29/11/2022

Archive

Earth science | The science behind the Hawaii eruptions

  The science behind the Hawaiian HawaiianNewspaper headlines read – Hawaii’s Mauna Loa volcano erupts as officials warn people to prepare to evacuate and World’s largest active volcano Mauna Loa starts to erupt in Hawaii ? What makes these island a volcanic “hot spot” ? The following is from National Geographic Education… The Hawaiian Islands were formed by a volcanic hot spot, an upwelling plume of magma, that creates new islands as the Pacific Plate moves over it.   “Hawai’i,...

Creature feature | Strange animals – Australian platypus

The  “platypus” is indeed a weird, strange creature but / and … it IS real…. But when Europeans first encountered the odd-looking platypus, it became the centre of scientific debate: was it real or just an elaborate hoax? The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) has a puzzling array of features. Not only does it have that iconic duck bill, it lays eggs like a bird or reptile but feeds milk to its young like a mammal. Males also have a pair of venomous...

Loving Nature to death? Aotearoa / New Zealand Vanishing Species

A love of nature is embedded deep within our concept of “New Zealand-ness”. But the rich diversity of what we describe as ‘nature’ is narrowing all the time. In a two-part investigation, Farah Hancock reports on Aotearoa’s vanishing species. New Zealand has an abundance of endemic species found nowhere else in the world. Interwoven with our national identity, they’ve been immortalised in art and illustrations, graced currency, stamps, rugby jerseys, planes and souvenir tea towels. We’ve rested our Arcoroc coffee...

Marine Mammals | Whale hearing tested off Qld coast, Australia

They are the hulking giants of the sea, able to send their songs thousands of kilometres under the waves, but researchers still have little idea of how much whales can hear — and they are determined to find out. Scientists from the University of Queensland have spent the past two whale migration seasons armed with a long pole, which they use to stick a small sucker-covered box to the side of humpbacks as they pass the coastline south of Noosa. Associate Professor Rebecca Dunlop...

Christmas animals | reindeer & the cold

According to Discover Wildlife website : Reindeer , also known as caribou in North America, live in very cold regions such as Alaska and Scandinavia. They can also be found in Scotland following a reintroduction in the Cairngorms. With temperatures frequently reaching below zero and snowy, icy ground, how have reindeer adapted to be able to live, thrive and survive in the extreme cold?   How reindeer is cope with cold 1. Antlers : Whilst cattle horns have living tissue...

New threatened species Tracking System

A new tool has been launched by the CITES Secretariat to to monitor and track the trade in some of our most threatened species of animals and plants. The Review of Significant Trade (RST) RST is a review of significant trade. It was designed to identify species that may be subject to unsustainable levels of international trade, and to identify problems and solutions concerning effective implementation of the Convention. This RST Management system tracks the progress of species for the...

Protecting our fisheries

Many of us enjoy eating fish – and there are numerous benefits to eating fish  “Eating fish is an important source of omega-3 fatty acids. These essential nutrients keep our heart and brain healthy. Two omega-3 fatty acids found in fish are EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Our bodies don’t produce omega-3 fatty acids so we must get them through the food we eat.” According to Greenpeace : “More than 3 billion people around the globe depend on...

Survey | Frogs of Australia

FrogID Week is Australia’s Biggest Frog Count, held annually for Australians to help record frog calls through the free FrogID app, as a measurement of frog health and distribution around the nation. It aims to monitor frog distributions over time, helping us to understand how frogs and their ecosystems are responding to a changing planet. From croaks and barks, to whistles and bleats, every frog species makes a unique sound. Using the free FrogID app, you can record the frogs...

The joys of Camping

Today in the United States, it’s National Camping Day Getting into the great outdoors and communing with nature while going to camp are all fun experiences that kids can learn from and appreciate.… What is an excellent list of some of the great things about camping ( from NWF )  * 10. Silliness The strange side / real, relaxed you – in us all can be let loose during a campout. Whether you release your inner “nature nerd” or everyone learns...

World Philosophy Day | do we have the right to exploit our Planet?

  We celebrate World Philosophy Day is celebrated this year on November 18. World Philosophy Day’s objective is to encourage the peoples of the world to share their philosophical heritage and to open their minds to new ideas, as well as to inspire a public debate between intellectuals and civil society on the challenges confronting our society. HISTORY OF WORLD PHILOSOPHY DAY Philosophy delves into the concepts of existence, knowledge, values, the mind, language, and reason and has evolved throughout...

Archaeology | 100 years since the discovery of Tutankhamun tomb

In 2022 we acknowledge one the archaeology’s greatest discoveries…. discovery of Tutankhamun tomb   A timeline 1891: Howard Carter goes to Egypt as a junior artist with the Egypt Exploration Fund; he stays on and eventually is hired by Egypt’s Antiquities Service. January 8, 1905: The Saqqara affair leads to Carter’s resignation of the position as Chief Inspector for Lower Egypt. 1908: Carter is introduced to Lord Carnarvon by his old Antiquities Service boss, Gaston Maspero. 1915-1922: Carter directs excavations...