Earth Day 2010

Celebrate Earth Day 2010 on April 22nd.

Aral Sea Environmental Disaster and Human Catastrophe

The drying up of the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan is one of our most shocking environmental disasters. U.N Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called it 'a shocking disaster' and has made an urgent appeal to the leaders of the Central Asian area to pay urgent attention to the problem and step up efforts to solve it.

The Aral Sea was once the world's fourth largest lake, but it has shrunk by 90% - all this the shocking result of  the heavy-handed agricultural policies of the old Soviet Union. A project intended to boost cotton production in the arid regions of Uzbekistan was responsible for diverting rivers away from their natural destination in the Aral Sea. The results of these short-sighted policies have been catastrophic for the environment and for the people living there.  

Dog Senses Earthquake Before it Happens

Are animals more alert to earthquakes than humans? It certainly seems like it when you see how quickly and resolutely the dog featured in the video made a get away moments before the devastating 8.8 earthquake struck in Chile on February 26 2010.

Experience the Profound Wonder of the Known Universe

Experience the profound wonder of the vastness of the universe while watching this beautiful video put together by the American Museum of Natural History. It is remarkable and breath-taking - makes one feel humble, in awe, but also filled with a profound sense of gratitude for being part of this marvel.

The Known Universe takes viewers from the Himalayas through our atmosphere and the inky black of space to the afterglow of the Big Bang. Every star, planet, and quasar seen in the film is possible because of the world’s most complete four-dimensional map of the universe, the Digital Universe Atlas that is maintained and updated by astrophysicists at the American Museum of Natural History.

The new film, created by the Museum, is part of an exhibition, Visions of the Cosmos: From the Milky Ocean to an Evolving Universe, at the Rubin Museum of Art in Manhattan through May


2010…

Kindle: What's New?

Hope for Antarctic Whales: New Zealand and Australian Scientist Head South

The two countries of Australia and New Zealand are jointly going to do research on whales in the Antarctic Region. Their plan is to challenge the annual whale hunting/research carried out by Japan. Minke, blue and humpback whale will be studied by the team of 18 scientists that have embarked on the study.


Climate change and its impact on whale populations and behavior will also be investigated by the team of scientists. They will utilizing a range of non-lethal techniques - special darting guns will gather samples of skin and blubber for DNA testing. It stands to reason that they will also tag the whales so that data regarding their movement through the seas can be monitored.


There is strong opposition to Japan's resumption of humpback whale hunting ostensibly for research purposes. The new research project will hopefully challenge this type of deadly research.

Japan Resumes Whale Hunting

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• NZ, Australia to research whales (news.bbc.co.uk)