Friday, May 9, 2014

New York: cruise ship collides with rare whale

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A sei whale, the third largest species of whales in the world and who is at risk of extinction, washed up dead last Sunday, in Brooklyn, New York, after having collided with a Norweigan Cruise Line cruise.

The whale, of 13.7 meters, was hit by the 323-metre vessel, but New York authorities still do not know if she was alive or dead before this accident. The ship, which was returning from a seven-day trip through the Caribbean, had to stay several hours in the port of New York â€" just when the tug arrived, in fact, is that the authorities noticed in the presence of the whale.

According to Maggie Moone-Their National, Oceanica and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the whale's carcass was transported to the Army Corps of Engineers, in New Jersey, while the be autopsied by biologists of The Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation.

"Our team of necropsy spent all day [with the whale] and noticed several traumatic injuries, broken ribs and a bruise on the right side of the animal," said the executive director of The Riverside Foundation, Robert DiGiovianni, at The Huffington Post.

Still, only within several weeks to know if the ship killed the sei whale, or if this was already dead when she was hit by a boat. According to The New York Post, the whale is now buried.

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Penguins are being affected by a new type of flu

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There is a new strain of bird flu. However, this new mutation does not affect the usual suspects, nor to spread quickly. A team of scientists has discovered a new and unique strain of virus in Antarctica and that is affecting only the penguins.

According to the study published in the scientific journal Exchange, two large colonies of Adelie penguins, which inhabit the peninsula Antarctica, are carriers of bird flu but are not suffering the usual symptoms caused by the virus. In fact, the penguins don't appear to be sick. But the big question lies not in the fact that the Penguins are not to be affected by symptoms but how the animals were contaminated by the virus in the first place.

One of the researchers ' explanations for what happened is the presence of the virus in Antarctica, which probably was stashed on ice for years. However, other explanations are possible. The birds, including the Antarctic, tend to migrate thousands of miles each year, and during these migrations, the virus may have been transported to the region for over 50 years. It is also possible that the virus is transported by the whales and seals, the Dodo.

Regardless of how the virus ended up in Antarctica, experts are concerned, since the strain can spread even more. Even if the birds are not to be affected by the virus currently in future viral mutations may cause mass casualties.

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Wind turbine takes energy to places where itinerant she doesn't exist

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According to the United Nations, about 1.3 billion people have no access to energy, in other words, one in every five global citizens have to do your day to day without electricity. Therefore, many engineers and innovators are finding infrastructures that respond effectively to this enormous challenge.

One of these projects, developed by start-up Altaeros, created a kind of floating wind turbine, the BAT-Buoyant Airborne Turbine. The turbine is filled with helium, being the technology linked to the monitoring of weather systems to align its position efficiently.

The turbine reaches 300 meters high, three times more than a conventional turbine, allowing the use of double winds in relation to current technology.

The first tests were conducted in the State of Maine, in the region of New England, in the United States, and the next prototype is seriously. The city of Fairbanks, Alaska, will receive the BAT due to €935 thousand (r $ 2.9 million) of investment made by the company that distributes energy in the region. The commercial demonstration phase should last 18 months.

After that, the goal is to expand and take the floating turbine to Africa or places using dirty sources, such as diesel. According to the MIT alumni who founded the startup and are responsible for technology, the BAT has sufficient capacity to supply 12 houses.

Ben Glass, CEO of Altaeros, said in an interview to the website Mother Nature Network access and the installation are much easier. "The BAT is transported and installed without the need for cranes, towers or underground foundations â€" factors that tied earlier drafts of wind farms".

The video presents the project says that the BAT is the next generation of wind energy, "cheaper, flexible and significantly more efficient". Cheap, apparently, will not be. But it's welcome.

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Thursday, May 8, 2014

Gaming machines help to promote recycling in Dhaka, Bangladesh

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A marketing action of Coca-Cola put several gaming machines in the city of Dhaka in Bangladesh, with a sole purpose: to promote the recycling of plastic bottles. These gaming machines have the particularity to only work with brand plastic bottles when they are empty, so the company can thereby remove much of their bottles of household waste or streets.

The action is called Happiness Arcade, is part of a campaign Where Will Happinness Strike Next and was developed by Grey agency Dhaka.

See the making of the campaign.

It is true that the city of Dhaka is going through serious difficulties in terms of sanitation, and that this will be a good idea to promote recycling, but this idea has one catch â€" the only accept American-branded bottles. Who knows if this cannot be a way to promote recycling in other countries and cities, but in a comprehensive way and not exclusive of a trademark?

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Port: a futuristic living laboratory to improve the quality of life in the city (with video)

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Until 2016, the city of Porto will be transformed into a kind of laboratory for improving urban mobility, security and quality of life of its citizens. The project is called Future Cities, has the support of several entities, including the Câmara Municipal do Porto, and the unbeaten city is among the most innovative in Europe within two years.

"The project uses the city as a living laboratory to install a network of sensors to capture a series of information in terms of mobility, environmental data or noise. This allows us to have a monitoring several parameters online almost the quality of life, "explained to the green economy Filipe Araújo, innovation and environment Alderman of the Câmara Municipal do Porto.

Today there are more than 900 sensors that measure the quality of life of portuenses. "[This project] is important to the city because it will allow us to have a more efficient," explains Filipe Araújo. "To feel the city, we have more detailed information about parameters such as noise or other type of pollution, and that allows us to make choices in a more sustained. Neighbours summer harbour a camera more efficient and more concerned with streamline environmental everywhere, "continued Filipe Araújo.

According to the charge, the project also wants to draw more companies, especially multinationals, to the borders of invicta. Companies that want to come try their products and see how a smartcity if can position. "We are also supporting the economy," concluded the Mayor.

The Future Cities will cost almost € 2 million, divided between the European Union and the NSRF. One of the novelties is a social network of buses, whose performance can be monitored at the time.

"We can collect data as the quality of the floor, the air and the driver's driving style. Are very different but are georeferenced, "explained John Barros, of the Faculty of engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP).

According to researchers at FEUP, this monitoring of all data related to the well-being of citizens in their city will be common to all large and medium-sized cities in the future. To this end, the city of Porto will be the Guinea pig and, in the short term, will receive direct and indirect credit of this bet.



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Wednesday, May 7, 2014

More than 4,300 prisoners will fight California fires

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More than 4,300 low-risk prisoners will help combat the fires in California, in what will be one of the most threatening fires seasons in the history of the u.s. State. These prisoners are part of Conservation Camp Program, which allows some of these men and women can fight the fires instead of spending your time in the cell.

The prisoners are now living in about 40 places, designed specifically for this purpose. The program is not new, in fact: he dates from 1946 and is the largest and oldest of its kind in the United States, resulting from a partnership between the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR)

According to the Huffington Post explains, these inmates will represent one-third of the force of Californian firefighters. The American State is going through one of the most violent droughts in its history and, to complicate the situation, the number of fires of 2014 already tripled in relation to 2013.

"These teams are vital for us, especially this year, which will be the most difficult ever. Are a very important part of our Department and a great resource. We constantly use them ", explained Lynne Tolmachoff, firefighters ' spokesman Californians.

This program is only open to prisoners who do not have a history of violent crimes, murder or arson. Are mainly attached to fulfill the final part of his sentence-are feathers of up to two years and eight months are passed in the fields of conservation.

All inmates undergo a rigorous training of a month, with physical challenges and notions about the fire and how to fight the fires. Are paid in cash and in reduction of the sentence â€" two days for each day's work. And an opportunity to pay their debt to society.

"There is a great camaraderie when these teams work together. It is a privilege and is something which many of them learn lessons. Some of the prisoners, in fact, end up coming to work with us, "concluded Tolmachoff.

According to the CDCR, this initiative saves taxpayers every year, about €57,6 million ($ 177 million). It is recalled that this is a controversial topic in Portugal, although often mentioned by politicians and mayors. And the reader, agree with him?

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Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Syria: more well-preserved medieval castle of developing world destruction

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For 900 years, the Crac des Chevaliers was one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the world, a historic site listed by Unesco and by where they spent some of the most important figures of that region, in the last millennium.

However, Crac des Chevaliers has already been hit by the chaos that lives in Syria, as the population of Hosn by there refuge. In March, a military offensive damaged some of the walls of the Castle, while an air strike destroyed part of the roof and some religious items.

The Crac des Chevaliers, in fact, is one of the historical monuments Syrians who is about to be destroyed by the civil war in the country, which is jeopardizing the lives of thousands of people, and some of its greatest riches.

The photographs published by the Daily Mail allow you to view mattresses and rugs inside the Castle, as well as clothes, shoes and stoves.

Located 65 kilometers from the city of Homs, North of the border with Lebanon, the local Castle was inhabited for the first time during the 11th century, by the Kurds. The castle was built between 1142 and 1271. See some of the pictures of the current Castle, and from the ninth Photo 10, file photos of the Castle.

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