the first all-electric passenger planes.

Sniffing Out Gas Leaks

A spectrometer created to look for methane on Mars is 1,000 times more sensitive than competing technology. The device can be handheld or mounted on a drone or car and lets natural gas producers easily spot and stop leaks.

A n y T i m e , A n y W h e r e E N E R G Y H E A L I N G

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Putting CO2 Back into Beer

Most small breweries vent the carbon dioxide created during brewing and then buy more to carbonate the beer itself. Now the same technology for manufacturing resources on Mars has been adapted to enable breweries to capture CO2 and then recycle it to carbonate the beer. TRY FOR

FREE!

Running on Empty

The voltage controller, invented by a NASA engineer in the 1970s, is one of NASA’s most-used innovations. It enables machinery to automatically decrease energy consumption when full power is unnecessary—for example, escalators and elevators without passengers.

Solar Flexibility

With NASA funding, one company developed a cheaper way to produce high-efficiency solar cells and used it to make affordable, portable, flexible solar panels. Its solar cells now power troops’ devices in the field, as well aircraft and satellites. MEET YOUR CONSCIOUS PARTNER HERE!

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The Dangers of Commercial Air Fresheners

(and What to Use Instead)

by Kiki Powers

Ads for air fresheners, from sprays to plug-ins to solids are everywhere. Commercial air fresheners are certainly a common fixture in many homes, schools and businesses. But are they as safe and beneficial as people often think they are?

The assumed purpose of these products is to “freshen” the air, however, most merely mask odors with chemicals that degrade the air quality in our homes. In fact, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), mass-market air fresheners are a major source of indoor air pollution. They often contain unhealthy chemicals such as formaldehyde, petroleum distillates, aerosol propellants, acetaldehyde—a likely human carcinogen according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), among others.

VOCs, which are emitted as gases, are a family of chemicals, some of which may cause adverse health effects. According to the EPA, concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors—up to ten times higher, in fact—than outdoors, and can be harmful to people of all ages, as well as pets, potentially causing: n Eye, nose and throat irritation n Headaches, loss of coordination and nausea

n Damage to liver, kidneys and the central nervous system n Cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans

Another chemical group to be aware of is phthalates, which have been linked to hormonal and reproductive problems, birth defects and developmental disorders. A 2007 review by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) found that 12 out of 14 popular air fresheners contained phthalates.

Labels don’t reveal this since air freshener ingredients can legally be kept secret due to business protections on product ingredients and fragrance formulations. Given these loopholes for manufacturers, less than ten percent of all volatile ingredients are typically disclosed on air freshener labels or material safety data sheets.

So how can we create a clean-smelling home if we prefer to steer clear of these chemical-based products? Worry not, it is easy to freshen air naturally with a few simple strategies. For example:

Attack Odors at the Source

Many odors are a snap to clear up naturally. It may be as simple as refreshing the litter box, ferreting out spoiled leftovers from the fridge, taking out the garbage more often, keeping an open box of baking soda in the fridge or sprinkling it into indoor trash cans and compost bins. Of course, keeping windows at least partially open year around is an easy, free air freshener. For a natural, do-it-yourself option, make simple garbage pail pods using essential oils.

Make Your Own Natural Air Freshener

This solution is easy, inexpensive and fun. Simply fill a spray bottle with purified water and add a few drops of essential oil. That’s it. A good essential oil starter kit might include soothing lavender, disinfecting tea tree, freshening lemon, cooling peppermint and invigorating grapefruit oils, though there are many to choose from. Experiment with the combinations. Mist rooms as often as you like and enjoy.

Enjoy Natural Scented Candles

Candles create a lovely aesthetic in our homes and scented versions lend a nice aroma to interior spaces. The key is selecting healthy alternatives. Most commercial candles are made from paraffin wax, which may create highly toxic benzene, toluene, carbon tetrachloride, chlorobenzene, ethylbenzene, and other chemicals when burned, and the wicks often contain heavy metals such as lead which is released into the indoor atmosphere as well. Synthetic fragrances add insult to injury by off-gassing chemicals like phthalates as well.

Look for safe, beneficial candles made from non-GMO soy or beeswax in natural markets and online. Be aware that the term “fragrance” is code for chemical additives so be sure to select candles scented with only natural essential oils.

Buy Healthy Alternatives

Safe, natural air fresheners are available. A simple citrus spray that contains only natural citrus oils from a blend of oranges, lemons, limes, tangerines and grapefruits is a great choice. Essential oil diffusers are wonderful and come in a variety of designs. For an exceptional version, consider a cool bamboo diffuser. This type uses high-frequency ultrasonic electrical vibrations to create an ultra-fine mist. This diffusion method doesn’t utilize heat, so essential oil integrity and holistic properties are maintained.

With so many great options, creating a fresh-scented home, free of undesirable chemicals, will be as easy as it is healthy!

Kiki Powers, MS, CNC, is a contributing writer for Natural Awakenings, a professional health writer, blogger, and national speaker specializing in plant-based nutrition and healthy green living. For more information on the benefits and countless rewards offered by embracing a healthy, conscious, and compassionate lifestyle, visit RawKiki.com.

It’s time to

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INSPIRED UNIVERSE BOOKS

Shop: InspiredUniverse.com Connect: FB @InspiredUniverseBooks IG @InspiredUniverse_Books How lucky are we, having a future to see? Through charming rhyme of her new book, New Jersey author, Aleksandra Starling reminds children, teens, and young adults to dream big and follow their hearts. Illustrated by world-renowned artist, Keico Watanabe (www. keicow.com), You’ll Always Find Your Way, is a perfect graduation gift for any age.

Starling is the founder of Inspired Universe, a company devoted to children’s health. Her richly illustrated books are designed to make kids laugh while inspiring them to try new things that will become foundational habits for a balanced life.

Join the author and the artist LIVE on Instagram @InspiredUniverse_Books or Facebook @keicow on Saturday, Feb 19th, 11am-12pm (add to your calendar) to hear about the inspiration behind this amazing book, take a tour of Keico’s art studio, and have a chance to win beautiful artworks and gifts. Offer: Receive a beautifully designed bookmark with each purchase.