As the man changed the way of running horses

Ever wonder how the horses became so crucial to human civilization? In reality, it was the human species that provoked this importance, according to a new study published in the scientific journal Animal Genetics.

According to the Dodo, the researcher Lars Andersson and his team found that a gene â€" known as "keeper of the March" â€" is responsible for controlling the horse riding, which includes various types of locomotion, including gait, trot and gallop. After the discovery of the gene, the researchers found that some breeds of horse had a kind of additional floor â€" idling â€" which gives a smooth movement that is desirable for humans.

"This type of floor is smooth because the horse always keeps one foot on the floor and never has high when gallops or troteia," says Andersson. "When the horse performs movements in that he is not in contact with the ground, the rider needs more experience the ride because they need to follow the horse in vertical movement," he adds.

This mutation, which allows the horse this type of locomotion more comfortable for human, affects the way in which neurons are configured in the spinal cord of the horses. On the other hand, horses that have this mutation contract members differently from horses that do not have the mutation. "Think as humans move. If you are walking you can observe how your arms moves in harmony with the movement of the legs, because the spinal cord indicates the way to move around in order to have a balanced floor. The same thing happens with the horses and lets them moving with different passed ", indicates the scientist.

Andersson and his team studied a sample of four thousand horses scattered throughout the world and concluded that most of the animals had the genetic mutation that gave them the ride smoother. The investigator suspects that such is due to the positive selection of the humans of this dash over the centuries, once fixed in the usefulness of a smoother locomotion, both for transport as for military use.

In this way, humans prompted reproduction of horses with this mutation, which was passing from generation to generation. "We found this genetic trait in horses in Japan, where the Samurai preferred a shift smoother due to the heavy armor that wore. Humans spread the mutation through Asia and then across Europe and later the discoverers brought the mutation to the North and Latin America, "reveals Andersson.

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A fortress anti-inundações in Somerset, United Kingdom

Amid the flood of Somerset, the British region worst-hit by devastating rains and rising water levels, there is a House that stands out: the House of Sam Notaro, a builder who decided to invest in your own anti-inundações system.

Sam and his wife, Alana O'Dell, bought the House four years ago, for €1,2 million (US $ 3.9 million), and quickly built a system to ensure security against floods. Sam built a moat five feet around your home, waterproofing with bricks and a pump system to remove the water.

In recent days, with the floods destroy multiple zones of roundness, Sam asked his wife to leave the House with the couple's two children, but continued to defend the House.

The situation, however, is not encouraging for the constructor, with the latest weather chaos forecast for the weekend. The water is already 60 centimeters from the top of the barrier, and all possible loopholes in the system are quickly returned to the Lake that was created.

"The House is completely flooded around, but the interior remains dry. If I hadn't built this barrier, the House would be completely flooded at this time, "explained Sam British press.

"Obviously that the wall might collapse with the water pressure, but I'm determined to stay here. Three days ago I've been pumping water out, "continued.

Second Notaro, the water already gives you the waist on the outside of the House.The Briton has been powered with the help of a friend, who brings him some food at the only means of transportation possible., the boat.

"A rescue team came through here at two in the morning telling me to get out. I told them I wasn't going anywhere and they wished me luck, "he concluded. The next few days will be crucial to understand if this manages to save British home.

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The 10 most viewed videos of the green economy (with LISTS and videos)

This week the green economy celebrates one year, a date more than perfect to remember the list of the ten most viewed videos of the program on Spikedhumor. For the dear reader, these may not be the most relevant or interesting projects, but they have in common the fact that aroused criticism â€" positive or negative.

See the list and click its video to remember the program in question.

10. salt stones of Loulé

In Loulé, the salt stones are a setback for a team of mining. For the chef Leonel Pereira, the San Gabriel restaurant, they not only are welcome as indispensable to prepare their dishes.

9. the resurgence of rammed earth construction

Henry Schreck is one of those responsible for the resurgence of rammed earth construction in Portugal. It is a sustainable and economic construction and long-term. In a sector in crisis, the Earth is already a solution for the survival of some companies.

8. the ecoposta railway line.

The rail line of the Dão, disabled in the years 80, is now a ecopista which crosses Viseu, Tondela and Santa Comba Dão.

7. the sustainability of Aljezur

The municipality of Aljezur is considered one of the most sustainable of Portugal. The green economy was realizing why.

6. vertical gardens are the future

Vertical gardens have not yet arrived in force to Portugal, unlike what happens in other parts of the Planet, but is a reality of medium and long term, with its systems that allow grow vegetables or herbs on city walls.

5. The environmentally friendly wood houses

The wooden construction has increasingly supporters. It is a sign that the Jular, company that builds these environmentally friendly houses, is on the right track.

4. Naeen, hunted brand vegan

Created in 2008, the nae is a brand of Portuguese shoes, vegan and eco-friendly. The green economy was know her best for four months.

3. the bookstore who transformed an abandoned Church

Is one of the most incredible urban rehabilitation projects in Portugal. Reading Slowly transformed the decayed Church of St James, in Ã"bidos, a glamorous Bookstore. One of the most special Green Economy.

2. the boots that use recycled tires

Is one of the most controversial Green Economy, but also of more visas. The GreenBoots are boots made with recycled tire rubber and searching in Portuguese tradition the path for the export.

1. Former Sanatorium of Golden Rocks is now a hotel

It is the most watched video of the green economy on Spikedhumor and, simultaneously, an extraordinary project of reconstruction and reuse of a building. In Portugal they still make these projects, respecting the tradition and architecture of the place where they are inserted â€" in this case, da serra.

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Minnow is the first fish to leave the list of endangered species

The Minnow, small species of fish (Oregonichthys crameri) that lives only in the State of Oregon, in the United States, was the first to abandon the list of endangered species of the United States â€" the Endangered Species Act, which in addition to being a list of endangered animals that inhabit the territory, consists of a series of environmental laws, promulgated by Nixon in 1973.

The little fish was removed from the list because the conservation authorities consider that the species is no longer in danger of extinction. The species, which inhabits primarily the Williamette River in Western Oregon, was added to the list in 1993. At the time, there were little more than a thousand specimens of species, which was decimated by the intensive hunting.

Currently, the number of these animals amounts to 150 thousand and can be found in 80 locations throughout the Valley of the river. Although no longer in danger of extinction, the United States will continue to monitor the species during the next nine years, to ensure that this little fish populations continue to grow.

Unlike Pacific salmon, this species of fish from Oregon was relatively easier to save because it dwells in more restricted sites, which do not interfere with the economic activities of industries like logging, agricultural and energy, referred to the Huffington Post.

The species recovery plan focused on establishing partnerships with local owners to restore key points in the habitat of this fish, reproduce the species in nurseries and then transporting it to the natural habitat and change the amount of water released from the dams that interfere with the flow of the River in question.

The Oregon Chub joins the bald eagle â€" the national symbol of the United States-, the Gray Wolf and the American alligator, among other 30 species have recovered enough to leave the list of endangered animals.

Foto: USFWS Pacific / Creative Commons

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Microwave eliminates nutrients of foods: myth or reality?

The microwave is one of the major allies of our daily lives, although many still look aside for this quick way to cook or heat up the kitchen. However, one of the major problems associated with the microwave, explains the aggregator my Well-being, is all the mysticism in which he is involved.

"We've all heard that warm up food in the microwave eliminates its nutritional value, but will be a myth or a reality? What will happen with our food behind the glass of this appliance? "asks OMBE, which CITES CNN to reach a conclusion: Cook in a microwave oven is one of the best ways to preserve vitamins and minerals from food.

"If you're interested in getting the largest amount of nutrients from your foods, the microwave is a safe option," explains the OMBE. "This appliance is close to the top positions in the list of methods of preparing nutritionally healthy food".

Still, there are some dangers: If you don't use the plastic type suitable for the microwave, for example, some toxic chemicals can be absorbed by the food.

The microwave power nutrients?

If you put in the microwave a small amount of water for steaming foods will preserve the vitamins and minerals to similar other methods.

"Whenever food kitchen [microwave], these eventually lose some nutrients," says the American nutritionist Catherine Adams Hutt. "The best method to preserve the nutrients is the fast cooking, i.e. expose the food to heat in the shortest time possible and use a minimum amount of water," explains.

For example, if fervermos the spinach on the stove, this food may lose up to 70 percent of your folic acid. Already the Cook in the microwave with a little water, you can preserve almost her entire folic acid. The same goes for the bacon. Cook bacon in a frying pan can create nitrosamines, the microwave production of these carcinogenic compounds will be smaller.

However, cooking food in the microwave may also also have the reverse effect, if Cook foods with a lot of water. "When cooking in the microwave, cover the food, creating an environment of efficient steam", recommends Hutt.

Steaming on the stove turns out to be in some cases better than the microwave. A study concluded that cook broccoli to steam holds more sulforano, an anticancer substance, than steaming in the microwave.

But in most cases, you can use the microwave for steaming, if the food is well wrapped in a container suitable for microwave and with a minimal amount of water.

The microwave may even boost the nutrients in some foods. Causes the caratenóides of tomatoes and carrots are easily absorbed by our body, for example. In addition, the heat kills bacteria from foods that can cause diseases.

Foto:  pasukaru76 / Creative Commons

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Pedro Joel Costa: "Community Resilience vs sustainable development"

"Resilience is defined as the ability that a community has to respond positively to negative impacts. The term was devised for ecological communities and is currently defended by many as the best alternative for sustainable development.

Sustainable development is characterized as a type of development capable of ensuring the expansion of the present generation without compromising the future generation. The three components of this type of development are the social, economic and environmental component.

The concept of development lacks a clear definition. What is development? The answer may not always be universal. This will depend on the moral, social and economic values of each individual. The three pillars of sustainable development lose sense at this very point. From the moment you think of this concept, this is dependent on values, which in turn depend on the person who is evaluating the development ceases to be sure, being destined to policies he doomed to failure. So how do we organize a society based on progress? For that we have to be reductionist enough to think that particular bet will benefit an entire society, even though effectively that it won't.

What is the solution?

As I said earlier, the emphasis on community resilience and capabilities. Communities is that define their own path, the function of the Government creating support platforms and policy decision making in communities (shouldn't be this same Government function?). Mirrors-if nowadays in movements such as the movement of transition (Transition Town Network) and is based on policies of prosperity of primary goods (food and health).

Emphasizes the well-being, development ends with capitalist policies and increases the production of goods locally, reducing the ecological footprint and promoting the establishment of money in the community. However, contrary to popular belief, these communities do not necessarily have to live isolated. In fact, how can we assist in transition initiatives, there is a high exchange of information between the various communities (as so should be on globalization), by changing ideas but most of all, inspiring them.

This production site has high benefits. There's an increase in empirical knowledge within the community, passing from generation to generation and from neighbor to neighbor, there is an approach of society to the land, there is food prosperity, with Exchange of food between the people of the Community (who work for themselves and not for other communities), there is an increase of social relations between individuals in the community, there is the decline of abandonment and isolation and the increasing interactions and occupations.

At the bottom, all are helpful (isn't that how happy we are, being useful?). There are locally, power generation from renewable sources (environmentally acceptable and more efficiently without the community the most interested in the subject). This policy resembles a bit to the idea of a Communist policy, however, is not as utopian as this, because the smaller the area of implementation of this policy, there is less likelihood of error, because less will be reductionist, leaving the community, the interested party, responsible for the correct policies to be applied, not the Government, that in many cases it doesn't make the proper assessment of the problem which creates solutions that often aren't any solutions.

In an era of globalization, we should live a little more like our grandparents, however, all that globalization has good to give to society, information. "

Pedro Joel Rodrigues da Costa (joel12510@hotmail.com) is a student of master in environmental engineering at the University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro and writes under the new orthographic agreement. 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.

Foto:  Rui Ornelas / Creative Commons

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UN: 2013 was the sixth hottest year ever

The last year was the sixth hottest ever since records began, about 160 years. According to the UN climate agency, 2013 was as hot as 2007.

The World Meteorological Organization has examined the three main records of temperatures of the Earth's surface, which are compiled by the met Office of the United Kingdom, by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States and NASA, says the Guardian. According to the data analyzed, the average temperature of 2013 was 0.5° C above the mean temperatures of the period between 1961-1990.

2010 was the hottest year ever and about 13 of the 14 hottest years ever recorded occurred in the 21st century. Some regions of the globe have experienced extremely hot temperatures last year, notably Australia, which faced the hottest year ever.

"The global temperature of 2013 is consistent with the long-term heating trend. The rate of heating is not uniform, but the underlying trend is undeniable. Given the record levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, global temperatures will continue to increase over the coming generations, "said the Secretary General of the Meteorological Agency, Michael Jarraud.

Foto:  Elsie esq / Creative Commons

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