By Amanda Froelich Truth Theory

When grocery shopping, few people give consideration to where the food they are putting in their shopping baskets comes from. As a result, humans have become incredibly disconnected from the natural world and are largely ignorant about the ethical and environmental implications of eating animals. However, according to Richard Branson — the founder of Virgin and an investor in plant-based start-ups, this will soon change.

In August of this year, Branson wrote a blog post about his investment in Memphis Meats. He expressed his vision about the future of food, writing: “I believe that in 30 years or so we will no longer need to kill any animals and that all meat will either be clean or plant-based, taste the same and also be much healthier for everyone. One day we will look back and think how archaic our grandparents were in killing animals for food.”

By Amanda Froelich Truth Theory

Nearly twenty years ago, miners made an incredible discovery in the city of Chihuahua, Mexico. Approximately 980 feet (300 meters) below the ground, there is a hidden cave that houses some of the world’s largest — and most beautiful — crystals ever found. It’s called the Giant Crystal Cave — or Cave of Crystals, and it’s approximately 500,000 years old.

BBC reports that the natural wonder is located below the Naica Mine. Untouched for thousands of years before it was discovered, the cave contains jaw-dropping crystals that are mammoth in size compared to the humans who enter the area. Some selenite crystals measure up to 39 feet (12 meters) in length!

While the cave is glorious to behold, it is also a hostile environment. At times, temperatures can reach up to 136 degrees Fahrenheit (59 degrees Celsius), and humidity reaches over 90 percent. This is an ideal environment for the crystals to thrive, but is unsuitable for humans and animals.

After the cave was discovered, the mining company pumped water out of the cavern so scientists could study and document the mineral formations. Now, it is flooded once again. This is a positive development, actually, as air causes the crystals to deteriorate.

Why is the cave so warm, and how were the crystals formed?

By Fattima Mahdi Truth Theory

As we grow older, we will see a decline in our physical and mental health. However, recent studies have shown that aging in the brain can be reversed if we routinely take part in physical exercises. By dancing to our favourite beat and kicking up our feet, we may be able to keep our mind healthier for longer. For example, a recent study led by Kathrin Rehfeld, from The German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, has shown that dancing might be good for your brain.

Rehfeld and her team looked at the effects of two types of exercise on the brain – dancing or fitness sport. The elderly participants had an average age of 68 and were assigned to either an 18-month weekly course of learning new dance routines or endurance and flexibility training. Both groups showed an increase in the hippocampal region – an area related to memory. This is also an area of the brain that is affected by diseases like Alzheimer’s.

By Amanda Froelich Truth Theory

Because much of North American media has been focused on Hurricane Harvey and the looming Hurricane Irma, few have been informed of an even worse natural disaster taking place overseas. In India, Bangladesh and Nepal, weeks of unusually strong monsoon rains have resulted in at least 1,200 deaths. In total, approximately 41 million people have been affected, according to the United Nations.

The New York Times reports that thousands of homes have been destroyed in Nepal, where elephants are being used to rescue people and activists have been constructing rafts from bamboo and banana leaves to save landlocked victims. Despite some successful efforts by aid organizations, hundreds remain missing. As a result, many families have held last rites without their loved ones’ bodies.

To make matters worse, Nepal’s flooded areas are in the poorest parts of the country. Many farms are now underwater, and thousands of people are stuck subsisting under plastic tarps in camps for displaced people. As a result of poor hygiene and cramped conditions, disease is beginning to spread.

By Fattima Mahdi Truth Theory

Over the past two years, Pakistanis have planted 1 billion trees in the Khyber Pakhtunkhaw province. As a result, they have restored an impressive 350 hectares of forests and degraded land.

Imran Khan is the leader of the political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. He has spearheaded the “Billion Tree Tsunami” campaign and as a result Pakistanis can now be proud of their efforts to stem the rate of deforestation. The campaign was part of The Bonn Challenge – which was established by The International Union for Conservation of Nature. The challenge aimed to restore 150 million hectares of forest by 2020. Pakistan was one of 20 countries who signed up for the challenge and they have already surpassed their target, way ahead of schedule.

The threat of climate change motivated the tree planters in Pakistan to act immediately. There have been a number of violent floods that have ripped through the heart of the communities in Pakistan. Planting trees helps to sustain the river and provides a barrier which diminishes the damage caused by floods. This is a great achievement in Pakistan and if the trend continues, the ecosystem will see a revival in certain areas.