Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Identified new species of puffer fish

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When scientists discovered that a certain type of puffer fish was responsible for the construction of bizarre circles in the seafloor have also discovered that the animal was quite different from his relatives.

The oceanic circles have been identified in the seabed Japanese since 1995, but until recently its origin remained a mystery. It was only last year that divers observed a Blowfish to construct the circles, which came to prove to be a sexual ritual to attract partners.

The study of animal behavior also enabled researchers to observe more closely the species and concluded that this puffer fish was quite different from other pufferfish.

Two specimens were collected, one male and one female, the waters off the Ryukyu Islands, in Japan, and scientists concluded then that this is a different subspecies of Blowfish. The new animals were called Torquigener albomaculosus, common name Blowfish-de-pintas-white.

The color of this fish-Brown with white spots on the back and white and silver with white spots on abdomen â€" helped scientists to distinguish this puffer fish of other species of the genus Torquigener. The discovery was published in the scientific journal Ichthyological Research, writes the BBC.

The new discovery raises to 20 the number of species in the genus Torquigener. It is thought that the new species of puffer fish is the only one to create circles in the seafloor as a mating ritual.

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Appliances sold online are required to have energy label from January

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From January 1, 2015, online stores will be obliged to submit the energy label with information about electricity consumption on home appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners or flat.

So far, these stores were only obliged to provide some of the information contained on the labels of products which are in physical stores, as the energy class. But as of 2015 will also be required to display energy label and the item card, pay-for-spares online store for Quercus said in a statement.

Initially, the scheme will be compulsory only for appliances such as those referred to above, but from April next year the obligation is extended to ovens and hoods and from September is extended to water heaters and hot water tanks, as well as to environmental heaters.

The availability of the energy label shall be made by the price of the product and is recommended to be available via a link from an image of a color arrow corresponding to the energy efficiency class of the product, such as the item card, which must be clearly visible and legible dimensions ", indicates the Quercus.

Foto: SEAG0109/Creative Commons

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Brazil: new species of monkey discovered is in danger of extinction

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A team of Brazilian biologists, working inside the country's Centre, has discovered what is believed to be a new species of primate. The animal, never seen before, was discovered on the southern edge of the Amazon rainforest and confirms a theory that scientists have long suspected: there are hundreds of new species of animals and plants by documenting in the region.

According to the researchers at the University of Mato Grosso, the new species likely to monkey, which belongs to the genus Pithecia, writes the Dodo, was spotted three times in a fragmented forest area too little explored until now. Multicolor staining only of the animal has never been observed in any monkey of this genus, which scientists believe could be a new species. However, genetic tests will be needed to prove that it is a a new monkey species.

"We sent the first images to an expert, but everything indicates that this is a new species. The characteristics are very different, "says Manoel dos Santos Filho, one of the biologists that integrates team.

Although it is not know next to nothing about this new animal all odds indicate to what is already in danger of extinction, such as the bulk of the Amazon flora and fauna. As biologists, the region where it was found the animal is among the more have suffered from deforestation and only 15% of the original forestation remains today.

All years are identified hundreds of new species of animals and plants in the Amazon rainforest. At the same time, there are hundreds of species which will cease to exist without ever having been documented. According to statistics, the Amazon loses annually between 0.2% to 0.3% of their species.

Photo: Almério C. Gusmão/Unemat

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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

New York prohibits tattoos and piercings in animals

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The u.s. State of New York has banned officially the tattoos and piercings in animals. The new law, which will enter into force within 120 days, that prohibits any forms of body art in pets. The infringement of the norm will be púnida with fines up to € 200 and imprisonment.

Although the tattoos and piercings in animals are considered animal cruelty â€" which is illegal and as such a crime throughout the territory of the United States â€" the charges and penalties will eventually fall by the wayside.

The State of New York decided to take existing laws further with a specific legislation which bans fashion. Besides New York, the State of Pennsylvania is the only one to have a similar legislation and New Jersey must pass a law like that soon, writes the Inhabitat.

The law contemplates on the inner exceptions only for tattoos for identification or medical purposes.

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Monday, December 29, 2014

Has between 25 and 34 years? Then probably still lives with his parents

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The financial crisis has not been easy for young Europeans, as demonstrated by a study of Eurostat about citizens between 25 and 34 years who still live with their parents. According to the study, Portugal is the Sixth EU country with more young people of these ages living with parents â€" almost half of this population (44.5 percent).

This situation is even more visible in Slovakia (56.6 percent), Bulgaria (52.8 percent), Greece (51.6 percent), Malta (48.9%) and Italy (46.6 percent), countries which, arguably, have entered a wave of austerity that dramatically reduced the money available and the creation of jobs.

According to the Quartz, which published the data, there are two countries that are out of this trend â€" to Spain, with 37.2% and Ireland, with 22.6%, but there is a valid explanation. Many of the Spanish and Irish youths between 25 and 34 years emigrated in recent years, failing to count for this ranking. Thus, these percentages conceal a reality even harder.

In the Portuguese case, which also has been exporting manpower to various countries of North and Central Europe, Africa and South America, the situation is even more tragic. If 44.5% of young Portuguese still lives with his parents, even keeping in mind that thousands of them come out every day to other countries, how many will be those who can be financially independent?

The top 10 of the ranking is composed by Romania (44.4 percent), Slovenia (43.5 percent), Poland (43.4%) and Hungary (43 percent). The entire northern Europe is the last place of the list of Eurostat, which also makes sense.

See the complete list.

YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN 25 and 34 YEARS who STILL LIVE with THEIR PARENTS

1. Eslováquia â€" 56, 6a

2. Bulgária â€" 52, 8o

3. Grécia â€" 51, 6a

4. Malta â€" 48, 9c

5. Itália â€" 46, 6a

6. Portugal â€" 44, 5a

7. Roménia â€" 44, 4f

8. Eslovénia â€" 43, 5a

9. Polónia â€" 43, 4f

10. Nigeria â€" 43%

11. Spanish â€" 37, 2r

12. Letónia â€" 34, 5a

13.Republica Czech - 33.7%

14. ituânia â€" e, 5a

15. Chipre â€" 24, 1f

16. Luxemburgo â€" 24, 1f

17. Ireland â€" 22, 6a

18. Áustria â€" 21, 8o

19. Estónia â€" 20, 2r

20. Alemanha â€" 17, 3r

21. Bélgica â€" 16, 1r

22.Reino Kingdom - 14.4%

23. Suíça â€" 14, 4v

24. França â€" 1, 5a

25. slândia â€" 1, 2r

26. Holanda â€" 10, 6b

27. Noruega â€" 4, 2r

28. Suécia â€" 4, 1r

29. Finlândia â€" 4

30. Dinamarca â€" 1, 8o

Foto: Logan Ingalls/Creative Commons

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Bulgaria: ex-balneário Turkish bathroom turned into temporary Bookstore

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By the end of the 20th century, this area of Plovdiv, in Bulgaria, was used as a dressing room Turkish bath â€" one of many of that region. With the closure of the facility, the Center for Contemporary Art of the city asked the Studio Studio 8 .5 to renovate the space and turn it into a temporary Bookstore.

The transformation is completely radical â€" can be bolder than this other Bookstore, in Ã"bidos-mainly due to stone and brick walls that give a chilly air to the interior of the building.

The reshuffle is part of the "urban dreams" festival of Bulgarian city and, as you can see, the space until it was quite nice. And even if the installation lasted only one week, the bookshop managed to join an "extraordinary collection of books, multimedia and videos by contemporary artists", explains the Inhabitat.

The idea of creating art centers or even temporary shops is not new, but can be a good way to remodel and renovate obsolete or abandoned spaces, so often forgotten in dense architectural fabric of the city.

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Hypotopia: an imaginary city that could be built with the ransom money from a bank

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All over the world, national and local Governments have spent billions to rescue banks, real and not a country with Austria escaped the trend: the Austrian Government will have spent €19 billion to rescue the Bank Hypo Alpe Adria.

Several local activists tried to draw the attention of the ordinary citizen to the huge amount of money used to save the Bank and launched the Hypotopia project â€" the word Hypo comes from the Bank; TOPIA of utopia.

Headquartered in Vienna, these activists tried to figure out how this money could be used for other purposes â€" to build a city, for example. Thus, for four months, students from the Technical University of Vienna were invited to draw and create a model city in one of the Austrian capital's main squares, Karlsplatz, and so can the recognition of citizens

Called precisely Hypotopia, this model city could host 102,574 inhabitants and thus be the sixth largest Austrian city. "Hypotopia is more than an architectural design, is a protest," said Lukas Zeilbauer, engineering student.

According to The Guardian, the project was built from cinder blocks and wood and did not receive any type of public or private funding â€" why?

With a budget of €19 billion, the team of students might think big. They designed meticulously a city with industrial standards, dozens of businesses, buildings, power plants and even a transport network valued at €2,15 billion.

"We calculated the actual cost of everything. All cinder blocks and wood which you can see in the template is a building. We know how many people live where walk, the purpose of each building and how much would it cost to build per square foot, "explained Zeilbauer.

The only point on which Hypotopia isn't real is in omission of banks in its Constitution. The project was on display during the month of October, having been removed from the square with a protest March. Now, he will be one of the stars of the Vienna Art Biennale festival, in 2015, and ensure that students won't let him fall so soon.

"Our platforms are still accessible online. The fact that our showroom and physical model no longer available doesn't mean that our idea has died, "explained urban planner Manuel Oberaufner.

And in Portugal, how many cities would build with the débacle of our banking system?

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Sunday, December 28, 2014

20 unusual friendships between animals

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In November we published an article about the friendships more unsuspected of nature â€" animals that coexist daily peacefully, despite the difference of species, size, weight or even habitat.

This new gallery reinforces our thesis that friendship doesn't choose species: dogs and elephants, Lions, bears and tigers, cats and foxes, all coexist â€" sometimes! -in the middle of nature.

Sometimes it seems that is the man who's moved on this planet, with their destructive actions and almost always unexplained.

Keep the list of the most unusual friendships of nature, now seen by Bored Panda.

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Got any pictures of two animals in perfect communion? Send it to parainfo@greensavers.pt. We would like to add your photo to our art news.

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Saturday, December 27, 2014

Russia: online ad sells Gorilla trained to go to the bathroom

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Thousands of wild animals and ivory articles are for sale in 16 countries by more than €8,8 million (US $ 27.6 million), according to a survey by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), published in the Guardian.

According to IFAW, the most profitable business remains the ivory, with 32.13% of the total value of the illegal trade, but on the internet you can buy good, rare frogs, Tigers, hummingbirds, bears, chimpanzees and a gorilla trained to use the bathroom.

The study â€" the largest ever on the subject â€" found 33,000 animals or items in 16 countries: China, Russia, Ukraine, France, Germany, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Belgium, Kuwait, Poland, Netherlands, Belarus and Bahrain (in descending order of values requests).

Many online advertisers have already been identified and are being investigated by the police, according to The Guardian. "The poaching has reached worrying levels and cybercrime is now a wildlife threatened sinister and silent for the endangered species, which allows criminals to develop their business anonymously," said Azzedine Downes, Chairman and CEO of IFAW.

According to the entity, the wildlife-related crimes worth €15,3 million ($ 47.9 million) per year, i.e. This is the fourth most profitable illegal business in the world, after drug trafficking, smuggling and human trafficking.

"The trafficking of wildlife may seem a remote problem, but the internet leads him to the home of all", explained the English director of the IFAW, Philip Mansbridge.

The problem extends also to Portugal. In July 2013, Green Savers revealed that wild birds were being sold at the portal Portuguese OLX. The situation was denounced by a partner at SPEA (Portuguese society for the study of birds) and forwarded to the authorities.

Foto: Ryan Vaarsi/Creative Commons

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Friday, December 26, 2014

Scientists identify genes that enabled the domestication of the wild cat

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Place a domestic cat alongside his direct ancestor, the Wildcat of the Near East, and it will only take a minute to identify the differences. The two animals have an approximate size and shape and resemble, obviously, the cats. But the Wildcat is fierce, while the domestic cat-thanks to almost 10,000 years of domestication-is gentle and adaptable enough to have become one of the most popular domestic animals.

Now, scientists have identified genetic changes that allowed this domestication. The discovery, based on a high-quality sequencing the genome of the cat, can open doors to further understand how other creatures, including humans, have become more tame over time.

Cats entered the human society about 9,500 years ago, not long after humans begin the first agricultural practices in the Middle East. Attracted by rodents that invaded the barns, the Wildcats have migrated from deserts to the villages. To mingle with humans, scientists suspect, cats began a process of auto-domesticação, where the more friendly benefited from human leftovers and protection.

In thousands of years, cats have decreased progressively in size, acquired a panoply of new colors and patterns of anti-social habits and lost hair from the past. The remaining domestic animals such as cows, pigs and dogs, have gone through similar transformations, although scientists still know very little about the genes involved in the evolution of these animals.

But on the evolution of the cat already know much. And the team of scientists led by Michael Montague, post-doctoral researcher at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Washington, has identified some of the genes involved in the change. The investigation began in 2007 and the findings have now been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and identify 281 genes that show signs of rapid or numerous genetic changes, a brand of recent selection in domestic cats.

Some from 281 genes are involved with hearing and vision, while others are related to metabolic processes and an adaptation to a less carnivorous lifestyle. But one of the most intriguing findings emerged when the team has sequenced the genome of 22 domestic cats and bought with the genomes of two types of wild cats.

Investigators found at least 13 genes that have changed as the cats evolved from fierce to tame. Some of these genes are associated with cognition and behavior, including responses to the fear and the ability to learn new behaviors in Exchange for rewards.

"The findings are consistent with what we know about the domestication of cats," says Michael Montague. "The right moment had to become less fearful about the people and places new and incentives in the form of food have helped this adaptation," explains the researcher, cites the News From Science.

Foto: reineckefoto/Creative Commons

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Thursday, December 25, 2014

SPV's campaign shows the various ways to separate the packaging waste

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This Christmas, the company green dot shows the Portuguese the many ways of separating and recycling. Whether through the use of ecobags, reusing containers, boxes, or bags, colored according to the SPV, the most important thing is to get all the waste to the recycling bin. This is the main message of the campaign that the company green dot in this festive season debut in radio and press.

"The time we crossed is lavish in terms of waste generation. However, with the contribution of the entire population, there are ways to minimize the impact that these have on the environment, such as using recycled wrapping paper Christmas decorations and durable, not using dishes and disposable cutlery and, as expected, the separation and disposal of packaging waste in the proper recycling facility, namely the glassat this point the holidays, is widely used, "says Luis Veiga Malik, CEO of green dot Corporation.

The need to maintain awareness of recycling was one of the reasons that led the company green dot to launch this campaign at this time of year. Once used, the used packaging should be separated and transported to the nearest recycling facility using ecobags, colored or garbage bags, among others, reusable bags. The campaign draws attention to the many ways that exist to separate packages to contribute positively to the environment and to the creation of wealth for the Country.

In order to encourage domestic separation of used packaging, clarify the rules of recycling all that already separate and collect data on the habits and attitudes of recycling, Green Point society has, since December 2013, the mission to recycle, the largest awareness-raising initiative for the recycling of packaging ever held in Portugal.

By the end of 2014 already were visited 1.2 million homes. At the end of the action, in mid-2015, the mission will Recycle contacted 2 million households and equipped more than 340 thousand homes with domestic ecopontos. The action is coordinated with the municipalities and Municipal systems, providing the conditions to which an increasing number of Portuguese can separate their packaging waste if they are to be sent for recycling.

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Wednesday, December 24, 2014

The country with more furry animals in the world

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Scotland, in addition to beautiful, is a country of furry animals â€" and no, we're not talking about Duncan MacLeod, the fictional immortal born in Glenfinnan in 1592. Is one more fun fact to add to this nation obsessed with national pride, kilts and football, according to The Dodo.

Keep a list of 12 Scottish furry animals, starting with the magnificent Highland Cow, a cow well hairy.

1. Scottish

She is big, imposing, Scottish and hairy. Is one of the most beautiful animals in Scotland.

2.ovelha black face

The hair of this sheep can grow enough to cover your legs

3. Scottish Cat

This cat has a thick and sumptuous coat to protect him from the cold nights, long and dark winter.

4. Lontra

This animal, even very recently facing extinction in the British island, returned in force due to the Scottish conservation efforts.

5. Bearded Collier

This dog, one of the most hairy of the universe, is typically Scottish.

Shetland 6.Pastor

The Shetland Sheepdog rivals collier bearded in various aspects, including the fur.

7. Skye Terrier

Another canine breed Scottish, and another large amount of fur to withstand the harsh Highland Winter.

8. Scottish terrier

Is probably the best known Scottish dog, and shares many characteristics with the people: loyal, opinionated, ferocious and lover of parties.

9. Cavallo Clydesdale

A native of Scotland, this species of horse includes a hot sock on each foot.

Shetland 10.ponei

The Shetland pony is smaller than the Clydeslade horse, but with a strong personality and a hot hair.

11. red squirrel

All squirrels are hairy â€" or at least its tail is â€" and this doesn't escape the rule.

12. Red Deer

The Scottish red deer is the largest mammal of Britain and is one of the symbols of Scottish pride. Is majestic, has an exceptional coat and an impressive beard.

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Fotos: Wikimedia/Lennart Tange/Peter Trimming/Nick Edge/Blake Handley/B Garrett/Joanne Goldby/Paul Wordingham/Creative Commons

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Chinese demand for ivory is ravaging the population of elephants in Tanzania

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The demand for ivory in China is decimating elephant populations in Tanzania, which the African country where most elephants die due to poaching, reveals a report from the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA).

The Selous reserve, in the South of the country, is the main focus of poaching. In 2006, there were around 70,000 elephants in the reserve and in 2013 there were only 13,000, according to the report. The document indicates that the seizures show that the amount of ivory that comes from Tanzania is greater than the amount from any other African country and is adamant to assign the blame to the Chinese citizens, due to the high demand for ivory in the country.

"This report clearly shows that without a zero-tolerance approach, the future of elephants of Tanzania and tourism industry is extremely precarious," said Mary Rice, Executive Director of the EIA, the Guardian.

"The ivory trade must be waged at all levels, the entire chain of accusation has to be restructured, uprooted corruption systemically and all interested parties, including the communities exploited by criminal organizations, should provide clear support and those who fight this illegal activity on the frontline," adds the responsible.

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Tuesday, December 23, 2014

The 7 most beautiful protected forests in the world

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There are more and more urban areas and fewer and fewer forests. This statement is as unquestioned as worrisome. Still, and despite of the cement, the agricultural and livestock and produces deforestation RIP apace, there are still undiscovered forest OASIS.

Some of these sites are so unknown that put them here can be dangerous â€" who knows who's read and what are its objectives. See our gallery, also published in From the Grapevine, and learn about what the forests, more below.

1.Floresta national of Osceola, Florida, United States

Nearby Jacksonville, this pinewood is the ideal place for camping â€" and some people do-and thousands of people pass through here every year, just to enjoy the sights, ride a horse or take a boat tour. The forest is home to a large population of American alligators and black bears, so we must do it carefully.

2. National Park Bavarian Forest, Germany

Near the border with the Czech Republic, this forest receives 700 thousand visitors per year â€" are many. â€" and has several nearby mountains, some 1,500 meters above sea level. Many of the forests of Bavaria were cut when such practice was allowed in the region, but this was reassembled and, today, it is impossible to do so. Fortunately.

3. Floresta Yatir

Not imagine Israel as a country with an extensive vegetation, but the Yatir Forest, next to the Negev desert, is the largest planted forest in the country-with more than 2,800 hectares. The four million trees were planted in 1964 and have a very clear purpose: to prevent the desertification of the area, which once this close to being swallowed by the sands of the Negev.

4. Oulanka National Park, Finland

Situated between the remote regions of Ostrobothnia and Lapland, this park is close to the border with Russia and is the home of the Sami. The Park is very close to the Arctic Circle, and not its distance from civilization prevents it from being very visited.

5. Mendocino national forest, California

Mendocino is the only forest of California that is not connected to civilization by a road. Still, she is always full of visitors, whether hikers, mountaineers, cyclists or boat routes

6. Shirakami-Sanchi, Japan

This forest occupies the mountainous part of the island of Honshu and is a world heritage site. Many arrive the Shirakami to climb the mountain of 1,200 meters or view the waterfalls. Still, and except the roads used by mountaineers, the site doesn't have any path "andável".

7.Darien Gap, Panama

This dense rainforest is part of Pan American route, but is the only place that has no road â€" failed to build one. The forest is not accessible and is only visited by hikers and biologists. There are also indigenous peoples living in the center of the forest.

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Fotos: CrabTree13/Okedem/Willow/Geoff Gallice Wikimedia Commons/C.K. Tse/Creative Commons



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Monday, December 22, 2014

Tickell's Thrush Hermit: Maria Callas from the world of birds

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The hermit-thrush can be considered the Maria Callas of the world of birds due to extremely tuned melodies which sings, reveals a new study. Scientists have discovered that this American bird sings in the harmonic series.

The human singing and the sounds emitted by musical instruments are also based on the harmonic series system, which are developed from a base note and multiple frequency higher notes from the original note. According to the study, 70% of corner of this bird follows this harmonic pattern.

Robins-male hermits can sing between six to ten types of different sounds, almost always in high frequencies and a fast pace. Emily Doolittle, composer at Cornish College of Arts in Seattle, and Tecumseh Fitch, a biologist at the Univeristy of Vienna, analyzed 144 different types of songs issued by 14-male hermit thrushes. "To hear the melodies of the thrushes-hermit to a normal speed, the sounds are quite attractive, but we had no suspicion that we were going to hear a series of harmonics", indicates Emily Doolittle to the Daily Mail.

To reduce the playback speed of the melodies of the birds, the harmonic series patterns became clear and it was possible to analyse the choices of notes that Robins used the melodies. About 70% of the analyzed melodies were composed by 7% and harmonic intervals included notes at random without any harmonic referential.

Researchers are particularly interested in how these birds sing because the vocal tract of birds is not designed to produce specific notes within the harmonic series. One of the researchers ' hypothesis for this phenomenon might be the fact that the female song Thrush Hermit choose a male for their harmonic precision. Doolittle indicates that birds do not comprise deliberately their melodies through scales, but acknowledges that other species of birds also like the intervals used in human music.

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Sunday, December 21, 2014

Each time you wash your clothes is to pollute the ocean

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The problem of plastics that pollute the ocean is not new and has been scientifically studied and documented. The origin of most of the plastic waste that can be found in the ocean is obvious, but one of the pollutants with a higher degree of penetration is practically invisible to the human eye â€" the plastic bead.

The source of these small pieces of plastic, ranging from plumbing and are too small to be destroyed in the water treatment plants â€" are products of hygiene and cleaning. However, a little suspicious of these plastic microspheres are garments made with synthetic fibers.

After studying the microspheres in the coast lines in 18 different locations on the planet, the ecologist Mark Browne found that 85% of synthetic materials accumulated in these places were microfibers that corresponded to the type of materials found in synthetic clothing â€" which means our wardrobes and washing machines are two of the main culprits for the oceanic pollution.

The study of Browne â€" "Accumulation of Microplastic on Shorelines Worldwide: Sources and Sinks", published in 2011-has major implications both for the garment industry as to the conservation of the oceans. One of the main conclusions of the study is the fact that a single piece of synthetic clothing could set about 1,900 plastic microfibers every time it's washed. Taking into account the millions of synthetic clothing that are washed daily around the world is easy to imagine the scenario.

The quantity of small pieces of plastic that goes into the ocean is alarming and, as Browne suggests, "a large portion of plastic microfibers found on marine eco-systems derive from the sewers as a result of domestic laundry", cites the TreeHugger.

Part of the solution to the problem, as the ecologist advocates, must come from industry and from the brands of clothes, through the production of best synthetic textile not containing thousands of plastic microspheres.

Foto: Oliver Liria/Creative Commons

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The world's most dangerous Beach

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Maho Beach in Sint Maarten, Caribbean, the notion of relaxing is very different than other paradisiacal points on the planet. All because of the Princess Juliana International Airport, an airport glued to the beach and that makes it a perfect place for those who love airplanes â€" but surreal to everyone else.

With planes arriving five times a day, it's hard to vacationers conseguiren leave the stress behind and concentrate on a book or in baths, and that was the starting point for the following selection of pictures of Brazilian Daniel Botelho, of Rio de Janeiro, who spent a month trying to find the perfect angle for your images.

"It was a challenging job. I've been in the water with great white sharks, no cages, Nile crocodiles, giant squid, but these aircraft were really difficult to catch. They land at a speed of 300 km/h, "explained Barker to the Daily Mail.

"I needed to take tons of photos to get that little bit of gold", he continued.

Nothing splashy Green Savers readers: Sint Maarten airport was considered the ninth most dangerous in the world. See some of the pictures of Daniel Barker.

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Saturday, December 20, 2014

Lisbon Zoo will have two Iberian lynx

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The Lisbon Zoo has two new residents: a couple of Iberian lynx. The animals recently arrived at the zoo as part of a project for the conservation of species developed in partnership with the Institute for nature conservation and forestry.

Azhar, the female, is the founder of the National Center of reproduction of the Iberian lynx (CNRLI). The male, gamma, was born in 2010 in Central Reproduction de La Olivilla, in Spain, having moved in November to CNRLI. The two animals are now ambassadors from Lisbon zoo species and begin an important educational mission among the visitors.

On its website, the zoo of Lisbon explains that the arrival of the couple of animals causes the institution to have "a strategic role in the conservation plan for the species, while an essential tool of dissemination and awareness-raising among the population".

"This project takes pride in a lot and reinforces our mission: to preserve and conserve endangered species. The Iberian lynx is even more important because it is a species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, having regard to the serious risk of extinction that faces ", indicates the President of the Lisbon Zoo, Francisco Naharro Pires.

The Iberian lynx is native and endemic to the Iberian Peninsula and is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for conservation of Nature. The survival of the species is still at risk, finding themselves in a situation of pré-extinção. It is estimated that the current number of these animals is less than 350.

Foto: manuelpenatorner/Creative Commons

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China: dogs are killed to make fur products

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The consumption of dog and cat meat in Chinese culture is nothing new, but it's not just in the kitchen that these animals are used. According to an investigation of PETA Asia, there are dogs and cats to be slaughtered and skinned for the manufacture of leather products.

The investigation of PETA filmed workers fabris mistreat and killing animals, removing later the skin of animals, writes the Inhabitat.

After treatment, the skin of animals is used to manufacture gloves, belts, animal toys and any other object that can be manufactured with skin. Subsequently, these products are exported to all over the world. PETA is to disseminate a video where is documented the entire process in such a way as to remind people about the impact of trade in meat, fur and skin of animals are sacrificed for these purposes.

Foto: Joélisa/Creative Commons

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Friday, December 19, 2014

2013 was the year with the highest levels of CO2 emissions ever

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At the very time when it is imperative to reduce CO2 emissions to avoid disastrous consequences for the planet, emissions of greenhouse gases continue to increase. 2013 set a new record: emissions were emitted 35.3 billion tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.

The data are from the European Union Joint Research Center, which released the usual annual report on emissions at the global level this Wednesday. The document is part of the emissions from fossil fuel production and industry emissions, especially from the metallurgical and cement works.

The new record of 2013 was due mainly to developing economies: the Brazil issued over 6.2%, India 4.4%, the more China 4.2% more and the Indonesia 2.3% more. The United States, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, has returned to emit more pollutants after a slight stagnation in previous years. "The emissions increased by 2.5% in the United States due to a shift in energy production from gas to coal, combined with an increase in gas consumption," reads the report, cites the Motherboard.

On the bright side, as is highlighted in the document, is that the rate of increase in emissions is decreasing: "emissions have increased at a lower rate (2%) than the average in the last decade". The report observes a dissociation between the world GDP is growing even when CO2 emissions are slower. This is due to the increased bet in a service economy instead of an industrial economy.

However, this dissociation is not happening at a pace fast enough. According to the estimates made by the scientists, the planet still has approximately 1,200 giga tonnes to emit before the levels of sea water can destabilize human civilization.

Foto: nikosmchairas/Creative Commons

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World Bank launches Guide for energy efficiency for buildings and cities

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The World Bank recently launched six guides in support of the integration of energy efficiency in urban planning and local strategies. The aim is to help the cities to increase energy security, save more energy, reduce costs with gas emissions and improve the municipal services.

The guides were developed by the management assistance program (ESMAP) of the Energy Sector. The guides are set out in guidelines for the improvement of the energy performance of buildings, design and construction techniques, measures for optimisation of buildings and replacement of equipment with high energy consumption.

"Cities need to make difficult decisions at the level of the investments. Therefore, it is important to go back to the beginning and see where are the opportunities, what are the measures that offer the greatest potential for improving energy efficiency, to which sectors should be given priority and what are the barriers to implementation ", indicates Anita George, Director of Energy and Global Extractives Practice, CITES World Bank buildings and energy.

ESMAP's guides are still guidelines on integration of energy efficiency in matters of financing, acquisitions, transportation and urban planning.

Foto: tiexano/Creative Commons

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Thursday, December 18, 2014

New species of sea snail named in tribute to the lead singer of the Clash

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Alviniconcha strummeri. So if calls one of new species of sea snail discoveries recently. Due to the nature of this "hard" marine snail that lives deep in warmer and more acidic Ocean, close to hydrothermal vents, the scientists decided to compare this animal the Joe Strummer, former lead singer of British punk band The Clash, and gave him his name.

The new species of snail â€" one of five new discoveries through DNA sequencing â€" lives in the Pacific and Indian oceans at about 2,000 meters deep. The study with the discovery of the new species was published in the journal Systematics and Biodiversity.

"These snails seem punk rockers the years 70 and 80, have purple blood and live in an extreme environment. As such, we decided to baptize one of the species in tribute to an icon of punk rock, "explains Shannon Johnson, a researcher at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California, cites the Time.

This isn't the first time new species of animals are baptized in honor of music figures. In 2013, a team of scientists named a new species of lizard named after Jim Morrison of The Doors. Another team named a new species of parasite in tribute to Bob Marley and this year, a new fossil hippopotamus was baptized in honor of Mick Jagger, of the Rolling Stones.

Foto: Dave Smitham/Creative Commons

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Rotterdam: waste floating Park opens this week

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Rotterdam will have a park garbage floating in the middle of the river Nieuwe Maass, which will prevent the plastic and other debris to reach the North Sea.

With opening scheduled for this week, the Park is initially a mechanism that collects the trash from the river and joins in a kind of artificial island. The collected garbage will be increasingly used to build the Park, which will be later modified to allow plant life.

The aim is to prevent construction gets increasingly plastic to the oceans and create fertile ground for the proliferation of aquatic plants and native mussels, feeding a new healthy ecosystem on the river. If the pioneering project was successful can be implemented in other rivers of the Netherlands, writes the Inhabitat.

The initiative for the construction of the Park started from Recycled Island Foundation and featured collaborations from the municipality of Rotterdam, of Wageningen University, the WHIM Architecture and the SK International.

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Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Pope says that all animals go to heaven

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Last week, the Pope Francisco stated that all animals can go to heaven. The statement was ugly in the Vatican, in the weekly address in St. Peter's square, for consoling a boy who was upset by the dog died.

"One day we'll see again our animals in the eternity of Christ. Heaven is open to all God's creatures, "said the Pope, cites the Inhabitat.

To the Catholic faithful the affirmation of the Supreme Head of the Catholic Church can be a kind of relief relative to the destination of the animals, the statement is to foster the debate for both animal rights activists and theologians.

Previous popes to Francisco never confirmed if the animals would, according to Catholic belief, to heaven. Pius IX, for example, argued that the animals lacked consciousness and as such could not go to heaven. Since John Paul II stated that animals have souls, but never defended the possibility of an afterlife for these beings.

Technically, the Pope Francisco made no doctrinal statement, but many may consider the information as a clear indication that the paradise is open to all the beasts of the Earth.

Foto: Christus Vincit/Creative Commons

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File: countries agree to measures against global warming

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The participating countries at the UN Climate Summit, held in Lima, Peru, agreed last Sunday to approve measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and combat global warming.

The final document adopted at the Summit, entitled "the call to action of Lima", decrees that the 196 Nations participants will have to submit to the United Nations, before October 1, 2015, quantifiable commitments, ambitious and fair "for the reduction of greenhouse gases, writes the Inhabitat.

The climate Summit this scheduled end on Friday, but the lack of consensus made that the works were extended until Sunday in an attempt to settle the terms of the outline for the new environmental agreement should be concluded at the Summit in 2015, in Paris, and that will replace the Kyoto Protocol.

Foto: No More of this/Creative Commons

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Australia: one in five homes uses solar energy

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If there is something missing on Australia's Sun. as such, the price of solar power in this country has been decreasing over the past few years. The potential of this form of energy in Australia is such that nine out of ten Australian homes are considering replacing conventional ways by this solar energy.

The latest data of the Statistical Office of Australia reveal that one in every five homes in the country, i.e. 19%, has already installed a solar energy system â€" whether you are a collector, a photovoltaic panel or both. When decomposed this value, the solar collectors represent 5% of the photovoltaic panels and systems 14%.

In 2011, when the Statistical Office started to analyze the presence of solar energy in the country, the houses equipped with some kind of solar system accounted for only 5% of the total households in the country, writes the TreeHugger.

Is in Southern Australia where there are more homes equipped with some kind of solar system. With prices of equipment of this renewable energy decrease the tendency will be a growing implementation of this type of systems.

Foto: InfographicCollection/Creative Commons

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Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Quercus moved 450 technicians for the efficient consumption of resources

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Between September and December this year, Quercus toured all districts of Portugal with the EcoConsumo Project-support tools for the sustainable consumption of water and energy, backed by the consumer Fund, the Directorate General of consumption.

In total 19 awareness sessions were held which reached more than 450 technicians, among employees of joints and Social security authorities, IPSS, water distribution companies and teachers.

The training focused on information and awareness-raising for more efficient consumption habits, referred to the Quercus said in a statement, providing quantitative data on the possible return with the application of more efficient water and energy consumption, wants fewer consumers equipment of these two features.

Foto: Anton Fomkin/Creative Commons

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Israel: massive oil spill in the nature reserve will take years to be cleaned

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In early December a rupture in the pipeline from Eilat-Askeon, in Israel, provoked an oil spill for Desert reservation of Evrona near the Red Sea. Consequently, three to five million gallons of oil have spread for about 81 hectares of the reserve.

The oil has accumulated in ravines, but if there is no heavy rainfall may be possible that the crude oil does not reach the sea. However, the ecologists of the Israeli Government indicate that the spill will take years to be cleaned. The Inhabitat writes that cleaning work began, with teams vacuuming the oil and build barriers to prevent oil from spreading further.

"How do you take care of a deer running and limp because of oil? How do you clean the vegetation? This is a very complicated subject, "says the ecologist the nature and authority of parks, Roey Talbi. "We don't have experience to handle a disaster of this scale. The cleanup could take months at best and at worst years ", he adds.

The spill occurred while a section of the pipeline was undergoing routine maintenance. The section between the city of Eilat, on the Red Sea coast, and the city of Ashkelon, on the Mediterranean coast, near the border with Jerusalem. Cleaning work allowed the removal of two million litres of petrol and 20,000 tons of contaminated soil. The cleanup is being funded by Eilat Pipeline Company who Asheklon is owned by the Israeli State.

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Rhinoceros horns worth as much as gold or cocaine in the black market

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As the demand for rhinoceros horns increases â€" 30% over the last 13 years â€" the population of these animals is decreasing at an alarming rate. Currently, there are fewer 90% of rhinos in the wild than in 1970.

"In 2013, more than 2,000 horns of rhinoceroses of Africa were trafficked, which corresponds to 30 times more than in 2000," said Celine Sissler-Bienvenu, Director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare to the francophone region of Africa, cites the Dodo.

According to the charge, the traffic is out of control and is supported by organized networks. The horns â€" made of keratin, which can be found on the nails and human hair â€" can reach worth € 28,000 per kilogram on the black market Asia, the main destination.

The current value of the rhino horns is equivalent to the price of cocaine or gold on the black market. The comparison is appropriate, given that trafficking in wild animals became intrinsically connected to another type of illicit trade in recent years. The illegal trade in animals is the fourth most profitable illegal activity in the world, after drug trafficking, weapon and human traffic.

Foto: safari-partners/Creative Commons

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Monday, December 15, 2014

The recipe of Honduras that is taking a species of iguana to extinction

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The iguana meat is part of a long Central American cuisine. For those who prefer to have these animals as company the idea can be as unpleasant as eating dog meat. But civilised cultures are very different in different parts of the world.

The iguana meat is so popular in Central America that there are farms for breeding these animals in El Salvador, arriving to export meat to Asia and to North America. During a severe drought that affected Nicaragua during this year, the Government advised its citizens consume iguana meat rather than another type of meat.

However, the consumption of iguana meat in Honduras is becoming a problem. Many of the species of iguana that inhabit the territory of the country are already threatened by habitat loss. The iguana Aguán Valley is one of the most endangered species in Central America and, however, is one of the species most sought after for their meat. It is estimated that there are only 5,000 copies in the Aguán River Valley, where are native.

Investigators from the San Diego Zoo and the National Autonomous University of Honduras made an inquiry to the inhabitants of the area to assess the degree of awareness of the population about the decline of species and also to see if there is a way to lock.

One of the main findings of the investigation was the way the iguanas are dwindling and everything is related to the way in which they are cooked. Apparently, the best way to serve these iguanas is with their eggs, which means that when females are hunting are full of eggs and their meat is more valuable.

Thus, the population decreases not only by adult iguanas that are captured as the future generations that never comes. However, in addition to the problem of the eggs, the iguana meat still has a great reputation throughout Central America. In this region of the globe, the flesh of this animal is considered a cure for all ills, from colds to impotence, writes the Motherboard.

This reputation extends to Honduras, where 38 percent of residents polled by the researchers consider that the iguana meat is medicinal. However, the majority of respondents, especially older ones, are aware of the reduction of the numbers on the iguana populations. But the solution to the problem is not simple. This region of Aguán Valley is particularly poor and the population lives in small communities that remain of little agriculture.

The survey denotes that the long-term objectives of conservationists and inhabitants are the same: more iguanas. However, in the short term, there is a conflict of aims.

Foto: Landfotograf/Creative Commons

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A sympathetic pitch contest of Christmas trees

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Earlier this month, the Keele Christmas Tree Farm, a farm that is dedicated to the production of Christmas trees, in Staffordshire, in England, organized one of the most unusual casting contests ever seen. The aim was to launch as far and as high as possible a Christmas tree.

Each participant was given a tree with about 1.8 meters and 10 pounds that had to use in two tests: a height and throwing another pitch in distance. Each participant could perform three trials for each of the pitches. For the event were necessary 100 trees.

Although the event seems a waste of trees, the contest was for a good cause, since the aim was to raise funds for Help for Heroes, an organization that helps war veterans who were disabled, writes the BBC.

The contest was inspired by a similar competition that is organized in Germany for at least eight years, which typically occurs after the Christmas festivities. The difference is how the German competition is after Christmas, the Organization invites the participants to take the trees themselves will no longer have use.

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Dubai is selling the cheapest solar energy in the world

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The race to provide the market with cheaper solar power energy is being led, at least for now, by the Dubai. This month the Dubai Electricity Water Authority (DEWA) &, the public energy company, announced the sale of solar energy for only €0,05/kWh. This is the lowest price ever per kilowatt hit by solar energy.

The explanation for a price so cheap solar energy can be the past investments made by DEWA. Earlier this year, the company opened a tender for the installation of a solar plant with a capacity of 100 megawatts, which is incorporated in the second phase of the solar Park Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Currently, this park of 40 square kilometers is home to a 23-megawatt solar plant, built in 2013. However, the goal is to reach 1,000 megawatts of capacity in 2017. In order to achieve this objective, the DEWA asked the companies operating in the solar energy sector to submit proposals for a fixed fee over 25 years, referred to the Inhabitat. Of the 24 companies that apesentaram proposals, the winner was the Acwa Power, a Saudi conglomerate, which presented a proposal to sell the energy to the lower price, the €0,05/kWh.

This value means that the solar market in the Middle East is expanding rapidly and competition and this could be the big economic bets of this region of the globe when oil, abundant still here, finish.

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Sunday, December 14, 2014

The images that changed photography

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It's amazing to realize how much has changed the picture in the last 20 or 30 years, but this trend was not always so fast. The early days of the eighth art, iconic images today, were public figures, Queens or inhospitable scenes of everyday life â€" a hippopotamus at the London Zoo.

Many of these photos belong to the archives of the Royal Photographic Society, at the Science Museum in Kensington (United Kingdom) and recently saw the light of day and be exposed to the public soon.

Many of them have already been published in the British press, and is this first sample of exposure that you bring here. See the photos and, below, the corresponding caption. The exhibition "Drawn by Light" derives from 2 December and until March 1, 2015.

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1. Queen Victoria of England photographed by Roger Fenton in 1856. 

2. Hippo photographed at London zoo, by Juan Carlos Maria Isidro, in 1852

3. Afghan girl photographed by Steve McCurry in 1984 â€" one of the best-known pictures ever

4. advertising Image commissioned by the u.s. Government to Nickolas Muray in 1940.

5. Christina, photographed by Colonel Mervyn O'Gorman in 1913.

6. Leicester Square, London, photographed in 1896 by Paul Martin.

7. In 1858, Henry Peach Robinson photographed a young dying â€" an image that caused great controversy

8. A photo of John Hinde of 1944, used in a propaganda war.

9. another picture of Hinde, also of 1944 and also about the war.

10. Audrey Hepburn photographed in 1950 by Angus McBean.

11. Charis Wilson photographed by Edward Weston, in 1936, in Ocean Beach, California (USA)

12. A Sepervivum Percarneum photographed in 1922 by Albert Renger-Patzsch.

13. Photo of John Linde, without any reference to a year.

14. the village of Hernandez, New Mexico, photographed in 1941 by Ansel Adams.

15. a chimney photographed in 1934 by Noel Griggs.

16.Imagem of Oscar Rejlander, 1857.

17.Fotografia of Calum Colvin of 1986.



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Saturday, December 13, 2014

Obese dog lose more than 20 pounds and becomes calendar template

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There was never any moment when Obie wasn't adorable and affectionate. But his health was not the best so far. About two years ago, the little dachshund five years led a lifestyle that could lead to an early death.

Initially, Obie belonged to an elderly couple with the best of intentions but who often gave him food and sweets as a way to show affection by the animal. Being elderly, the couple not practiced much the animal and with the excess food that was given, Obie came to weigh 35 pounds, more than twice the normal weight for a dog of this breed of small businesses.



Eventually, a relative of the couple realized the plight of the animal and contacted an Association of animal rescue to help in the case. Shortly before, Nora Vanatta, a veterinary technician, had knowledge of the situation of Obie and volunteered to stay with the animal. So he took the animal in August 2012, Vanatta started improving the health conditions of the little dog.

No more excess food and high-calorie, which was traded for a diet with fewer fats and high protein content, designed especially to help dogs like Obie to slim down. Progressively, the excess weight of Obie began to disappear. In the first week the animal lost three pounds, but his body was not yet ready to support the exercise.

With the passage of time and as the dog was going to lose weight, the new owner was introducing new activities for which Obie if shifted more. After six months the animal was weighing about 20 pounds, closer and closer to the ideal weight-11 lbs. But in the spring of 2013 came a new problem to Obie. As had lost so much weight, excess skin was making your new healthy lifestyle.

Then, in April 2013, Obie underwent a surgical procedure to remove excess skin. After recovering from the operation, Obie was totally unrecognizable and more playful than ever.



In total, Obie has lost more than 22 pounds in 12 months. "Obie is evolving very well and with a stable weight, between nine and ten pounds", indicates Nora Vanatta, cites the Dodo. "There's some residual fat pockets on the sides and has no muscles toned as you would expect, but is healthy overall," he adds.

To celebrate the feat of Obie, Vanatta created a calendar where each month corresponds to the evolution of the little dog. The aim is to help animals, or even people in the former situation of Obie.

Fotos: Obie Dog Journey

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American company makes popcorn with solar energy

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The Bjorn Qorn is a company based in Broolkyn, United States us, which produces popcorn the way more unlikely: with solar energy. To fabricate the popcorn, the Bjorn Qorn uses mirrors giant solar reflecting the Sun's rays, concentrating them in a pot with the grains of corn. As the pot gets warmer, the corn turns into popcorn.

The company was born from the hands of two friends, Bjorn and Jamie, who met at the University of Bard. Bjorn is the son of farmers and grew up on a corn farm in Minnesota. Jamie is an inventor and advocate of solar power, writes the Inhabitat.

Years later, the two friends realized they could reconcile their talents. Bjorn provided the family's secret recipe for yummy popcorn and Jamie technology to manufacture popcorn and so was born the Bjorn Qorn.

Currently, the company sells only to shops in the area of Brooklyn and New York.

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Friday, December 12, 2014

Greenpeace activists damaged the Nazca lines

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The Peruvian Government accuses various environmental organization Greenpeace activists of causing "irreparable damage" in an area of 1,600 square meters of the Nazca lines, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Attorney General of Peru opened a preliminary investigation after receiving a complaint filed by the Ministry of culture of the country. The prosecution wants to now determine the identity of the Greenpeace activists who were in the area of the figure of the "Hummingbird" â€" where were caused the damage â€" inaccessible to the public.

Than the Peruvian judicial entity established now, all indications are that are involved 12 people who "incurred a crime against cultural heritage," writes the Guardian, a crime that can be punished with up to eight years in prison.

However, Greenpeace issued a communiqué apologizes "without reservation" for the activists ' action associates. "Without reserve, Greenpeace apologises to the people of Peru for the offense caused by the recent activity that left a message of hope in the historic site of the Nazca lines. We deeply regret the event. Instead of transmitting a request for urgency and hope the leaders who gathered at the UN Climate Summit, held in Lima, our message had a very distinct effect, perceived as disrespectful ", indicates the organization.

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Pousadas de Portugal will accept animals

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The Pousadas de Portugal are going to allow access of animals to their installations. So, when you want to stay in one of the many hostels around the country won't have to give up your pet company.

The measure will enter into force on 15 December and will allow small dogs up to 15 pounds, have partial access to Hostels.

According to news the Publituris, the cost of accommodation for animals is € 25 per night and includes the provision of a complete kit consists of bed, feeders and water fountain, floor base, hygienic bags and a bag of snacks.

Initially, the measure will be in force at the Inns of Marvão, Arraiolos, Estoi, Tavira and Sagres. From January 1, the measure is extended to the Hostels of Caniçada, Guimarães, Amares, Desgravo, Serra da Estrela, Ria, aimed at, palmela, Alvito, Vila Viçosa and Alcácer.

Foto: rschnaible/Creative Commons

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