Building materials are made from plants (Image: CNET) A research team at the University of Tokyo’s Institute of Industrial Sciences has found a way to create durable, strong building materials that are still edible. These materials are very special as they are made from plants. Mashed cabbage leaves, seaweed and banana peels may not sound appealing, but they can be part of a recipe for sustainable building products. “Our goal is to use seaweed and leftovers to create sustainable building materials,” says Yuya Sakai, a sustainable building materials expert and lead author of an upcoming study on the material. building materials are at least as strong as concrete. But since we are using edible food waste, we were also interested in determining whether the recycling process affects the taste of the starting material.” The team tried a heat pressing technique commonly used to compress wood pulp into building materials. Instead of wood, they are vacuum-dried and then ground into a variety of foods and leftovers, including onion and fruit peels, as well as cabbage. “The processing technique involves mixing food powder with water and spices, then pressing the mixture into a mold at high temperature.” All the products obtained, except for the pumpkin peel, passed the group’s strength and endurance tests. Researchers have found a solution to the pumpkin problem. “We also discovered that Chinese cabbage leaves, which can be made into a material three times stronger than concrete, can be mixed with the material,” said Kota Machida, a collaborator on the project. made from pumpkin to enhance the effect”. The materials are still edible, although the team did not say whether they would be difficult to chew. Even exposing the material to air for four months does not change the taste and there are no problems with insects or rotting. The development of building materials from crushed food is still in the early stages, but perhaps one day you can build a place to live and then use it for food when it is no longer needed.

Here’s a list of small changes everyone can make when sitting at their desks to avoid headaches and enjoy their day. Reduce the brightness of the lights Lights that are too bright and glare can cause headaches. People can avoid this by turning off some unnecessary lights or drawing window blinds. If the light cannot be corrected, try using sunglasses with or without polarizing lenses. Avoid strong scents A co-worker’s strong perfume, cleaning product, or perfume is definitely a common cause of headaches for many people. Open a window for a few minutes or use a fan to blow away strong scents, and the workspace will be more comfortable. Drink enough water and don’t skip meals When the body is dehydrated, the brain can shrink, leading to headaches. When the pain appears, take 1-2 glasses of water and take small sips. Combine this routine with a healthy, nutritious meal and the frequency of pain will decrease. If you travel often, remember to bring a bottle of water and snacks to use when needed. Do not chew gum It’s surprising that this colorful, sweet snack can be the cause of headaches. Chewing gum causes strain on the jaw muscles and puts pressure on the joints that are used the most. The best thing to do is to give up gum, as well as any other sticky, hard-to-chew foods. Loosen your hair If you often tie your hair up in a high ponytail or braid, give it a rest after a long period of pressure to avoid headaches. Let your hair loose and let the scalp relax, the headache will quickly disappear. Eat some ginger or drink ginger tea Ginger is known to have pain-relieving effects and is also commonly used in many dishes and drinks. When you are working at the office and have a headache, the simplest way is to make ginger tea. Put some ginger tea packets in a drawer and everyone is ready to fight off the headache. Sit in a comfortable position Whenever sitting at a desk, make sure that the posture makes everyone feel comfortable. Try to sit with your back straight, keeping your arms parallel to your thighs and feet on the ground. The computer screen needs to be placed in a position suitable for the direction the eyes are looking straight ahead, not looking down. And last but not least, don’t hold your phone between your head and shoulders while on the phone. Instead, invest in a Bluetooth headset or headphones. Apply breathing exercises Some breathing exercises can be done even while sitting at a desk. Close your eyes and play some relaxing music. Replace fast inhales with slower inhales, counting to 5 as you inhale, then slowly count to 5 as you exhale. People will notice how the body relaxes and the headache also disappears with the fatigue. Do not eat cheese Cheese products contain tyramine, an amino acid that has been shown to trigger migraines by reducing serotonin (the happy hormone) levels in the brain, which affects the dilation of blood vessels. . Choose soy cheese or cottage cheese instead of aged cheeses like cheddar, parmesan, or stilton. Newer cheeses are lower in tyramine and relieve headaches. Apply hot or cold Take an ice pack from the company freezer and apply it to your forehead if a headache comes on suddenly. This will be effective immediately. If cold doesn’t work, try a hot compress by wetting a towel with some hot water. Take a nap for 15 minutes In one small medical study, 81% of participants reported that going to bed was the most effective pain reliever. When you have nothing else to do, try to take a nap, even if it’s only for 15 minutes, it will be the best method to say goodbye to a nagging headache.