Urban rehabilitation vista as needed and priority

Urban rehabilitation and sustainability are inextricably linked to the future of the construction industry, said Kings Fields, President of the Association of industrial construction and public works (AICCOPN).

Responsible, who spoke during the Conference the GPA "Cities for people," said that 470 thousand dwellings are overcrowded in Portugal, there is a housing for every 16 people, who are at risk of poverty, and about 260 thousand houses need urgent intervention.

According to a AICCOPN study, conducted by the Faculty of Economics of the University of Porto (FEUP) and quoted by Kings, Fields will need 38 billion to rehabilitate more than 900 thousand housing buildings that need to be repaired.

"In all, 27% of national buildings need works, with 11.4% are very degraded or require medium or large repairs. Therefore, the sum of 600 million euros, to be made available by the Government in Portugal for 2020 urban renewal, it's nothing ", considers Kings Fields.

"For a long time we lost the opportunity to rehabilitate our cities. We degrade the housing assets, "concluded the responsible, predicting that the" investment in rehabilitation will be private, but you have to be the next State of the construction industry ". "We're a long way from a Europe in which the urban renewal represents 37%", pointed out.

On the other hand, Ricardo Guimarães, the Confidential real estate, showed that the market for buying and selling is recovering the feeling of confidence, pointing to stabilisation of prices and that at lease a less dynamic in the offer, helping to stem the fall in rents.

According to Ricardo Guimarães, "Rehab is a reality in Lisbon, with 90% of the buildings and 81% of licensed fires". During the first panel discussion, the opinion was unanimous that "there is still much to do in Portugal" and the urban rehabilitation is necessary and a priority.

For Pedro Rutkowski, CEO of Worx, the "real estate asset is an excellent investment." But we must bear in mind that "rehabilitation has to be thought also outside the urban centers".

Citing a study that the Worx published market halls, Pedro Rutkowski mentioned that the student housing is a niche market with great potential, not just because of the interest it arouses in terms of development, but also due to the existence of several buildings in the country that can be adapted to the thread.

Isabel Santos, already Managing Director of Ecochoice, stated that "use resources in a rational way is today a priority across all sectors of activity and it is important to create solutions and strategies to attain sustainability in buildings and territory.

Rui also Fragoso, from the direction of Buildings of ADENE-Agency for energy, stressed that energy efficiency "can not pass alongside the urban rehabilitation". "The assets requires improvement. Is far short of the levels of efficiency that are possible to achieve and therefore needs a strong investment, being that part of the work is facilitated, since we have a good heritage registered, with knowledge of the areas in which bet, "said Rui Fragoso.

The existence of disparate realities from North to South of Portugal was one of the conclusions of the Panel "urban regeneration". "The reality of Lisbon as regards urban redevelopment is not the reality of the country. We need to learn, share experience and implement good examples from Lisbon to other areas, "concluded Salvador Ferreira da Silva, of the municipality of Ovar.

The third Conference of the GPA was sponsored by Renault and the support of Adene-Agency for energy, Breeze and green dot Corporation.

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Marine explorers find rare alien-looking creature

Although there is no shortage of bizarre ideas in the field of science fiction, in particular about the appearance of alien creatures, in the real world we still continue to amaze with the animals that are found on planet Earth.

Recently, a team of Nautilus Live expedition â€" through a remotely operated vehicle-have you encountered one of the rarest creatures and bizarre in the world: a purple sifonóforo roaming the depths of the ocean. Even though marine explorers with experience, the team of Nautilus was amazed to find such a creature, since it is rarely sighted.

Although at first glance the animal looks like a jellyfish, is actually a colony of zooids, which can be several Lynch syndrome or medusoides and that are morphologically and functionally specialized, referred to the Dodo.

In addition to the strange shapes that this animal can assume the unusual purple color of this specimen makes it even more bizarre.

The species of sifonóforo best known is the caravela-portuguesa, which is also one of the most dangerous and often is confused on the beaches with jellyfish.

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Scientists create stem cells for CO2 capture and conversion of solar energy fed

A team of scientists at Princeton University in the United States, in partnership with a starup in New Jersey, the Liquid Light Inc, created an electromechanical cell capable of transforming a combination of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water in formic acid, using solar energy to a local supplier of electricity.

These cells used to convert CO2 are made of channels that contain liquid, which in turn is surrounded by metal plates the size of rectangular Lunchbox, and are constructed from parts of easy attainment.

The researchers used a process called matching impedance to balance the power generated by the solar panel with the amount of energy that the cell could deal, in order to create an optimal efficiency for the system.

Such a process has an energy efficiency of 2% through the superimposition of three cells together â€" totaling twice the efficiency of natural photosynthesis and the best energy efficiency of a device created by man. The process is similar to artificial photosynthesis system developed by Panasonic, but with a 10 times greater efficiency, referred to Inhabitat.

The product of the process, the formic acid is found naturally in the Ant poison and is currently used as a preservative, antibacterial agent for animal feed and for the production of a salt used to thaw the runways of airports. In addition, the formic acid also has the potential to store energy inside the fuel cells that produce.

Foto: Juan Antonio Capó / Creative Commons

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Giant salamanders travel around Kyoto with police escort

When a Japanese giant salamander decided to take a walk by the river earlier this month, was far from imagine that would end a privilege usually reserved for important people â€" a police escort.

Taking into account the preference of this species of salamander for cold areas and nocturnal habits, these animals are rarely seen and much less during the day to take a walk by the river. As such, the ride of this salamander alarmed some residents of Kyoto, which ended up calling the police.

The Japanese giant salamander is a species endemic to Japan and is the second largest salamander in the world, with about 1.5 meters, after Chinese giant salamander. This animal inhabits freshwater courses usually chain. Is a species and aquatic venues. Unlike other salamanders, which lose their gills at the beginning of life, the Japanese giant salamander just raises his head out of the water for air, without venturing out of the water and go ashore.

Due to its characteristics and size, the sighting of the animal by residents was cause for alarm. When he received the first calls, Quito police thought it was a joke. "Not only are rarely seen on land, as if you leave out of water is usually at night. As such, view a on the side of the road to enjoy a sun bath is very rare, "said the police spokesman in Kyoto, Fuyuki Fujino, cites the Dodo.

After arrival at the scene, the police escort was watching the animal, to ensure that no one disturbed him nor the animal feria nobody.

When threatened, these salamanders emit a milky substance through the skin, with a rather strong scent, reminiscent of Japanese pepper. If you live in freedom, this species can reach 80 years. The Japanese giant salamander is a survivor of the late Jurassic Period, about 140 million years ago.

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Inhabitants of Boston will be able to charge gadgets smart banks with solar energy

There are smart phones, smart watches, smart homes and intelligent banks soon â€" at least for those who live in Boston, in the United States. A new initiative in this American city wants to implement Soofas-solar energy fed banks which not only allow load technological devices such as monitor air quality and the sound levels â€" in several parks in a pilot program which is funded by Cisco.

Banks, also called "smart urban furniture", were developed by Changing Enrironments, a spinoff company from the MIT Media Lab, and are able to carry electronic devices via two USB ports, thanks to solar panels installed and an energy accumulator.

At the same time they carry cell phones and allow updates from social networks, these smart banks also collect environmental data on air quality and noise levels in the vicinity, sending the data to a map that is online, referred to the Tree Hugger.

Besides the possibility of carrying electronic devices and aggregate environmental data, these banks can still serve to realize solar people that aren't exposed often to these themes, to the viability of renewable energy and other environmental initiatives.

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Culturgest receives Conference "Cities for people"

The Green Project Awards (GPA) performs tomorrow a conference devoted to the theme of "Cities for people". The initiative will take place in Culturgest in Lisbon, and will be chaired by the Secretary of State for spatial planning and nature conservation, Miguel Castro Neto.

The Conference will consist of two panels of debate. The first panel dedicated to the theme of urban regeneration will count with Ricardo Guimarães, will participate in the Confidential real estate, Rui Fragoso, of Adene-Agency for energy, Kings, of the Association of Industrial Fields of Civil construction and public works, Salvador Malheiro Ferreira da Silva, of the municipality of Ovar, Isabel Santos, the Ecochoice, and Pedro Rutkowski, the real estate consultant Worx.

In the second panel discussion on the theme of Sustainable Mobility will intervene Luis Reis, Portuguese electric vehicle Association, Mário Alves, consultant in mobility, Paulo Rodrigues, João Dias, Abimota's of EMEL, Xavier Martinet, the Renault Portugal, Luís Paulo, CTT, and Rui Vasques, creator of the Eco-Village Community. Between the two panels there will also be a space for reflection on the theme "Sustainable Mobility: the challenges of an integrated approach", to be addressed by Franco Caruso, the breeze. See the program here.

During this Conference, participants will have the opportunity to participate in "Electric Renault Experience". Between the 8:30 and the 04:00 pm, Renault Portugal will be at Culturgest with ZOE and the TWIZY, symbols of a new era, to get to know more about these electric vehicles. Join the Conference and schedule your test drive here.

The Conference "Cities for people" has the sponsorship of Renault and ADENE support, Breeze and SPV.

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Boom Festival: more than 80% of the building materials are reused

Between 4 and 11 August, the Herdade da Granja, in Idanha-a-Nova will receive another edition of the Boom Festival, which is held every two years, by the time of the full moon. Awarded and recognized for its ecological component, this year's event will be similar to previous editions with regard to sustainability.

More than 80% of the materials that the Organization will use in the construction of the festival, which extends over an area of 150 hectares of land, are reused or natural origin. In total, there are more than 15 thousand tons of wood, 50 thousand tons of plastic and 600 tons of recycled metal that will be used in the construction of the facilities and structures. Most materials is reused from previous editions of Boom or courtesy of other festivals like Rock in Rio.

The reuse of these materials allowed prevent 2012 Edition of the festival were sent 315 tons of garbage to landfills, the corresponding to 800 tons of carbon dioxide, refers to the Organization in a statement.

Throughout the various editions, the organisation has been to use sustainable energy resources, water treatment systems, the reuse of building materials, regenerating habitats and ecosystems, promote recycling and composting, as well as public transport and car-sharing and implement composting toilets.

"With the aim of sharing a concrete example of the fun and sustainability can coexist in a festival, and bearing in mind that the construction industry is responsible for 25% of CO2 emissions, the Boom Festival opts for alternative methods such as bio-construção, minimizing the use of materials that require a great deal of energy in its manufacture or transport", reads the statement. In this way, the event draws on natural products, such as straw bales, Earth, wood, bamboo, reeds and stones to build the enclosure.

In 2012, the Boom Festival recycle about nine tons of trash and the organization expects to surpass this value at this year.

The Boom has been distinguished by its ecological component and has already received awards as "Outstanding Greener Festival" and the "Green 'n' Clean Festival of the Year" in 2010, and even the "Green Inspiration", in 2012.

Foto: yvette Soler / Creative Commons

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Solved mystery of matter out of black holes supermaciços

One of the oldest mysteries about the dynamics of black holes supermaciços, and their impacts on galactic evolution, was revealed by an international team of astrophysicists.

Through the ESO Very Large Technical (VLT), located in the Atacama desert, in northern Chile, researchers from the United Kingdom, Netherlands and United States have studied the nucleus of a nearby galaxy of the milky way with great detail. The Galaxy, called IC5063, has a black hole supermaciço which seems to have central jets of fast exit of molecular hydrogen. The IC5063 is a very active Seyfert Galaxy with bright core.

Many active galactic nuclei were observed with these jets of hydrogen and, once the molecular hydrogen is key to the formation of stars, astronomers have concluded that his ejection has impacts on star formation and, as such, in galactic evolution.

Supermaciços black holes are the largest type of black hole, with solar masses in the hundreds of thousands of millions. It is believed that all, or almost all, of the galaxies have a supermaciço black hole at its Center. Thus, the activity of these super black holes can control the amount of gas supplied to the regions of star formation.

But how is that black holes propel this hydrogen thousands of miles per hour? Until now, scientists have not realized how was the process. On the basis of the comments made by the VLT, astrophysicists found that the output of hydrogen is propelled by jets of relativistic electrons, which are ejected from the dynamic environment of the black hole. Whenever highly energetic electrons pass through the clouds of molecular hydrogen, the gas is transported out of the Galaxy, serving of food to the nurseries of stars.

"Much of the gas that comes out is in the form of molecular hydrogen, which is fragile in the sense that it can be destroyed with relatively low energies," says Clive Tadhunter, University of Sheffield, who led the research, cites the Discovery News.  "It is extraordinary that the molecular gas can survive the acceleration of electron jets that move at speeds close to the light", indicates the astrophysicist.

The research was published in Nature and provides a little clue of what may happen to the milky way when it collides with the nearby Andromeda, in five billion years. The merger of the two galaxies will inject material into the Centre of black holes supermaciços, giving rise to powerful jets of molecular hydrogen. When this occurs, the matter for the formation of new stars will occur by changing the evolutionary result of the milky way.

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Ex-spy station is a new hotel in the middle of the Arctic

Some people like to spend their holidays in tropical climates and warm. Others prefer colder locations or even snow and locations more coy. For the latter there is a new retreat halfway of the Arctic â€" the Isfjord Radio.

This hotel is located in the Svalbard archipelago, which belongs to Norway, located between the Mainland and the North Pole. During the cold war, the building of the Isfjord Radio was a spy station and an important center of telecommunications between the archipelago the continent.

The only way to reach the place is by snowmobile or dogsled, during the winter, or by boat through ice fjord-a trip of a few hours where you can see Arctic birds, walruses and even whales. Visit the hotel during April and August you can experience the midnight sun, since the Sun during the day 12:0 am is also sometimes possible to see polar bears, although it is rare. It is estimated that 3,000 live polar bears in Svalbard, referred to the Daily Mail.

The hotel can accommodate 49 people and has 23 rooms available and even your own wine. The Isfjord Radio is open between the beginning of February and the end of September, with prices ranging from € 234 and €288 per person with dinner and breakfast included.

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USA: plastic Microspheres can be banned from personal care products until 2018

Last month, Congressman Frank Pallone proposed a new legislation in the House of representatives of the United States that could end the sale and products containing plastic microspheres in the country until 2018. The microspheres are small plastic pieces used as exfoliants on a wide range of beauty products and toiletries, including SOAP, toothpaste and facial creams.

The microspheres are too small to be properly separated from the wastewater treatment stations. As such, these little pieces of plastic ends up in rivers, lakes and oceans. Additionally, this form of pollution through the plastic is extremely difficult to remove and can be ingested by fish and other animals.

"We have a responsibility to put an end to this unnecessary plastic pollution," Pallone said in a statement, quoted by the Tree Hugger. "The fasearmos the extinction of these plastic microspheres and use no synthetic alternatives can protect the waters of the United States before it's too late".

Most are plastic microspheres of petroleum origin, such as polyethylene and polypropylene. However, there are many biodegradable alternatives already used by producers of cosmetics, including sea salts or almonds.

Photo: Markus Eriksen/Tree hugger

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The solution for a cheaper energy

New discoveries within the silicon solar cell design allowed the three companies break the record for energy efficiency, established 20 years ago. During the Conference, IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists in Denver, Panasonic, Sharp and SunPower presented new photovoltaic cells that exceeded the old barriers to efficiency. It is expected that this increase will enable the solar energy efficiency compete commercially with fossil fuels.

Traditional silicon solar cells have the positive poles in contact with the surface of the Panel, which actually creates shadows on the surface, reducing the efficiency of the unit as a whole. When transferring the poles for the reverse side of the Panel, where are the negative poles, the efficiency is increased. The discovery was fair by SunPower.

Another improvement was introduced by Panasonic. Most of the Silicon cells, the electrons become trapped by the superficial imperfections of joints of crystalline silicon cells. To avoid this the Panasonic added thin film of silicon to the verses of the cells. This new improvement allows to achieve an efficiency rate of 25.6%, as the new design of SunPower untrapassou the barrier of 25%, referred to Inhabitat. Despite the theoretical level advances don't look sizable, at a practical level the amount of energy produced is much better.

New advances are not yet ready to be produced commercially, but open doors for new advances in this field, horizon reduce the ultimate cost to the consumer.

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Hotel de Londres has an Apiary for 300 thousand special guests

The St Ermin's Hotel, in James Park, London, created his own Apiary, which houses more than 300 thousand bees. Located on the third floor balcony, space is the first of its kind in the city and the hotel already has an entire wall devoted to insects.

Designed by expert and bee Wrangler Camilla Goddard, the hotel offers accommodation in the form of suites purple hex, a wide variety of species of bees visitors. The Apiary is still a colony of buckfast bees â€" a species created by humans in the early 20th century, at Buckfast Abbey, England, to combat a disease that was decimating bee colonies locations.

The hotel also offers special spaces for other beneficial insects, like the terrestrial isopods, ladybugs, spiders and Earwigs.

"The bees are facing a massive decline and facing great challenges today, including the reduction of natural forage, as wildflower meadows. I want to encourage people to help create more forage for bees, "said Camilla Goddard to the British press.

Additionally, the beekeeper hotel guests still teaches how to collect honey and take care of bees and will guide future workshops on the treatment of bees at St Ermin's Hotel. The honey produced by bees visitors is collected and marketed under the brand name of the hotel.

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Smile delivery mission 60 thousand toys to social institutions

The campaign to collect toys from Smile Mission led to the donation of 60 thousand toys to needy children, 30 thousand of these delivered by customers and other 30 thousand across the continent.

In recent times, the Portuguese were invited to donate used toys, since they were in perfect conditions of use, and for every toy delivered, the Mainland would donate a new toy to a Bank of donated goods.

The toys were handed out in stores a continent, online shop and Zippy around the country and are to be distributed to children of needy families.

"Once again, the Portuguese joined with enthusiasm to a campaign of social solidarity, this time designed to encourage sharing of children who donated their toys to disadvantaged children, supported by social institutions in your area. Foster the participation of solidarity was the proposal that the mission Smile and the Bank of donated goods have launched and the result shows the generosity of children when they are asked to contribute. "said Isabel Jonet, Bank of donated goods.

Foto: mac_filko / Creative Commons

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New platform for research and help promote cycling in Portugal

Aveiro is the headquarters of a body that is intended to help the economic actors and the public administration to develop innovative projects around the bike and sustainable mobility. The bike technologic platform and Smooth mobility has the seal of the University of Aveiro (UA).

The new platform involves 30 researchers at the UA-related to diverse areas of study â€" and intends to be much more than "a new body to do applied research", underlines José Carlos Mota, one of the researchers who coordinates the platform.

According to the public, the new platform has a number of partners outside the Academy, such as the National Association of industries of two wheels, hardware, furniture and the like (ABIMOTA) and Federação Portuguesa de Ciclismo.

"The objective [of this platform] also help the economic actors and the public administration to develop innovative projects in this area, and to create conditions so that the bike is used increasingly in the movements of citizens," adds the Aveiro University faculty member. And, equally or more important than all of this, "it is intended to help economic operators to create new products and services, which also create jobs", underlines José Carlos Mota.

At birth in a region which also gives conspicuous by the fact that host a large number of national sector industries of two wheels, this body also wants to solve the "difficulty of dialogue that often exists between the actors in the public sector and the private agents". "It is necessary to coordinate efforts among the various actors", highlights the investigator of the AU.

More than 3.9 percent of the city's inhabitants are regularly bike, when the national average is 0.5 percent. The data compiled by the National Institute of statistics (INE) indicate that more than half of the population of this region has a bike at home (bycicles 535 per thousand inhabitants).

It is recalled that the topic of bicycle and bicycle mobility is taking a growing interest in the national policy agenda â€" the Government published the Bicycle promotion plan and Other Soft Modes 2013-2020-, beside that there are encouraging data that arise.

"In 2012, sold in Portugal more bicycles than cars", José Carlos Mota, reveals the purpose of numbers that leave no room for doubt: that year, 350,000 were marketed bicycles, against the 113,408 automobiles sold. More still: "the Portuguese industry is in the ' top ' of the European production of bicycles and accessories", vinca the investigator.

Foto:  quinnums / Creative Commons

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Students transform electrical Tower in colorful stained glass window

German art students converted a nearby electrical Tower Hattigen in a colorful stained-glass Windows. The work, Letchtturm (lighthouse, in German), is a species of Lighthouse, whose glasses reflect sunlight and make the Tower sparkle, spreading a variety of colors for the green landscape.

In this way, the project of Ail Hwang, Hae-Jeong and Ryan Ching-Ki Park became an austere structure into a work of art with usefulness, referred to Inhabitat.

The towers of electricity are the family structures around the globe, dotting the landscape with endless rows connected by wires that bring electricity to villages and cities. These metal structures are neglected or ignored, merging with the background landscape.

However, this Hattigen electric Tower is located in a idyllic portion of land in a forest Glade with a meadow on the edge of a small lake, where a cycling trail.

Equipped with colorful glass triangles now that make up the stained glass, the Tower attracts the attention of who passes through the site.

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Paperboy: wine in cartons saves 67% in energy

The glass has many advantages, not the least of which is how it can recycle without losing quality, but an American company, the Paperboy, is trying to enter the market of packaging of wine with an innovation: wine stored per card.

According to Business Week, these bottles are 80% lighter than glass bottles and thus save fuel in transportation and avoid unnecessary CO2 emissions.

The Paperboy asserts that the wine is placed in a package of bottle-shaped card and that is compostable. Innovation is here: this is a real bottle and a box, which should leave happy every wine merchants who cherish the aesthetics â€" and the value of your product.

The Business Week claims that the packaging is primarily made from waste paper, which in addition to being lighter than glass, as already admitted, it does have other positive impacts. This package, for example, it is difficult to leave-Unlike so many other of glass that, day after day, spread the nectar on the floor of the supermarkets, by stores or distribution trucks.

Follow Paperboy not Facebook.

According to the manufacturer of wine Truett Hurst, cited by Business Week, a single truck of wine with the innovation of the Paperboy can save 230 liters of diesel and avoid sending 619 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Paper bottles need less energy to be made â€" 67% less energy, to be accurate. And this is an excellent news for everyone â€" the wine industry, environment and consumers.

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Astronaut photograph super Typhoon that devastates Japanese coast to 250 km/h

"This super typhoon is huge. Careful, Japan ". That's how the German astronaut Alexander Gerst react to photographs he took himself of Neoguri, the Typhoon that is ravaging the Japanese Coast with winds of 250 km/h.

In this range the Japanese region, near the islands of Okinawa and Kyushu, airports remained closed, as well as citizens forced to leave lower and coastal areas.

The storm is so large that it could not even be captured in a single image. "The super Typhoon Neoguri no longer fits in our lens. I've never seen anything like this, "said Gerst, quoted by the press.

The Neoguri left 63 thousand homes without electricity in Kyushu, leaving 28 people injured. The next destination, on Thursday, already is Honshu.

The storm began with winds of 25 mph, but quickly came to 126 kph, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

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Scientists discover largest bird ever flew

The fossilized remains of the biggest bird ever flew were discovered in 1983 in Charleston, South Carolina, but now scientists came to a conclusion: the pelagomis sandersi, who walked the planet Earth for 25 million years ago, was the largest bird ever flew.

With a magnitude of 6.4 metres, this bird's wings had twice the size of the wings of the largest flying birds today, including the albatross, with 3.5 meters long. In theory, this bird's wings were big enough to defend a football goal, from a pole to the other.

The pelagornis sandersi was extremely fast and flying at a speed of 17 meters per second. Had sharp pseudo-dentes, used to cut their prey, and could fly to distant destinations without losing altitude, according to Mashable.

"This raises the limit of what we believe the birds can be," said the author of the study, published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Daniel Ksepka.

Ksepka, science curator and palaeontologist of the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, United States, also said that this is a very important step to realize the evolution of birds. The study of this species, however, is still at the beginning â€" among many other issues, it is still necessary to figure out how this bird could move with such grace.

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10 foods that speed up metabolism

Who does not know people who eat a lot and are lean and others that, despite all the care, diet cannot stop the hands of scale? Metabolism can be the hero or the villain of diet, according to work faster or slower. And if yours is slow, do not despair, because it can give you a push with the help of some foods. Learn about the foods that, according to my Well-being, increase metabolism.

1. extra virgin olive oil

Despite being a type of fat, we know that this type of olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and in terms of oleic acid, an omega-9 from the olives.

Is considered a metabolic activator, mainly due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and help control blood lipid values.

2. Water

A good hydration keeps the assets necessary physiological mechanisms so that the metabolism is running at 100%. Water is required to maintain the functioning of enzymes in ideal conditions and the appropriate temperatures. Drinking water is a natural form of hydration and to maintain active metabolism.

3. it started with a

Algae such as kelp, fucus, wakame, nori, and Spirulina are rich in iodine, a mineral necessary for the proper functioning of the thyroid, a gland that plays a key role in metabolism.

At the same time contain a good amount of mucilage, a soluble fiber, which helps in the control of appetite. Have a good supply of iron, calcium, phosphorus, vitamins A and B and are quite rich in chlorophyll, a Green pigment in plants natural activation of enzymes involved in the production of energy, which will help you to train harder and better.

4. Garlic

Its flavor and intense odor provide a clue that is a metabolic Activator. The nutrient-rich content in sue sulfur helps produce some amino acids such as methionine and cysteine, which are important to gain muscle mass. Additionally, in addition to all its medicinal properties, derived largely from the allicin content, promotes the increase in body temperature, which is an indicator of metabolic activation.

5. Broccoli

Broccoli are holders of numerous beneficial properties for the metabolism. Are rich in minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron and calcium, the latter with a good capacity of absorption by the body. And are rich in a substance that also favors the hormonal control, important in the synthesis of muscle mass as in fat burning.

6. Cocoa

The raw material for chocolate, namely cocoa, is also a potent activator and metabolic stimulant. Your seed is rich in fiber, magnesium and substances that activate the energy, similar to caffeine, and theobromine.

7 cinnamon

Replace the use of cinnamon sugar and you will see that you will get a sweet flavour, but also promotes a better control of blood sugar levels, avoiding the peaks of hunger. Cinnamon contains properties that increase insulin sensitivity, particularly in diabetes type 2, and energy metabolism.

8. Ginger

This Asian root with spicy aroma allows you to increase the speed of your metabolism up to 5%, generating body heat. Is holder of numerous medicinal properties, assisting in preventing colds, flus and infections.

 9. Mirtilos

Are one of the wild fruits with higher amount of antioxidants. Its bluish-purple color is due to the high content in anthocyanins, a substance with numerous preventive effects of diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, urinary infections, cancer, among others. Helps the metabolic system to be active and promotes the effect you want.

10. fish and shellfish

Your content in protein and Omega-3 fatty acids causes are great foods to maintain active metabolism. Also provide good intake of iodine, important for the proper functioning of the thyroid. The fatty fish contain optimal levels of anti-inflammatory fats still Omega-3, which help care for muscle and joint tissues, to avoid certain injuries.

The clams hold large amount of iron, a mineral essential for red blood cells to transport oxygen to the tissues. When more muscles are oxygenated, better work and more fat burning.

On the other hand, the white fish are a lean protein easily digestible, great when you want to make a light meal for dinner.

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Copenhagen: bike utilization rate rose from 36% to 41% in just one year

In just one year â€" from 2012 to 2013 â€" the utilization rate of the bike as means of transport in Copenhagen, Denmark, increased by 5%. After years of stability in the rate of use of the vehicle, there has been an increase of 36% to 41%, in what is one of the cities with the highest rate of use of the bicycle as a means of locomotion.

But what caused this significant increase, even for a city where the bike is already widely used? Is not fully proven, but the most obvious evidence for this increase of 5% is the construction of a new subway in the city, whose works are held in 17 different locations and were driving within the city a Herculean task, referred to the Tree Hugger.

As such, the Danes chose to use the bike, since the 17 points of construction have abolished much of the road space for cars. It is expected that when the construction of the new subway is complete, the utilization rate of the bike back down, but at least the inhabitants of Copenhagen will have a new meter, that can be used as an alternative to the car.

Foto:  moonhouse / Creative Commons

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The "most Portuguese village of Portugal" is built in the middle of giant boulders

Located in Beira Baixa, in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, near the border with Spain, Monsanto is the most Portuguese village of Portugal, where the homes merge with granitic formations.

The human presence on this site dates back to the Paleolithic period and archaeological finds indicate that Monsanto was inhabited by the Romans, Visigoths and Arabs. In 1165, the Moors were defeated by d. Afonso Henriques and the place of Monsanto was donated to the Knights Templar. In 1174, received the first Charter.

Monsanto could be like any other Portuguese village, hadn't been built under large granite formations. In the early days of the village, the inhabitants did not know or had means to cut rock and as such were the houses and streets that have adapted to the site and not the other way around. Many of the houses still retain Monsanto porticos in Manueline style, dating from the late 16th century, referred to in Inhabitat.

Monsanto is a living example of how people have adapted to preserve the integrity of the site for centuries.

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Science4you challenges college students to develop prototypes of educational toys

The Science4you, Portuguese company dedicated to the production, development and marketing of educational toys, in partnership with the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, has just launched a contest for the public University designated "you teach!", through which challenges students of this level of education to make prototypes of toys related to sustainable development.

The initiative "will you teach!" is inserted in the draft Sustainable Europe Project, an initiative of the European Commission, promoted by the Jacques Delors European information centre under the Management Partnership established between the Portuguese Government and the European Commission.

"The competition is aimed at students of higher education across the country, from all areas of education, who are attending any academic year. Each team must be composed of three elements, "explains the Science4you said in a statement.

College students should develop a prototype of an educational toy that, apart from innovative, should integrate the theme of sustainable development.

The inscription of staff can be made here. The prototypes can already undergoing Science4you until 31 August. The five best works were entitled to participate in the National Final, which will be held in September, at Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa.

The elements of the winning team will receive an InterRail through Europe with a duration of 15 days.

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Giraffe gives birth on zoo under the watchful eye of father

After 15 long months of pregnancy, a giraffe from a Dutch Zoo has given birth to a new creates â€" and all under the watchful eye of a concerned parent.

Once the giraffe is the tallest animal that inhabits the Earth, the newborn has fallen from a height of about 2 metres during birth. However, the small giraffe survived the crash with no major scratches, just confused. The birth occurred at GaiaZoo in Kerkrade, the Netherlands.

A giraffe's pregnancy lasts between 400 to 460 days. Usually, born only a Cub at a time, although I have been registered pregnancies of twins. Normally, the small giraffes are born with 1.8 meters. Most giraffes can run a few hours after birth.

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England: families forced to live alongside garbage mountain

The residents of Cornwall Drive in St Paul's Cray, Brombley, near London, are forced to live next to a mountain of garbage for three years. The pile of trash is located down the street and reaches more than 12 feet tall and more than 18 meters wide â€" piling up a total of 18,000 tons of garbage.

During the summer, residents are prevented from enjoying their gardens or open the Windows to ventilate the House due to the unbearable smell that emanates from the mountain of garbage. The houses on the street have already lost business value, and the residents fear for their health and for their children.

Residents accuse the company that manages the location of fails to deliver payments to that trash can be sent for treatment or for recycling. "It's a nightmare. The dust, the trucks and their noises. The smell is sometimes nauseating, like burning plastic. Sometimes enters into the House. I've been sick several times because of it, "says Alan Cowburn, a resident of the street.

Currently, the case is in court, but still nothing has been decided about the future of the mountain of garbage.

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The fish have feelings too

Fish are the most common pet and, currently, are more sought after as food than meat. For years it was argued â€" in particular the scientific community â€" that the fish do not feel pain the same way as mammals, do not possess physical structures to do so.

However, a new study comes to disprove this theory. The investigation, conducted by Culum Brown of Macquarie University in Sydney, concluded that the fish not only feel pain the same way as mammals are also capable of relatively complex social interactions.

"A review of the evidence for the perception of pain indicates strongly that fish experience pain in a manner similar to the rest of the vertebrates," said the study, quoted by Dodo. "If we look at the fishes ' pain receptors is striking similarities with the same human receptors on pain receptors in all vertebrates are derived from a common ancestor to the fish," says the study.

The review also cites scientific studies that reveal complex cognitive capacity in fish: since long-term memories, traditions rooted, cooperation with other animals and the use of tools. Fish can recognize other animals of the same species and some researchers argue that the fish if they can recognize themselves.

Foto:  dbnunley / Creative Commons

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Marine pollution causes damage of €9,5 billion per year

Marine pollution caused by plastic particles dispersed in the oceans represents a financial loss of €9,5 billion per year ($ 28.6 billion), according to the document Valuing plastic, presented during the historic United Nations Environment Meeting.

The document covers marine pollution by plastics, above all the microplásticos were, and is more a warning about the dangerous plastic waste that sail by ocean currents and form islands floating in the oceans.

The study points out that the cost of natural capital in the use of plastic, each year is €55 billion ($ 165 billion). This account includes the impacts caused by the pollution of the seas, sea and other sources.

"The plastic plays a crucial role in modern life, but its environmental impacts cannot be ignored," explained or under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive director, Achim Steiner.

In addition to the financial losses, there are several other damage caused by plastic waste: death or diseases of marine animals, like turtles, damage to critical habitats, such as coral reefs, chemical contamination, dispersal of invasive species in plastic fragments, which causes losses to the fishing industry and tourism. Finally, there are several reports of animals that get stuck in the plastic, like whales and dolphins.

Read the full report of the study on Unep's website (opens PDF).

Foto: DanCentury / Creative Commons

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Italian police released images of the interior of the Costa Concordia

The January 13, 2012, the Italian coast suffered one of the most severe attacks on its sustainability: the sinking of the Costa Concordia, a cruise ship that sank off the island of Giglio, Tuscany.

In the disaster, 32 of the 4,200 passengers eventually died, and the ship turned out to be, until today, in the waters of Giglio. Now, at a time that the ship will be sent finally to Genoa, to be dismantled and sold, the Italian police have released some images of the interior of the infrastructure.

The images are creepy and show what's left â€" that's too-luxurious ship: furniture, various possessions, books, papers, clothes, flowers, vases, shops and cafés.

The last 30 stabilization devices were placed today and the ship will be ready for the five-day trip to Genoa. A journey that, incidentally, is being heavily criticized by organizations such as Greenpeace, which allege that she is dangerous. "Drag the ship to Genoa are five days at sea. Environmental risks are huge, since there are dangerous fluids that can be released. And the structure itself may collapse, "explains Luca Lacoboni, Greenpeace Italy.

"We cannot allow another disaster and there is closer to ports, which can be accessed with less risk," he concluded.

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New Riverside Park of Póvoa de Santa Iria was built with recycled materials

Since July of 2013 that the Póvoa de Santa Iria, Vila Franca de Xira, has two new urban parks: the urban park of Póvoa de Santa Iria and the Linear Park Tagus estuary Riverside.

Linear Riverside Park of Tejo estuary stretches for about 70 hectares and integrates the call fishermen area, providing space for leisure activities, picnic area, sports area, environmental interpretation Center and landscape, solarium and cafeteria trays. The construction of the Park allowed to rehabilitate an old industrial zone of sand deposits.

The construction of the area, which also has several footpaths and cycle tracks, was the responsibility of the atelier Topiaris and the atelier Architecture diffuser, which used recycled pallets and old tires to build some of the spaces. At night, the space is lit with electricity generated completely from photovoltaic panels that were installed in the Park, referred to in Inhabitat.

This work on the Riverfront of the Póvoa de Santa iria represented a public investment of €6,5 million and in addition to allow the refurbishment of a degraded area of the city allowed to re-establish the link with the river Tagus.

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City +: the event that joint citizenship, environment and sustainability at the port

Between 7 and 13 July the city of Porto will be the stage of the CITY +, an event that seeks to "celebrate the citizenship, the environment and sustainability in the urban context". The event is divided into two parts, with the first, the Warm-up, elapses between 7 and 9 July in various locations the city iconic.

The objective of this first phase of the event is to revive and disseminate these city spaces and promote sustainable projects and initiatives that exist in the city. The second part of the CITY + takes place exclusively at the Crystal Palace and concentrates a broad range of activities between 10 and 13 July.

Among the various activities scheduled there are conferences, workshops, working sessions, open lessons, shows, corporate square, and networking. All activities are free entry. The CITY is organized in a partnership between + the Câmara Municipal do Porto, Porto Lazer, Root port and Bio Ruma.

Foto:  dabrantes / Creative Commons

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Salt tofu can make solar panels more safe and cheap

Solar panels are a device that generates renewable solar energy without carbon dioxide emissions. However, the manufacturing process of the panels is not as sustainable as the function they perform, for use in his composition toxic materials that harm the planet and human health, especially the cadmium chloride, which is used to improve the efficiency of solar cells but which is quite toxic.

However, researchers at the University of Liverpool believe they have found a replacement for cadmium chloride which is much safer: a salt that is used to make tofu, magnesium chloride.

This chemical compound is a common salt which is also used in bath salts and to remove the ice from the roads â€" and who now might have another application. The magnesium chloride is extracted from seawater and is fairly cheap and secure than cadmium chloride â€" €0,0007 per gram, compared with €0,2 per gram of cadmium chloride.

Millions of solar panels throughout the world have cadmium chloride in their composition, since the compound helps the efficiency of solar cells. According to the University of Liverpool, cheaper solar cells on the market are based on a thin film of insoluble cadmium telluride. Only with this compound, the solar cells are able to convert less than 2% of the solar energy into electricity, but in the presence of cadmium chloride efficiency increases to 15%.

According to Jon Major, principal investigator and physically, the application of magnesium chloride allows the same efficiency of the cells but with a greater degree of security and makes the manufacture of cheaper panels. "We have to handle the cadmium chloride in a laboratory hood, but we created solar cells using a new method that can be accomplished under the laboratory bench with a spray gun purchased at a drugstore," explains the researcher, quoted by Tree Hugger. "Cadmium chloride is toxic and expensive, and stopped using it. Replace it with a natural compound may enable big savings to renewables industry ", indicates.

Many other researchers are also finding more natural and safe alternatives to produce solar cells, such as biodegradable plastics and wood fibers. So in short, the solar panels can be as clean as the energy they generate.

Foto: haley. s / Creative Commons

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Entrepreneur creates morels in the caves de Mira de Aire (with video)

With 11 kilometres of underground galleries, the Mira de Aire caves are the largest in the country and are part of the natural wonders of our "rectangle". What few know is that these underground galleries are the workplace of João Vieira, an entrepreneur who produces mushrooms here.

Unemployed since the closure of the youth Paused to Leiria, João took a old dream and found a natural greenhouse in the caves. "The caves protect high and low temperatures. It's like a greenhouse with an efficient irrigation system ", explains João Vieira to the green economy.

The Grotto serves as protection against insects, and even the 80% humidity helps the mushrooms to grow. "It's a ecosustentável production and we have many examples of good dimensions," continued João Vieira.

The entrepreneur currently has about a dozen species of mushrooms, but new experience are made every week. For now, João Vieira reaps 500 grams of mushrooms per day, which are used in the restaurant of the caves. The idea is to expand the production and start selling the mushrooms caves and other establishments in the area.

To tourists hungry for information about the mushrooms was created an interpretation centre, still in the early stages. Another point of interest to a few caves that receive 100 thousand visitors per year.

Photo: Lawrence Thomas/Creative Commons

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Climate change: Emperor penguins at risk of extinction

The total population of Emperor penguins of Antarctica can reduce about one-third by the end of the century due to melting of the ice caps, putting the species at risk of extinction, a new study reveals.

"The population is decreasing. Unless something changes to prevent this, the population goes extinct, "said Hal Caswell, a researcher at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and one of the study authors, quotes the Guardian.

As a top predator in the Antarctic, the greatest threat to the survival of the emperor penguins stems from the lack of territory, as global warming melts the ice, which is essential to the species. The loss of sea ice reduces the amount of krill, small shrimp-like crustaceans that are the main source of food for the penguins.

Changes in the nearby ice of Antarctica can, in the short term, boost the increase of some populations of penguins. The ice it gives off the Mainland is increasing, which offers more territory to animals. However, by 2100 the Emperor Penguin colonies 45 known should decrease due to the loss of territory, when global warming does not preserve the icebergs that slough off the continent.

Foto:  Christopher.Michel / Creative Commons

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The American teenager who's shocked animal lovers

Kendall Jones, a 19-year-old American, is the shock the community of animal lovers â€" and not only! â€" with your photos along with hippos, elephants, leopards, zebras, Lions or Tigers ... all hunted for African safaris.

Jones, who puts all these photos on Facebook, explained that these photos are proof of their hunting qualities and, oddly, "dedication to conservation". "Control the male population of Lions is important in large areas such as these. The financing of these hunts are for the Government but also to the owner of the property, as an incentive for him to create lions, "explains Jones.

When the young page on Facebook became known to the public, was launched a petition for his own Facebook to remove â€" in just a week, the petition has gathered 40 thousand signatures.

"For the sake of animals, especially those in the African region, where the hunters just for fun to kill an animal", can be read in the petition.

In one of the photos, in which Jones is beside a rhino facing extinction, the young claims that the animal was not killed. "The vet take blood, DNA samples, measured the head and a leg wound. I'm a lucky girl to be part of this great program and help the population of white rhino, "he explained.

A second petition, originating in South Africa, wants to ban Jones from entering the Mainland. See some of the photos, which may shock â€" and, if you find these shocking photos, sign petitions.

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New underwater world discovered in the Pitcairn Islands

An expedition has revealed a unique marine ecosystem in the waters of the Pitcairn Islands, British territory in the Pacific Ocean. The Islands are one of the most remote locations on the planet, thousands of miles from any continent and, so far, the Islands were able to escape the pollution and overfishing that decimates various marine ecosystems around the world.

The Islands are inhabited only by 53 people, most descended from mutineers 18th century sailors. Was the isolation of the territory which attracted the Pristine Seas expedition of National Geographic to the site.

"The isolation means that the Islands have been preserved the most possible crystalline," says the leader of the expedition Enric Sala, the Guardian. "As soon as you jump into the water and oxygen bubbles disappear is surrounded by sharks," indicates. Unlike other places in the world, the expedition found that on this site are the sharks who dominate the marine ecosystem around the Islands.

The grey-de-Shark Reef is the most common species, followed by the White tip of recife and xaréu-black. As for the carnivorous fish, the fish-unicorns and the fish-surgeon-de-bar-white are the most common species.

In addition to the marine diversity, the waters are extremely clear and transparent. "We couldn't believe it. The water was so clear that we could see up to 75 meters ", reveals the room. The clarity of the water means that the coral barriers thrived at depths greater than 100 metres, even at normal, which is a world record. In total, the exploration team identified 80 new species of fish, corals and algae in Pitcairn.

To preserve the marine and terrestrial ecosystems of the Islands, the inhabitants of Pitcairn are advancing a plan to create a protected area of 830,000 square miles around the Islands. If they are successful, this will be the largest marine protected area, higher than that which the Government of the United States wants to create.

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The macabre scenario of an abandoned asylum

Urban explorers, photographers who venture into long-abandoned buildings, are fashionable. Responsible for this new photographic trend is human curiosity, which searches the loneliness of a building all your old life and, perhaps, traces of explanations for leaving â€" so many times in a hurry, as we have read in Green Savers.

This time, the pictures are even more frightening. Johnny Joo documented the former Forest Haven asylum in Laurel, Maryland (United States), and collected evidence of a Dantesque scene: a 1925 building abandoned in 1991, when the 15 patients were moved to another location, most modern.

Composed of 22 buildings, this gigantic asylum still retains the appearance of the years 90-chairs, beds and even frames with messages. "The size of the complex was incredible, and as we jumped from building to building, trying to figure out how big it was. Each of the buildings was enormous, and at one point was 15, 14 to be visited. I loved ", explicuo Joo.

In addition to finding written records of former patients, Joo got several surgical equipment â€" a scary scenario and do remember movies or video games of terror and suspense.

Beyond all the mystique of abandoned buildings, there is a real problem of urban planning and sustainability. All these buildings could be reclaimed â€" some, all over the world, already are being â€" and it is necessary to send for recycling all the panoply of trash there found, much of it with toxic compounds, as seems to be the case.

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Land claimed by foreign investors could feed 550 million people

Land suitable for private and foreign investors in some of the poorest countries in the world could feed about 550 million people, reveals a new study.

The crops cultivated in these lands â€" dropped to wild life and natives â€" are often exported or used to produce biofuels, but this new study indicates that could end with malnutrition if the land was used to grow food for local populations.

Since 2000, at least 31 million hectares of land were acquired by foreign investors, seeking to ensure secure food supplies for developed countries or to increase production of its business. Most of these territories claimed lies in Africa, especially in Sudan. But Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are also sought-after locations, referred to the Guardian.

Buyers argue that foreign investment can increase the income of those countries, promote development and create jobs. However, opponents to these acquisitions indicate that in most cases the purchase takes place without the consent of the people who live there.

"Crucial to this debate is the knowledge of the magnitude of the phenomenon: how many people could be fed," indicates Maria Cristina Rulli, Professor at the Milan Polytechnic Institute and author of the study. The study found that even with the lands that are used for the production of biofuels, land purchased could handle between 300 to 500 million people if the returns offered by land were increased to the levels of Western industrialized agriculture. Even without this improvement, about 190 to 370 million people could be fed.

Foto: hdptcar / Creative Commons

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London: a bus stop made with 100,000 legos

To celebrate the 200 years of the movement of buses in London, Transport for London â€" in partnership with the LEGO and the Trueform mattress â€" installed a bus stop in London built from 100,000 legos.

The stop can be found in Regent Street, right in the heart of London. Everything was thought to detail and built using only legos, including signage, benches and walls, referred to Inhabitat. The installation took 14 days to build and are in operation between June 19 and July 15.

This year, Transport for London and the London Transport Museum celebrate various ephemeris bus-related, including the 60th anniversary of the iconic Routemaster and the 75th anniversary of the introduction of the bus models RT, as well as the year of the bus and the 100 years since London buses were sent to the line of combat in World War I.

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Climate change will make dangerous outdoor activities

If temperatures increase sharply by the end of the century, as is anticipated, open-air activities can be dangerous. According to a study led by climatologist Robert Kopp, of Rutgers University, in the United States, one hour of outdoor activity, even in the shade, you can take a moderately healthy person having a stroke.

According to Kopp, a blend of heat and humidity could be responsible for this situation. The ability of the body to cool down depends on the evaporation of sweat, but if the humidity is high, sweat cannot evaporate and people can die as a result.

Until recently, it was believed that climate change would remove people from their homes or cities, especially in developed countries, due to floods, floods or other storms and extreme phenomena that make life impossible. However, in recent years, there is growing evidence that the increase in temperature is the main environmental force that will remove people from their homes and countries of origin.

The study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, accompanies more than 7,000 homes in Indonesia, over a period of 15 years, and concluded that the extreme disasters have a much smaller impact on migration than the stress caused by the heat.

Thus, people who live in these homes react especially at high temperatures. On the other hand, advances the Scientific American, the breakdown of agricultural productivity as a result of heat is probably the greater cause of migrations that existed in these 15 years.

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British discovers distress call on garment label

Remember this slave who denounced Chinese forced labour a note hidden in toy? A new case, like, just be reported, this time on the label of a piece of clothing purchased in Primark.

The piece was purchased by Rebecca Gallagher, of 25 years, which read on the label instead of information about washing, the following message: "we are forced to work exhausting hours".

When he saw the message, the young man tried to contact the Primark to ask for explanations, but was not heard by the company. In fact, the company turned out to provide explanations, but only after Rebecca denouncing the case to the press.

A Primark spokesman said that the code of conduct of the clothing store ensures that all its factories and suppliers must offer fair conditions of work employees and asked that Gallagher returned the dress for investigation.

Primark is one of the cheapest clothes stores in the world, having several times been investigated due to slave labor, explains the sustainable planet. In 2008, the company was denounced for hiring Indian children with 11 years for sewing the sequins of her clothes. This year, the brand has created the site Ethical Primark, in which informs consumers of their environment-related practices.

So far, no human rights organization commented on the case of Rebecca Gallagher. Some do it?

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A castle built from garbage

Located on top of a quarry disabled, in Washington State, there is the "Junk Castle", a dwelling that resembles a castle and was built from recovered materials and garbage, as the name indicates.

The castle was built in the Decade of 1970 by Victor Moore, teacher and artist, for only €367 and from parts found in a dump site. Although they can be found at the scene pieces and sculptures of various kinds, the Castle stands out from the other buildings.

The materials used in the construction of the building varies between tiles, metal cans, parts of washing machines, various boxes, trays and even car doors. Since I built the Castle, Moore never had major problems with the authorities concerning the construction and the building there remains today, referred to Inhabitat.

Now, the American wants to sell the property, which includes a main house, which was built from a warehouse of milling and hopes that the new owners keep the garbage Castle standing, since it attracts many visitors.

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American students develop shingles which despoluem the air

There is much that air pollution is considered one of the major problems of society, especially in megacities and large cities, but little has been done to end this drama. A recent United Nations study showed that only 12% of the world's population breathes air quality, and that this is especially harmful in Asian countries.

To try to alleviate this problem, students at the University of California, Riverside in polo, are developing a roof that helps clean the air in lab tests, they coated clay tiles with titanium dioxide, a common compound found easily in various products, from paints to cosmetics wall.

The tiles were placed inside a Chamber that reproduces the atmospheric environment, built with wood, PVC and teflon tubes. The camera was connected to a source of nitrogen oxides and a device that reads the concentrations of the pollutant, formed when certain fuels are burned at high temperatures, for example by combustion in cars.

According to the sustainable planet, researchers used ultraviolet light to simulate sunlight, which activates the titanium dioxide and lets him break nitrogen oxides. The result is impressive: the shingles withdrew between 88% and 97% of the oxides of nitrogen.

According to the team of students, 21 tons of nitrogen oxides would be eliminated daily if one million roofs were coated with the mixture of titanium dioxide. They also calculated that it would cost only €3,6 ($ 11.1) to coat a midsize residential roof.

Currently, there are no other tiles on the market that help reduce pollution from nitrogen oxides. However, there are few data on allegations that they reduce pollution, explains the team of scientists.

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