Wie wirkt sich die Versauerung der Ozeane in 20, 40 oder gar 100 Jahren aus? Heute hat das GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel die Ergebnisse eines Experiments aus dem Jahr 2010 veröffentlicht – das Greenpeace mit einer Schiffstour in die Arktis unterstützt hat. Iris Menn, Meeresbiologin, erinnert sich im Interview an die Expedition.
Der zunehmende Ausstoß von Treibhausgasen macht nicht nur dem Klima zu schaffen. Unsere Meere nehmen CO2 aus der Atmosphäre auf, das sich im Wasser zu Kohlensäure wandelt. Steigender CO2-Ausstoß lässt auch die Aufnahme in das Meer steigen – das Wasser wird sauer. (more…)
NABU und UVP-Gesellschaft fordern EU-weite Umweltstandards
Am 31. August 2013 findet bundesweit der erste Anti-Fracking-Tag statt. Unter dem Motto „Keine Stimme für Fracking – No Vote for Fracking” werden in zahlreichen Regionen in Deutschland Bürgerinitiativen auf die Straße gehen, um sich gegen die Ausbeutung unkonventioneller Erdgasvorkommen mittels Fracking zur Wehr zu setzen.
Aus Sicht des NABU und der UVP-Gesellschaft (Gesellschaft für die Prüfung der Umweltverträglichkeit) stellt die Methode, Erdgasvorkommen mittels Tiefbohrungen und dem Einsatz von Chemikalien zu gewinnen, eine erhebliche Bedrohung für Mensch und Natur dar. „Fracking ist klima- und energiepolitisch verzichtbar, zu wirtschaftlichen Kosten nicht vertretbar und angesichts der Wissenslücken über die Auswirkungen der Technik für Mensch und Natur ein Roulettespiel“, sagt NABU-Präsident Olaf Tschimpke. Auch der Sachverständigenrat für Umweltfragen (SRU) und das Umweltbundesamt (UBA) sehen diese Methode wegen ungeklärter Risiken für die Umwelt kritisch. (more…)
New interactive TV ad format captivates consumers beyond the 30-second spot.
REDMOND, Wash. — Jan. 7, 2013 — Microsoft Corp. today announced the double-digit engagement results of the first NUads experience, interactive polling, which it rolled out earlier in the fall of 2012 on Xbox LIVE in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The first wave of NUads was provided by a lineup of top advertisers, including SUBWAY® Restaurants and Toyota, which on average saw the following results with their ads on Xbox LIVE: (more…)
Passion for sport is unrivalled in its energy and dedication and so it’s no wonder that people are so keen to travel the world to see their favourite athletes and teams play abroad. These tours offer a unique opportunity to follow your sport and see some great global destinations at the same time.
Travelling abroad to follow your favourite sport is a unique and highly rewarding experience, allowing you to experience a different country, engage with their culture and discover the wonders of how other peoples and nations watch and enjoy sports. Organised tours are often the best way to get involved with international sport as they do an excellent job of combining all the necessary aspects without any hassle for your tickets to all the most important sporting events, accommodation and transport to make getting there very easy and scheduled free time to allow you to explore the surroundings of your destination.(more…)
Hydro-Québec (Canada), Alliander (Netherlands) and DTE Energy (USA) Join as the First Members
YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N.Y. – 25 Oct 2012: IBM today announced the launch of the Smarter Energy Research Institute, a new industrial research collaboration model aimed at accelerating innovation across the global energy and utilities market. Hydro-Québec (Canada), Alliander (Netherlands) and DTE Energy (USA) join as the first members.
The Smarter Energy Research Institute is a new collaboration between corporate research and the energy and utilities industry to transform leading energy companies through the use of predictive analytics, system optimization and advanced computation to deliver better services to their customers. Combining IBM Research’s expertise in the areas of mathematical sciences, computer science and high-performance computing with the deep-power engineering and operational know-how of the participating members, the Institute will focus on five core innovation tracks to pursue joint research and where shared investments, knowledge and capabilities will benefit every member. Each company will identify and be active in up to two tracks that match their business and operational priorities. The areas include: (more…)
Scientists have found the answer to why female killer whales have the longest menopause of any non-human species – to care for their adult sons.
Led by the Universities of Exeter and York and published in the journal Science the research shows that, for a male over 30, the death of his mother means an almost 14-fold-increase in the likelihood of his death within the following year.
The reason for the menopause remains one of nature’s great mysteries and very few species have a prolonged period of their lifespan when they no longer reproduce, as in humans. However, female killer whales stop reproducing in their 30s-40s, but can survive into their 90s. While different theories have been put forward for the evolution of menopause in humans, including the well-established ‘grandmother’ hypothesis, there has been no definitive answer to why females of a small number of other species, including killer whales, also stop reproducing part-way through their lives. (more…)
Comprehensive Platform of Software and Services Advances IBM’s Mobile Capabilities; Helps Clients Embrace Growing Mobile and Cloud Computing Business Opportunities
LAS VEGAS – 30 Apr 2012: IBM today unveiled its first ever Mobile Foundation, a comprehensive portfolio of software and services designed to help organizations capitalize on the proliferation of mobile environments — including laptops, smartphones and tablets. (#IBMmobile)
Building on its recent acquisition of Worklight, the new foundation further expands IBM’s strategy to provide clients with a mobile platform that spans application development, integration, security and management. (more…)
*Plants and animals that live on Britain’s coasts could benefit from changes to the way coastal structures such as seawalls, breakwaters, rock armour and jetties are designed and built.*
*Research by the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth and Treweek Environmental Consultants, supported by the Environment Agency, has led to the development of recommendations for the design and construction of coastal defence structures.*
The team has produced guidance on how the ‘ecological enhancement’ of hard coastal structures can be embedded in the design and planning process, from conception through to construction.
Past research has found that hard structures are poor ecological substitutes for natural rocky shores, often supporting only a few dominant, opportunistic species such as green algae. The research team assessed the suitability of different materials, surface roughness, positioning and height for coastal habitats. They examined structures across the South West coast, including Ilfracombe in Devon and Newlyn in Cornwall, as well as looking further afield to work from Sydney Harbour in Australia and Seattle Harbour in the USA. They focused on organisms such as barnacles and limpets as these dominate many rocky shore environments and rapidly colonise hard surfaces placed in the sea, including harbour walls. Once these organisms have established themselves, other plants and animals typically follow, to the benefit of species such as salmon. (more…)
