Health experts at the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s School of Medicine and the University of Notre Dame developed the new method by replacing one of the fluorine atoms on the PFAS molecule with radioisotope fluorine-18, the same radioactive flourine used in medical positron emission tomography scans in medical establishments around the world. This enabled the team to radiolabel three forms of perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances and track their whereabouts once they enter the body. The tests were done in mice models of PFC exposure.

“Each of the tracers exhibited some degree of uptake in all of the organs and tissues of interest that were tested, including the brain. The highest uptake was observed in the liver and stomach, and similar amounts were observed in the femur and lungs,” said senior author Suzanne Lapi, ScienceDaily.com reports.

“The findings are significant because of the type of chemicals we studied and the potential for harm…Two of the three compounds we studied were short-chain PFAS compounds. These results suggest that these chemicals not only bind more effectively to blood, but they accumulate in different organs such as the brain and the stomach,” said researcher Graham Peaslee, EurekaAlert.org reports.

The findings were published in the Journal of Environment Science and Technology

PFCs cause a host of adverse conditions

Various clinical studies have established a strong link between PFCs and adverse medical conditions.

A study published in the International Journal of Epidemiology showed that children, especially boys, with higher prenatal PFC exposure had increased odds of congenital cerebral palsy. A case-control study of Inuit women revealed that pregnant women who were at the highest quintile of PFC exposure showed increased likelihood of suffering premenopausal breast cancer. The results were published in the journal Environmental Health.

PFCs found in fast food packaging may contribute to the increasing prevalence of obesity and diabetes. A Canadian study published in the journal Environmental Research revealed a correlation between PFC exposure and elevated cholesterol levels in adults. Another diabetes study showed that high PFC exposure was associated with impaired glucose homeostasis, as well as greater prevalence of the disease. High PFC exposure was also tied to the development of ulcerative colitis.

Various other studies have also associated PFCs in fast food packaging with a host of adverse conditions including low birth weight, thyroid disease and kidney and testicular cancers.

PFC is an environmental concern

The production of various commercial and industrial products using perfluorinated compounds has been heavily scrutinized for years due to its potential environmental impact.

A 2015 study published in Environmental Research examined how PFC prevalence affects the food chain balance in the Arctic region. Researchers found that exposure to this toxic compound might have a significant impact on the behavior, hormonal balance, and survival capacity of polar bears in the region. Study lead author Kathrine Eggers Pedersen said PFCs have increasingly accumulated in the Arctic in previous years. “People should be aware of the impact that the chemicals have on the environment and the region’s general population,” Pedersen added.

Another study revealed a correlation between PFC exposure and consumption of fish from U.S. urban rivers and great lakes. Fillet samples from fish showed a significant occurrence of PFCs within certain bodies of water in the U.S. (Related: Find out more about the dangers associated with fast food and perfluorinated compounds by visiting FastFood.news.)

Sources:

ScienceDaily.com

EurekaAlert.org

ScienceNordic.com

IFT.org

Reuters.com

DiabetesAndEnvironment.org

Academic.OUP.com

BioMedCentral.com

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology organized the test with the involvement from St. Andrews University. The team used 34 great apes, comprised of 23 chimpanzees, six orangutans and five bonobos. The experiment was conducted in the Leipzig Zoo. The tests involved the great apes watching and then helping a human retrieve a toy from one of two locked boxes. Prior to the experiment, the animals were taught how to open the boxes using a bolt before they were rewarded with grapes.

Great apes know when you know something and when you don’t

In the first experiment, the “true-belief “test, the experimenter knew where the toy was, having kept the toy in one box before watching an assistant take the toy out and place it in the other box. The experimenter was present during the switch and showed awareness when the box lid was opened by saying, “Aha”. In the second experiment, or the “false-belief” test, the experimenter stayed outside the room while the assistant made the exchange. The experimenter attempted to open the wrong empty box but failed, shrugging, gesturing helplessly and saying, “Hmm”.

It was found, during the “false-belief” test, that the animals were more 50 percent more likely to help the experimenter and open the box for him. According to the an article published in Inquirer.net, “the apes chose the correct box significantly more often than chance”. Conversely, when the animals knew that the experimenter knew which box the toy was placed in, they were less likely to open the box.

This behavior, according to the researchers, meant that great apes were capable of “reading” the minds of others during social interactions. They could understand what someone is attempting to accomplish, what information they have wrong, and how to fix the problem. Lead author of the study, Dr. David Buttelman called this reasoning ability “pretty complex” and then added, “for the last 30 years the literature suggested that great apes might lack this ability, finding evidence of belief-tracking in great apes was kind of a surprise to all of us.”

This ability was tested further in an “ignorance” test conducted several months later. This time around, the experimenter did not place the toy inside a box and had no idea where the toy could be. The great apes only assisted the experimenter at random during the course of the “ignorance” test.

The study concluded with, “apes are able to use this understanding in their social interactions. If supported by further research, the apparent difference between great ape and human social cognition would thus lie not in their basic capacity to ‘read’ other minds, but elsewhere.”

Sources:

Journals.PLOS.org

DailyMail.co.uk

Inquirer.net

Jing Liu, Ph.D., from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China, acted as lead investigator for the Endocrine Society. They studied 463 boys ranging in age from nine to sixteen years. The researchers were testing the subjects’ urine for a particular chemical “molecule called 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA).”  They discovered that if a boy had a 10% increase in 3-PBA, that increase would influence an uptick in “the boy’s level of luteninizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSL).” These two hormones cause the production of testosterone.

Dr. Liu surmised that if a boy’s urine contained elevated levels of 3-PBA , the odds would increase to 73 – 110% that this young man would experience “an advanced state of genital development.” Tragically, this then cascades into other difficulties. Hormonal disruptions that cause early sexual development can also trigger behavioral problems and stunted growth. Additionally, as an adult, men have an increased risk of testicular cancer.

It’s always the children who are the most vulnerable to environmental exposure to chemicals. And it starts in the womb, says the Environmental Working Group (EWG), who tested the “umbilical cord blood of ten” infants in 2009 and found 230 “industrial pollutants,” including lead, mercury and  polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Every year, according to the Pesticide Action Network (PANNA), “an estimated one billion pounds of pesticides are applied to U.S. farms, forests, lawns and golf courses.” Let’s not forget to add schoolyards, downtown shopping districts, and parks to that list. These insect killers have a deadly myriad of toxic ingredients circulating in more than 17,000 products at your local grocery, retail, drug and hardware stores.

There’s little doubt that every single person in America stores a little pesticide inside their body, even if these products aren’t personally used. Take DDT for example. As reported by Epa.gov, this substance was one of the first synthetic pesticides created in the 1940s and used profusely until it was banned in 1972.  Today, DDT is considered a probable human carcinogen. Yet, even though it’s been banned for over fifty years, says Panna.org, when the CDC does tests, DDT is found in 85% of persons tested.

The pyrethroid synthetic pesticides studied by Dr. Liu are promoted by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) in the United Kingdom. The BBSRC proudly shares a timeline of this synthetic pesticide’s development, which started in 1948. The original pyrethrin was a natural component of Chrysanthemum flowers, a compound that has been extracted and used for pest deterrence “for thousands of years.” As industrial agriculture grew, the plant-based substance was considered too unstable, thus the development of synthetics. Today, pyrethroids are used against mosquitoes, sprayed in residential areas, and on some crops. One interesting note of propaganda in their history timeline reads:

“They [synthetic pyrethroids] are around twenty times more effective at killing insects than DDT without the serious environmental or health impacts.”

Seems we’ve been told this before, yes?

Sources:

AboutEndocrine.org

Endocrine.org

Ewg.org

Panna.org

Science.NaturalNews.com

Panna.org

Epa.gov

Bbsrc.ac.uk

Not only is that false, it’s also dangerous. In truth, iodine only protects from one radionuclide (iodine-131), which isn’t anywhere near the most dangerous radioactive element unleashed in a nuclear war or nuclear accident.

To help educate and inform consumers about iodine and its legitimate uses, I’ve put together this iodine science article on IODINE.news which explains iodine’s uses and limitations for nuclear fallout protection. As the Health Ranger, I’m the inventor of Cesium Eliminator, US Patent # 9526751, which eliminates radionuclides from the human digestive tract, so I’ve done a considerable amount of hands-on laboratory research involving elements with radioactive isotopes.

The article debunks several important iodine myths while explaining legitimate iodine uses. It also reveals seven surprising things most people don’t know about iodine.

I consider it a must-read article for anyone buying, stockpiling or consuming iodine as a preparedness strategy. Yes, iodine is very useful and has its proper place in every prepper’s list of items for nuclear events, but it’s not a magical bulletproof vest against radiation. Far from it…

Click here to read the full article on iodine at Iodine.news. Also stay informed about radiological events and protection strategies at Radiation.news.

DISCLAIMER: My online store, called the Health Ranger Store, sells nascent iodine as a dietary supplement. That’s why I’m so adamant that consumer know the full story on this supplement. I want people to use iodine safely and with full knowledge of its uses and limitations.

“It is incongruous that safety assessments of the most widely used herbicide on the planet rely largely on fewer than 300 unpublished, non-peer reviewed studies while excluding the vast modern literature on glyphosate effects. After a review of all evaluations, we conclude that the current safety standards are outdated and may fail to protect public health and the environment,” the research team stated.

Researchers noted that more than 1,500 clinical studies on the effects of glyphosate exposure were done in the last 10 years alone. However, they stressed that there is still a severe lack of of a systematic monitoring system that would keep track of glyphosate levels in human tissue. The experts also underlined the seemingly few clinical studies that have evaluated the pesticide’s potentially hazardous effects on human health.

“Glyphosate is an extremely dangerous herbicide,” added Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, lab science director of CWC Labs and publisher of Natural News. “The molecule is very small and easily penetrates plant and human tissues. It’s also water soluble, allowing it to easily be absorbed into blood where it ravages tissues through over 20 complex biochemical processes,” Adams said.

Research data also show a significant increase in glyphosate use in the U.S. over the last two decades. The pesticide is currently the most widely-used weed killer in the country. According to previous global estimates, glyphosate use in 2014 alone was enough to spray almost 0.5 kg on every hectare of arable region across the planet. Despite this, the European Chemicals Agency last March cleared glyphosate of any health-related risks.

In line with this, the research team has called for changes on the pesticide’s usage standards.

1. The team pressed for improved monitoring of glyphosate levels and its metabolites in people.
2. The team has also called for the development of innovative tests and technologies to examine the the risks associated with glyphosate and other combination herbicides.
3. The researchers have also underlined the importance of conducting more studies that would monitor occupational exposure in various workforce including manufacturers and agricultural workers, as well as highly-susceptible individuals such as pregnant women and children.
4. The team also called for assessments of glyphosate-containing commercial pesticides.

Glyphosate raises risk of lymphoma, autism and many more

Numerous studies have previously linked glyphosate to a host of adverse health conditions such as lymphoma, kidney damage, autism, and birth defects.

A review of 44 individual clinical studies showed that glyphosate was tied to an increased risk of developing lymphoma. According to the scientists at the International Agency for Research on Cancer, people exposed to the harmful weed killer had twice the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Data also show that people exposed to Dow Chemical’s 2,4-D had a 40 percent increased likelihood of developing the disease. According to the experts, the pesticides may trigger genetic mutations in white blood cells. This then lends the body susceptible to various diseases. The results were published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology also found that Monsanto’s Roundup glyphosate weed killer was associated with higher risk of autism spectrum disorder. A case study of triplets with autism showed that reduced glyphosate levels coincided with reductions in the babies’ autistic conditions. The findings were published in the Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal.

An animal study also found that long-term exposure to Monsanto’s Roundup pesticide resulted in liver and kidney damage in rats. The results were published in the journal Environmental Health. A 2015 study published in the journal Toxicology Reports also found that Monsanto’s Roundup pesticide has shown an endocrine-disrupting effect on male rates.

Sources: 

ScienceDaily.com

EWG.org

EnvironmentalHealthNews.org

GMOEvidence.com

GMWatch.org

VaccineImpact.com

As National Geographic explains, only about .007 percent of all the Earth’s water is available to its massive human population. This, of course, is a tremendous problem. But a new salvation could be on the horizon. Scientists have developed a special graphene sieve that stands to change the game when it comes to the world’s water crisis.

Graphene is a super-thin sheet of carbon atoms that are organized in a hexagonal lattice, and was first identified at the University of Manchester in 2002. Since then, it has been heralded as a “wonder material,” and scientists have been doing their bests to develop affordable graphene-based barriers to desalinate water on a larger scale.

And now, the team from Manchester has crafted a new device that can filter out salt using less energy. The new sieve is comprised of a graphene compound, known as graphene oxide, to create a rigid sieve that gets the job done. Dr. Rahul Nair led the University of Manchester researchers in their efforts to overcome some of the challenges posed by graphene as a water filtration system.

Graphene oxide membranes have already been shown to be able to filter out small nanoparticles, organic molecules and even large salts. But smaller, common salts were still beyond their reach. Previous research found that graphene oxide membranes would swell up when exposed to water, in turn allowing the smaller salts to pass through along with water molecules. But Dr. Nair and his colleagues have found a way to circumvent this problem. By placing epoxy resin walls on either side of the graphene oxide sieve, they were able to control the expansion and keep the salt particles from passing through. (RELATED: Find more news about scientific discoveries at Discoveries.news.)

Restricting the expansion in this way also gave the scientists the ability to fine-tune the properties of the membrane, such as adjusting how much salt was allowed to go through the sieve. As the BBC explains, when common salts dissolve in water, a “shell” of water molecules will form around the salt molecules. This actually allows the small “capillaries” in the graphene oxide membrane to then be able to stop the salt from flowing through along with the water.

“Water molecules can go through individually, but sodium chloride cannot. It always needs the help of the water molecules. The size of the shell of water around the salt is larger than the channel size, so it cannot go through,” Dr. Nair explained. And because water can flow through the graphene oxide membrane very quickly, it is ideal for water filtration.

According to Dr. Nair, the size of the holes in the membrane is very important. Keeping the capillary size at one nanometer, which is close to the size of a water molecule, forces the water to form an “interconnected arrangement like a train.” Dr. Nair says this makes the water move faster, but that this can only occur when the channel size is very tiny.

In a statement, Dr. Nair described the discovery as “a significant step forward and will open new possibilities for improving the efficiency of desalination technology.” Given that the UN has predicted at least 14 percent of the world’s population will suffer from water scarcity by 2025, this finding could really be described as more than “significant” and could potentially save lives in the near future. Clean water is essential to life, after all. Learn more at WaterFilters.news.

Sources:

CNN.com

BBC.com

Weather.com

In February, Rear Admiral Tim Szymanski, the commander of all Navy special operations units, called for the development of brain stimulating technology that could be used to enhance the cognitive skills of Navy Seals. “We plan on using that in mission enhancement,” Szymanski said at a conference near Washington D.C. “The performance piece is really critical to the life of our operators.”

Shortly after the conference, Szymanski elaborated on his vision during a brief interview. He said that, while he is keeping an open mind and looking into various technologies, what he is most interested in is technology that would apply direct stimulation to the brain.

“In experiments, people who were watching these screens…. Their ability to concentrate would fall off in about 20 minutes,” the Rear Admiral explained. “But they did studies whereby a little bit of electrical stimulation was applied, and they were able to maintain the same peak performance for 20 hours.”

It’s easy to see how such technology would benefit those fighting out on the battlefield. Having enhanced brain function and cognitive skills would give SEALs a significant advantage over the enemy, and in some cases could even mean the difference between life and death.

Despite the statement made by Szymanski just a few weeks ago, cognitive enhancement is a technology that has been explored by multiple SEAL units, ever since former Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced that it was part of his Defense Innovation Unit, or DIUx, in July of 2016.

Captain Jason Salata, a spokesman for the Naval Special Warfare Units, said in a statement, “Earlier this year, Naval Special Warfare units, working with DIUx, began a specific cognitive enhancement project with a small group of volunteers to test and evaluate achieving higher performance through the use of neuro-stimulation technology.”

Halo Neuroscience is the company that is responsible for making the brain stimulating devices, which apparently look similar to typical headphones that one would use to listen to music. Although the technology was originally developed for athletes, the technology could also be used to improve shooting performance by allowing the brain to enter a state of hyper-elasticity.

But technology for our soldiers isn’t just limited to devices that affect the brain. For quite some time now, the military has been looking for ways to develop specialized armor that can enhance the physical capabilities of those fighting out on the battlefield. Some armor even has the ability to absorb bullets like a sponge, such as the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) created by Special Operations Command. TALOS is made from “liquid body armor,” which has the ability to solidify within milliseconds after being hit with a bullet. This allows those who wear it to stay protected without sacrificing mobility. In addition, TALOS uses skin sensors to detect the soldier’s heart rate and other vital signs. (RELATED: Could WWIII be fought with robotic exoskeletons?)

With technology constantly being thrust into a forward motion, it is a relief to see much of it going to good use. After all, there aren’t many people more deserving of it than our brave men and women who put their lives on the line for our country.

Follow more news on medical and neuroscience discoveries at Discoveries.news.

Sources include:

Military.com

Futurism.com

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is the most common form of thyroid gland inflammation. It is also the most common thyroid disorder in the U.S. In fact, the disease affects 14 million people in the country alone. Data also showed that the condition will affect about five percent of the U.S. population. Hashimoto’s thyroiditis was 15 times more prevalent in women compared with men. Women aged between 30 to 60 years had the highest prevalence of the condition.

Researchers examined 40 patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis aged between 22 and 50 years old, and stratified them in two groups. One group received two grams of powdered encapsulated black seeds, while the other took two grams starch placebo daily for eight weeks. Data showed that patients who received powdered black seeds displayed significant decreases in body mass index (BMI) compared with those who took the placebo pill. The study also revealed that patients who took the black seed supplement exhibited marked reductions in serum concentrations of thyroid stimulating hormone and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies at eight weeks of intervention. In addition, patients in the intervention group showed a notable decline in serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels. Researchers also highlighted a significant increase in triiodothyronine concentration in patients who received powdered black seeds. However, the experts did not observe a similar effect in patients who took a placebo pill.

“Our data showed a potent beneficial effect of powdered Nigella sativa in improving thyroid status and anthropometric variables in patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Moreover, Nigella sativa significantly reduced serum VEGF concentrations in these patients. Considering observed health- promoting effect of this medicinal plant in ameliorating the disease severity, it can be regarded as a useful therapeutic approach in management of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis,” the researchers said.

Researchers said more studies are needed to confirm whether black seed powder is beneficial in thyroid disease management.

The recent results were reflective of findings from two animal studies that examined the compound’s efficacy in improving thyroid function. A study published in the Irish Veterinary Journal found that the extract may helped increase serum triiodothyronine concentrations and reduce blood sugar levels in diabetic rabbits. The findings suggest that undergoing oral NS treatment may help cut down diabetes-related disturbances of thyroid hormone metabolism, researchers noted.

Another study showed that black seed supplementation significantly increased LH, Estrogen T3 and T4 levels in female rats. In addition, the extract helped reduce the levels of thyrotropin in the animal. The findings were published in the Journal of Contemporary Medical Sciences.

The many health benefits of black cumin seed

Aside from its beneficial effects on the thyroids, black seeds were also shown to alleviate autoimmune disorders and may potentially fight cancer. The seeds were also sought after treatments for respiratory conditions including asthma, bronchitis, and cold symptoms. Black seeds were also found to be effective in calming the body’s nervous system, promoting urine production, and improving digestion.

The seeds have also been touted by many as the quintessential remedy for everything but death. The seeds were so potent that 656 peer-reviewed studies demonstrating its healing properties have been published since 1964, GreenMedInfo.com reports. According to the website, black seeds may potentially be beneficial to more than 40 health conditions.

According to the report, black seeds contain analgesic, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. The compound may also boost insulin sensitivity and treat hypotention.

Sources:

GreenMedInfo.com

EndocrineWeb.com

Thyroid.org

JOCMS.org

ResearchGate.net

Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, has been awarded the patent US 9526751 B2 for a breakthrough formula known as “Cesium Eliminator“.

This unique formula eliminates radioactive cesium isotopes from the gastrointestinal tract. Adams developed the dietary supplement formula to help save lives in case of a nuclear accident or nuclear disaster. Cesium Eliminator is derived from a patented combination of zeolites and selected dehydrated seaweeds. It is extremely efficient in binding with and eliminating cesium-137 in the gut. Adams has announced he is donating the manufacturing and licensing rights of his invention to any state or national government that wants to protect its population against the threat of nuclear war. At the moment, 10,000 kg of raw materials used for the formula is stockpiled in a warehouse in Texas.

He intends to produce and donate his invention at no cost to victims of nuclear strikes that could happen in the U.S.

What is cesium-137?

Cesium-137 is a radioactive isotope created in the aftermath of radioactive disasters like those seen in Fukushima and Chernobyl. Extremely long-lasting, cesium-137 can continue to contaminate an area for more than 200 years.

What happened in Chernobyl as well in Fukushima is a serious testament to how dangerous cesium-137 can be. If ingested, it will irradiate the body from the inside. This can lead to several life-threatening diseases such as cancer or even death.

Health Ranger’s Cesium Eliminator eliminates the presence of radioactive isotopes in the body. Adams emphasizes that this is not a “vitamin” or a regular supplement. It is a dietary supplement formula taken only in severe cases of radioactive contamination.

Cesium Eliminator can be mass-produced for local, state, or national governments use. The facility responsible for manufacturing the formula is located in Texas. It has all the necessary certifications and permits to ensure it operates with strict compliance to the law (ISO, FDA, and USDA requirements).

This breakthrough formula by the Health Ranger — which he is willing to donate — gives people the best chance of warding off the extreme effects of nuclear disasters.

Award-winning author of the bestselling science book on Amazon “Food Forensics”, Adams is famously known for raising the alarm on mercury vaccines, glyphosate in foods, and the corruption within the lucrative pharmaceutical industry.

Known as the Health Ranger, Adams has become a target of the world’s most nefarious industries.

The Health Ranger lab has also tested and published results of more than 600 municipal water samples in the U.S.

Sources:

Google.com

NaturalNews.com

The process

Location, location, location. This is not only the mantra for real estate agents but of gardeners as well. Location is key in yielding the best, most flourishing flowers. Walk around your garden and note spots that are directly exposed to sunlight, wind, and other environmental factors. Pay attention to any underground utility lines and where the nearest water source is. What flowers are you planning on growing? Remember that some varieties like the sun, while others prefer the shade.

Before starting, make a sketch of how you want the size and shape of your flower bed to be. Use a hose or flour to mark out the shape of the bed. If you’re planning on building a raised bed, determine the type and amount of edging material you will need.

Once this is finished, you are ready to begin. The first thing to accomplish is to remove all grass. There are several ways to do this. Organic gardeners recommend laying newspapers to kill the grass. The layers of newspapers needs to be thick, around 10 sheets’ worth. You would then need to overlap each 10-sheet stack with adjacent stacks by a few inches in both directions. Spray the stacks with water until they are fully saturated. Apply around six to 10 inches worth of mulch on top of the newspaper. This method usually takes around a season to effectively remove all the grass.

If you choose to dig out the grass, use a flat shovel. Dig down about four to five inches around the perimeter of your bed. This includes areas inside the bed. Once this is done, carefully lift the sod off. Clear any debris and loosen the soil, working in organic matter as you go.  

As much as possible, avoid using herbicides. These are harmful and can affect the growth of your flowers.

Raised beds

Plants and vegetables thrive in raised beds due to it having a better drainage system. Gardeners recommend making a raised flower bed if you’re planning on growing sensitive and gentle blooms. Despite taking a little more effort than the traditional flower bed, a raised bed is better suited for novice gardeners.

Raised beds are the most productive when they are set into a shallow trench. The sides can be made from any almost durable material like rock, brick, logs, or interlocking blocks. You may even opt for claw-foot tubs or water troughs, as long as they have the capacity and drainage. If you are designing your raised bed with lumber, avoid wood preserved with toxins. Build each wall separately, fasten them together, then place the bed into position. Sink posts into the ground for better stability, either at the inside corner of the bed or halfway along the sides.

Most raised beds measure around 3 x 6 feet. The ideal height would be one to two feet tall. Do not fill the entire bed with dirt; include some peat moss or compost. Level the soil with a 2 x 4 before planting. This will make sowing all the more easier. Gardeners recommend building several such beds to rotate sowing and have year-long yield.

Take note that the sides of raised beds heat quite fast so it is a good idea to invest in a good watering or spraying system. Irrigation is crucial to delivering water evenly, and using a timer may be a good idea. With a little planning and a bit of labor, you can have and enjoy a garden all year long. 

Sources include:

GardeningKnowHow.com

RodalesOrganicLife.com

TheSpruce.com

PopularMechanics.com