Manufactured Supplements vs. Natural Vitamins

In America, it’s safe to assume that most of us have been on some sort of multivitamin, calcium pill, or other supplement at some point in our lives. We are sent the message that we need these minerals and vitamins in pill form to make up for the lack in our diets. The question is, do our bodies respond more effectively to vitamins manufactured with scientific technology, or natural sources such as a well balanced diet? One study released in 2011 stated that women who took a multivitamin each day were at a higher risk for dying of cardiovascular disease or cancer. Iron and calcium showed the highest correlations with negative health complications, including death. Another study reported increased cases of prostate cancer in men who took vitamin E supplements.

In response to these studies and the public health concern they raised, USA today interviewed two nutritionists, Jeffrey Blumberg and Marion Nestle, both specializing in vitamin research. While they were both critical of research results, they did agree that vitamins may not prove to be as effective as the public assumes. Blumberg suggests taking a daily multivitamin to counter the deficiencies of our diets, while Nestle much prefers suggesting food and balanced nutrition as the primary source of the minerals our bodies need. Nestle highlights that there are far more studies reporting on the long-term harmful effects of manufactured vitamins, and not many on the real benefits. Natural sources are more risk-free and guaranteed. On the argument for deficiencies in our diet, Nestle states that with our “overabundant, over-fortified food supply, you would have to eat a highly restricted diet to develop (vitamin) deficiency symptoms.”

Cellular Recycling

With drastic increases in the amount of electronics and technologies being created, and especially with the rapid unveils of one model to the next, we’re starting to run into a lot of issues with electronic waste. Landfills across the country are laden with digital devices from the past several decades. The materials that comprise devices such as laptops, iPods, and cell phones do not decompose, but are often easily recyclable. The problem is most Americans do not take the time to learn more about how to go about recycling or donating their old electronics.

One company, ReCellular, focuses its efforts toward the reuse and recycling of cell phones. They are the largest used cell phone company in the world and are “committed to a cleaner, sustainable environment by efficiently reusing and recycling the waste associated with the disposal of cell phones and portable electronics.” They estimate the roughly 130 million cell phones will be replaced this year, and the disposal of those cell phones would create 65,000 tons of waste. In efforts to prevent that waste accruing in landfills, they work with recommence programs like securetradein.com and mobliekarma.com to facilitate the buying and selling of used cell phones. They collect nearly 100,000 personal electronic devices a week. Partnering with community organizations like United Way and March of Dimes help make this initiative possible.

#nofilter

Instagram has, without, grown rapid interest and membership in the past year. The website/application allows users to take photographs on their phones, apply a filter of their choosing, and post their edited creations for their friends, family, and adoring fans to view, comment, “like”, and probably envy. These filters bring about more vibrate colors, juicy textures, and dramatic shadowing. They make, as one user says, “sunlight appear brighter, the sky look moodier and breakfast seem tastier” (Daisy Buchanan). One trend that has developed on Twitter posts of instagram is the hashtag “#nofilter”. This label signifies photographs taken on a users phone, then supposedly posted without use of filtering to edit. I see this most commonly with pictures of sunsets, trees, or other subjects of the natural world. To me, it seems that it has become a surprise to see beauty in its natural, unedited state. If someone sees a picture of a beautiful leaf against the backdrop of a blue sky, and that picture is tagged “#nofilter”, they’re reaction may be something like, “Wow! That is gorgeous! And they didn’t even use a filter!” In other words, we expect technology and artificial contributions for something to appear beautiful, and when those things are unnecessary, we are shocked. At what point did we stop expecting extravagant beauty in nature as is viewable by the human eye? Our lives are lived without a visual “filter”, and I think there is an irreplaceable beauty to that. What if we started shooting life and sharing photography in its raw, natural state? Could we retrain our minds to recognize the beauty in that?

Developments in Solar Energy

As humanity looks to the coming decades, finding alternative, sustainable sources for energy and fuel as been a concern of high priority. One of the primary areas of study, and probably one of the most established thus far, is solar energy. The use of energy from the sun dates back to 7th century B.C. when people began using solar heat and mirrors to light fires and torches. The solar energy technology we know today began in 1767 when a Swiss scientist named Horace de Saussure collected solar energy to cook his food during a trip in South Africa. Robert Sterling applied for a patent for his economizer in 1816, used to reduce energy consumption in the heating process. In the 1860s, August Mouchet proposed an idea for solar-powered steam engines. Countless scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and inventors contributed to the advancement of solar energy use throughout history, including Albert Einstein in 1905 with the publication of his article on the photoelectric effect.

Energy.gov‘s predications for future use of solar energy state that, “All buildings will be built to combine energy-efficient design and construction practices and renewable energy technologies for a net-zero energy building. In effect, the building will conserve enough and produce its own energy supply to create a new generation of cost-effective buildings that have zero net annual need for non-renewable energy.” They also provide a list of current Solar Energy Zones used for optimal solar energy development and collection in the U.S. It will be very interesting to see how solar energy use increases and shifts as new alternative, environment-friendly energy sources develop as well.

Technology for Nature: Wildlife Conservation

While some companies work to shift or recreate the natural, some choose to aim their efforts at preserving and facilitating the flourishing of nature. Technology for Nature is an organization managed by a collaboration of the Zoological Society of London, University College London, and Microsoft Research. Focusing on wildlife conservation, the team has established means of collecting and analyzing data on patterns and changes in wildlife populations, health, environment, etc. Through monitoring and surveillance, the organization studies natural wildlife in the most un-intrusive, intentional way. Currently, they are making developments in telemetry, cameras, sound recording and satellite technology. Their current sensing-based projects include AMPtrack (for more automated, consistent observations of a larger population of subjects), e-Phenology (the study of influences on natural animal and plant cycles), and tracking devices. Their analytics department features programs regarding the automatic identifying of species based on audio recordings and images, as well as the predictions of animal behavior under certain environmental conditions. One of their major species of interest right now is the bat population.

Technology for Nature appears to be very ethically founded, utilizing technology for the study and betterment of the natural world. They put a great deal of study and intention into the ways in which the go about collecting data and responding with new conservation methods accordingly. With more organizations like this, we can begin to gain a better understanding of how humanity impacts the natural world around us, and how we can do so in the best way possible.

(An insect carrying a Technology for Nature surveillance device.)

Biologics by Design

I recently stumbled across this website for a biotechnology company specializing in gene therapy and DNA manufacturing. Biotechnology is described as the use of living, natural organisms in the creation of useful products. Often, this term is used in reference to biomedical engineering or bioengineering. The research and work of Nature Technology Corporation focuses primarily on synthetic gene design, plasmid DNA manufacturing, and recombinant proteins. For example, one service they offer for their customers regarding DNA manufacturing is “Plasmid backbone engineering for substitution of antibiotic-free (markerless) or high copy plasmid backbones”.

(A diagram depiction of NTC’s cloning processes.)

Frankly, I feel a little disturbed reading through this website and all the services the offer. On one hand, it’s amazing that gene and DNA technology has been developed these far that unique DNA manufacturing and synthetic gene design is possible. But just because it’s possible, does that make it right? There is even a tab for “order forms” online. You can literally submit an order form for plasmid DNA and have it shipped to your home or workplace. Perhaps this is beneficial for further biology research or for use in medical facilities, but it seems wrong to have this open to the general public. It’s essentially a market for selling the very building blocks of life. Additionally, they offer Precision Cloning Services for DNA vaccine vectors. Again, if these services are utilized for vaccines and for the advancement of the fight against diseases such as cancer, great. But it seems that, with the development of biotechnology companies such as NTC, the line between biology advancements and artificial production of life is becoming more and more blurred.

Sky Factory

Biophilia is defined as the human love of life/living things/nature. It is the innate urge one may feel to be outdoors or near living plants, animals, etc. Sky Factory, a small company based out of Fairfield, Iowa, works to enliven biophilia in the world. Their vision is “a world wherein the pristine beauty of nature is brought inside, where fine art and technology help to deliver the peace and balance that come from authentic experience of the depths of nature”. Scientific studies have shown immense benefits to biophilic engagement, particularly in regards to the healing process. Many hospitals and healthcare facilities have been built with more windows and natural interior design elements for this reason. The inner units of large hospitals that don’t have this option often utilize Sky Factory to create a realistic illusion of natural daylight and views of nature. 

Patients who have long-term hospital stays show a rise in moral and overall emotional, mental, and spiritual health if they have a view of nature. The physical healing process can even be improved and faster under these conditions. Sky Factory products combine image tiles, lighting systems, and a unique ceiling grid structure to create the look of a real sky light opening the enclosed room to the natural beauty of the sky. These panels are available in a variety of shapes for every kind of space imaginable. Their images of clouds, trees, birds, grass, and even underwater and space editions can be installed in ceilings, walls, or both. They are specifically popular in hospital MRI rooms, as they assist in calming more claustrophobic patients.

 

Finding Balance

In June of 2011, Minnesota Public Radio did a segment on how Americans have begun to progressively miss out on the benefits of the natural world around us. Richard Louv, the author of “The Nature Principle”, begins his talk by discussing the natural beauty he and his family experienced on a trip out west. His descriptive words paint an elaborate mental image of the wonder surrounding him in the listener’s mind. He talks about a source of joy, peace, and fulfillment found outdoors unlike any other; a special “it” that our human nature hungers for.

Louv goes on to discuss a conversation he once had with a few neuroscientists who had recently studied the way in which the brain restructures itself based on experience and environment. He inquired about their inclusion of the natural world’s impact, a question leaving them perplexed. They had a simulated natural environment, but the actual move from the lab to the outside had not been given attention. This encounter reflects the overall state of research on the topic of human interaction with nature: underfunded and understudied. Louv has since then passionately pursued a movement to connect children with their natural world and draw some focus away from their digital lives. Through his work with youth, Louv coined the term “nature deficit-disorder”. Because of his efforts, many classrooms have begun to incorporate more outdoor activities and interaction with nature in the usual curriculum, including the establishment of the “Natural Teachers Network”.

Through this blog, I intend to unpack and engage with what it means to cure “nature deficit-disorder” in our society today, while also utilizing and appreciating the technological advancements we have made. As Louv discussed, there is an aspect to the natural world, a certain “it”, that our very existence thirsts for. Though discovering this balance may prove to be a daunting task, I believe it is possible and, even more so, dire to the future emotional, mental, and spiritual health of humanity.