Monday, December 22, 2014

Tickell's Thrush Hermit: Maria Callas from the world of birds

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The hermit-thrush can be considered the Maria Callas of the world of birds due to extremely tuned melodies which sings, reveals a new study. Scientists have discovered that this American bird sings in the harmonic series.

The human singing and the sounds emitted by musical instruments are also based on the harmonic series system, which are developed from a base note and multiple frequency higher notes from the original note. According to the study, 70% of corner of this bird follows this harmonic pattern.

Robins-male hermits can sing between six to ten types of different sounds, almost always in high frequencies and a fast pace. Emily Doolittle, composer at Cornish College of Arts in Seattle, and Tecumseh Fitch, a biologist at the Univeristy of Vienna, analyzed 144 different types of songs issued by 14-male hermit thrushes. "To hear the melodies of the thrushes-hermit to a normal speed, the sounds are quite attractive, but we had no suspicion that we were going to hear a series of harmonics", indicates Emily Doolittle to the Daily Mail.

To reduce the playback speed of the melodies of the birds, the harmonic series patterns became clear and it was possible to analyse the choices of notes that Robins used the melodies. About 70% of the analyzed melodies were composed by 7% and harmonic intervals included notes at random without any harmonic referential.

Researchers are particularly interested in how these birds sing because the vocal tract of birds is not designed to produce specific notes within the harmonic series. One of the researchers ' hypothesis for this phenomenon might be the fact that the female song Thrush Hermit choose a male for their harmonic precision. Doolittle indicates that birds do not comprise deliberately their melodies through scales, but acknowledges that other species of birds also like the intervals used in human music.

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Sunday, December 21, 2014

Each time you wash your clothes is to pollute the ocean

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The problem of plastics that pollute the ocean is not new and has been scientifically studied and documented. The origin of most of the plastic waste that can be found in the ocean is obvious, but one of the pollutants with a higher degree of penetration is practically invisible to the human eye â€" the plastic bead.

The source of these small pieces of plastic, ranging from plumbing and are too small to be destroyed in the water treatment plants â€" are products of hygiene and cleaning. However, a little suspicious of these plastic microspheres are garments made with synthetic fibers.

After studying the microspheres in the coast lines in 18 different locations on the planet, the ecologist Mark Browne found that 85% of synthetic materials accumulated in these places were microfibers that corresponded to the type of materials found in synthetic clothing â€" which means our wardrobes and washing machines are two of the main culprits for the oceanic pollution.

The study of Browne â€" "Accumulation of Microplastic on Shorelines Worldwide: Sources and Sinks", published in 2011-has major implications both for the garment industry as to the conservation of the oceans. One of the main conclusions of the study is the fact that a single piece of synthetic clothing could set about 1,900 plastic microfibers every time it's washed. Taking into account the millions of synthetic clothing that are washed daily around the world is easy to imagine the scenario.

The quantity of small pieces of plastic that goes into the ocean is alarming and, as Browne suggests, "a large portion of plastic microfibers found on marine eco-systems derive from the sewers as a result of domestic laundry", cites the TreeHugger.

Part of the solution to the problem, as the ecologist advocates, must come from industry and from the brands of clothes, through the production of best synthetic textile not containing thousands of plastic microspheres.

Foto: Oliver Liria/Creative Commons

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The world's most dangerous Beach

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Maho Beach in Sint Maarten, Caribbean, the notion of relaxing is very different than other paradisiacal points on the planet. All because of the Princess Juliana International Airport, an airport glued to the beach and that makes it a perfect place for those who love airplanes â€" but surreal to everyone else.

With planes arriving five times a day, it's hard to vacationers conseguiren leave the stress behind and concentrate on a book or in baths, and that was the starting point for the following selection of pictures of Brazilian Daniel Botelho, of Rio de Janeiro, who spent a month trying to find the perfect angle for your images.

"It was a challenging job. I've been in the water with great white sharks, no cages, Nile crocodiles, giant squid, but these aircraft were really difficult to catch. They land at a speed of 300 km/h, "explained Barker to the Daily Mail.

"I needed to take tons of photos to get that little bit of gold", he continued.

Nothing splashy Green Savers readers: Sint Maarten airport was considered the ninth most dangerous in the world. See some of the pictures of Daniel Barker.

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Saturday, December 20, 2014

Lisbon Zoo will have two Iberian lynx

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The Lisbon Zoo has two new residents: a couple of Iberian lynx. The animals recently arrived at the zoo as part of a project for the conservation of species developed in partnership with the Institute for nature conservation and forestry.

Azhar, the female, is the founder of the National Center of reproduction of the Iberian lynx (CNRLI). The male, gamma, was born in 2010 in Central Reproduction de La Olivilla, in Spain, having moved in November to CNRLI. The two animals are now ambassadors from Lisbon zoo species and begin an important educational mission among the visitors.

On its website, the zoo of Lisbon explains that the arrival of the couple of animals causes the institution to have "a strategic role in the conservation plan for the species, while an essential tool of dissemination and awareness-raising among the population".

"This project takes pride in a lot and reinforces our mission: to preserve and conserve endangered species. The Iberian lynx is even more important because it is a species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, having regard to the serious risk of extinction that faces ", indicates the President of the Lisbon Zoo, Francisco Naharro Pires.

The Iberian lynx is native and endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for conservation of Nature. The survival of the species is still at risk, finding themselves in a situation of pré-extinção. It is estimated that the current number of these animals is less than 350.

Foto: manuelpenatorner/Creative Commons

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China: dogs are killed to make fur products

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The consumption of dog and cat meat in Chinese culture is nothing new, but it's not just in the kitchen that these animals are used. According to an investigation of PETA Asia, there are dogs and cats to be slaughtered and skinned for the manufacture of leather products.

The investigation of PETA filmed workers fabris mistreat and killing animals, removing later the skin of animals, writes the Inhabitat.

After treatment, the skin of animals is used to manufacture gloves, belts, animal toys and any other object that can be manufactured with skin. Subsequently, these products are exported to all over the world. PETA is to disseminate a video where is documented the entire process in such a way as to remind people about the impact of trade in meat, fur and skin of animals are sacrificed for these purposes.

Foto: Joélisa/Creative Commons

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Friday, December 19, 2014

2013 was the year with the highest levels of CO2 emissions ever

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At the very time when it is imperative to reduce CO2 emissions to avoid disastrous consequences for the planet, emissions of greenhouse gases continue to increase. 2013 set a new record: emissions were emitted 35.3 billion tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.

The data are from the European Union Joint Research Center, which released the usual annual report on emissions at the global level this Wednesday. The document is part of the emissions from fossil fuel production and industry emissions, especially from the metallurgical and cement works.

The new record of 2013 was due mainly to developing economies: the Brazil issued over 6.2%, India 4.4%, the more China 4.2% more and the Indonesia 2.3% more. The United States, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has returned to emit more pollutants after a slight stagnation in previous years. "The emissions increased by 2.5% in the United States due to a shift in energy production from gas to coal, combined with an increase in gas consumption," reads the report, cites the Motherboard.

On the bright side, as is highlighted in the document, is that the rate of increase in emissions is decreasing: "emissions have increased at a lower rate (2%) than the average in the last decade". The report observes a dissociation between the world GDP is growing even when CO2 emissions are slower. This is due to the increased bet in a service economy instead of an industrial economy.

However, this dissociation is not happening at a pace fast enough. According to the estimates made by the scientists, the planet still has approximately 1,200 giga tonnes to emit before the levels of sea water can destabilize human civilization.

Foto: nikosmchairas/Creative Commons

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World Bank launches Guide for energy efficiency for buildings and cities

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The World Bank recently launched six guides in support of the integration of energy efficiency in urban planning and local strategies. The aim is to help the cities to increase energy security, save more energy, reduce costs with gas emissions and improve the municipal services.

The guides were developed by the management assistance program (ESMAP) of the Energy Sector. The guides are set out in guidelines for the improvement of the energy performance of buildings, design and construction techniques, measures for optimisation of buildings and replacement of equipment with high energy consumption.

"Cities need to make difficult decisions at the level of the investments. Therefore, it is important to go back to the beginning and see where are the opportunities, what are the measures that offer the greatest potential for improving energy efficiency, to which sectors should be given priority and what are the barriers to implementation ", indicates Anita George, Director of Energy and Global Extractives Practice, CITES World Bank buildings and energy.

ESMAP's guides are still guidelines on integration of energy efficiency in matters of financing, acquisitions, transportation and urban planning.

Foto: tiexano/Creative Commons

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