Global warming can change the color of the butterflies

A study recently published-and it took 18 years to develop â€" concluded that the butterflies and dragonflies of light colors thrive in warmer environmental conditions â€" and that the butterflies and dragonflies darker prefer the colder climates. The investigation examined the natural habitats of these insects in Europe during the many years in which it took place.

According to the investigation, the body of these insects plays an important role in the absorption of energy by the Sun, which serves as fuel for the flights and to regulate body temperature.  The insects of darker colors absorb more solar energy than lighter colors and therefore can survive in colder climates. By contrast, the lightest insects survive better in warmer climates, since they can reflect sunlight and not sobreaquecem.

According to these new findings, climate change means changes in habits of various insects. "We know that the butterflies and dragonflies clearer better adapt to warmer climates and also we have shown that the effects of climate change in the places inhabited by species are not future consequences but rather gifts, with nature and ecosystems to change in real time," says Carsten Rahbek, of Imperial College London and author of the study.

"We demonstrated for two major groups of insects a direct connection between the climate and its color, which has impact on geographical distribution," explains the researcher. This means that in the future, with the rising temperatures of the planet, butterflies and dragonflies darker can evolve and become gradually lighter to support better the warmer temperatures.

The team of researchers analysed data on the location of Pan-366 species of butterflies and dragonflies species 107 between 1988 and 2006. The colors were analyzed from the wings and bodies and created maps with the locations where the insects can be found.

Foto: tdlucas5000 / Creative Commons

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Fukushima factory turned into radiation-free lettuce greenhouse

The technology giant Fujitsu has expanded to a new area of business and opened an organic lettuce greenhouse in Fukushima, Japan. In a project that mixes the agriculture, industry and medicine, Aizu-Wakamatsu Akisai Vegetable Plant grows lettuce, biological radiation free, with low levels of potassium and nitrates.

The greenhouse vegetable was mounted on a semiconductor plant that has been renewed and is completely free of chemicals. Located in Fukushima, in greenhouse lettuce is the first of several biological tests that Fujitsu wants to implement in this area. Once the space where the stove is set up has been renovated and disinfected, the production is free of chemicals and fully controlled through the company's technologies to create the optimal conditions for growth, as well as weather conditions.

The variety of lettuces grown by Fujitsu kiln is indicated for people with chronic kidney disease once the vegetables have low levels of potassium. The vegetable is also more appealing to children because the low nitrate levels make less bitter lettuces, referred to Inhabitat.

Despite these greenhouses in Fukushima being more expensive than the conventional, the spaces have medical value, can produce all year cultivate organic products and, most importantly, free of radiation.

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The photo story of a life

Nowadays, most people take a lot of photographs. But there's always one that stands out from the others.

In his personal blog, Richard Branson, owner of Virgin, tells the story of the photo taken by a friend and its second meaning. Lincoln Gasking, a friend of Branson, was on an expedition in Antarctica when he spotted a group of penguins in Group at the top of a piece of floating ice, protecting each other from Leopard seals that could strike at any moment, when another predator appeared.

It was a giant petrel. This seabird, with a wingspan that can reach two metres, usually feed on small fish, seafood and animal carcasses. When none of these dishes is available in the menu, the bird used to attack other birds, chicks in particular penguin chicks.

"Having reached a rocky colony one morning, we spotted a giant petrel that was watching the penguins. Our guide not photographed a bird like this for over 12 years. As a lover of photography this seemed like a good challenge, "said Gasking.

"Almost two hours after we arrived, I couldn't believe what I was seeing the petrel through my lens, which in the meantime had perched on a rock. It was only then that I noticed in their cruel intentions. Opening the big wings, the bird was preparing to attack a colony of penguin chicks ".

"There are many stories of mothers who play heroic acts to save their young. This was one of those moments. When all seemed lost appeared one of the Moms in charge of day care to protect their young. Emitting cries, the mother Penguin faced petrel and saved all the Cubs ".

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The sawfish rare that seems to have gone out of the prehistoric times

After two hours of struggle, a fisherman in South Florida and their fishing companions captured an unusual fish: a rare species of sawfish. Known for his shaped snout serra, this species of fish is rarely sighted in the wild.

The seven known subspecies of this kind of fish are threatened or severely threatened, so your sighting is even rarer. However, a copy was caught by Dustin Richter and their friends during one of the last three nights. For whatever reason, the Group made a point of removing the animal out of the water to document capture, but the fish was once again thrown into the waters of Boynton Beach.

"Catch a fish like this happens only once in a lifetime," said Richter to ABC News, cites the Huffington Post. "Being able to see a fish so you're lucky, but to get one is to have even more lucky," considers the fisherman.

Richter estimates that the fish, about 3.4 meters, weighed more than 220 pounds. According to the description of the fisherman still fish will not have reached the adult State, since both types of sawfish found in the United States can grow more than 20 feet.

It is believed that the fish-serra will have evolved in a way, now extinct, primitive sharks. This species of fish uses the saw-shaped snout to defend himself and to dig up small fish and crustaceans from the bottom of the ocean.

For explaining was, however, why so many struggle with the fish â€" especially after the fishermen have the notion that it was a rare species. Here are some pictures of the sawfish.

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Fotos:  Robert Nyman /  A.M. Kuchling /  Giåm /  Lola’s Big Adventure! / SFU Public Affairs and Media Relations / brian.gratwicke / Anodoin

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And if an anaconda crosses us ahead?

Jeremy Wade, host of River Monsters (Photo 4), faced recently one of their greatest fears, when he came face to face with a dangerous anaconda nearly 100 pounds, on the set of his last show.

The meeting took place in Brazil, when the British Explorer was looking for an anaconda in particular that had caused the death of at least one person in the region of Porto de Moz, inside the Amazon jungle. Wade met the "Monster" when plunged into the Amazon River and gave literally stumbled upon a large anaconda, which later came to the conclusion being responsible for the death and disappearance of several people.

Anacondas, which are not poisonous, are the largest native species of snake native to the Americas, reaching the 6.7 meters long. However, there are reports of copies that exceed this length and there are rewards for those who manage to catch anacondas with unusual sizes. Although rare, the encounters between anacondas and humans can be fatal since this snake squashes his victims, which end up suffocating, with his upper body strength.

River Monsters is a program of the channel Animal Planet, where Jeremy Wade travels the world looking for dangerous creatures and sometimes legendary who dwell in rivers, swamps and other watercourses.

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Deforestation of the rain forest has increased 9% in 2013

The rate of deforestation of the Rainforest, a tropical forest biome that every Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, returned to rise in 2013, standing now at 9%. As well, and between 201 and 2013, were lost 23,948 hectares, i.e. 239 square kilometres in 17 Brazilian States of the Atlantic forest. The previous year, this figure stood at 21,977 hectares.

According to the new edition of Atlas of Atlantic forest remnants, there are now 12.5 percent of the 1.3 million square kilometres of the original Woods, which began to be deforested from Portuguese colonization and, above all, in the 20th century. Everything that has already been lost, explains the atlas, is equivalent to 12 area cities of São Paulo, Brazil.

Since the early 2000 that the rate of deforestation had been going down. On the one hand, and the States of Sao Paulo and Rio already have little to withdraw; on the other hand, increased supervision and entered into force the law of Mata Atlântica, which increased the protection on the biome.

In the last three years, however, the indexes began to rise. In the period from 2011 to 2012 had already been an increase of 29% over the period to 2010 and 2011. "After the drastic reduction, we thought there would be no more increases. It's not what's happening and we are worried, "said Marcia Hirota, Executive Director of SOS Mata Atlântica.

Photo: Glauco Umbelino/Creative Commons

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Wi-fi comes to European planes by the end of 2016

If we know for some time knows that we believe that technology and innovation are important in the dissemination of sustainable practices, functioning as a strong ally of change of behavior.

So this news is positive for all Europeans, especially those who spend a lot of time traveling: two satellite operators â€" Inmarsat and the British Greek Hellas-Sat-are working to make access and wireless networking-wi-fi â€" on European planes. The two will work with the French-Italian firm Thales Alenia Space to provide wireless services on European flights by the end of 2016.

The project is expected to cost between € 150 and the €184 and follows the path of partnership between the Gogo and AT&T, who have installed successfully, wireless connections at American Airlines. Half of this amount will be used to launch a new satellite, called Europasat, which will help to convey the wi-fi for the planes.

Several airlines already have shown interest in the service, being that the negotiating process will be earlier with British Airways (BA). Thus, the BA may soon make wireless connections in domestic flights.

In the United States, a wireless connection on the plane costs €3,6 (£ 11.4) per hour. A 12:0 am card, on the other hand, cost €12,3 ($ 38).

Finally, the Inmarsat will build a network of 300 land stations in 28 European countries, over the next six years, using 4 g technology. In this way, the internet used on each flight will be as fast and reliable as the one we currently have in place.

Foto:  epSos.de / Creative Commons

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