Who knew that there has been a material for fabric in your fridge this whole time? Anke Domaske, a German biologist and fashion designer used her mixed skill set to come up with a “dairy” fashion line made of milk-made fabrics.
Domaske has come up with a process to extract protein from sour milk, which causes the milk to solidify. Once the milk is solid it is cut into threads for fabric.
The “dairy” fabric has been compared to silk in textural likeness, but as Domaske states:
“Milk is underrated because people only view it as a food-stuff. But you can make a lot more from it – milk is a wonderful, natural raw material. The special thing about milk is that is has a lovely silky feel. The fabric falls wonderfully, and it’s cheaper than silk.”
Domaske also talks about how her fabric is eco-friendly as it comes from sour milk. The milk to fabric process only takes about an hour.
Mischa Barton, who Domaske counts as one of her greatest supporters, wears clothes from “dairy”.
The milk-made fashion line is called Mademoiselle Chi Chi. Currently Domaske is working on a new line of “dairy” clothes for men.
Who’s off the boat? Taking a look at extinction in the 21st century.
“We [Humans] are destroying life on earth.” This statement is not from the man on the corner holding the Doomsday cardboard sign, but from the head of the UN environmental program. We are living in an era of extinction second only to the age that wiped out the dinosaurs. Although the dino-extinction was of natural causes, the current situation is the only instance in history where one species is dominating resources enough to seriously jeopardize other species to the point of extinction.
A quote from Agent Smith of the Matrix: “I’d like to share a revelation that I’ve had during my time here. It came to me when I tried to classify your species and I realized that you’re not actually mammals. Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment but you humans do not. You move to an area and you multiply and multiply until every natural resource is consumed and the only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. You’re a plague and we are the cure.”
Used in a fictional setting, this statement has un-avoidable truths in the real world. This shift from mammal to virus could be traced to the transition of foraging nomadic bands, to Horticultural and Pastoral Societies where agriculture was first introduced. Farming created a factor previously unknown to nature: surplus. Surplus divided and continues to divide societies, creating social stratification. Inequality between members of a society came about as more humans began to regard themselves as something better than the average beast. Hunting and gathering was permanently changed with the domestication of animals and farming.
This stratification made it possible for a small population of individuals to control all of the resources of a society. Furthermore, human beings, a relatively small population of animals, were able to control the resources of other species. “We’ve transformed a third of the habitable land on earth for food production,” “You can’t just remove that habitat without consequences for biodiversity,” stated a member of the IUCN’s shark specialist group.
As poverty kills humans, the poverty of living without a habitat and food source to thrive, kills specific species, while allowing others to flourish; under human influence.
Today the wealthiest 1% of Americans control a majority of the nation’s total wealth. Humans control almost all of the world resources, depleting them, while simultaneously searching for more resources to take over.
According to the UN conference the dollar amount of human inflicted damage on the environment in 2008 was $6.6 trillion, a cost equal to 11% of global gross from domestic product.
“We are nearing a tipping point, or the point of no return for biodiversity loss,” states Japanese Environment Minister Ryu Matsumoto “Unless proactive steps are taken for biodiversity, there is a risk that we will surpass that point in the next 10 years.” (Washington Post)
Recent figures predict that roughly 16,306 species are threatened by extinction (Economist). 33% of cartilaginous fishes are threatened, and 41% of all amphibians are at risk (Eilperin). About 52 species are moved yearly to a category closer to extinction (Journal science). 20% of all vertebrates, and 33% of all sharks and sting rays are threatened by extinction (Eilperin).
Extinction naturally occurs, 99.9% of all of global species have become extinct throughout history of the earth. Species have always found threats, whether external (meteor), or internal. The world, however, has never had a threat quiet the same as that in the 21st century, the threat of the human.
Humans have caused inflated extinction rates ever since the race expanded past foraging society’s, separating themselves from a species, to a force of nature. Although destructive, humans also have the capability, to repair, and replenish the world’s species and environment if substantial effort is made now.
Goats take few breaks during their lawn contract; working all day and night if need be. Goats are an all-inclusive service, they fertilize your land free of charge with little brown pellets.
You are woken up from a much-needed catnap by the rumbling of a mower and the whirring of a blower. Men march through your yard pushing a loud machine, the smell of gasoline lingers in the air, and plumes of black smoke are released.
Meanwhile, your neighbor is asleep. Slowly meandering through his yard is a pack of goats and possibly a friendly border collie overseeing the operation. What is this new trend? You can ditch your garden, and gather up a pack of goats. These creatures are grazing machines, eager to devour your field, because they’re hungry.
Goats, by their very nature, are fantastic gardeners. They are capable of clearing out thick brush and unwanted weeds. In a matter of hours a pack of goats can completely consume an overgrown field. Goats take few breaks during their lawn contract; working all day and night if need be. Goats are an all-inclusive service of laborers as they will fertilize your land free of charge using their “organic” brown pellets. You can trust them to be thorough, not slacking on a particularly dense patch of greenery. The goats, quite literally, eat this for breakfast.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states “a traditional gas powered lawn mower produces as much air pollution as 43 new cars each being driven 12,000 miles.” An estimated 54 million Americans mow their lawns every weekend. As a natural alternative to mowing goats are also the most primitive. Goats devour everything and goat’s fertilizer is left behind.
Companies such as Rent-a-Ruminent, are forming around this grassroots concept. Many Americans have the option to contact a local rent-a-goat service. More entrepreneurs are expected to start their own goat-mowing businesses. One day
this lawn care system may become mainstream. For now, goats-mowers are seen as somewhat abstract despite their qualifications. Goats are substantially cheaper than their gas powered competition, much greener, debatably cuter, and can often go where modern machinery cannot.
The only claim a human landscaper can make against a four legged competitor is that he will (most likely) not poop on your lawn; however fertilizing it may be. A hooves up is being given by the GreenCupboards Community to the hardworking goats, no longer unemployed. Affirmative action, it would seem, is no longer limited to the human race. Think sustainably, because your garbage could be a goat’s meal.
Cats have been known to have nine lives, but what about two heads? A kitten born in Charleston West Virginia is seeing double with it’s four eyes, two noses, four ears, and two mouths. The kitten, practically named “Two Face” has a “two face” condition known as Diprosopus. Watch the video below to meet “Two Face” for yourself:
Will these ducklings be able to stand against the wind?
These ducklings are having a hard time walking in a straight line when the wind picks up. A classic tale of nature versus nurture, watch the video below to see the comedy play out:
An interesting love triangle between a confused swan, an amused tractor driver, and one attractive blue tractor. Can this diesel fueled romance last forever? Watch the video below and tell me what you think:
Across the country people are taking advantage of these hot summer days by slicking on some Badger Sunscreen and taking the leap into the chilled waters of their nearest lake, river, or ocean.
At a lake in the Republic of Palau this submersion could lead to an alarming discovery. Jellyfish Lake is teeming with a very special species of jellyfish. Named the Golden Jellyfish, these animals were trapped in this body of water when waters receded thousands of years ago.
Trapped without in a lake without any major predators, these jellyfish no longer possess a threatening sting. Snorklers can swim unharmed in Jellyfish Lake and observe these creatures categorized in the phylum Cnidaria. This is one of the rare chances for humans and creatures to come into harmonious contact in the wild.
Watch the video below for more information and a first glance at the underwater world of Jellyfish Lake:
This young leopard takes motherly instinct to a new…species? The brief relationship between predator and prey reveals a moment of innocent intimacy on the African safari.
For the past ten years a special school has existed for creative students who possess a sharp memory and a sturdy build. In Thailand, conservation enthusiasts armed with paint, paper, and custom made brushes and easels foster the artistic abilities of our greatest land mammals.
At the Chiang Dao Elephant Camp caretakers introduce elephants to the activity of painting. Each animal is free to choose whether or not to pursue it. Elephants that enjoy painting go through a one week training course to aid in comfortably creating abstract art. Here they are taught task such as the proper way to hold a paintbrush with their trunks. Some elephants advance to a longer training course which involves being taught to create portraits and paintings.
Beginning in the year 2000, these paintings have been used by the Asian Elephant Art and Conservation Project to raise revenue for the effort to save the remaining struggling population of elephants in Asia. These herds are threatened by a shrinking habitat and poaching. Despite their religious importance and cultural value in Asia, elephants are still being hunted for profit. The selling price of ivory has increased over 300% in the past year, while many people in Asia are buying elephant meat due to a belief that it has powers in boosting the libido.
In the past, elephants have been trained to paint for entertainment value in zoos and circus’. In 1998, two elephants at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center were taught to paint, but there are now 17 giant artists live and paint at the TECC. The Elephant Art Gallery sells these abstract paintings for hundreds of dollars and returns funds to the artists and conservation efforts.
Issarapom Kaew-ee, the Managing Director of The Elephant Art Gallery says, “Real elephant art is an original painting that is created by an elephant of its own volition, unaided in the creative process by humans.” Only abstract elephant art falls into this category. According to Kaew-ee, when elephants are trained to paint specific pictures they become confused and cannot go back to painting creatively.
This artistic flare isn’t new behavior for elephants. In the wild, elephants can be observed drawing in the dirt with twigs. From the jungle and the safari this current trend is stomping into modern homes all over the world. Natural art is making a comeback- and it’s not man made.
To learn more about these artist elephants and to see a demonstration view the videos below:
