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Added on the 03/04/2016 15:03:00 - Copyright : Reuters - Next Media
Appearing at a press conference for the presentation of a key report on the climate by the United Nation's World Metereological Organization via video-link, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls the global energy system "broken", urging a swift transition away from fossil fuels "before we incinerate our only home". IMAGES
As climate change drives drought, and the rising global population drives food demand, the world's food security is ever more precarious. But struggling farmers may find relief from the soaring temperatures from the sun itself--and the technology that harnesses its power. HuffPost reports students at the University of Arizona noticed that vegetables grown under the cover of solar panels flourished during the hottest summer on record. The observation provided food for thought for Prof. Greg Barron-Gafford’s research in 'agrivoltaics': growing food and generating solar energy on the same land. The concept could fulfill the need for land on which to build new solar installations while also helping farmers stay afloat. It’s a case where one plus one could equal more than two. Greg Barron-Gafford Associate Professor, University of Arizona’s School of Geography, Development and Environment
Police arrest "yellow vest" protesters and use tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd on the Champs-Elysees. IMAGES
This creepy crawly insect is called a wax worm and, believe it or not, this little guy may just be the answer to global pollution. Footage provided courtesy of the Spanish National Research Council shows a brilliant new discovery made by researcher Federica Bertocchini. She discovered that wax worms are capable of eating through polyethylene plastic. The researcher demonstrated her discovery at a laboratory in Madrid on Wednesday. Although polyethylene is one of the world's most resistant forms of plastic, the worms can destroy the material by munching their way through it. According to the researcher, 100 worms can biodegrade up to 92 milligrams of polyethylene in just one night. That might not seem like much, but what if we multiply that by a thousand? Or even a million? The discovery is touted as the first all-natural solution to the disposal of the dangerous and wasteful material worldwide. Wax worms are now seen as the best way to biodegrade plastic without causing more harmful effects to nature. Polyethylene plastic, the material used to make plastic bags, is very durable. That's why we use it so often. The problem is that polyethylene is not biodegradable, which means that it stays in the environment for hundreds of years after being thrown away. It can cause all sorts of problems for wild animals and the natural environment in general. That's why this new discovery has the potential to help us clean up our act and restore areas like landfills and other areas polluted with plastic.
Siberia can be a harsh and unforgiving land. The winters in Russia's east are world famous for being some of the harshest in the world. Naturally, only the toughest people can resist the toughest climates, but Russian mothers have a trick to prepare their children for the deep Siberian chilly season. They take their young children, some younger than 10 years old, and dive into the icy waters of Lake Baikal, the deepest freshwater lake in the world. The lake freezes over in the winter and the ice can be over a yard thick. These women are devoted members of the 'Pribaikalsky' club, and swimming in ice-cold temperatures during the winter is one of their favorite pastimes. They bring their children to swim by their side, dunking their heads under the water in special pools carved into the ice. Ice swimming is thought to boost the immune system and keep the kids from getting sick in the winter. It also increases the children's resistance to the cold weather and helps kids enjoy outdoor fitness activities in the dead of winter. Of course, the kids are treated to a warm bath after taking a dip in the teeth-chatteringly cold water. Would you ever let your kids try this Siberian winter therapy?
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