When you were looking at the image of the electrical waste dump earlier on, and we mentioned cell phones, you probably didn't think they would pose as much as a problem. After all, they're smaller, and therefore they have to take up less room, right? Wrong. Cellphones may be much smaller than computers and other electrical devices, but there are also much more of them.
As well as being more numerous, they become obsolete a lot faster. A good refrigerator will probably last you ten years or more; a computer maybe five. The average life of a cellphone is only one or two years before the progression of technology makes them obsolete. When they're no longer of use to you, they end up abandoned in giant 'seas' like this in the Congo. The Congo is and has been a war area for many years, where people fight over land and resources. The material and technologies in the phones are just one more thing for the warring factions to fight over, meaning there is both an environmental and human cost to disposing of them in this way.
Over the years, weve seen so many food trends come and go, such as ramen burgers, matcha, and spiked ice-cream. Nowadays, were seeing another trend making waves in the food industry. How many times today have you seen an Instagram photo of a scoop of black ice cream, or a cup of black yogurt, or hamburgers with black buns? Indeed, the charcoal trend has taken the world by storm.
So, what gives your latte that deep black shade? Activated charcoal, or coconut ash, is produced by heating coconut shells to insanely high temperatures until theyre burnt to a crisp. The ashes are then increased in size by steaming at high temperatures. Through this process, the ashes become a strong detoxifier, mostly because they become extra absorbent. This product may be purchased in pill form, and promises to alleviate hangovers, minimize the effects of food poisoning, and fight the visible signs of aging.
Activated charcoal is said to boost ones energy as a result of decreasing toxins in the body. However, no evidence proves that detoxifying can lead to increased energy. Also, while it can help cure a hangover, it doesnt necessarily remove alcohol from your blood. It is also said to aid in debloating your stomach because it cleanses your colon but again, this all anecdotal and isnt supported by scientific evidence as of yet. All we can say for sure is that it is a proven detoxifier.