Life on Mars, acupuncture answer, glowing plants

Happy Friday my friend,

Scientists have modified succulents to glow in the dark after being “charged” by sunlight using injectable phosphor particles. Take a look here. Is this something you think scientists should be experimenting and meddling with? Or should we let nature be? Hit reply and let me know.

ECL TRIVIA: Which bird species can sleep with one half of its brain while the other stays awake? (Answer below)

🌎 Planet Health

🌱 TREE PLANTING ROBOT: Brazil is implementing AI-powered, autonomous tree-planting robots that can plant 100 to over 1.8k seedling trees per hour, depending on the model. (Real life WALL-E, is that you?) These bots can drill holes, analyze soil, terrain, light, and microclimate. Learn more about the goal of this high-tech forest restoration robot here.

🐢 WORLD’S LARGEST TURTLE NEST: A massive nest of over 41k female Giant South American River Turtles has been discovered using drone surveillance on the Brazil-Bolivia border. This spotlights a species under immense pressure from habitat loss, poaching, and mass illegal trafficking. Do you think drone usage in this way can better protect other types of animals and habitats?

🪐 MARS DISCOVERY: Could this reshape our understanding of inter-planetary life as we know it? “This very well could be the clearest sign of life that we’ve ever found on Mars, which is incredibly exciting,” NASA admin reported, about these new discoveries of “leopard-shaped spots” on a rock sample taken by a Mars rover.

🧑‍⚕️ Human Health

🧘‍♀️ ACUPUNCTURE ANSWERS: A 2021 study revealed that true acupuncture can help with low back pain up to two years after treatment. Ever wondered how it works? This recent article from Harvard Medical School will give you a quick overview of how it works, what to expect with acupuncture treatment, and resources for finding a credible, licensed acupuncture practitioner.

🦠 GUT & GROWTH: Did you know there’s a correlation between stunted growth in kids, and the health of their gut? “Children with stunted growth had less stable gut microbes compared to those who grew normally,” says a study published in Cell. Click here to learn about how culture-independent meta-pangenomics was a tool used in this study, and more about the initial findings.

🧠 MEDITATION MINDSET: “Whether it’s five minutes or 15 minutes, the best meditation is the one you’ll do,” advises this article. Studies show that meditation has innumerable benefits, but you’re not alone if you have trouble “actually doing it.” Scan through these actionable and helpful tips for getting started.

🫖 Restoring soil, restoring YOU

When Earth Conscious Life puts its name on something, it has to be truly special. That’s why last year we partnered with Michael Ham and the incredible team at Wild Orchard to launch the world’s first Regenerative Organic Certified® tea. Michael even personally delivered dozens of boxes to my parents’ house before our wedding party – that’s the kind of heart he brings to this mission.

Now, for the very first time, they’ve created something just for our community: the Exclusive Matcha Bundle. This isn’t available anywhere else. It’s a way to experience their extraordinary regenerative matchas, including both green and black matcha if you choose.

Matcha is taking the world by storm for good reason. It delivers sustained energy without the crash of many coffees, is packed with antioxidants that support longevity and brain health, and can elevate your focus and calm at the same time.

This is more than tea… it’s restoring soil, protecting biodiversity, caring for workers, and eliminating microplastics from your cup.

Use code ECL for 15% off your order: Wild Orchard x ECL Collection.

Photo of the week

Trivia Answer:

Ducks (and some other birds) use unihemispheric slow-wave sleep to stay alert for predators while resting.

🎥 Water Harvesting with Permaculture Expert Larry Santoyo

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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