What is Coronasomnia? - Healthy Life 2

Katie Ruellia, blue and pink flowers

We all know “insomnia,” which affect on million people all over the world. In term of time length, there are two kinds of this sleep disorder:

1) Short term insomnia

- difficult to sleep from several days to weeks

2) Long term insomniacs

- difficult to sleep for months

Since Covid 19 pandemic, there is emerging a word called as “Coronasomnia.” Washington Post (September 3, 2020). Disorder is found in people who can not sleep for 5 months during pandemic.

The causes of Coronasomnia are varies, it could be such as:
- dismal of government response to the pandemic
- upset condition of love life.
- uncertain future
- don’t have clues to the end of pandemic crisis

Garage sales at our neighborhood, just for illustration.

Moreover, coronasomnia have devastating impact on public health problems, and lead to:
- low productivity
- heightened stress
- increase upset
- depression
- higher risk of hypertension.

Finally, do you experience Coronasomnia in recent days? Or during this Covid 19 pandemic?

The Amphibians Near Extinct due to Fungus Disease – Science 5

Fig 01- A garden décor frog

In recent years, Science, volume 363 (published in 29 March 2019) reported declining of amphibian population worldwide due to fungal disease.

Among amphibians affected by this disease are:

- frogs

- toads

- salamanders

- newts

- caecilians

The fungus also described as “supefungus.” The scientific name of fungus is Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. This is a chytrid fungus, and then, disease is called as Chytridiomycosis.

Some symptoms of chytridiomycosis are following:

- convulsions

- lack of muscle control

- loss of appetite.

Fig 02- Magnolia blooming, just for illustration.

 

Fig 03- A little palm tree.

The fungus infects skin of frog or other amphibians, very painful, then causes:

- difficulty to breathe

- damage of nervous system.

- slowly kill amphibians

This fungal disease lead to decreasing about 30% of 501 amphibian species, include:

- almost extinction of 200 species

- extinction of 90 species

However, scientists have worked hard to prevent more devastation to amphibians population around the globe.

White Azaleas in the City Garden – Nature 5

White Azaleas are blooming

In one of entrances into city garden of Baton Rouge, LA, we will see white Azalea flowers.

February or March is blooming time for Azalea in our southern state areas. Our white azalea blooms in about 1 to 3 weeks only.

I think that 1 to 3 weeks is considered short period of blooming. Other flowers have longer period of blooming.

As suggested by David Beaulieu (2020, published in the Spruce), some long bloom periods flowers are:

- Coneflower, about two months

- Shasta daisy, around 5 weeks

- Ice plant, 4 weeks

- Lavender, 3 to 4 weeks

- Garden Phlox, 6 weeks

- Russian Sage, last to 15 weeks

Close up white Azaleas

Actually, we have red azaleas in our backyard, and many of my neighbors have grows variety of Azalea.

At early stage, we just need little work such as:

- watering

- pruning

- fertilizing

- give cover during cold seasons.

Then, maintenance is easy. This flower is not considered as high maintenance plant.   

Can Scientists Create Glowing Plants? - Science 4

Succulent plants, just for illustration.

Before I answer the question: Can Scientists Create Glowing Plants? Let’s see the facts.

There are plenty of luminescence fungi In the forest across America and Asia. It is estimated at least 70 species of this kind of fungi.

Some mushroom that are glowing at night (Anna Noris, 2020):

- Panellus stipticus

- Panellus pusillus

- Armillaria mellea

- Armillaria gallica

- Mycena chlorophos

- Mycena luxaeterna

- Mycena haematopus

- Omphalotus illudens

- Omphalotus olearius

Some mushrooms that glowing in the dark 

(credit to Treehugger / Julie Bang)

Now, scientists have an idea to create glowing plants as well. The scientists come from these 3 following countries:

- United Kingdom

- Russia

- Austria.

DNA from mushroom then inserted into plants. Plants produce bioluminescence due to “a billion photons” per 60 seconds.

So, yes, Scientists can create glowing Plants. Then, what is purpose to create glowing plants?

The answer is that to produce the ornament plants, include glowing flowers for commercial, sold in the markets.

We may have these kind of plants and flowers in our houses in the near coming future.