Nicaragua's army will protect nesting turtles

Nicaragua's Government sent the army to the beaches in the country so that the nests of tortoises, which by this time start coming ashore to lay their eggs, are protected from hunters.

According to the local press, more than 2,500 olive turtles â€" otherwise known as small turtles â€" reached already the beaches of Chacocente Wildlife Refuge to lay their eggs. This is one of the few places in the Western Pacific where the species breeds every year.

The theft of turtle eggs for sale later in the coastal towns of Nicaragua has been a threat to the species, which is already threatened. However, in recent years the number of turtles that hatch has increased, much in part due to the efforts of conservation and protection of the eggs, but also the education of local communities, referred to the Dodo.

Still, the Government of Nicaragua decided to send this year the army to patrol the beaches and make sure the eggs are not stolen or destroyed.

Foto: nicholaspix / Creative Commons

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A Hong Kong vertical vision

Hong Kong is not exactly known as a town of low-rise buildings, but this set of photos prepared by Romain Jacquet-Lagrèze captures the true scale of the colossal city.

Ironically, the French photographer chose a little-known corner of the metropolis â€" the floor â€" to reveal the extraordinary looks and often ignored by Hong Kong residents.

The pictures are placed in the perspective of who looks up and can even cause nausea, but it's for a good cause: understand how contractors and real estate managers have the green light to reach the limits of infinity, at the expense, sometimes, the well-being of its tenants and owners.

"In Hong Kong has always existed a lot of leeway to contractors build what they want. There are no limits, "explained Jacquet-Lagrèze to CNN.

"I am used to big cities. Tokyo is very dense and giant, but less impressive in terms of height â€" is much more widespread. Hong Kong is more violent in that aspect, "he continued.

To continue to thrive, the megacity needs include sustainability strategies in its urban planning. This is the only way the city pollution levels will decrease and she will enter the lists of the most endangered sites in the world. Fortunately, some steps have already been taken to join the sustainability to environmental education.

See some of the photos of Jaquet-Lagrèze.

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The marketing agency dedicated to beekeeping

The advertising and marketing agency Wolff Olins, founded in 1965 by Michael Wolff and Wally Olins, is one of the most known, award-winning and renowned creators of brands in the world â€" many of them in Portugal.

With offices in various parts of the planet, is in the main office in Central London, that the Agency has its most amazing creative creation â€" passed the redundancy: an Apiary. Yes, you read well, the Agency is dedicated to the creation of bees.

For many, this may be a hobby very tense, but the truth is that the Wolff Olins entered this world in May 2011 and, so far, don't have given bad. "People are always talking about bees, seeking new information. Many of them are concerned with nature and feel happy to see that these bees are in a safe environment, in the city centre, "he explained to The Drum the company's building manager, Stuart Robertson.

The bees feed from hanging baskets, trees and shrubs, and the kick-off of the project until it was given by one of the world's leading experts on the subject, the author Brian McCallum â€" who wrote the book "bees in the city". "It was a little annoying in the early days, have 20 or 30 thousand insects in our side, we knew, we could poke," explained Robertson.

However, the course given by McCallum and normalcy in the situation, as the days went by, eventually calming things down: "the bees are not snakes, they're not going to do anything. The only thing that worries them is making honey, "joked.

From a professional point of view, the bees also give a hand. According to Robertson, many employees of Wolff Olins took the opportunity to learn a new skill, while agency executives invite customers to visit their unusual pets.  And in Portugal, how many companies promote environmental sustainability and biodiversity in the workplace?

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Silvia Ferreira: "the invasion of palm oil"

"Palm oil is a COOKING OIL TYPE that derives from the palm-oil-Africa, originating from the West coast of Africa (Gulf of Guinea). At present, palm oil is produced in Africa, Asia, North America and South America, with 85% of its production and export the world have origin of Indonesia and Malaysia. Most of this production is not under the safeguarding of any policies of sustainability or forest protection.

Palm oil broke in literally the whole market, being present in numerous consumer products: cleaning products (detergents), toiletries and cosmetics (SOAP, toothpaste, shampoos, lotions), desserts and snacks (cookies, ice creams, snacks), among many others, being often disguised under the single name of vegetable oil or vegetable shortening (not specified). On the labels of some products may also identify him under the names of "palm oil", "sodium palmate" or "sodium palm kernelate."

The planting of Palm trees is linked to serious environmental problems, such as deforestation, habitat destruction, climate change, animal cruelty and abuse of the rights of indigenous peoples. According to the WWF (World Wildlife Fund), an area of forest equivalent to 300 soccer fields destroyed every hour to create farmland for the production of palm oil. Large-scale deforestation is pushing many species to extinction and studies indicate that, if nothing changes, species like the orangutan can be extinct wildlife over the next five to ten years, and Sumatran tigers could be extinct in less than three years.

In total, 50 million tons of palm oil are produced in Indonesia and Malaysia annually, supplying over 30% of all global consumption. This vegetable oil is approximately in 40% to 50% of all household products consumed in Europe, Canada and Australia United States.

To counter this destructive tendency, is a consumer focused and responsible and check the labels of the products they consume in their everyday life. at present are already on the market many products that appeal to an ethical consumption and do not contain this ingredient. Look for alternatives. You can also choose to do some home-made products such as cookies and crackers, handmade soaps or detergents. As vegetable oil food consumption, give preference, for example, to the traditional olive oil. "

Silvia Ferreira is reader of the Green Savers and, to my mind, this text was based on several information collected on the website Say No to Palm. Want to publish your article in our aggregator? Send us your text to info@greensavers.pt or cmartinho@gci.pt. We're looking for inspiration or rant.

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Architects Iranians invent building with rotating divisions

Tehran would be one of the last capitals where architectural innovation, we expected to see that that breaks barriers uncharted, but the truth is that the building Sharifi-Ha, in the Iranian capital, is very close to getting this done.

With five floors, the building has rotating rooms, creating new spaces and adapting to the seasons. According to the Studio of Iranian architecture Nextoffice, who developed the project, this mobile feature of the divisions is achieved with just a touch of a button â€" there are three rotating rooms: the breakfast room, the guest room and Office. The three corners can run looking for new spaces, views or light.

In fact, these divisions are nothing more than wooden boxes, views from the outside, with a rotating base. During the harsh winters of Tehran, they can close the building, keeping the House warm. In summer, however, they open to ventilate the House.

The House has two cellars, to the gym and other leisure facilities. On the ground floor is a garage, while the first and second floors is the space dedicated to conviviality: the main room. The two top floors House guest rooms, bathroom, Hall and a kitchen.

"The House adapts to functional needs of its occupants. The guest room can be reconfigured for different purposes ", explained a spokeswoman for Nextoffice. "With this innovation, it is possible to have different light scenarios and seasons".

The House is inspired, in fact, in traditional Iranian homes that have summer and winter rooms, depending on temperature differences of the time. Thus, these rotating divisions may be important to keep the House warm in winter and cool in summer, and not solely for marketing purposes and visibility.

The Sharifi-Ha was nominated for the World Architecture Festival, in 2014.

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Climate change: Taro village moved to the neighboring island

Little by little, thousands of people leave their home Islands for sheltered places of mean sea level rise. Last week, New Zealand announced to accept the refugee claim of a family of Tuvalu, a group of nine atolls that is being sunk by climate change.

Today, the Reuters news agency that a small town of Taro Island, Solomon Islands, plans to relocate its entire population to a nearby island. Taro Island is only two meters above sea level, and the Intergovernmental Panel on climate change predicts that the sea climb 90 centimetres by the end of the century, that site â€" a conservative estimate.

Thus, after consulting engineers, scientists and urban planners, the island decided to build a city from scratch, on a neighboring Island, changing its population-between 500 to 1,000 people â€" at various stages. The land cost €2,2 million and can accommodate about 5,000 inhabitants, as soon as it's complete.

Some of the essential infrastructure, such as hospitals and a high school, will be built over the next five years-all other basic constructions such as roads or Government buildings, will also have priority. Still, the only change will be complete within several decades.

"Is a city created out of nowhere," said Reuters Philip Haines, project manager of BMT WBM consultant, hired for this purpose. "We must be competent and build something that lasts for generations. The relocation is the only option available to ensure the safety of the community and allows for future growth and prosperity. "

In April, the cyclone caused several Ita filled in the Solomon Islands, killing 23 people and injuring 50, 000. "We've just seen how vulnerable is Taro to natural disasters", explained the Choiseul province politician responsible, Jackson Kiloe. In the neighboring Island, the scenario will be slightly better, but the specter of climate change, even though further away, will continue to hover over the head of the population.

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The South Korean's 20 years photographing the aurora borealis

One of the greatest desires of travelers is seeing something that stay forever in your memory. For the astrophotographer Chul Know, and given his profession, this desire has a whole other meaning, and he was firmly seated on the photographs that the South Korean picked up in Yellowknife in Northern Canada.

The site, known as one of the best in the world to see the "northern lights", did not disappoint Chul, who for 20 years travels the world to capture the magnificent phenomenon.

"The last time, when [my fellow tourists] began to dance, I realized that something extraordinary was about to happen. I put my machine in continuous mode and photographed. Was right. ", explained Chui to the press.

"The auroras were so bright that were easily visible. The tourists, many of them just stood by to view the Aurora, responded with joy, "he continued. The aurora borealis-or aurora australis, as known in the southern hemisphere â€" is a natural light show seen above all in regions of the Arctic and Antarctica, as in Norway or Northern Canada.

See some of the photos captured by the South Korean photographer, looking for magnificent phenomenon, already passed through Norway, Finland, Alaska (United States), Iceland, Scotland and Russia.

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American City appoints first Executive Director for resilience

The city of Oakland, in the United States, appointed his first CRO (Chief Resilience Office), what if you can translate, in Portuguese, as Executive Director of resilience. The position now occupied by Victoria Salinas, a Chilean-American resident in the city, aims to create a map for resilience or urban resistance.

"The strategy will be linked to subjects such as earthquakes and climate change, ageing of infrastructure or economic crisis. The city will receive technical support and other advice through participation of the Rockefeller Foundation, "explained the city said in a statement.

In fact, the philanthropic foundation created by billionaire American family will invest approximately €74,5 million in 100 Cities Resilient Challenge, which Oakland is part. In all, will be 32 cities intervention stock, from all points of the globe.

According to the city of Oakland, Salinas will have between six to nine months to create an urban and social emergency plan. The responsible risk management specialist, has worked in Latin America and the Caribbean, particularly in post-conflict civil war or natural disasters.

In Oakland, Salinas will have four fundamental objectives: develop an action plan for seismic phenomena, especially at the level of 24 thousand families living in dwellings that are not prepared for the violence of the phenomenon; sea level rise, extreme warming and rainfall accentuated; social vulnerability of many inhabitants of the city; and advanced age of many of the public infrastructure and dwellings.

In recent years, much of the innovation of cities has emerged of sustainability strategies and risk management. This appointment of Oakland, a city with 400 000 inhabitants, is proof that the future of cities is on social, economic and environmental coordination of all phenomena that surround it. And that must be managed in an integrated and integral.

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The tag that is taking the organic cotton to our homes (with video)

In 2004, when environmental concerns still weren't part of the radar of most large companies, the C&A acquired the first pieces of organic stock, at the time still mixed with conventional cotton. In less than a year, however, the company started the whole process of development of certified organic cotton and not mixed with the traditional cotton.

Today, organic cotton is 38% of the total sales of C&A cotton products, a percentage very interesting considering the very high number of annual sales of the brand. In 2013, these sales accounted for € 110 million already, according to Dominic Edwards, sales manager of the Iberian C&A.

Like many other multinational companies in the area, also the C&A sustainability objectives until 2020. "Our aim is that in 2020, 100% of our cotton is organic", explained the responsible.

The aim is ambitious and will not be easy to fulfill. In addition to the demand for organic cotton in the world, be growing, production is still low. "The organic cotton represents only 1% of the total market and cotton are in decline," advances Sunday Edwards.

To combat this shortage, the C&A launched an independent company that promotes the cultivation of organic cotton in the main production areas. Second Sundays Edwards, about 75% of the world's organic cotton has behind the projects C&A. only in India, are 60 thousand organic cotton farmers to cooperate with the Dutch multinational based in Belgium and Germany.

See the episode 280 of green economy and notice how the C&A is taking the lead to sustainable cotton industry.

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Unexpected diversity of plankton

At first glance, the plankton might not seem like anything more than small marine organisms which serve as food to the fish and whales. However, a marine scientist has been dedicated to counteract this tendency and to publicize the great diversity of these organisms.

Richard Kirby has dedicated the entire career studying and photographing the plankton, which exists in abundance in the ocean. In his book, "Ocean Drifters: the Secret World Beneath the Waves," the researcher puts the plankton under a microscope, showing the rest of the world its variety of shapes and colors.

Among the organisms are algae, bacteria, wandering animals and microorganisms that live in the sea or in fresh water. Microscopic algae and small animals that eat them float freely by sea, where support to the marine food chain.

The book includes high-resolution magnifications of plankton and explains how these organisms are being affected by global warming, which could have far-reaching implications for planetary ecology if the amount of available plankton in the oceans decrease, referred to the Daily Mail.

"Without the plankton, there would be no fish in the sea", indicating Richard Kirby, who is a professor at the University of Plymouth. The increasingly warm global temperatures are causing the warming of ocean waters and consequently altering the habitat of plankton and create changes in their abundance, distribution and seasonality ", indicates the expert.

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The art of rescuing elephants orphaned children in Kenya

The world day of the Elephant was this week and to mark the date the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a Kenyan organization that is dedicated to the rescue of orphaned elephants, disclosed several photographs which show the backstage of the Organization and the efforts made by attendants and volunteers to give a new life to the Cubs.

About 35,000 African elephants are slaughtered every year divided the prey of ivory. As such, there are many small elephants that are orphans and who require care to survive.

Elephant populations suffer not only losses due to illegal hunting, but also due to habitat destruction and human conflicts. Thus, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust travels all over Kenya to rescue little orphans.

The pictures, released by the organisation, and published by the Guardian, offer a unique vision of the efforts and difficulties that volunteers and attendants face to reach the animals and carry us to the crèches of elephants in their centers.

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The most spectacular lighthouses of the world

The headlights are an almost universal symbol of safety and orientation, which have helped the sailors to find the way home over the centuries. Although they are gradually losing their usefulness, the headlights remain monuments with an extreme marine weather resistance capacity.

In olden times, sailors were guided by bonfires built on hills, which later evolved into headlights. Over time, the headlights were becoming taller, stronger and closer to the sea.

Most of the lighthouses still standing today are living examples of the wonders of architecture and engineering practice and resilient, enduring the worst the sea has to offer. Although their guiding lights may soon stop sweeping the night sky, it is still possible to enjoy the beautiful and epic of these buildings.

We show you here some of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world. The majority is located on the coast of the United States, the United Kingdom and Ireland. But also, we show him the harbor lighthouse and Nazareth.

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Creates an elephant herd cows confused with family

They say that elephants don't forget, but this little creates seems to have forgotten that animal was adopted and a herd of cattle as a family. The small elephant and his family will have mixed with a cattle belonging to mada Samburo tribe, Northern Kenya, and when panic set in, the offspring, with only a few hours of life, have been confused and left with the herd of cows, thinking they were his family.

The Samburu took care of the elephant, who could barely walk, until one of the villagers trekked the mountains below during 12:0 am to find help. But the villager was successful and managed to help the small elephant.

The area where the baby elephant was living with the Samburu was so remote that had to be sent a helicopter to make the rescue and transport the small creates for the nursery of elephants of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, expert caring for orphaned elephants.

The attendants called "Ndotto" the little elephant, the same name of the location where it was rescued. "With just over 50 pounds, the attendants could carry him the arms before sleeping in blankets and give you a special dose of milk", told the Daily Mail, the director of the Centre, Rob Brandford.

"Unfortunately, while in the care of the Samburu tribe, the little elephant was fed cow's milk-that is potentially dangerous for the elephants that do not tolerate this type of milk", said the director. "We will do everything in our power to remedy the effects and to be beside him in the coming weeks, months and years," he adds.

According to the director of the Organization, a rescue like that of Ndotto is quite expensive and given his condition will need full-time care. To help the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Ndotto, simply access the site, where you can make a donation.

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Russia: Moscow zoo animals are already feeling the effects of the embargo imposed by the Kremlin

Earlier this month, Russia responded to the sanctions imposed by the European Union and the United States and lifted an embargo on food imported from these two powers, but also from Norway, Canada and Australia.

The ban will last until August 2015 and, during this period, companies of these 32 countries will no longer sell the Russian market products such as meat, fish, seafood, vegetables, fruit, dairy products, among others.

Despite being imposed only 15 days, are already feeling the effects of the embargo. The animals in the zoo of Moscow are some of those who already feel the effects of trade sanctions, having their food rationed.

The handlers are looking for ways to replace the meat, fish, fruit and vegetables imported, but fear that the task to be difficult. The brown bears in the zoo, for example, have a special predilection for Polish apples, which are now banned from the food menu.

The only products that have not undergone embargo were the food for babies, and such exception left the animal keepers from zoos Russians little happy, as their animals had no such concerns regalia, the Daily Mail.

"Almost all products that animals consume in the Moscow zoo are imported," says zoo spokeswoman, Anna Kachurovskaya. "The main imported foods are fruits and vegetables. Many animals eat the apples bought in Poland, which are of good quality and cheap ".

According to the spokesman, the imported products that animals need are cheaper than domestic products and some food stuffs are rare or do not exist even in Russia.

"We cannot fail to feed the animals because of the sanctions. We are looking for new ways to buy the products. The problem, however, is not easy resolution because some of the animals are not ready to change the type of food to which they are accustomed. Some have geographic food preferences, "says Anna Kachurovskaya. An example of these animals are the penguins, that only eat fish that is fished in South America.

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Azores: Corvo island village will be an eco-Museum

The Government of the autonomous region of the Azores will transform, from September, the Vila do Corvo a Ecomuseum, aiming to recover the historical centre of the smaller island of the archipelago, as well as to promote it as a tourism destination and promote their identity.

The historic centre of Vila do Corvo-where resides the entire population of the island, about 400 people â€" 1997 was ranked as a "set of public interest". Such classification allows access to a co-financing programme for the rehabilitation of the buildings of the village in 50% to 75%, the Fund lost.

For the Regional Department of education and science of the region, the establishment of the Ecomuseum of the Raven constitutes ' the necessary impetus for the reversal of the current situation of physical degradation of the old urban core, "cites the Lusa.

The development of the rehabilitation project involves the installation of a permanent technical support Office, which will be responsible for the rehabilitation projects of real estate, at no cost to owners, as well as the inventory of heritage and the creation of a network of points of cultural interest.

Photo: Luciano Shins/Creative Commons

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Panda triplets born in Chinese zoo

A Chinese Zoo unveiled Tuesday the birth of three new panda Cubs. The three new specimens of the species are triplets and it appears the first triplets of panda to survive the birth.

The pandas were born at the Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou, in Guangdong Province, on July 29 and are sons of panda Juxiao. Originally, Juxiao was too tired to take care of small children and animals were a few days in an incubator, referred to the BBC. However, the mother is now taking care of the Cubs with the help of handlers.

The three giant pandas were born following artificial insemination procedures and his birth is seen almost as a miracle, given the low rate of reproduction of the species. However, his birth is still feted with caution since the survival rate of these animals is very low. If you survive the next few months, will be the only panda living triplets in the world.

The world population of pandas is threatened due to habitat loss. It is estimated that there are just 1,600 pandas living in the wild in China.

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New York: cleanest waters are attracting more whales and sharks

The number of humpback whales and great white shark in the coastal waters of New York and the State of New Jersey during this summer's increase to the delight of environmentalists, naturalists, anglers and even bathers.

The amount of large sea creatures that has appeared off the coast of Big Apple wasn't seen for several decades and the main cause for the emergence of this abnormal number of whales and sharks on the shore of a city like New York are the cleanest waters.

According to Paul Sieswerda, director of the Gotham Whale, a group of volunteers that monitors marine life, cleaner waters have attracted more fish and consequently more whales and sharks. Sieswerda says even if it is possible to view whales feeding with the skyline of New York as a backdrop.

The Gotham Whale accounted 29 whales, humpback, all New York waters since the beginning of spring until the end of July. Joining the number of whales seen before this period and those that probably if spotted, the number will be higher than the 43 views in 2013, to 25 from 2012 and at five of 2011, says the Guardian.

Gradual cleanup of the Hudson River, which empties into New York Harbor, now brings to sea nutrients that stimulate the growth of plankton, feeding the fish and consequently the whales and sharks. "The river used to not bring anything besides pollution, but in the last five years water was getting cleaner and more nutrients are transported to sea," Sieswerda, stressing that still indicates also the measures of protection and conservation in other regions near New York have contributed to the increase in the number of dolphins, whales and sharks.

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Great Lisbon will have two more centres of animal feed needy families

After opening in January, the first Ration distribution center the Animals of Needy Families in Lisbon, will be born more two centers of its kind in Sintra and Oeiras. The opening of two new spaces to support animals of families with financial problems is planned for September.

All centres are the result of a partnership between the respective city councils and the Association for the defence of animals Animalife. The aim is to avoid that families abandon their pets because they have no way to feed them.

The new space in Sintra will work in the offices of the former premises of the Sintra Municipal Kennel. Since the space of Oeiras will work in support of the cattery installed on Municipal garden of Oeiras.

In addition to the ration distribution centers, the fight against the scourge demand Animalife of animal abandonment through the collaboration of volunteers from all parts of the country.

Foto:   Basic Needs Foundation  / Creative Commons

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Australia: new species of giant poisonous jellyfish discovery

A new species of giant and extremely venomous jellyfish was discovered on the northwest coast of Australia. The discovery left scientists puzzled as the new species of jellyfish have tentacles.

The Keesingia gigas is one of the two new species of Irukandji jellyfish recently discovered by the Director of Marine Stinger Advisory Services, Lisa-ann Gershwin. While the Irukandji have typically only mesudas the size of a fingernail, the gigas Keesingia is the size of a human arm and it is believed that can cause Irukandji syndrome, which is potentially deadly. This syndrome can cause pain, nausea, vomiting and in the most extreme cases strokes and heart failure, reports the Guardian.

According to Gershwin, the species had been photographed in the years 1980, but no specimen was captured until 2013. The specimen was collected by the marine scientist John Keesing, near the Bay of sharks.

One of the particularities of this Jellyfish is not having tentacles. "The jellyfish have tentacles. It is through them that they take the food. The tentacles are where concentrate their poisonous cells, "explains Lisa-ann Gershwin. The scientist indicates that this new species can hide their tentacles as a form of Defense, as some bioluminescent jellyfish, that extend their tentacles fluorescent to distract predators. However, there is no evidence that any jellyfish Irukandji has this capability.

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Mexican island becomes artistic screen that alerts for Ocean protection

An island off the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, became a big screen project of urban art that seeks to make the population to the importance of preserving the oceans and marine life.

The PangeaSeed, a non-profit organization dedicated to public awareness for conservation and preservation of marine species through art and activism, gathered several renowned urban artists and took them to Isla Mujeres, where all of the walls and spaces available were covered with murals representing the marine life.

The project, called "Sea Walls: Murals for Oceans", focuses on environmental issues that are affecting the oceans as overfishing, the trade in shark fins, coastal development, and pollution, plastic referred to Dodo.

The project was funded through a fundraiser is made through the platform Indiegogo, and allowed artists to swim with whale sharks and mantas off the Mexican Coast, to better understand the importance of what they portray.

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Levels of mercury in the Ocean have tripled since the Industrial Revolution

In the years 1950, a neurological epidemic killed thousands of inhabitants of the coastal city of Minamata in Japan, and caused brain injuries to newborns. Only later did the inhabitants learned that the fish had eaten was contaminated with toxic mercury, resulting from a discharge from a chemical plant in the area.

A new study indicates that the levels of mercury in the oceans have been increasing and researchers estimate that the quantity of the substance in oceanic waters has tripled since the Industrial Revolution, which endangers the marine species as well as human health.

Various industrial processes, such as small-scale gold mining and coal combustion emit mercury into the atmosphere. In gold mining, the miners use liquid mercury to absorb the gold from the ore. Subsequently, make the mercury evaporate and the gold stays. Already the coal combustion releases mercury exists naturally in the mineral, referred to News from Science.

When the atmosphere, mercury can travel during months and thousands of kilometers in suspension until it rains and is deposited in the oceans. Already present in the ocean, bacteria help to convert metal into methylmercury, which enters the food chain and accumulates in fish.

The contaminated fish consumption is the main source of human exposure to mercury. However, monitor metal levels in the oceans has been a challenge for researchers, because mercury is present in lower concentrations in the waters and a lot of time and resources is required to collect samples.

The calculations made for the study show that the oceans contain between 60,000 to 80,000 tonnes of mercury from pollution, with almost two-thirds present in waters with depth less than 1,000 metres.

The concentrations of mercury in waters shallower tripled when compared with concentrations of pre-industrial times. Average depth waters, metal concentrations have increased about 1.5 times. The large concentrations of mercury in waters shallower can increase the accumulation of toxins in fish, exposing humans to mercury poisoning.

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EFSA rejects extending expiration date of eggs to avoid salmonella poisoning

The European food safety authority (EFSA, the acronym in English) rejects increasing the shelf life of eggs, arguing that existing studies indicate that for every week that extends the time limit, the risk of salmonella poisoning will increase by 40%.

EFSA explained to El Pais that held a report at the request of the European Commission, which has requested a study to extend validity periods and avoid wasting food â€" an economic problem, but also social.

"Salmonella [bacteria that causes salmonellosis] was the main cause of food infections in the European Union by 2005, with 200,000 cases and an annual cost of € 3000 million", indicates the EFSA, CITES my well-being.

This impact has led European authorities to set in motion a series of steps that led to a reduction of infections resulting from this bacteria-contaminated eggs produced, but also for other foods, such as pork â€" in 50% since 2005. But these advances may collapse if the measure to extend the shelf life of eggs next.

"If the shelf life of eggs over the 21 days for 28 days, the risk of infections will increase by 40% in the case of foods that are not cooked and 50% in the case of those who are cooking", indicates the EFSA study, which was based "on current scientific knowledge".

"In the worst-case scenario, if the expiration date recommended for 42 days and pass for 70 days â€" another of the possibilities suggested by the Commission, the risk is three times greater than the present both in the case of eggs without being cooked as in eggs made.

In this category are the raw products (e.g., mayonnaise or some sauces or beverages), as well as eggs cooked or fried. "Keep eggs chilled is the only way to reduce the increased risk of infections due to prolonged storage," explained a spokeswoman for EFSA. "In any case, the deadlines that indicate draw up or consume preferably are extended over three weeks, the risk will increase, including with the cooling system of the shops. This may also jeopardize the gains achieved to date with "the reduction of Salmonella in laying hens, since eggs are the main cause of infections in the EU", said the spokesman of the EFSA.

Foto: pietroizzo  / Creative Commons

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Can the crumbs of a cigarette alternative energy source?

The cigarette butts from cigarettes are almost like a plague on the streets of cities. But a group of scientists developed a way to put a stop to this source urban pollution and protect the environment.

South Korean investigators believe they can convert the filters of cigarettes in a material that can be used by computers, electric vehicles and wind towers to store energy. According to scientists, the material of the cigarette filters can be used to coat the electrodes of the supercapacitadores, which are the components that can store large amounts of electricity.

Scientists argue that cigarette filter performance is even better than the commercially available carbon, the carbon nanotubes or Graphene used currently. Every year, about 5.6 trillion cigarettes used, which amounts to 766,571 tonnes, are thrown into the streets.

"Our study demonstrates that the cigarette filters used may be transformed into a high-performance material carbon-based, using a single process, which at the same time offers a green solution to satisfy the energy needs of society," said Yi Jongheop, co-author of the study and a professor at the National University of Seoul, cite the Daily Mail.

The supercapacitadores are composed primarily of carbon, due to their low cost, large surface area, good electrical conductivity and great stability. Around the world, scientists are studying ways to improve the characteristics of supercapacitadores, as the energy density, power density and stability of cycle, at the same time trying to reduce production costs.

In the study, researchers found that Koreans cellulose acetate fibers from cigarette filters are made can be transformed into carbon-based material through a technique called pyrolysis combustion. The resulting material contains a considerable number of small pores, which increases its performance as a supercapacitador material.

Foto:  Axolot / Creative Commons

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The 10 best photos from National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest

The National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest of 2014 already have winner. Is Mark Korosec who photographed a supercell over the plains in the East of the State of Colorado, in the United States. A supercell is a type of storm that is characterized by the presence of a mesocyclone (an upward air current that spins inside a cloud).

Korosec called photo the "independence day" and took it during a hunting expedition the tornadoes at Alameda dos Tornadoes in Colorado. The photo was chosen from 18,000 submissions.

The ten winning photos were revealed last week. Underwater scenery, landscapes and a variety of animals photographed in spontaneous poses are some of the photos that were submitted to contest. This year's competition categories were travel Portraits, outdoor scenes, Sense of space and Spontaneous Moments, reports the Daily Mail.

The photo was ranked second of Agnieszka Traczewska, which depicts two newlyweds in Israel.

The big winner of the contest of National Geograaphic this year will be awarded an eight-day expedition to Alaska for two people aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion or the National Geographic Sea Bird.

You can see some of the photos submitted to this contest.

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Waste House: the first British House made of trash with negative CO2 emissions

Landfills are filling up faster than ever with millions of tons of garbage every year. But if it were possible to turn this waste into building material? Waste House, in the United Kingdom, is the living example of this manufacturing capacity. It is the first permanent home was constructed almost entirely from Trash.

The project was designed by atelier BBM, in Sussex, as part of a research project alive and a design workshop for sustainable development at the University of Brighton. The House Waste, which has a negative impact on the level of carbon dioxide emissions, was built to prove that "there is no garbage, just things in the wrong places," said the Inhabitat.

Located on the campus of the University of Brighton, the House was even built with the help of students of the educational institution. The building was built with 85% of garbage, collected from construction sites in the region. The materials include plastic razors, jeans used, videotapes and 20,000 toothbrushes. Most of the garbage was inserted into the walls to isolate and various kinds of garbage will be monitored with sensors to study its insulating efficiency.

About 2,000 carpets recycled water proof lining the exterior facade, while old vinyl banners are used as internal control layers to steam. In addition, waste organic material was also used in the House. To improve energy efficiency and thermal conductivity, rammed earth walls were built of clay and lime residues.

Currently, the House Waste â€" whose construction took about a year and was inaugurated in April this year â€" serves as a research facility for students of the master of sustainable Design at the University of Brighton.

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China: exploring the capabilities of helium from the moon can help solve the energy crisis on Earth

The dust from the lunar soil brought by the first humans on the Moon contained an abundance of titanium, Platinum and other valuable minerals. But our satellite also contains a substance that can be quite useful to the human civilization and could revolutionize energy production.

This substance, the helium-3 (He-3) is deposited on the Moon in vast quantities by solar winds. Helium 3 is a non-radioactive isotope of helium. Has two protons and one neutron. His presence on Earth is rare, but is a very popular substance for use in nuclear fusion research. It is also used in MRI machines and sensors that detect smuggled plutonium.

Now, China is considering the possibility of exploiting this resource from lunar soil, bringing it back to Earth. According to some scientists, this rare isotope could have the ability to meet the future energy needs of the planet, writes the Times.

Ouyang Resources, Chief Scientist of the Chinese Lunar Exploration program, said recently that the Moon is "so rich in He-3 that this substance can solve the problem of energy demand over the next 10,000 years at least," quotes the Daily Mail.

Scientists argue that the He-3 can power nuclear plants, but cleanly, since it is a non-radioactive substance.

For example, two spaceships loaded with the substance â€" about 40 tons â€" could be sufficient to meet the energy needs of the United States for a year. This would require the exploration of areas the size of Washington, D.C.

The Ho-3 is rare on Earth due to the atmosphere and magnetic field protect us, but also prevent the He-3 from the solar wind reaches the Earth's surface. The moon doesn't have this problem because it has no atmosphere and the He-3 is absorbed by the lunar soil.

Fabrizio Bozzato, doctoral candidate at the University of Tamkan in Taiwan, recently wrote a scientific article argues that the He-3 can be extracted from lunar soil at temperatures of around 600 degrees Celsius, before being brought back to Earth. The student estimates that the gas has an economic potential of €2,24 billion per tonne, which makes it economically viable to consider exploring the moon.

According to us experts, the total required for the development of nuclear power stations and spacecraft, and to the start of the operations on the Moon is €14,9 billion over the next two decades.

Although China has already expressed interest to explore this resource is required before any concrete plans to explore the He-3 on the moon.

However, the exploration of the Moon raises controversial questions about who holds our satellite. The UN Treaty for outer space, of which China is a signatory, indicates that the Lunar features are for all humanity. But legal experts contend that the language of the Treaty is ambiguous enough to allow commercial exploitation of the moon.

Foto:  NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center / Creative Commons

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16 of the most magnificent trees on the planet

Trees are the most essential goods on the planet. Have the ability to transform carbon dioxide into oxygen, produce food, serve as shelter to many animals and beautify the landscape.

There are many species of trees, in all shapes and forms, sizes and colors. Some more majestic than others, but all equally important to the global ecosystem. We show you here some of the most beautiful specimens on the planet. Some are not true trees, as Wisteria or rhododendrons, but once they reach considerable proportions have included them in this category.

Since Wisteria and rhododendrons centenarians the great redwoods, see some of the examples here.

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What do the old pay phones?

All major cities have a network of public telephones in most streets â€" absolutely crucial to the functioning of cities a few years ago, but completely obsolete in the age of smartphones.

The United Kingdom, known for its red telephone booths has converted the spaces obsolete. Since 2009 that more than 1,500 cabins were transformed into florists, information points, small art galleries and even small libraries. British Telecom lets even the public to adopt one of these cabins for just one pound.

It seems that every major city are considering the problem of obsolete telephone booths. The South Africa will transform all of its 79,000 telegónicas cabins in wi-fi points. China is doing the same from 2011, referred to the City Lab.

In New York, there are still 9,000 payphones functional, but the contract of these paid phones ends in 2015 and the city still doesn't know what to do or cabins that new generation of payphones will come. The city is waiting to receive proposals on the new generation of payphones.

Rumor has it that Google is among the companies interested in installing the new generation of payphones in New York, but he has no intention of turning into something more cabins to distribution points of wi-fi. Also IBM, Samsung and Cisco were present at sessions of clarification on the future of payphones in New York and it may be here that come to birth a new generation of global public phones.

Foto: bubuninha / Creative Commons

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Elephant scratches in car tourists

This is the time when a male elephant in heat-when their testosterone levels can increase about 60 times â€" decided to approach a car parked in the middle of a trail of a safari.

The two occupants of the vehicle were terrified when they realized they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, because the big elephant started rubbing against the roof of the car. The episode happened at the Pilanesburg National Park, in South Africa, and was documented by Armand Grobler, Park Guide.

"I was practicing ethology (the study of animal behavior) at that moment and realized what was happening," explains Grobler at the Daily Mail. "Despite being in heat, the elephant has not shown signs of aggression or frustration and I was more into playful," he adds.

Often, the elephants using rocks and trees to scratch or to remove parasites â€" and with the car so close this elephant didn't want to miss an opportunity. "We didn't know what to do when the elephant approached the car and when the vehicle began to be destroyed we fear for the lives of the passengers, but our possibilities for action are very limited," says the Guide.

Despite the unexpected meeting, the passengers survived with no injury, just being in a State of shock. Of the car you can't say the same thing. The Windows were broken, blown tires, chassis left and the roof was completely whipped.

After scratching himself enough, the elephant went his own way, unaware of the damage he caused.

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Drink water to lose weight or fattening meal?

The proliferation of myths about feeding works the same way as urban legends: a rumor starts going by word of mouth, distorts and ultimately emerge as a fact that we take as real. In the book "eat or not eat. Traps and feeding myths ", the Spanish journalist Antonio Ortí and nutrition specialists Ana Palencia and Raquel Bernacer exploit several erroneous beliefs.

According to the portal my Well-being, the authors explain, for example, what is the function of water in our diet and why it makes no sense to move property thinning or weight gain to its ingestion. Water has zero calories whether ingested at the beginning, during or at the end of the meal, although there are theories that say the opposite.

For example, there is a popular belief that water fattening if eaten during meals, as this causes fluid retention. Apparently, this hypothesis was followed at the end of 1950, with some people who lost weight during that time to affirm that, to not drink water while eating, watered only the lips on a damp cloth to decrease the sensation of thirst. However, drinking water does not cause fluid retention, on the contrary stimulates kidney function and contributes to a good water balance.

The calls also dissociated diets, which consist in following basic premise and fundamental one â€" do not mix food groups that are incompatible in the same meal, do not allow drinking water when they ingest carbohydrates since they consider that "hinders digestion" and which leads to the potatoes, bread, rice and other foods rich in carbohydrates do pointers of the scale up. But we must insist that the water does not increase the caloric value of any food, explain the authors of the book.

However, it is known that drinking water before a meal can fool the stomach and cause the person to eat less. A clinical trial published in 2010, who broke this hypothesis presented at American Chemical Society in Boston, found that those who drink two glasses of water to 230 milliliters before a meal consumes between 75 and 90 calories less during the meal.

While some authors recommend drinking a milliliter of water for each calorie consumed, others prefer to relate the calories with the weight and point to the 45 milliliters per kilogram in the case of adults and to higher values in the case of pregnant women and children. Normally, it is necessary to take between two and three liters per day, but that doesn't mean you have to drink two liters. The ideal is to drink between one litre and a litre and a half of water and meet the remaining need with the water that foods contain.

Foto:  Boyan Photography / Creative Commons

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Mysterious Lake appears in the middle of the desert in Tunisia

The inhabitants of the region of Gafsa in the South of Tunisia, were caught recently with the appearance of a mysterious lake in the middle of the desert.

It is estimated that the Lake, which has already been dubbed "Praia de Gafsa", has about 10.5 hectares and 15.24 metres in the deepest places and the only apparent explanation for the appearance of the reservoir is the water coming from inside the Earth.

Several teams of experts are now investigating the origin of the Lake, but has not yet reached any conclusions. The most accepted theory among investigators is that an earthquake has fractured a layer of rock that blew an underground reservoir. The water has begun to slip through cracks of fractured rock and forming a small lake on the surface.

The Lake was discovered earlier this month and the public security authorities of Gafsa warned citizens not to join in the waters, since even if unaware of its origin, refers to the Huffington Post. Some people speculate that the water can be dangerous to humans or carcinogen, since in the vicinity there is a phosphate ore. However, all these factors have not prevented the Tunisians to enjoy your new beach.

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New species of Golden bat discovered in Bolivia

It was discovered a new species of bat in Bolivia which is not what most people would expect from a bat.

Fluffy and golden color, the Myotis midastactus has been previously seen in the Amazon, but was poorly identified as a member of a similar species, the Myotis simus.

Confirmation of misclassification was made by Ricardo Matthews, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, when the expert travelled to New York to observe the collection of bats from the American Museum of Natural history. "This species is poorly identified since 1965. When I put Amazon and Bolivian species side by side realized that they were two different species ", cites the Dodo.

This new species of bat is unique due to its unusual Golden fur. The bat was the name of King Midas, midastactus, who according to mythology had the power to turn into gold everything that he touched.

It is believed that the bat inhabits the Bolivia, in an arid climate. The distinction between the two species was made through the collection of bats from the American Museum of Natural history, since Ricardo Matthews, or another investigator, failed to capture any copy still alive.

Little is known yet about the new species, in particular conservation status, but is believed to be close to being threatened.

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Mangrove forest is born on a ship stranded in Australia

Artists, designers, filmmakers and writers often post-apocalyptic scenarios imagine that reflect how the world after a destructive event. This ship stranded on the Australian coast may very well be one of the elements of these scenarios.

Built in 1911, the SS Ayrfield had many functions before being decommissioned in 1970. Transported supplies to the soles Americans who were stationed in the Pacific during World War II and also transported coal, referred to Inhabitat. Currently, is stranded in the interior West Homebush Bay in Sydney, where he is protected by heritage laws. Progressively, the vessel was claimed by a mangrove forest.

When served as a dumping ground to a set of industries, Homebush Bay used to have high levels of phthalates, DDT and other toxic chemicals. A big cleanup operation failed to improve the situation, though the Bay is not yet perfect. The surrounding area became also on stage for various recreational activities and Riverside residences.

The mangrove forest is now an attraction for the site, which is close to the Olympic Park.

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A vase that adapts to the growth of the plant

It's called Fold Pot and this is a fairly simple idea, but original. This Fold Pot is a vase that expands depending on the development of the plant. As such, instead of leaving plant out of the pot or be stunted by the vessel, the vessel will become greater as the space needs of the plant.

The vase was designed for small plant species and not for large specimens. Made of silicone rubber, the vase has the ability to increase up to twice its original size. The vase begins with the edge curled downward and as the plant grows the top can be peeled, increased the ability of the vessel to the double.

Can also be added more land as the plant grows roots and expand. Since it is made of flexible silicone, the vessel size increases with the growth of the plant.

The vase comes accompanied with a plate and a hole. If you use the dish, the hole can be closed. The Fold Pot was designed by Italian designer Emanuele Pizzolorusso and is available in various colors, referred to the Tree Hugger.

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How to maintain a healthy diet during the holidays?

The holidays are the time of year most anticipated by millions of people worldwide, but authentic traps for those who like to keep fit. On the one hand, the routines change dramatically â€" and that's good, in part, but turns out to have a negative influence on our well-being.

Firstly, we do exercise to which many of us, dedicated during the rest of the year. Then we get cuffed us in food â€" this assumes a greater importance because temperatures are usually high, and we need to feed us evenly.

The gateway Protects What's good asked the Portuguese Association of Dietitians (APN) some tips to maintain a healthy diet during the holidays and started to receive some good news: it is not we want eat of the knife and fork that we can't have a healthy diet.

See the eight councils of the APN.

1. choose to make the sandwiches with whole grain bread or mix and include, for example, a thin slice of roast beef or chicken or an egg well cooked or tuna and many and varied fresh vegetables: tomato, lettuce, carrot, onion, leek and. ..

2. let go of the sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages and use and abuse of the water.

3. meals dish, bet on salads and vegetables cooked and choose to consume fish instead of meat, taking advantage of the diversity of species and fish dishes that characterize our gastronomy.

4. Don't forget the power of Summer soup. If you don't enjoy eating hot soup in this season, there are a variety of cold soups you can do. Some examples, in addition to the famous gazpacho, include French onion soup with Mint, carrot and orange soup, Carrot Soup with ginger ... The cold soups are light, tasty, help to quench and refresh.

5. the fruit is the ideal companion of the summer â€" refreshing, juicy, colorful, sweet and tasty dessert should be considered the election and should be an integral part of the picnic tomorrow and in the afternoon.

6. Consume ice cream and other sweets in moderation.

7. Enjoy the excellent weather and the beach to take some long walks by the sea and so do the much needed daily exercise.

8. avoid abusing sauces or so prefer the versions with less fat.

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Female squid hatched eggs for nearly four and a half years

When scientists have found for the first time, in 2007, this female â€" a deep-water species Octopus Graneledone boreopacifica-Monterey Bay, the animal was already protecting their eggs. The female Octopus had put her eggs on a rocky outcrop, the 1,397 meters deep.

This Bay off the Californian coast houses the Monterey Canyon, a submarine Valley with sheer walls of more than 1,500 meters high and 400 kilometers long, with his background reaches, at the end of the road, the 4,000 of depth.

Four years later, scientists returned to the site and found the same female Octopus to protect the eggs. The devotion of this animal was great, giving their eggs the best chances of survival in the depths of the sea, where life can be hard.

Over time that researchers have monitored the copy, the Octopus has never been seen feeding and when scientists brought you the female crab meat touched. According to experts ' suspicions, the female Octopus will have eaten eggs unfertilized or damaged.

Over time, the animal began to deteriorate physically, losing color. to identify, scientists had to look for scarring on their tentacles, referred to the Tree Hugger.

One day, 53 months later, investigators returned to the scene and the female Octopus was gone. At the scene were eggshells, a sign that the small molluscs had finally hatched. It was known that the species of shallow-water Octopus clashed their eggs between one to three months, but had never been possible to observe an Octopus from the depths.

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London: Science Museum exposes your trash

That amount of waste produces a National Museum in a month? A lot, as she discovered the artist Joshua Sofaer, who created the exhibition Science Museum Rubbish Collection.

This artist has decided to expose the trash of a Museum and the National Museum of British Science accepted the challenge. The exhibition was divided into two phases. The first gathered, Sofaer you have chosen, photographed and documented the waste produced during a month by visitors, staff and material inherent in exhibitions, in order to create a visual diary of the waste produced. In this first phase, the public can participate actively to help collect and separate the garbage. In the second phase, which began on July 25 and runs until 14 September, the trash was exposed artistically in various spaces of the Museum.

Since the rotting food Bras abandoned, Soafer collected the largest variety of trash as possible. "Discover the beauty, value and volume of trash we produce in this single exposure developed in two parts, which traces the journey of waste generated by the Museum over the course of 30 days, as part of our program of changing climate". This is how the Science Museum invites the public to visit the exhibition.

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Ship constructed in 1773 discovered under the former World Trade Center

Researchers from Maryland and the University of Columbia in the United States, discovered the remains of the boat found in the ruins of the World Trade Center in 2010, belong to an oak forest near Philadelphia, also in the United States, which was cut around 1773.

Four years ago, the construction of the Ground Zero, the site of the former World Trade Center in New York, was stopped when workers found a huge wooden boat, about 6.7 meters below the surface of the street. At the time, the work was delayed for weeks while the boat was removed from the site and taken to a Maryland archaeological laboratory and later to Columbia University.

After examining the boat, this latter institution scientists came to the conclusion that the oak was cut in 1773. "At that time, in Philadelphia, there were still large forests, and many of them were cut to build boats and other infrastructure," explained the Live Science Dario Martin-Benito, of the laboratory.

Archaeologists believe that the ship was active between 20 to 30 years, before it is sent to the current Greenwich Street in Manhattan. At the end of the 18th century, the ship was placed alongside other trash.

The ship was completely buried in 1818 and discovered, by chance, during the post-September 11 2011. The boat is very well maintained and was discovered alongside other artifacts relating to the 18th century â€" including dishes and ceramic bottles or shoes.

This fantastic story leads us to think about what is beneath our cities â€" cities with the past of Coimbra, Braga, Lisbon or Porto, with a timeless past, can have untold riches. Ever see?

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Portuguese investigators seek solution to the chronic pain at sea

Three researchers and an economist, all Portuguese, are working on the development of a new drug from the national coast marine species meant to combat chronic pain, a syndrome that affects approximately 1.5 billion people around the world and for which there is not yet a proper treatment.

To develop the project, was created the biotech company Sea4Us, dedicated to the study of components of marine animals to develop new medicines and developing activity in Sagres and the laboratory in Lisbon, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

The company has already achieved funding for various stages of the development of future analgesic, but still unable to garner support for collecting marine samples. As such, the Sea4Us launched a campaign of crowdfunding to collect funds that allow the collection of samples.

The research developed by biotech company discovered that certain species of national sea invertebrates present a great potential for the treatment of chronic pain. The funds raised will allow taking samples at sea in Sagres during a month and a half, which is scheduled for the end of this summer, season with better weather conditions to that end.

Foto:  rschnaible / Creative Commons

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Cure for Ebola may have been found

Two American doctors working in missions on the African continent and who were infected with the Ebola virus have been saved with a "miracle treatment". This "secret weapon" had never been tested on humans only in monkeys. However, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), u.s. regulatory authority, will have opened an exception under a mandate authorising the use of untested medicines.

CNN and the Atlantic report the story. Kent Brantly is doctor and saw hundreds of people already dying of the Ebola virus. As such, there was a cold in her diagnostic foresight made last week: "I'm going to die".

The condition of this American doctor was serious and his fate most likely would have been death, as did the hundreds of Africans. However, last Saturday, American televisions showed the Brantly's return to New York, so that he could receive a better service. What you saw was the doctor to return to American soil and to walk only with a minimum aid, since the ambulance to the isolation unit at Emory University Hospital.

"One of the doctors said it was a miracle," said Sanjay Gupta, who is a doctor at the hospital of Emory and special correspondent from CNN for medical affairs. "It's not a term that doctors like to use lightly", he stressed, citing the Atlantic.

Once the Ebola virus is a disease without a cure and fatal in 90% of cases, the case of Kent Brantley is intriguing. On reporting for CNN, Sanjay Gupta has indicated that it will have been a secret serum saved Brantley and Nancy Writebol, another American doctor infected with the virus.

According to the account of Gupta, three bottles of a secret experimental serum stored at freezing temperatures, were sent into Liberia, where were the doctors, in the last week, in a last attempt to save them.

Brantly was working for the Christian relief organization Samaritan's Purse as medical director of Ebola Consolidation Case Management Center in Monrovia, Liberia. The Group has confirmed that the doctor received secret treatment before leaving the country and returning to the United States.

Brantly is almost fully recovered thanks to secret treatment. Nancy Writebol recovery already was not so amazing, but enough to also be able to be transported to the United States.

The secret serum

The secret serum used is known for zMapp and is produced by Mapp Biopharmaceutical. However, the medicine had not yet been tested in humans, only in monkeys, and as such had not yet been approved by the FDA. However, under a rule that allows the use of medicinal products not tested on humans only in exceptional situations, the medication may be administered to two doctors infected with the Ebola virus.

The secret medicine it is a monoclonal antibody. The administration of such antibodies is becoming increasingly common and time has shown that it is an effective solution. This type of antibody is produced as follows: Guinea Pigs are exposed to a virus and your immune system develops antibodies against the virus. Subsequently, the lymphocytes are isolated in the laboratory and multiplied in cell cultures. In the case of zMapp were separated three cell lines that produce specific antibodies effective against Ebola. The antibodies are then added to a solution. According to the pharmacist who developed the medicine, it is possible to produce these antibodies in tobacco plants, which speeds up the process the process of production, since the cell cultures are slower.

In spite of the application of zMapp have been a success, yet little is known about their effect on humans. In tests conducted with animals, the Mapp Biopharmaceutical administered the medicine to eight monkeys with Ebola virus that survived. All were given the medicine until 48 hours after they have been infected. A monkey that has been treated with the serum after 48 hours did not survive. This means that little is known about the safety and effectiveness of this treatment â€" and that extreme circumstances like this, the FDA would not have allowed their application. Gupta suspects that the FDA authorized the use of the zMapp under the compassionate use exemption.

The current outbreak of Ebola virus is the biggest in the history of the disease, both in terms of the number of infected as related deaths â€" approximately 729 since the end of 2013.

Foto: EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection / Creative Commons

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