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by Joseph P. Farrell, Giza Death Star: Seigniorage. Or if one prefer its French form, seigneurage. One does not encounter that word very much, even in recent technical journals having to do with it. The word and the concept it represents are almost completely forgotten, or at least, the word is, though the concept has been in the news […]

The country superstar is sharing a deeper side of himself in his new 'I’m the Problem' zine — opening up about childhood, controversy and finding peace at home. Continue reading…

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In kitchens around the world, banana peels are tossed away without a second thought. But what if those scraps could do more than rot in a landfill? According to new research, banana peels may be an overlooked powerhouse when it comes to growing healthier, taller crops, sometimes even outperforming synthetic fertilizers. A comprehensive scientific review has pulled together results from over 120 studies to explore how banana peels can be transformed into biofertilizers. The findings are both promising and practical: fertilizers made from peels often boosted germination, leaf size, and plant height compared to untreated soil. In short, your next banana split might also be a step toward cleaner, greener farming. Turning waste into growth Led by Nokuthula Khanyile, a researcher at the University of Mpumalanga in South Africa, the study highlights the growing potential of agricultural waste as a nutrient-rich resource. Khanyile’s work focuses on repurposing organic waste, including banana skins, to support soil health while reducing reliance on environmentally harmful inputs. Bananas are among the most widely consumed fruits on the planet. With global production hovering around 116 million tons annually, peels account for roughly one quarter of that total weight. Most of these nutrient-dense skins end up in landfills, where they contribute to greenhouse gas emissions instead of enriching farmland. Banana peels are naturally packed with macronutrients like potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium, many of the same elements found in commercial fertilizers. The idea is simple: instead of mining or manufacturing these nutrients, why not reuse what we already have? From peel to plant: how it works Researchers classify banana-based soil amendments as biofertilizers, which are made from living or once-living organic matter. The methods for turning peels into fertilizers range from the straightforward to the slightly more scientific. In some studies, peels were sun-dried, ground into coarse powder, and mixed into the soil before planting. Others created slurries by blending fresh peels, heating them with basic additives, and filtering out concentrated liquids that could be diluted and applied directly to soil. One popular recipe, which appeared frequently in the reviewed studies, combined dried banana and orange peels. This blend was associated with increased leaf area and longer roots across several trials. More advanced approaches involved fermenting banana peels with other plant waste like coffee grounds. These processes let microbes release nutrients slowly over time, creating rich liquid fertilizers that early tests suggest can accelerate the growth of leafy vegetables. Peel power in practice Specific crop trials gave researchers deeper insight into how banana-based fertilizers perform. In one pea plant experiment, banana peels decomposed in soil for different durations. The sweet spot is about two months. That was when plants showed the best growth and germination. When the peels were broken down in water instead, the optimal timeline stretched to six months, but beyond that, the benefits began to fade. In another study on fenugreek, scientists compared powdered banana peel to its liquid extract. The liquid option won out, producing taller plants and more robust green growth. Okra trials were also revealing. When researchers applied a blend of banana peel powders and other fruit scraps both before planting and later during growth, the plants produced richer foliage, heavier pods, and more vibrant color than those given standard chemical fertilizer alone. Why this matters for modern farming Today’s industrial agriculture relies heavily on synthetic NPK fertilizers, which are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium blends made in fossil fuel-based factories. While these products have boosted crop yields for decades, they come at a cost. Excess nitrogen runoff from farms contributes to water pollution and algal blooms that damage aquatic ecosystems. According to one global study, nitrogen fertilizers alone are responsible for roughly two percent of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Biofertilizers made from banana peels offer a slower nutrient release, reducing the risk of runoff while recycling food waste into something useful. For home gardeners and small farmers, the message is clear: simple kitchen scraps can play a meaningful role in building healthier soil. The limits and next steps Despite the encouraging results, not every peel-based product is a winner. Trials using banana peel biochar, a charcoal-like substance made from heating organic waste, showed limited results for plant height and other growth metrics. There’s also a gap in long-term research. Many of the reviewed studies focused only on early growth stages. What’s still missing are large-scale field trials that track crops all the way to harvest and assess final yields, nutritional quality, and storage life. Peel chemistry also varies depending on banana variety, climate, and storage conditions. That means farmers will need more consistent recipes and guidance to integrate banana fertilizers into their routines effectively. Future research will need to measure not just nutrient content but also how different peel blends influence soil microbes and structure over time. Still, the potential is hard to ignore. If even a small fraction of global banana waste were redirected from landfills to farmland, it could significantly reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers and cut down on the environmental damage they cause. A future rooted in scraps This growing body of research suggests that a solution to modern agriculture’s fertilizer problem may already be sitting on kitchen counters around the world. With a bit of creativity and science, banana peels could help turn waste into a regenerative tool that feeds the soil, supports crops, and moves us toward a more sustainable future. Source study: Agriculture—Preparation of biofertilizers from banana peels: their impact on soil and crop enhancementThe post From compost to crops: banana peels show surprising power as eco-friendly fertilizer first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The holiday season tends to magnify the pressure to find the perfect gift, especially when the recipient is facing cancer. People often hope that a warm gesture will communicate affection, encouragement, and presence during a frightening time. Yet gift giving under these circumstances can feel unexpectedly fraught. When someone is sick, the meaning of a gift changes. What is meant as comfort can sometimes miss the mark, not because the giver lacks care, but because illness reshapes what comfort actually looks like. That gap between intention and usefulness is what inspired sociologists Ellen T. Meiser and Nathalie Rita to study gifting during cancer treatment. Both researchers were diagnosed with cancer in their early thirties, and their experiences led them to interview fifty millennial women about the social and emotional realities of navigating cancer. The patterns that emerged around gifts were striking, and not at all what they expected. Their research, still forthcoming, revealed a clear mismatch between what people tend to give and what patients actually need. Much of the disconnect, they found, traces back to how cancer has been commercialized and packaged online. What loved ones tend to give most often When Meiser and Rita asked women what they received after their diagnosis, the responses ranged from deeply practical to delightfully quirky. But across all fifty interviews, ten items appeared again and again. These included fuzzy socks, blankets, adult coloring books, mugs and tumblers, gourmet snacks, herbal teas, inspirational self-care products, flowers, books, and monetary gifts such as GoFundMe donations or gift cards. Most women understood the intention. A soft blanket signals warmth. A bouquet makes a room feel beautiful. Yet the consistency of certain items, especially fuzzy socks, raised questions. Why these gifts, and why so often? The researchers traced the trend to two major influences: pre-made cancer care packages and online gift guides that promote predictable assortments of spa items, teas, candies, beanies, and motivational merchandise. These curated boxes often contain nearly identical combinations, mirroring the top few gifts their interviewees repeatedly received. Such patterns highlight the sway of a growing cancer-gifting marketplace. As Meiser and Rita note in their analysis, “businesses seek to extract economic value out of all aspects of daily life,” and cancer has become a surprisingly lucrative niche. Yet the glossy pink ribbons and “you got this” mugs can unintentionally eclipse the harsher realities of illness, encouraging gift giving that looks soothing but may not reflect what patients truly need. Even well-meant care packages sometimes backfire. Their uniformity, the researchers found, can unintentionally signal distance rather than closeness, especially when a person is craving individual attention and genuine understanding. What women going through cancer say actually helps When the researchers shifted their interviews to what women wanted rather than what they received, a very different list emerged. Across the board, the most valued gifts were the most pragmatic: Money or useful gift cards… especially for groceries, takeout, or pet supplies Meals, meal trains, and… pantry staples for the household Hands-on help… including childcare, transportation, cleaning, and yard work Personal notes or cards…  which served as meaningful check-ins Practical self-care items… like thick lotions or gentle soaps that do not irritate skin during treatment These offerings were small, everyday kindnesses that eased tangible burdens. Instead of adding another object to the bedside table, they supported the parts of life that feel heaviest when someone is exhausted, recovering from surgery, or rearranging their days around medical appointments. Notably, Meiser and Rita found that “almost none of the women we interviewed expressed a desire for the nonessential items usually stocked in commercial care packages.” What they longed for were gifts that acknowledged how illness disrupts everyday roles: parenting, partnering, working, caregiving. A plant could not ease financial pressure, but grocery delivery could. A charming mug could not fold laundry, but a friend who stopped by to help absolutely could. Thoughtful support starts with recognizing their reality Gifts that align with a person’s needs have a certain power. They say, I see what your life really looks like right now, and I want to make it a little easier. When patients describe feeling “cared for and seen,” they often reference the moments when someone stepped into the messiness of daily life rather than layering a cheerful slogan over the top. This is why Meiser and Rita encourage gift givers to rethink what support looks like. Instead of relying on mass-produced notions of comfort, they suggest taking a moment to consider the person’s daily responsibilities, sources of stress, and the tasks that have become harder since diagnosis. A casserole, a ride to treatment, or help feeding the pets may not seem glamorous. But those gestures recognize the real impact of illness, and that recognition, their research shows, is the most meaningful gift of all. A gentler way to give this season If someone on your holiday list is facing cancer or any serious illness, the best gift might not be fuzzy socks after all. Thoughtful support often comes from addressing what life looks like behind the scenes: the fatigue, the logistical strain, the emotional load. As the researchers emphasize, small acts can speak volumes when they reduce pressure and restore a bit of breathing room. So before placing that pre-made care package in your cart, consider instead what would make their daily life more manageable. A warm meal, help with chores, a heartfelt message, or a gift card for everyday essentials may be exactly what communicates care in the most human way.The post Gift shopping for a loved one with cancer this holiday season? Here’s what actually helps first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

With a little ingenuity, and some modifications to an old piece of tech, 11-year-old Desa Kaiser is back where she belongs: on the dance floor. Being paralyzed from the waist down is no impediment to the girl from Pennsylvania, who suffered the debilitating injury in a crash that saw her spend Thanksgiving of 2022 at […] The post ‘Dancing Wheelchair’ Helps Paralyzed Teen Feel ‘Cool’ Being a Different Sort of Dancer (WATCH) appeared first on Good News Network.