Environment – Page 213 – Shamskm: A site to exchange knowledge and solutions

Extinction rate is higher, says the German Environment Minister

By ShamsMay 20, 2008Environmentbiodiversity, extinction rate

German Environment Minister, Sigmar Gabriel told a conference in Bonn that extinction rate for plants and animals is hundred to thousand times higher than the natural trend. It’s a U.N. biodiversity conference that plans to work out lines to slow down the extinction by 2010. Target line is too short. But steps to move forward are promising. Reuters news.

(more…)

Polar Bears (getting attention)

By ShamsMay 19, 2008Environmentpolar bear, sea ice

It’s old news already. But good to hear again. Polar bear is now in the list of endangered species of U.S government. Polar bears sea ice habitat has melted dramatically in recent decades (a clear sign of global warming). And further receding of polar ice is likely in the coming years (45 years in the count that the PBs will face trouble harder).

(more…)

Arsenic in the park and phytoremediation

By ShamsMay 18, 2008EnvironmentAmerican Civil War, arsenic, Chinese brake fern, hyperaccumulator

When the U.S Geological Survey geographer Terry Slonecker was going through aerial photographs, he could easily detect the stress and stunted growth of trees and grass in the park in Washington that led him to conclude its arsenic. He was in fact looking for arsenic in a nearby area used for military activities in World War I. But the park has no history of WWI activities rather it goes back to the American Civil War which occurred between 1861 to 1865. But how it could leave arsenic there?

(more…)

Wind energy, the next riding horse of power

By ShamsMay 17, 20081 commentEnvironmentalternative energy sources, fossil fuel, turbine, wind energy

As U.S Department of Energy (DOE) doing a feasibility study to generate 20% of power for Americans from wind energy, turbine industries can be a new lucrative market for investors. The approximate time planned is by 2030. More than 20 years at hand. The turbine market will be advancing tremendously in the coming decades. That’s a certainty.

(more…)

Do animals sense natural events?

By ShamsMay 16, 2008Culture, Environmentanimal sense, earthquake, Mianzhu, Sichuan, Wuhan

Were these natural warning of an impending earthquake in the mountainous Sichuan province in China – there is much news coming out now, something that could look like superstitions. As the news emerges, three days before the earthquake thousands of toads appeared on the streets on Mianzhu city or hours before the unusual behaviour of lions, zebras and other animals at the zoo in Wuhan. What the human perception could not catch, animals could!!

(more…)

The ‘Crazy Rasberry Ants’

By ShamsMay 15, 2008Environmentant killers, crazy rasberry ants, Houston, Johnson Space Center, ladybugs, NASA, pesticides

Well they have ‘engineering brain’ and they do follow a ‘sustainable strategy’ – when their fellows get killed by pesticides they simply use the ‘corpses’ as bridges to safely move over the surface treated with pesticides 🙂 . The complaints against them are piling up daily. Our subject is an ‘ant’. No not one, they are many – they are the ‘crazy rasberry ants’ of Texas.

(more…)

Cyclone in Myanmar and the earthquake in China

By ShamsMay 14, 2008EnvironmentChina earthquake 2008, Cyclone Nargis

Cyclone Nargis took a toll of more than 34,000 lives, while more than 27,000 are missing (according to the Government of Myanmar) although United Nations estimates death toll between 63,000 to 100,000. The tropical cyclone Nargis hit Myanmar on May 2.

(more…)

There are nine million bicycles in Beijing……

By ShamsMay 12, 2008EnvironmentBeijing, Bicycle riding, Katie Melua

Although it’s the gas price to blame, but it’s a great move – bicycles!! More people are using the two-wheelers. Good for the environment, good for health. There are about 18 million sales a year over the last few years in US. That’s a smart number.

(more…)

Category Archives: Environment