You Absolutely Need to Know These 3 Health Benefits of Cold Plunges

Although it's an ancient practice with roots spanning several cultures, cold water immersion has become a popular form of rehabilitative and meditative therapy in recent years. Cold immersion therapy includes ice baths, cold showers, and cold water plunges. Exposing the body to the extreme cold temperatures brings about reactions such as shallow breathing, body contractions, and an elevated heart rate. The idea is that by experiencing and overcoming these reactions we become better equipped and more capable of dealing with stress.  

Cold plunges, which involve submerging oneself in pools with water at around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, are also associated with a variety of physical health benefits. Below is a brief look at three of those benefits. 

Reduces Inflammation 

It shouldn't be a surprise that cold plunges can help reduce inflammation and, in turn, reduce symptoms of pain or muscle swelling. When you bruise a part of your body or experience muscle pain, doctors will recommend that you place an ice pack on the affected area for at least a few days to reduce swelling. A cold plunge, then, has a similar effect on the entire body.  

A study conducted by researchers in Hong Kong and published in the journal Medicine found that cold immersion following exercise could reduce muscle pain and inflammation for one day. This is because the cold water forces blood vessels to constrict which, in turn, results in less blood supply to impacted areas. Some of the world's best athletes, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Usain Bolt, are proponents of cold immersion therapy. 

Contributes to Weight Loss 

A study conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Health found that cold plunges also release the hormones FGF and Irisin. These hormones help burn fat tissues and can also help regulate metabolism. Cold plunges can also contribute to weight loss via the act of shivering, which generates body heat and burns calories. 

Improves Energy Levels 

Norepinephrine is another hormone released during cold plunges and other forms of cold immersion therapy. This hormone is responsible for regulating energy, attention, and focus. This means that exposing the body to cold water can help increase energy levels and improve focus.  

Cold water also stimulates the skin's nerve endings via a process known as cold thermogenesis. This process boosts overall energy levels by increasing the respiration rate, heart rate, and oxygen levels. Thus, a quick cold plunge can be an effective way to increase energy levels before a workout. 

NFT Fraud Spotlight: 3 Popular Scams You Need to Know

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) grew in popularity with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic as art sellers and collectors rushed to the digital space to trade the one-of-a-kind digital assets. Over the last year or so, the NFT market has evolved considerably, and in the course of doing so, it has attracted more criminal activity. Early in 2022, for example, hackers stole $625 million from Sky Mavis, the company that produces Axie Infinity, one of the world’s most popular crypto/NFT games. 

Smaller NFT scams are also prevalent with fraudsters posing as people other than themselves online in hopes of stealing money from unsuspecting NFT collectors and enthusiasts. Below are three of the most common scams. 

Rug Pull Scams 

Rug pull scams involve criminals promoting fake NFT projects that seem legitimate. Creators of most NFT projects usually offer a roadmap of their goals and how they intend to drive up the value of the NFTs. Some, however, might offer minimal information in this regard or pull all of their social media accounts and disappear with the NFT mint funds, leaving collectors with an NFT that has immediately lost value. 

In July, the United States Department of Justice charged six people involved in an NFT trading scam, one of whom stole $2.6 million from investors through a rug pull scam. 

You can avoid rug pull scams by purchasing NFTs exclusively on verified trading platforms or using security tools like rug pull detection and blockchain explorers. 

Fake NFT Offers 

Scammers also utilize email to try to swindle individuals with fake NFT offers. These phishing emails usually promise deals that seem too good to be true and involve an embedded link that takes the user to a fraudulent NFT marketplace. These fake websites are often equipped with malware like keylogging or other types of spyware that allows the sender to steal the user’s information and NFTs. 

Airdrop Scams 

In addition to email, scammers will often use social media to target victims. Fraudulent NFT giveaway campaigns, also known as airdrop scams, are common on social media platforms. Scammers will message individuals with a promise to give them a free NFT if they sign up on their website and promote their message. The catch is that they’ll need the user’s cryptocurrency wallet information to award the prize. 

Once a scammer has this information, they can gain access to the owner’s account and steal their entire library of NFTs. The best way to protect against airdrop scams is to avoid interacting with unverified accounts. 

Cryptocurrency Is Already Improving the World in These 4 Key Ways

Cryptocurrency is no longer just a novel concept in its infancy. Tokens from the decentralized financial system, supported by blockchain technology, are accepted by several major companies, including Starbucks, Whole Foods, and Microsoft. Not only does crypto have real-world applications as opposed to being just an investment vehicle, but it also has the potential to make the world a better place. In fact, it has already done so. The following are four benefits we have seen recently. 

1. Greater Access to Banking in Developing Countries 

There are more than 2 billion people in the world without access to a bank account. Many of these people live in developing countries without central banks or undeveloped banking systems. Decentralized currencies, such as Bitcoin or Ethereum, are not subject to institutional influence and can be purchased, used, and sold without a bank account or necessary paperwork. As long as someone has access to the Internet, they can purchase crypto. 

2. Instant Money Transfers 

Another benefit of a decentralized financial system is instant money transfers. Wiring money from one bank account to another, especially from one country to another, can sometimes take more than a week to clear. Conversely, cryptocurrency transfers are instant and do not carry any hidden fees. Transferring crypto even has advantages over using traditional online payment systems, as these are subject to government regulations and often carry daily transaction limits. 

3. Reduction of Fraud and Increased Accountability 

While scammers have sought unique ways to gain access to digital wallets, cryptocurrency transactions are safer and more secure than credit card purchases. Scammers can easily steal a person's credit card information via insecure websites, whereas every crypto transaction is safely transferred electronically and permanently stored on the blockchain. This benefits both consumers as well as vendors and sellers. 

Moreover, because all transactions can be viewed on the blockchain, widespread adoption of crypto will hold companies more accountable and provide potential investors with more accurate financial information. 

4. Support of Scientific Advancement 

Cryptocurrency also promotes open and transparent collaboration, whether through crowdfunding in support of business ventures or the pursuit of scientific achievement. Blockchain technology ensures everyone equal access to real-time data and critical information that might otherwise be hidden by corporations and foundations. 

Nano Vision, for instance, is leveraging the power of blockchain technology to promote scientific advancement. The company developed a platform that "incentivizes the collection and use of molecular data at a global scale using blockchain and a new crypto asset to share data and resources." 

A Look at 4 of the Most Sustainable Cryptocurrencies

While cryptocurrency and blockchain technology has the potential to improve online security and enhance medical record-keeping, it does have its drawbacks. Miners use a series of complex computer systems to produce cryptocurrency tokens, and this, combined with the energy associated with processing trading transactions, has had a negative impact on the environment. According to a report produced by the UK-based financial site MoneySuperMarket, every Bitcoin transaction consumes 1,173 kilowatt-hours of electricity, or enough to power the average home in the United States for six weeks. Some analysts suggest annual cryptocurrency energy consumption is similar to that of a small country. 

However, some cryptocurrencies are far more eco-friendly than others. Those that rely on a proof of storage or proof of stake system are inherently more energy efficient, as they involve less processing power. Other creators have taken additional measures to lower the carbon footprint of their cryptocurrencies. The following are four of the most sustainable cryptocurrencies. 

SolarCoin 

SolarCoin was designed to incentivize solar energy installations. The global decentralized platform creates a new SolarCoin token for every megawatt-hour of energy generated via solar technology. Like other cryptocurrencies, tokens can be traded and spent where accepted. Users can upload supporting energy generation documentation to the SolarCoin platform to receive new tokens. 

Powerledger 

Established in 2016 and powered by Ethereum, Powerledger is a trading platform for energy and environmental commodities. Its token, POWR, debuted on Coinbase in November 2021 and was among the few cryptocurrencies to experience a rapid price increase during the market-wide crash around that time. It was trading on Coinbase at $0.63 on January 3, 2022. 

Nano 

Unlike most traditional cryptocurrencies, Nano doesn't rely on mining to generate new coins. Instead, it employs energy-efficient block-lattice technology, which creates individual user account-chains capable of managing up to 125 transactions per second. Nano is also a scalable and lightweight platform that allows users to add blocks asynchronously. For comparison's sake, it would take more than 60 million Nano transactions to equal the energy consumption of 2 seconds of Bitcoin transactions. 

Algorand 

A rapidly rising proof-of-stake blockchain that supports smart contracts, Algorand was launched in 2019 and recorded nearly 1 million daily transactions by December 2020. It maintains a partnership with ClimateTrade and, as of April 22, 2021, became completely carbon neutral. Founder Silvio Micali and the Algorand leadership team are hoping to take things a step further by creating a carbon-negative network. 

4 Things You Need to Know about Non-Fungible Tokens

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs), like cryptocurrency, are supported by blockchain technology. These unique digital files contain embedded information that signifies proof of ownership and have monetary value as determined by the marketplace.  

NFTs can include digital photos and videos, music, and memes. Many have been sold for millions of dollars. Digital artist Beeple sold a collage via Christie's for a record $69 million, while musician Grimes sold digital art for in excess of $6 million in March 2021.  

Below are four things to know about NFTs. 

1. They Were First Launched on the Ethereum Blockchain 

The majority of NFTs are bought and sold on the Ethereum blockchain. While the first known NFT was created by Kevin McCoy in 2014, Ethereum has since been the NFT sector leader. Other blockchains, like TRON and Bitcoin Cash, have since implemented their own NFT support systems. Prospective NFT collectors need to first purchase crypto tokens associated with the respective blockchain to buy these one-of-a-kind digital items. 

2. They Can Be Purchased in Various Marketplaces 

While NFT transactions are facilitated by blockchain technology, the digital files themselves can be purchased at various online marketplaces and some mainstream auction houses. There are marketplaces dedicated to certain types of collectibles. Digitaltradingcards, for instance, is a popular online NFT store for baseball cards. Others, like OpenSea and SuperRare, sell a broader range of content. 

3. They Are Embedded with Copyright Information Verifying Their Authenticity 

There is nothing stopping someone from simply right-clicking an NFT file and saving it to their smartphone or computer. In essence, they can save an image for free that might have cost someone millions of dollars. However, these duplicate files are not embedded with copyright information, as is the case with the original. The best comparison is a unique piece of art, ie. the Mona Lisa. While there is only one original painting, there are many prints in circulation. 

4. They Have Empowered Content Creators and Brands 

Because of NFTs, artists and other content creators now have another avenue through which they can earn income. It might be unreasonable to expect to sell a digital sticker or other file on the iMessage App Store. Selling it as an NFT is more feasible. Moreover, creators can receive a percentage of the sale of their NFTs every time they are sold. That way, as the original goes up in value, the creator will benefit financially from their popularity. 

Many brands have also taken advantage of NFTs as an additional revenue stream. Taco Bell, for instance, sold 25 taco-themed images and GIFs in 30 minutes. Some files have since been resold on the secondary market for as much as $3,500. The NBA also sells digital collectibles via NBA Top Shot. 

Debunking 3 Common Myths about Clean Energy

In accordance with the Paris Agreement, countries worldwide are initiating sweeping large-scale changes to their respective energy grids to cut down on carbon emissions and produce clean energy. The United States, for instance, generated about 20 percent of its total energy from renewable sources in 2020. Moreover, President Joe Biden has an ambitious target to make the US energy sector emissions-free by 2035. Several states, including California, Hawaii, Illinois, and Maine, have already committed to 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2050.

According to a report conducted by researchers at Harvard University, Syracuse University, and Georgia Institute of Technology, the US could save upward of 317,500 lives through the next three decades if it achieved an 80 percent renewable energy goal by 2030. While this is feasible, there are many common myths about clean energy that detractors use to argue against further adoption. The following are three of those myths debunked.

Myth 1: Renewable Energy Costs More Than Fossil Fuels

"Wind and solar are cost competitive, if not cheaper, than any of the conventional energy carriers these days," notes Pierre Mertiny, principal investigator with the University of Alberta's Future Energy Systems.

Fossil fuels may have been more cost effective during the early part of the 21st century, but advancements in technology have dramatically lowered the cost of all forms of renewable energy in recent years. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency, power generation costs for solar photovoltaics and onshore wind decreased by 82 percent and 39 percent, respectively, from 2010 to 2019.

Power generation costs for renewables are expected to decline further, while fossil fuel prices have continued to increase year-over-year.

Myth 2: Wind Turbines Are Inefficient

A viral social media post, drawn from an incorrectly quoted quote from an anthology edited by Thomas Homer-Dixon, has led many people to believe that wind turbines require more energy to produce than they generate. The post argued that, at best, the energy required for mining and transporting materials to create wind turbines would be offset by the energy they produced within three years at a "good wind site."

While it's true the production of wind turbines requires a substantial amount of energy from coal and iron ore, wind farm sites are carefully chosen to be as efficient as possible. Renewable energy companies often collect data at potential sites for at least two years to determine viability and utilize resources such as digital maps and wind forecasting models.

Myth 3: Clean Energy Doesn't Produce as Many Jobs as Coal and Oil

Detractors of clean energy point to the closure of coal mines and how this has impacted the economies of regions that rely on coal for jobs. They also believe there are fewer jobs in renewable energy, as solar and wind energy, for instance, are self-sustaining. However, the clean energy sector encompasses a wide range of industries and job specialties. Approximately 3 million Americans worked in clean energy in 2020. This was about three times as many people employed in fossil fuel extraction and generation.