Can the octopuses become smarter than humans?

Last year, researchers dropped a cage with bait in the waters of False Bay in Cape Town, to search for creatures that lived off the coast of South Africa. However, they didn't expect that an invertebrate not only stole food, as the entire cage.

This is just one example of the amazing intelligence of these animals, scientists are discovering to be more advanced than initially thought.

A scientist stated Max Knoblauch, Pacific Standard, that the intelligence of these creatures can evolve much more over time. "The cephalopods manipulate clearly objects, tools," said Dr. Russell from Hofstra University in New York. "They don't build things in addition to shelters, but it is conceivable that, with time, and by other factors, this can happen."

In addition to build shelters, mazes, and solve problems, the octopuses demonstrated being able to store short-term and long-term memories. In laboratory experiments can be quickly trained to distinguish different shapes and patterns. Certain controversial studies believe that octopuses learn through observation.

In some countries, octopuses are among the list of experimental animals on which surgery may not be performed without anesthesia. In the United Kingdom, for example, the laws of animal trials ahead us as "creditable invertebrates", applying them protections that are not extended to others of the same species.

In an article from The Conversation, Clint Perry, of Macquarie University in Australia, said that we have to stop thinking in humans as the apogee of intelligence. "Humans may not be as smart as we thought."

"More and more research is showing that the logic apparently complicated than our intellect uses to routinely solve problems depends a lot of shortcuts as heuristics". "This is very close to what we consider instincts," says Dr. Perry.

This means that creatures like the Octopus, one day, become smarter than humans? "We should remind us that we are animals living in a world with other animals. All species are different from each other. But we're not so different, "says the guardian.

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New Toys R Us Advertising extols consumerism to the detriment of nature

Observe children to discover and enjoy the nature is a magical experience. However, we wouldn't have gotten to this conclusion by watching the last announcement of the Toys R Us store, toys.

Created for the North American market, the ad shows children to be taken to a journey in the forest, through the bus the Foundation Knows trees. However, later these reveal that the children will be taken to the Toys R Us to play around with their products, which leads to scream with joy.

The sight of children playing near the neons and plastics is toxic enough to alarm any parent alert. The toy company apparently thinks it is necessary to compete with the environment, so much so that created a campaign implying that what all kids want is, actually, something they can buy.

Focused solely on profit, the toy giant is unaware of the large amount of investigations that relate the outside with good grades in mathematics and Sciences, weight management, psychological well-being and good social skills.

Instead, explains the Inhabitots, the company prefers to give a lower image of nature in favor of a larger sale of products, conveying the idea that consumerism is a feasible way to achieve true happiness and that children and their impulsive desires can dictate the way in which they are created.

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The 10 countries most threatened by climate change

The expected costs by climate change are to draw a framework increasingly grim for people from all over the world.

In his sixth climate change Vulnerability Index, the risk consulting firm Maplecroft revealed the countries with greater susceptibility to being affected by warming in 2015.

To develop their analyses, researchers evaluated 193 countries according to three factors: the ability of Nations to combat the effects of climate change, exposure to temperature extremes, and the sensitivity of the population to these exposures in areas such as health and agricultural dependence.

These countries were marked according to their level of risk â€" extreme, high, medium or low, showing a numerical rating for each one of them.

According to the report provided to The Huffington Post, the most extreme values arise in Bangladesh (1), Guinea-Bissau (2) and Sierra Leone (3rd). In all the towns in all the world, Dhaka (capital of Bangladesh) and the Indian metropolis of Mumbai are those that present a higher risk in relation to the impact of climate change.

Despite the high level of pollution, China is not considered one of the Nations with extreme risk. Nevertheless, the researchers assigned a high risk to the Asian country, placing it in the 61st position.

On the opposite side, is Northern Europe, such as Ireland, Norway and Iceland. Its low risk may be related to ambitious energy and climate objectives proposed by the Environment Ministers of the countries of this region.

A report presented earlier this year warns that the American coasts will have a higher risk, compared with other parts of the country. However, the Maplecroft index indicates that the United States of America, as a whole, have a relatively low risk, standing in the 158 position.

Last month, the United Nations announced support plans for the preparation of a study, a year, which would investigate the economic benefits in combating climate change. The results will come out in September 2014, presented at International Conference on this issue.

See the list of the 10 countries most threatened by climate change:

1.Bangladesh

2. Guinea Bissau

3. Sierra Leone

4.Haiti

5. South Sudan

6.Nigéria

7. Democratic Republic of the Congo

8.Cambodja

9.Filipinas

10.Etiópia

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The fragile ecosystem of one of the rarest butterflies in the country (with video)

In 2006, the blue butterfly lameiro of Mrs. Ted, which flies only between July and August, had 260 individuals during the flight. Last year, were already 5,200 individuals who passed through this magnificent landscape of the Serra do Alvão, Trás-os-Montes.

"The care go through thinking the terrain, there for January, and after burning", explained the owner of the land to the green economy

According to Paula Arnaldo, UTAD (University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Minho), there are several types of care, especially the management of the ecosystem. "This management spends a lot for cleaning, in the heights, the plant material. Grazing is crucial because it enriches the bog ", explained the responsible.

The blue butterfly is a fragile species and with low tolerance to changes in the ecosystem. With a unique life cycle needs specific ecological conditions to reproduce.

In the periods in which the butterfly's posture in the host plant, it is necessary to decrease the pressure, because the animals feed on her and consuming several eggs. Another prerequisite is the presence of ants, which feed on the larvae of nine to ten months until adulthood. Is this set of links which allows survival of blue butterfly.

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The busiest port in the world (with photos and LIST)

Dear reader, look at your back. Probably, some of the things you see in your living room, desk or Office, have been in the port of Shanghai, the busiest in the world.

The port of Shanghai pass, all years, 32 million containers, carrying 736 million tonnes of goods for everyone â€" a strategy that goes to the unsustainability.

To see one of the photos that we publish below to understand the dimension of global trade, the way the products arrive at our hands. And Shanghai, still the largest port in the world, is just one of dozens of large ports.

The total value of imports and Chinese exports reached €2,8 billion ($ 8.4 billion) in 2012, surpassing, for example, the United States. Much of this value is due to the port of Shanghai, which lies in an area of 3.9 square kilometers, the equivalent of 470 football fields.

See the list of the ten busiest ports in the world.

1. Shanghai, China (31.7 million containers per year)

2. Singapore, Singapore (29.9 million)

3. Hong Kong (24.3 million)

4. Shenzhen, China (22.5 million)

5. Busan, South Korea (16.1 million)

6. Ningbo-Zhoushan, China (14.7 million)

7. Guangzhou, China (14.2 million)

8. Qingdao, China (13 million)

9. Dubai (13 million)

10. Rotterdam, Netherlands (11.8 million)

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Greenland: nature at risk with lifting of the ban from the extraction of uranium

Aleqa Hammond, Prime Minister of Greenland, welcomed the lifting of the ban on uranium mines, which lasted 25 years, believing to be a big step for the economic and political independence vis-à-vis Denmark, at the same time that challenges the dominance of China, which controls 90% of the production of rare minerals.

The end of the ban may have global geopolitical implications, because Greenland will produce a quarter of rare minerals in the world, used in everything from cell phones, lamps to weaponry. Second Aleqa Hammond told the Financial Times in the Nordic Council in Oslo, "it's a great step towards independence". But, added us, what environmental cost?

In 2009, Greenland has governmental autonomy, although depends on Denmark with regard to defence and security, as well as receiving an annual amount corresponding to one third of its budget.

Its main industry is fishing, responsible for more than 80% of exports. "We have an economy based on a single source and, being so fragile, never lead us to economic independence. The unemployment rate is high and we need to create jobs for generations to come, "stressed the Prime Minister Hammond.

"Our economy should be based on what we have rather than something coming from Denmark. I can't help that we have mountains with uranium, iron mountains, mountains with rare ores. This is a fantastic option for a population so small, "he added.

The mining still takes and Greenland will need help to extract the elements. The GME Kvanefield will start the discussion with the Government, asking for a building permit that is not expected to start before 2015, starting production in 2017.

The lifting of the ban has become quite controversial, having the inhabitants of Greenland appealed to a referendum. The Prime Minister ruled that this would be possible, when companies such as GME made clear their plans.

The tension with Denmark is also patent. Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Danish Prime Minister, stated that Greenland has an autonomous Government and that, therefore, it behooves you to take those kinds of decisions. He adds that in mining duty shall follow the rules of the Kingdom of Denmark, to Aleqa Hammond counter-attacked Recalling the transfer of control of mineral extraction in 2009. Nevertheless, both Prime Ministers agreed to appoint a group to ensure the Danish defense and security.

The Prime Minister ensures that the entry of money will not destabilize the country. Believes that change can come faster than many believe and replace the Danish subsidy. "We're ready for this? We're ready to be a mining nation with many people coming from abroad to work? We are prepared for the Greenlanders to become a minority? Will have a huge impact and I have to fight for it to be positive ".

And the Green Savers question, how will this destruction of one of the last territories in primitive State, where nothing has been done yet?

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Three new species discoveries in the "lost world" Australian

On a remote Sierra of Cape York Peninsula in Australia, is something that scientists call "lost world". Possibly, isolated for millions of years, the small patch of forest is home to at least three new species: the Gecko-Satanic leaf-tailed, cophixalus petrophilus and the Golden skin.

Despite the discovery of new creatures to be distant, inhospitable and rocky Cape Melville area, this may be the first of many future findings.

"What's really interesting in this expedition is that in a place like Australia, which people believe to be well exploited, can still be found places like Cape Melville, where there are all these species to be discovered", stated to The Huffington Post that documented the expedition photographer for National Geographic, Tim Laman.

On close collaboration, researchers from Australia's James Cook University and the National Geographic came out of the helicopter to explore the mountainous stretch and collect samples. Despite the fourth day of the expedition have occurred in March, the team only recently launched the samples, after confirmation that the species had not yet been scientifically identified.

Among the new species, the discovery of the Gecko-Satanic leaf-tailed is the most interesting, for being a primitive animal which appeared in Australian forest of Cape Melville. Different from others of the same family, this hunting during the night and uses her slim and with ability to camouflage to wait for the bug that is his prey.

After the discovery of the Gecko, researchers studied two other backboned creatures. An amphibian with brown spots â€" designated cophixalus petrophilus â€" who believe only emerge moist conditions under the rocks to eat and reproduce in the summer.

The Golden skin Cape Ville, the third species discovered by the team, hunt their prey during the day, with long limbs and an elongated structure, dourada creature run and jump over the rocks to catch insects.

Scientific analysis of the newly discovered species were published this month in the peer-review in the journal Zootaxa. In search of more species, the team plans to continue with the expeditions in the Rocky part of the forest at Cape Melville.

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