مقالات البيئة

This Saturday, don't surprised or alarmed if your city, neighborhood or street suddenly goes dark for an hour, starting at 8.30pm, local time. It is not because of a natural disaster nor is it because these people haven't paid their electricity bills - They are simply joining the millions of people to celebrate Earth Hour, by turning off their lights and other electrical devices for 60 minutes....

When faced with natural disasters like the ones that just occurred in Japan, it brings to the forefront the question that is constantly at the back of everyone's mind. Have we tilted the equilibrium balance of our Planet so badly, that it is now rebelling, and if so, is there a way to fix things, before its too late? David Milrach, a nursery tree operator from Michigan thinks we can - by cloning the best specimens of the world's oldest and most ecologically valuable trees....

While they may range from tiny hummingbirds to large Indian Bustards, these birds all have one thing in common - They are all extremely rare, and either on the critically endangered or endangered/data deficient list....

Though we can stop buying many things that add to our landfills, sneakers are a necessity that cannot be avoided. While there have been a few attempts to make partially compostable shoes, a majority of sneakers end up in trash, where they sit for many years before they decompose, if ever! With billions of sneakers being purchased (and probably tossed) each year, this is a problem that cannot be ignored....

No trip to the Kingdom of Bahrain is complete without a visit to the 'Tree Of Life', a 400-year-old, 32ft. Mesquite. However, it is not the tree's age but it's location, atop a 25-meter sandy hill, smack in the middle of the desert, that draws people....

It is a well-known fact that dolphins are amongst the most intelligent animals on the planet. Yet, we have never figured out how to really communicate with them or for that matter, any other animals either. Now, a team of scientists from Florida's Wild Dolphin project, have taken the first step towards cracking the code....

Scientists have often wondered why the seahorse, with its curvy neck and snout resembles a horse, to which it has no relationship, rather than its closest cousin, the straight bodied and rather ordinary looking - Pipefish. Now, a researcher believes he may have the answer and as is the case in any kind of evolution - It's to do with survival....

A team of scientists led by Alex Smith from Keele University in Staffordshire, UK, recently revealed the discovery of what they believe is the hottest planet in our Universe. According to the researchers, the temperature on Wasp-33b, also known as, HD15082, measured in at a scorching 3200°C (5,792° F)!...

The biggest fear most surfers and swimmers face when they head out deep into the oceans, is being attacked by a shark. Now, a new study released by Australian scientists has revealed that these fish may be color blind - A breakthrough that may not only help make the waters safer, but also, prevent these mighty animals from accidentally getting entangled inside fishing nets....

While breakthroughs in technology products are pretty common, it is rare to hear anything exciting about a mundane product like cement - the ubiquitous grey construction material that is the backbone of almost every building. Now, an Italian firm has figured out how to make it a little more exciting by making it 'transparent' naming it, i.light!...

Though most people think that chopsticks are made from scrap wood, they are actually made from trees - Not just any trees, but Aspens, sometimes also known as the 'mother of forests' because they protect young Conifers and provide a rich habitat for birds and mammals. And, we are not talking chopping down a few trees, but millions of them!...

A sudden spat of wildlife deaths has become a cause of concern for people all across the globe. It all began on New Year's Eve when between 4,000-5,000 Red-winged Blackbirds plummeted to their deaths in a one mile-radius in the small town of Beebe, Arkansas....

While it may not appear to be so - Thanks to all the equipment and television screens, not to mention the bright lights, constant air-conditioning or heating, gyms are big energy users - kind of ironic when you consider how much energy people expand whilst working out. Though there has been some sporadic attempts to harness the energy, nobody has taken it to the level of Portland-based Green Microgym....

The continent of Antarctica is known to be one of the world's most hostile environments. Thank to its ultra low temperatures and caustic winds, very few people have ever attempted to cross the continent. Any travel to and back from the region, is usually done aboard small airplanes....

The year's best and brightest celestial show, the Geminid Meteor showers is going now - And tomorrow December 13th, is when the fireballs will be at their highest intensity. The best part? They can be seen from almost any place on Earth....

The process of manufacturing Solar cells sounds not only complicated, but frankly speaking, quite boring - Unless of course you happen to know Canadian Scientist Blake Farrow's method, using powdered donuts and tea!...

From November 20-28th, sixteen artists and countless volunteers from twelve countries, participated in 350.org's first ever global climate art exhibition. Using the Earth as their canvas, they create amazing artwork that was large enough to be viewed from Space....

Global warming is largely attributed to the emission of harmful greenhouse gases caused by industrial pollution and by simple day-to-day human activities, like driving cars and heating homes. Nowhere is the impact being felt greater than in the Arctic region where the temperatures are rising at an alarming rate....

For many years now, scientists have wondered how reptiles from five related species of Chrysopelea paradisi, commonly known as 'flying' snakes, can stay afloat as they leap from one tree to the next, sometimes covering a distance of as much as 79 feet - Now, a new study has revealed that it may be all to do with the way they move....

Biology, the science that deals with all things living, can be interesting, but with so many details to remember ranging from how plants perform photosynthesis to the function of each body part, it can get a little daunting....

Cats are amongst the easiest pets to take care of - They clean themselves, are easy to litter train and most important of all, don't splatter liquid the way dogs do. This talent apparently also extends to bigger felines like lions and cheetahs - Now, researchers have figured out why and believe it or not, it involves some laws of physics!...

Taiwan's third largest city, Taichung will soon be home to Floating Observatories, the world's most futuristic looking building. Scheduled to break ground in 2012, the building will house a museum, restaurants, offices, as well as, an urban park....

Whenever an earthquake, mudslide or other disaster hits an area, a lot of the concrete structures have to be torn down, thanks to the resulting cracks that render the buildings unstable. Not only is this expensive, but also, harmful to the environment, because concrete production is responsible for about 5% of all global carbon dioxide emissions. Now, there may be an alternative....

Could nano gold particles be a viable source of green energy that could turn our trees into street lights? A Taiwanese scientist certainly believes so and, his findings have intrigued some of the world's leading researchers....