💧Drought Reversed, Fermented Faves, Dissolvable Plastic

Happy Friday my friend,

DId you know a lightning bolt can reach the upper atmosphere of space? ISS astronauts photographed this stunning “blue jet” from above a thunderstorm! ⚡️

ECL TRIVIA: What ocean-ecosystem effect describes how whales help fertilize surface waters by bringing nutrients up from the deep? (Answer below)

🌎 Planet Health

💦 CALIFORNIA REPLENISHED: As of early January, zero percent of California state shows abnormally dry drought conditions. It’s the first time in 25 years! Learn more here.

🦌 INVOLUNTARY PARKS: What happens when recent war, radioactivity, or border disputes create uninhabitable spaces for humans? Nature thrives. This fascinating article explores some of the most famous “involuntary parks,” and how dark times in our recent human behavior can create flourishing wildlife refuges and preserves.

🌎 DISSOLVABLE PLASTIC: Japanese scientists at RIKER have developed a type of plastic that can dissolve in seawater in hours, leaving behind no trace microplastics. It decomposes in soil in just 10 days. See diagrams of this “supramolecular” chemistry and learn how it works here.

🧑‍⚕️ Human Health

🥬 FERMENTED FAVORITE: What’s your favorite fermented food? We eat kimchi almost every day in our house! Korean kimchi preparation traditions are about 4k years old. Now formally highlighted as a “gut health food” in last week’s new US dietary guidelines, it’s gaining long overdue global attention. Understand more about kimchi’s rich cultural traditions and its benefits here.

🔬 MICROPLASTICS MANIA: Skepticism is mounting over recent claims of microplastics in human organs. Some scientists are pointing out that fat-rich tissues (like the brain) can falsely register polyethylene, raising concerns about the accuracy of many widely cited studies reporting microplastics’ presence in biological tissues, according to The Guardian. Click HERE to read more about this evolving discussion.

🧠 THERAPY ALTERNATIVE: Is exercising as effective as antidepressants? According to 73 previously conducted randomized control trials, regular exercise can REDUCE DEPRESSION symptoms as well as psychological therapy, and possibly even antidepressants. Light to moderate activity (walking, cycling) showed benefits, offering a low-cost, accessible treatment option.

MAGNESIUM BREAKTHROUGH — “Rest Is the New Resolution”

You’re doing all the right things: better food, earlier nights, more walks, and still waking up tired. That’s not normal.

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That’s Magnesium Breakthrough: seven forms of magnesium plus the exclusive Passport Delivery System that actually gets it into your cells where it works. It helps you sleep deeper, calm your nerves, and recover faster so you can show up strong for everything 2026 throws at you.

Most magnesiums use one or two cheap forms that don’t absorb. Magnesium Breakthrough uses seven, real doses you can feel.

During their New Year New You event, get up to 35 percent off select Magnesium Breakthrough ritual bundles.

Go to bioptimizers.com/rob and use code ROB15. Start 2026 rested, not burned out, because resolutions require real rest.

Photo of the week

Trivia Answer:

The whale pump. By feeding at depth and releasing nutrient-rich waste near the surface, whales can boost plankton growth and overall ocean productivity.

🎥 Master Gardener Tips for Planting

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...and a healthier planet:

• • Improve health awareness: Deep Dive articles & recipe videos
• • Protect ecosystems: expert video tutorials with leaders around the world
• • Prioritize mental health: custom meditations for relieved stress
• • Camaraderie: likeminded community (app coming soon!)
• • Inspiration: members-only ebooks, personal picks, and DIY ideas
• • Portion goes to support independent films, local food projects, and planting trees