Which One Has Vitamin C more - Red Bell Pepper or Orange? - Healthy Life 4

Fig 01- Red bell pepper

Few people consume red bell pepper sometimes, but many people love to consume it often with their own reasons.

Actually, we familiar with this vegetable. I always see red bell pepper whenever I went to groceries.

The price is reasonable, depend on groceries, generally about US$ 1 each or less.

They are fresh and attractive.

However, if there is a comparative question: Which one has vitamin C more - Red Bell Peppers or Oranges?

You might answer suddenly: an orange!

Is it right?

No

Off course not!

Why?

Fig 02- Sliced papaya, rich in vitamin C

Fig 03- several colors of bell peppers

Vitamin C in the medium size orange is 69.7 mg

Vitamin C in the cup of chopped red bell pepper is 190 mg, about three times of vitamin C in the orange.

Other fruit and vegetable contain more vitamin C than an orange as reported by Christine Matthels (Health, January 27, 2020) are:

- Chili
- Kale
- Broccoli
- Papaya
- Strawberry
- Cauliflower
- Brussels sprouts
- Pineapple
- Kiwi
- Mango

Now, we understand that a lot of alternatives as sources of vitamin C in addition to oranges.

Hot Summer in the USA – Temperature above 40 Celsius degree – Nature 6

Fig 01- Mid day in our neighborhood

As always, the southern states of USA have encountered hot summer temperatures, above 40 Celsius degree in certain times, and between July to August in the last few years.

The southern states include:

- Texas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- Florida.

Unfortunately, two states in this June of this year, reached 44 Celsius degree. I think this is a kind of desert countries or middle east nations.

These two states usually quite mild temperature, about 10 Celsius degree. These north states in the area called “Pacific Northwest,” close to Canada.

What are the name of two states?

Why temperature is so hot?

Fig 02- Ice tea sold in many places

The name of two states in the “Pasific Northwest” region are:

- Washington, Seattle
- Oregon

Fig 03- The rainbow in the neighborhood

Strangely, Canada with temperature around 27 Celsius degree in the summer, has reached 32 Celsius degrees now days.

Why north America and Canada are so hot?

You might know the answer: Global warming.

Temperatures in some places in some countries have increased by about 2 to 5 Celsius degree.

Luckily, our southern state is still about 30 Celsius degree currently. The hottest so far.

We have rain almost every day, especially during June, temperature about 27 Celsius degree at mid day.

Rainbow appeared in the sky, looks so colorful (please see at Fig-03).

Night temperature is about 23 Celsius degree, the enjoy temperature to have a good sleep.

What is the highest temperature in your places?

Is it hotter than previous years?

Can Six Dolar Drug Kill Covid 19 Virus? - Healthy Life 3

Fig 01- Xlear is brand name drug for sinus relief.

Do you know drug called monoclonal antibody cocktail?

Yes, this drug had been used to treat former US president, Donald Trump when he infected by Covid 19 virus.

How much its cost?

The monoclonal antibody cocktail also called as REGN- COV2 has price tag of US$ 1,250 per dose.

Donald Trump got a single dose of 8- gram drug through intravenous infusion. The 8 gram is the highest dose in that time.

What is the result?

You know that former US president survives until now.

How about with US$ 6 drug?

The drug known with brand name Xlear is a nasal spray to relieve congestion in our nose.

Much cheaper compared to REGN- COV2! 

Fig 02- Wild flower on the grass

Fig 03- Colorful carrots

Interestingly that this cheap drug is Over the Counter (OTC) drug which mean that we can buy it without a Medical Doctor (MD) prescription.

Best Life (27 January 2021) reported that nasal spray can kill corona virus. The report based on the in vitro study which was conducted by researchers from two universities:

- Northwestern University
- Utah State University

Other study of Covid 19 patients has shown the results that:

- nasal spray improves symptoms
- nasal spray reduced in the clinical course

Hence, nasal spray is a potential Over the Counter (OTC) drug to combat Covid 19 virus in the near future

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.