OLU IBEKWE

A battery made with urea, commonly found in fertilizers and mammal urine, could provide a low-cost way of storing energy produced through solar power or other forms of renewable energy for consumption during off hours. Developed by Stanford chemistry Professor Hongjie Dai and doctoral candidate Michael Angell, the battery is nonflammable and contains electrodes made from abundant aluminum and graphite. Its electrolyte’s main ingredient, urea, is already industrially produced by the ton for plant fertilizers. “So essentially, what you have is a battery made with some of the cheapest and most abundant materials you can find on Earth. And it actually has good performance,” said Dai. “Who would have thought you could take graphite, aluminum, urea, and actually make a battery that can cycle for a pretty long time?” In 2015, Dai’s lab was the first to make a rechargeable aluminum battery. This system charged in less than a minute and lasted thousands of charge-discharge cyc...

Washington (AFP) – Sub-Saharan Africa, where more than a half billion individuals live without power, trails the world in government strategies that advance sustainable power , as per another World Bank report Wednesday. A great part the world, nonetheless, has gained ground toward making energy extensively accessible, creating renewable power sources and expanding proficiency, the inaugural Regulatory Indicators for Sustainable Energy report said. In a survey of 111 countries, the World Bank found that through 2015 nearly 80 percent had begun to adopt policies to expand electrical grids, connecting them to solar and wind generation, and to help make electric utilities creditworthy and financially viable while keeping energy prices down. More than a third of countries, home to 96 percent of the global population, were at an advanced stage and progress was not limited to rich countries. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda outperformed their peers in access to energy, while P...

Zambian President, Edgar Lungu yesterday hosted a meeting with the African Presidents attending the African Union 28 th assembly in the Ethiopian capital to promote ending child marriage across the African continent. The President pleaded to other leaders to implement a common African position in putting an end to child marriage which now seems to be rampant across the continent. According to Edgar, 15 out of 20 countries with a high prevalence of child marriage are in Africa. Three quarters of the 16 million adolescent girls that give birth annually are already married. The child wife is exposed to health risks during pregnancy and more prone to child birth complications. According to the United Nations, the leading cause of death for girls aged between 15 years to 19 in the developing countries are complications from pregnancy and child birth. According to Lungu, if the government worked towards a low birth rates then there would be a smaller young populati...

As 2017 begins, China is poised to leap ahead of the U.S. on clean energy to become the most important player in the global market. Last year, China increased its foreign investment in renewables by 60 percent to reach a record $32 billion, according to a new report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. This includes 11 new overseas investment deals worth more than $1 billion each. China’s new Going Global strategy for renewable energy was an important instigator of its huge increase in foreign investment in 2016. This is part of a broader picture of overseas investment. Last year, China showed its regional strength by establishing the Asia Infrastructure & Investment Bank and pouring money into the BRICS’ New Development Bank, which made its first loans, all for renewable energy. Renewables on the Rise Looking at the entire economy, not just foreign investment, China regularly outspends the U.S. on renewable energy. It invested more th...

Well, it doesn’t matter if you’re looking for a healthy vegetable, leaf or herb to add to your existing juice recipes or something entirely new to try – we really think that you should definitely include papaya leaf juice. Well, since few people actually eat papaya leaves, juicing it is a great way to take advantage of its tremendous health benefits. Many different studies have discovered that the phytonutrient compounds in papaya leaves act in synergy to display a strong antioxidant and immune enhancing impact in the bloodstream. Papain, alkaloids and phenolic compounds are responsible for their positive biological effects. The enzymes papain and chymopapain are the two biologically active components of papaya. They aid in digesting proteins and are widely used for treating indigestion, bloating, and other digestive disorders. In addition, the alkaloid compounds, carpaine, pseudocarpaine and dehydrocarpaine demonstrate chemo-preventive effects. You should also know t...

When we eat Papaya we usually throw away the seeds. You will change this habit when you will read how healthy they are, preventing and curing diseases related to the gut, liver, kidney, worms etc. The following list will show the benefits of consuming Papaya seeds. Papaya seeds are rich with nutrients that can heal cirrhosis of the liver. Crush 5 or 6 Papaya seeds and consume them with food, juice, especially lime juice. Repeat this for 30 days. Eating small amounts of seeds will protect and detox the liver. 2. Kidney Health Experts at the Karachi University have found that seeds from Papaya can improve kidney health and also prevent renal failure. Papaya seeds can do wonders for diseases related to kidney poisoning. 3. Anti-inflammatory properties Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, papaya seeds are great for joint disease, alleviating arthritis, pain, swelling and redness. 4. Antibacterial and Antiviral properties Papaya seeds, even in small amounts can kill...

by Mathew Ogunsina   Your daily routines help building up resistance to a certain disease or tearing it down. In this article we will discuss more about the benefits provided by healthy morning rituals, such as drinking fresh pineapple water before your breakfast Pineapple contains a lot of less known micro-nutrients It is packed with bromelain and vitamin C, and these both aid in every healing process in the body. 1. Fights Inflammation  : Bromelain has strong anti-inflammatory properties. It helps the body eliminate toxins by fighting off inflammations that affect tissues and organs. Regular consumption of pineapple aids in the treatment of arthritis and sports injuries by reducing inflammation and relieving pain. 2. Healthy Weight Loss  : Thanks to its high fiber content, pineapples take more time to digest, and thus makes you feel full for longer. Pineapple water prevents sugar and fat cravings. Thiamine converts carbohydra...