Rebundle Makes Hair Extensions From Bananas

While commonly used, synthetic hair is toxic for the environment and detrimental to scalp health. Made from fine plastic fibers—like acrylic, polyester and polyvinyl chloride—that are also reliant on fossil fuels, hair extensions often lead to scalp irritation and inflammation. As Black women who rely on these extensions for cornrows and braids, Ciara Imani May and Danielle Washington know this all too well. That’s why …

LSD’s Controversial Connection With Alcoholics Anonymous

In a fascinating long-read, Katie McBride at Inverse traces the controversial and little-known connection between LSD and Alcoholics Anonymous. When co-founder and hero of the abstinence-only program, Bill Wilson, dropped acid 66 years ago, he had two decades sober and AA was in full swing. This experience would “fundamentally transform his outlook on recovery, horrify AA leadership and disappoint hundreds of thousands who had credited …

Simple DNA Test Can Detect Common Neurological Conditions

A relatively simple DNA test—which involves whole genome sequencing—can diagnose common neurological disorders, providing people with clarity and ending uncertainty, a new study says. As Linda Geddes writes for The Guardian, “Historically, obtaining a definitive diagnosis for conditions including Huntingdon’s disease and some forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has been difficult, because, although the cause of the symptoms is genetic, knowing which test to carry …