FOAM: a genius idea

When the problem is big, the solution needs to be bigger and better. The problem we are talking about here is the waste water treatment. It may seem whats the big deal in this but let me inform you that sewage (waste water) is produced in a tremendous amount on a daily basis from homes and industries, containing bacteria, fungi , parasites and viruses which nodoubtedly are very harmful. The major challenges faced while operating waste water treatment are consumption of energy and Evironmental footprint. When the waste water cannot be treated properly due to this reasons, it leads to wastewater and its effluents being discharged into surface water sources, and these sources often being used for domestic purposes, this is how waste water becoming a massive problem!

There came an innovative idea by a citizen group constituting of local people of Arcata city in California. They collaborated with the biologist from Humboldt University and developed a series of 6 connected marshes over 60 hectares of land. The biologists grow specific (seeded) plants, fungi, bacteria in 6 different marshes, which can absorb, neutralise or assimilate toxic pollutants.

The treatment system serves a population of 16,000, as wastewater flows through a series of ingeniously constructed ponds and wetlands.

Process of water purification in Arcata performed in two stages. The first step is a natural process consisting of sedimentation, filtration and chlorination of water. Even after this step, lots of dangerous pollutants like dissolved heavy metals are still remaining in water.

 

So after sedimentation, filtration, and chlorination, the water is passed through a series of six marshes created over 60 hectares of marshland.A series of oxidation ponds, treatment wetlands and enhancement marshes are used to filter sewage waste. The marshes are covered with appropriate fungi, algae, and plants are grown, which marks the role of absorbing and neutralising toxic pollutants by fungi and bacteria , making the water ultimately pure. 

 Many organisms started colonising in the marshes, making it a unique habitat for animals including fishes and birds. As the result of this establishment, a biodiversity sanctuary was stabilised there and was protected by the local people of the marshes. Hence marshes also serve as a wildlife refuge on the Pacific Flyway and was given the name FRIEND OF ARCATA MARSHES- FOAM!

 The Arcata Marsh is a popular destination for birders. The marsh has been awarded the Innovations in Government award from the Ford Foundation/Harvard Kennedy School. Numerous holding pools in the marsh, called "lakes," are named after donors and citizens who helped start the marsh project, including Humboldt State University professors George Allen and Robert A. Gearheart who were instrumental in the creation of the Arcata Marsh. Despite being effectively a sewer, the series of open-air lakes do not smell, and are a popular destination for birdwatching, cycling and jogging.

WEIRD KINDS OF PHOBIA!

There have been the existence of many phobias about which we have heard a lot of facts and maybe experienced some parts of them. However, there are many phobias which are quite less known and there is abundance to know about them.

Awareness of such phobias is relatively new and unbelievable and few of them also weird in some way. Researchers are not entirely sure of the exact causes of specific phobias.Expected reasons of their occurrence are unresolved stress may also be a contributing factor in developing phobias or in some cases anxiety and depression, if left untreated may develop into phobias. Let's discuss some of these weird phobias as it is quite interesting to know about them!

1. COULROPHOBIA

 Coulrophobia brings on feelings of fear when you see clowns or clown images. It’s a specific phobic disorder that causes anxiety, a racing heart, nausea and profuse sweating. While many people link this phobia to children, adults can also have it, as it often goes untreated for many years. Coulrophobia usually flares up at parties, festivals, and Halloween get-togethers, as clowns are often found at these places. Yet, a person may also react negatively to the mere thought of encountering a clown. Due to the lack of research, it’s hard to pinpoint an exact number regarding how prevalent coulrophobia is. Still, some experts suggest that about 1 in 100 children have a fear of clowns. 

2. ATELOPHOBIA

We all have days when nothing we do feels good enough. For most people, this feeling passes and doesn’t necessarily impact daily living. But for others, a fear of imperfection turns into a debilitating phobia. Atelophobia is an obsessive fear of imperfection. Someone with this condition is terrified of making mistakes. Atelophobia can lead to anxiety, depression and low self-esteem. Atelophobia is an actual fear of having flaws.You may be in a cycle of self-judgment and criticism where you don’t feel like you can live up to your own expectations.

3. MEGALOPHOBIA

Megalophobia is a type of anxiety disorder in which a person experiences intense fear of large objects. A person with megalophobia experiences intense fear and anxiety when they think of or are around large objects such as large buildings, statues, animals and vehicles. One of the most common signs of megalophobia is feeling nervous and scared after viewing, thinking, or talking about a large object.A mental health professional can identify this phobia based on your history and symptoms surrounding large objects. 

4.TRYPOPHOBIA

Trypophobia is an aversion or repulsion to objects having repetitive patterns or clusters of small holes. People with trypophobia are disgusted by the pattern of holes. They don’t necessarily have a fear of holes. Trypophobia can be triggered by a range of objects and patterns. These can be naturally occurring or manufactured. For example, someone with trypophobia may be triggered by Lotus seed pods, Honeycombs,a cut pomegranate ,Insect eyes, fishnet material, reptile skin, sponges. 

5. NECROPHOBIA

Necrophobia is a specific phobia, the irrational fear of dead organisms -corpses as well as things associated with death for ex: coffins, tombstones, funerals, cemetery. With all types of emotions, obsession with death becomes evident in both fascination and objectification. Some cultures, for example, believe that spirits may return and haunt the living. Such beliefs may play a role in contributing to necrophobia. In other cases, having been exposed to a traumatic event, such as the death of a loved one, might contribute to a fear of dead things and death.Those with this condition often have trouble attending events like funerals, and may develop severe anxiety symptoms regarding situations like this. There are also a range of triggers; some necrophobes may only feel anxious when they are near a graveyard, while others may feel extremely stressed when watching horror films.

WHAT IS BEAUTY?

What is the meaning of beauty. Is it a formula, is it a perception or are we making it up on the fly. What is beauty all about? Beauty is nothing what attract us, instead it is what we feel when we see to it. It is the feeling of satisfaction, joy, happiness and warmth while looking at it or around it. You can find beauty anywhere, living things, non- living things, nature, peoples or in animals. 

It is nothing about only the glamorous things are beautiful, Beauty even lies in the darkness, imperfections and in uncertain sudden moments. One just need a vision to catch that hidden satisfying beauty of that moment. 

Thomas Zeumer, a well known name who created iconic figures in fashion told that 'a long time ago there was this model contest. Thousands of aspiring models applied. Then the finals came and there were like three judges and three winners. So who was the number three in this big big model contest, who was the number two the runner-up I have no idea, who was the winner of the contest i don't remember but I remember who was number ten, why did I remember her, because she had something special, something you could remember, she had a big mole on the right side of her lips and this made her success and her trade mark. When she was little, she wanted to have this mole removed and she was angry about it but she became one of the most successful people ever in this business. She made the mole a beauty mark, her name is Cindy Crawford.' Beauty is just simple and real as it looks. If something is beautiful, it doesn't need any extra things to highlight it. It will shine much brighter than anyone else. Beauty doesn't need an explanation. It is the way you feel about it. 

People usually start running in the race to be more beautiful than others without knowing the actual meaning of it, without knowing that what good things lies inside of them, how real they are to others and what they give to others is all that beauty that they already have and which really matters. The thoughts of people towards you reflects your beauty. Your value in someone's life reflects your beauty. The selfless feeling towards others, that reflects your beauty. The way you think, see things, understand others, reflects your beauty. Beauty is a fun, it is a fun journey to find, it is a never ending journey, it is a moving target, the pursuit of beauty is the pursuit of your stronger self because your stronger self grows into beauty. 

All the pieces we collect, the little confidence, little self-esteem, there trial and error, the more you deal with that and accept it the more beautiful you become. Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself. 

The beauty is not that one can be seen by eyes but what one feels. 

what is your definition of beauty? There 

is a space between you and me, between us and the stars. The space cannot be seen but through it everything can be felt. This vast invisible space, this atmosphere that breathes life into you and you into it, this is beauty.

It lives between every breath, between every thought, between every moment and between that lives stillness, this is beauty. Stillness is the wave cresting before it crashes down in the light emerging before the sun explodes over the horizon, in the pause between each inhale and exhale, this alive stillness whispers to us, remember the intoxicating experience of love, awakening all the senses and your passion turning into an addiction for more? This is beauty.

Remember when your mind and body slowly reached past the point they thought they never could? New possibilities arose and a new spark fireworked into your life, this is beauty.

Remember the dream that you long for is actually living inside you waiting... and at that split second before you actually remember, is where stillness arises and remembering becomes awakening, when your dreams speak through this stillness and the invisible space of stillness sings.

You are beauty 

You are!

The Rake

The Rake, a hairless creature which is half human and half dog, which is seen by many peoples in earlier times. An english marine man described a creature and wrote in his diary that "He came to me in my sleep from the foot of my bed I felt a sensation. He took everything. We must return to England. We shall not return here again at the request of the Rake." This was the incident from year 1691 which made him terrified. In the year 1880, a Spanish navigator described the encounter of Rake "I have experienced the greatest terror. I have experienced the greatest terror. I have experienced the greatest terror. I see his eyes when I close mine. They are hollow. Black. They saw me and pierced me. His wet hand. I will not sleep. His voice(unitelligible text)."

Let's come from 1880 to 2003, Rake which was known as only the character of stories, was first time sited and this was also telecasted on news channels. By this, people who encountered and experienced Rake in the past became active and started telling their true story in the internet. 

A women shared her experience which was unsettling. On 4 July, 2003, Sue and her husband Bob was sleeping in a room and their daughter was sleeping in other room. The night was quite and normal as usual, but at 4 am Sue woke up and she saw a creature on the dark side of her bed. Due to poor visibility she thought that some big dog or any animal has entered through the window into their house, but when it moved and stood up, Sue panicked. She had never saw an animal like this. She immediately woke up her husband. As her husband got up, Rake ran towards the another room, their daughter's room in the hall. Sue and Bob also ran towards their daughter room and when they entered the room, they saw that the creature was still and staring at their daughter. 

As Bob looked in the eyes of that creature, it ran towards the door and outside the house. The whole family was extremely terrified. After the creature went away, they saw that their daughter was already attacked by the creature and there was blood in her body. The child looked at them with hopelessness and said "mom, it is the Rake."

They took her in the car to go to the doctor but for an unknown reason, Bob lost control from the car and the car went straight in the lake. Bob and their daughter both died due to drowning, only Sue survived that accident. From then, Sue started to believe that drowning of the car and that bad luck was given by the Rake and she decided to investigate about that creature, what was it and exactly what happened that night? She started her research on the internet and found that she was not alone of becoming a victim of the Rake.

She thought that it is possible that the Rake would come again in her bedroom so she put a tape recorder every night before sleeping. Months passed by and nothing happened but when she heard the recording, she found that, in one night recording there was a sound that was too familiar and it was the sound of the same night when the Rake entered her room. This means that the Rake entered one more time in her bedroom. From then she never saw the creature again but now also she believes that all the bad things happened to her was due to Rake. She shared this story on the internet and also said that everyone should check their doors and windows properly before sleeping or else if Rake enter there house, it will destroy the whole family.

 

World wide many people have shared the story of Rake and most of the stories are filled with horrific emotions. They described it as the human like creature with sharp teeth, hairless body with muscles, it sounds like an animal and have a distorted body structure. People who encountered it in their house tell that when the person falls asleep, this creature sits on the bed and stare at the target and when the person wakes up, it ran out of the house. Many people believe that the Rake live in the jungle, hidden from everyone and some believe that there is a whole civilization exist secretly away from us. It is also said that there are lots of families in the world which Rake secretly stalkes.   

There are lots of incidents in year 1964, 2003, 2006 and so on. In 1964, a man commited suicide because of extreme terror after watching the Rake.

There are lots of creatures like Yeti, motham etc. which have been encountered by the humans but no one knows where they came from or where their civilization exists. 

CURE AGING?

Health is the most valuable thing we 

have in life, but we tend to forget that 

until we lose it. 

We're living longer than ever before, which 

is great, but an unforeseen consequence of this is that we also spend a larger and larger portion of our lives being sick. 

Getting old currently means spending 

more time in pain. 

So scientists are trying to shift the attention of the medical community from optimizing lifespans to optimizing healthspans, the part of our lives during which we're disease free. 

To do this, we need to attack the root 

cause of almost all bodily defects: aging 

itself.

Let's look at three examples of discoveries that might benefit people who are alive right now.

1 : Senescent cells.

Your cells have an expiration date. Each time one of your cells divides, it copies its chromosomes. Because of the way this works, they lose a tiny bit of DNA at the ends. 

This could be catastrophic, so to protect 

themselves we have long segments of 

DNA called telomeres that sort of act like the stiff bits at the end of shoelaces, but they shrink with every cell division.

In some cells, after a number of divisions 

the telomeres are gone, and the cell becomes a zombie, a senescent cell. 

Senescent cells stay around and don't 

die. The older you get the more of them 

are inside you. 

They harm tissue around them and are 

linked to many diseases that accompany 

old age like diabetes and kidney failure. 

But what if you could kill them off? 

Scientists genetically engineered mice so 

that they could destroy their senescent 

cells as they pleased.

Older mice without senescent cells were 

more active. Their hearts and kidneys 

worked better, and they were less prone 

to cancer. 

Overall, they lived up to 30 percent longer 

and in better health than average mice. 

Since we can't genetically engineer all the 

cells in the human body, we need to find 

another way to get rid of our senescent 

cells. 

But how do we kill them without harming 

healthy cells? 

Most cells in the body commit a programmed cell suicide when they're 

damaged, but senescent cells don't.

It turns out that they underproduce a protein that tells them when it's time to 

die. 

So in a late 2016 study, mice were given 

an injection of this protein. 

It killed 80 % of all their senescent cells, 

while causing almost no harm to healthy 

cells. 

The treated mice became generally healthier and even regrew lost hair. 

As a result, there are a number of new 

companies looking at treatments involving senescent cells and the first human trials will start soon.

2: NAD+ 

Cells are made of hundreds of millions of 

parts. 

They're the structures, machines, 

messages, and the catalysts that make 

reactions happen. 

All these parts constantly need to be 

destroyed, cleaned up, and rebuilt. 

As we age, this process becomes less 

effective and so parts become crumpled, 

bunched up, or are removed slower, or they are no longer produced in the quantities we need.

One of these parts is NAD+, a coenzyme 

that tells ourselves to look after 

themselves. 

At age 50, we only have about half as 

much in our bodies as we do at age 20. 

Low amounts of it are linked to a whole 

bunch of diseases from skin cancer to 

Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, and 

multiple sclerosis. 

But NAD+ can't enter cells so we can't get 

it as a pill. 

But scientists notice that other more 

flexible substances could enter cells and 

would then turn into an NAD+ inside.

In 201 6, multiple trials on mice showed 

that they boosted the multiplication of 

skin, brain, and muscle stem cells. 

They were rejuvenated, had a higher 

ability to repair their DNA, and had a 

slightly increased lifespan, This even got NASA interested, which is looking for a way to minimize the DNA damage, astronauts would be exposed to from cosmic radiation on Mars missions. 

There are human trials being planned 

right now, but it's too soon to say if this will boost our healthspan or even lifespan.

But NAD+ is a serious candidate and 

could become the first human anti-aging 

pill.

3: stem cells 

Stem cells are like cell blueprints that sit 

at various places in the body and copy 

themselves to produce a steady flow of 

fresh young cells, but they decline as we age and so we decline too. 

Without new parts, human bodies break. 

In mice, scientists observed that as the 

stem cells in their brains disappeared, 

they started to develop diseases.

So they took stem cells from baby mice 

brains and injected them directly into the 

brains of middle-aged mice, more specifically the hypothalamus, a 

polyp that's involved in regulating a lot of 

bodily functions. 

The fresh stem cells reinvigorated older 

brain cells by secreting micro RNAs that 

regulated their metabolism. 

After 4 months, brain and muscles 

worked better than those of untreated 

mice and on average, they lived ten 

percent longer. 

Another study took stem cells from mice 

embryos and injected them directly into 

the hearts of older mice. 

As a consequence, they had improved 

heart function, could exercise 20% longer, 

and weirdly enough their hair regrew 

faster.

What all of this tells us is that there is not 

a single magic bullet with which to cure 

aging. 

It requires a complex array of different 

therapies. 

We can kill off senescent cells to clear 

away the junk, give ourselves fresh new stem cells to fill the gap, all while regulating the metabolism of the other cells using 

medication.

There's no guarantee the same therapies 

would work in us to the same extent, but 

they are proof of concepts. 

To learn more about how we can modify 

our own healthspan, we need human 

trials. 

We've only covered a tiny part of the 

research that's being done right now, 

and only scratched the surface of these 

ideas. 

The field of healthspan extension needs 

more attention and funding. 

If it gets it, all of us might enjoy growing 

old without pain.

Have we cured aging yet?

How close are we to finding a cure for aging?

BACTERIOPHAGE: The friendly phage

A war has been raging for billions of years killing trillions every single day, while we don't even notice. The war is fought by the single deadliest entity on our planet: the bacteriophage or 'phage' for short. A phage is a virus, not quite alive not quite dead. Also, they look like someone made them up.

The head is an icosahedron a sort of dice with 20 faces and 30 edges. It contains the genetic material of the virus and often sits on a long tail that has leg-like fibres. There are more phages on Earth than every other organism combined, including bacteria. And they are probably every where living things exist. Billions are on your hands, in your intestines and your eyelids right now which might make you nervous since phages are responsible for the majority of deaths on Earth but you're lucky. While they do commit genocide for breakfast, they only kill bacteria. 

Upto 40% of all bacteria in the ocean are killed by them every single day. But phages also have major flaws. Like any other virus, phages need a host to survive and reproduce. They are not much than genetic material in a hull and they specialize. Usually, a phage has chosen one specific bacteria and maybe some of its very close relatives. These are its prey. Imagine a phage as like a cruise missile that only hunts and kills members of one very unlucky family.

When a phage finds its victim, it connects its tail fibers with receptors and uses a sort of syringe to puncture a surface. In a weird motion, the phage squeezes its tail and injects it's genetic information. Within minutes, the bacteria is taken over. Its now forced to manufacture all the parts of new phages. They only Stop when the bacteria is filled up with band new phages. In the final step, they produce 'endolysin', a powerful enzyme that produces a hole in the bacteria. The pressure is so high that the bacteria sort of vomits out all its insides and dies.

  New phages are released and begin the cycle anew. In the last few years, bacteriophage have enjoyed the attention of second deadliest beings on Earth: HuMaNs. Recently, we've starting looking into injecting millions of them into our bodies because we're sort of getting desperate; we screwed up.

In the past a single cut or a sip from the wrong puddle could kill you. Bacteria were our phages. Tiny monsters that hunted us mercilessly. But then, about 100 years ago, we found a solution in nature. By accident, we found fungi that produced compounds that killed bacteria: antibiotics. Suddenly, we had a powerful super weapon.

Antibiotics were so effective that we stopped thinking of bacteria as monsters. Only the old and the weakest among us were killed by them. We used antibiotics more and more for less and less serious causes. But bacteria are living things that evolve and one by one they started to become immune against our weapons. This continued until we had created what are called 'superbugs', bacteria immune to almost everything we have.

This immunity is spreading across the world as we speak. By 2050, superbugs could kill more humans a year than Cancer! The days when we cut or bladder infection or a cough could kill you or your loved ones are coming back. In the US alone, more than 23000 people die from resistant bacteria each year.

But it turns out that phages could save us. We can inject them into our bodies to help cure infections. Phages are very-very specialized killers of bacteria.

So specialized, in fact, that humans are completely immune to them; we are too different. We encounter billions of phages everyday and we just politely ignore each one of them. Antibiotics are like carpet bombing, killing everything even the good bacteria in our intestines that we don't want to harm. Phages are like guided missiles that only attack on what they're supposed to.

But what if bacteria develop ways to defending themselves from phages? Well, its more complex than that; phages evolved too. There has been an arms race between them and bacteria for billions of years and so far, they're doing great. But even if bacteria were to become immune against our phage, we still might be able to win. It turns out that in order to become resistant to even just a few species of phages, bacteria have to give up their resistance to antibiotics. We might be able to trap them in catch-22.

This has already been successfully tested with a patient who had no other hope left. The bacteria 'Pseudomonas Aeruginosa', one of the most feared bacteria infected the man's chest cavity.

They are naturally resistant to most antibiotics and can even survive in alcoholic hand gel. After years of suffering, a few thousand phages were directly inserted into his chest cavity together with antibiotics the bacteria were immune to. After a few weeks, the infections had completely disappeared. Unfortunately, this treatment is still experimental and Pharma companies are still reluctant to invest the necessary billions in a treatment that has no official approval yet.

But things are finally changing. In 2016, the largest phage clinical trial to date began and phages are getting more and more attention and we better get used to it because the era in which antibiotics have been our super weapon is drawing to a close. 

It might be a weird concept but injecting the deadliest being on planet Earth directly into our bodies could save millions of lives.

 

What is the current status of medical research on the use of bacteriophage for the treatment of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria?

Can many bacteriophage attack on a bacterium at one time?

SHOULD ZOOS EXIST?

As a little child, one of the memorable thing was to visit a zoo and staring the animals curiously, was one of the most fascinating thing to do... But! As we grew older and became mature, we started analysing things practically and felt emotions of animals. First of all, how should we define a zoo with its clear and actual meaning? A zoo is a facility in which animals are housed within enclosures, kept in captivity, cared for and displayed to the public. 

Let us discuss first about what are negative aspects of zoos?

• Animals are made to live in captivity in a fixed space with restrictions so they have limited space to live. And this is the thing 'animal lovers' argue about, that who has given the right to control the lives of these innocent creatures. It is the most tragic thing when thought about deeply.

• Zoos alter the natural behaviour of animals maybe in the way of taking away their natural habitat, setting boundaries for them, excluding them from being in their natural food chain. Animals suffer permanent frustration because they have no freedom of choice and cannot behave as they would do in their natural environment. This leads to a tendency towards their genetic, physical and behavioural degeneration.

• While visiting zoos, we all have at least once noticed the highly repetitive, invariant, functionless behaviour like hair pulling, tongue flicking, bobbing ,swaying head-bobbing, bar-biting, over-grooming or excessive licking. This is 'Zoochosis' , which is a form of psychosis that develops in animals held captive in zoos, it is mental anguish made visible by abnormal behavior, and it’s a common indicator of poor welfare, under-stimulation and stress.

 

• In zoos, animals are bred but the reality is that only those animals are bred which are easy to breed in captivity and these captive-bred population are by definition only suited to live in captivity! So, even if we think to free them in the wild after some period of time, there are very less chance of their survival and they are trapped to live in restricted space and boundaries forever.

• Zoos only maintains the animal populations that are visually interesting for the public. There are still a lot of species of animals which can kept in the zoos and cared for in a well manner but this point is just neglected as the public visiting the zoo will not be curious to know about them.

Are any good things about the existence of zoos? Is it good that zoos should exist? 

Zoos serve an important purpose also beyond the frivolous entertainment and are vital for the future of the animal kingdom! And maybe this will make you rethink the cursed viewpoint of zoos we discussed above.

 • Zoos are considered as a way of conservation of animals.... Let me explain how it is thought in such a way that a species of animal protected in captivity provides a reservoir population against a population crash or extinction in the wild.

Zoos primarily deal with three aspects of conservation – practice, advocacy and research. 'Conservation practice' entails captive breeding, species reintroduction programs, Species survival plans and the use of zoo revenue for conservation programs in the wild. 'Conservation advocacy' includes public engagement, promoting awareness, advocating stewardship, and fundraising events and schemes. 'Conservation research' is conducted on wildlife biology, population dynamics, animal behaviour, health and welfare and there are also publications generated by zoos on animal care and captivity.

• Zoos are also a brilliant space for demonstration of scientific research on animals, their activities and getting knowledge about them in an ultimately close way. The Zoo’s research scientists are always collecting data to better understand the animals, monitor the effects of changes to their routines, and make recommendations for improving their care.

• Many zoos around the world maintain frozen banks to store/ preserve genetic material that is sperm and eggs that can be used in the future to produce offsprings. 

So, this ensures a secured future generation if something mishappens in their natural habitat of the wild.

• Accredited zoos frequently partner with other organizations, including government agencies, to protect endangered species and their environments. Zoos are an essential part of the recovery program for many endangered species listed under the Endangered Species Act. So in this way, Zoos care for animals whose habitats are in danger and who do not stand a chance without us, zoos keep them until they can be reintegrated back in the wild and when their habitats are stabilized.

However, the dominating reason of existence of zoos in today's world is to put animals on display because people like watching them. This is a thing we need to improve. Zoos need to create their mission to provide care and conserve these innocent creatures.Then, instead of zoos we should aim to have sanctuaries for animals. We need to close down all the urban zoos, that have inadequate space and insufficient facilities to provide the required conditions of freedom to the animals. 

We need to focus on opening wildlife sanctuaries in their native environment providing them the same space as in the wild ,unbeatable facilities and do not permit people to come gawk at them, yell at them, mock them and take pictures for their entertainment purpose. The ways of these sanctuaries should only be opened for research and educational purposes with strict rules and regulations. This is the change we should should desire for!

Why are zoos not banned? We humans complained about being locked in our houses during lock-down So do the animals not feel the same?

IS BARBIE DOLL A GOOD ROLE MODEL FOR YOUNG GIRLS?

From the time when a girl child is born, is introduced to a variety of things and one of these most common toys that she is familiar with is a Barbie doll and this is also one of the most popular toy companies for girls all over the world which has offered young girls dolls, dollhouses, and the accessories that goes with them.

Maybe the names are different but all the toys are somewhat similar, symbolising the full set of feminine characters. Most of the girl toys in stores have certain characteristics. These roles portray femininity, beauty, and certain gender roles.

Then this journey continues, most girls spend the phase of their growing up with playing and dressing up these dolls as their possession.

This part of growing up enters the imagination of the female child and impacts the perspective of the way she looks at herself, the way she understands the girlish way of living. Barbie has been very influential to young girls, affecting how they dress and even act. For most young girls, Barbie represents so much more than just an unrealistic body type, Barbie is a role model. So is this role model for young girls good or bad? 

Let us discuss 

So the main question comes that if it is good or bad role model for young girls to play with Barbie dolls? Lets discuss some effects of this

• Set unnecessary fixed beauty standards on the minds of young girls: It sets a particular boundaries of how one should look like, the way one should dress like. If we add the doll’s unrealistic physical proportions to the pre-existing societal beauty standards, and we will end up with several women in real life spending thousands of dollars on plastic surgery to get the “Barbie look”.

• Desiring unrealistic appearance: These “perfect”, unrealistic dolls have set a standard which thousands of girls fail to meet, therefore causing self esteem issues they could carry into adulthood.It makes girls obsessed with the features and flawless look which is nearly impossible to be possible in reality. They grow while noticing changes in their bodies which are difficult for them to accept. This is when girls start being on hard on their real self and try to change their appearances.

• Neglection of diversification: The Barbie doll set a fixed look of fair skin tone, perfect figure, height, hairs and overall flawless soft look. This is the point where young girls forget that there is diversification in every body and it's totally alright to not match certain standards.

• Have created stereotypical boundaries: It has been considered for a long time now that dolls are made for girls to play with. This misconception excludes some unique minds of little girls from exploring the things they really get attracted to. 

It is believed that every girl should admire the soft nature of Barbie and try to be the same, and this really become exhausting to pretend like one you don't want to be like.

These dolls may seem harmless, but the damage they bring into the lives of women all over the world is catastrophic.

The failed attempts to gain Barbie-like body proportions have more effects that often lead to teenage girls into self-harm, simply starving themselves to lose weight and have perfect figure would already be a form of self-harm, but some would seriously try to punish themselves for “not being skinny enough.”

What can be done so that this toy impacts in a least way possible and even puts a positive effect on the little minds of young girls? We cannot completely eliminate Barbie doll from a girl's childhood. But, It is the responsibility of parents to introduce them it in such a way that they accept the fact of looking normal and accept their imperfections. 

Grateful that now finally an era of self-love and mental health awareness is dawning, so that everyone, more importantly women are slowly stopping to blinding following and having these unrealistic demands. Even toy companies should normalise making dolls that are realistic and normal, the kind of dolls which represent the diverse bodies and make the females that you don't have to be beauty queen but a 'BEAUTIFUL YOU'!

Is Barbie doll a good or bad influence on girls?