Natural Awakenings Twin Cities December 2019

Attorney David Paurus
Positive Power
Psychology
Valerie Marsh, MS, LM FT
Counseling & Coaching
for Positive Change
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12 Twin Cities Edition NAtwincities.com
global briefs
Lung Relief
Biosolar Leaf Purifies Air in London
A 2016 study at the University
of British Columbia revealed
that air pollution is the fourthleading
cause of death worldwide,
with at least 5.5 million
air pollution-related fatalities
every year. A new cultivation
system developed by researchers
from Imperial College
London collaborating with the
startup Arborea have created the world’s first Biosolar Leaf
technology to purify and improve the air in London. They
hope it’ll boost environmental outcomes not only in the UK,
but all over the world. The process works by purifying the
air through photosynthesis of microscopic plants, which
removes the greenhouse gases from the environment and
generates breathable oxygen at the same time.
The startup’s innovative cultivation system can facilitate
the growth of microalgae, phytoplankton and diatoms on
large, solar panel-like structures that can be installed on
buildings and other infrastructure to improve the quality of
the atmosphere. Arborea’s cultivation system also creates a
sustainable source of organic biomass from which nutritious
food additives can be extracted for plant-based food.
Repurposing Weeds
Pond Plants Offer Protein Strategy
Fast-growing lemna, or duckweed,
a flowering green plant
that blooms on the surface of
still and slow-moving bodies
of water that is often mistaken
for algae, is finding new utility
as a protein source. Californiabased
Plantible Foods claims
that duckweed, traditionally
the enemy of pond owners, is
superior to other alternative proteins like pea, wheat and
soy. The unusual crop naturally contains higher amounts
of the complete protein RuBisCo and is easier to digest
than some other popular plant proteins. It can be used as
a substitute for egg white, is free of the top eight allergens
and has a neutral color and taste. Due to its rapid growth,
duckweed is less vulnerable to climate change. Plantible
Foods co-founder Tony Martens says that duckweed
grows reliably and can typically be harvested daily, no
matter what the weather may be.
laymanzoom/Shutterstock.com
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