econhut

  New coral reef restoration technology aims to reverse climate change damage Deborah Brosnan, a marine scientist, pioneered reef restoration technology in order to facilitate coral and other marine life colonisation. The built reef modules will also help protect the nearby coastal community from storm surge and sea-level rise. Marine scientist Deborah Brosnan does a research dive on a coral reef, in this undated handout in Antigua and Barbuda (Photo: Reuters) Marine scientist Deborah Brosnan remembers “feeling like a visitor at an amazing party” on her diving trips to a bay near the Caribbean island of Saint Barthelemy where she swam above coral reefs with nurse sharks, sea turtles and countless colourful fish. But on a return trip after Hurricane Irma ravaged the island in 2017, she dove the reef again - and was shocked by what she saw. “Everything was dead,” she recalled in an interview with Reuters. “There were no sharks, no sea turtles, no seagrass, no living coral. I felt lik...

  Earth’s water cycle changing due to global warming, may lead to more droughts As the global climate warms up, the water cycle is being affected at an alarming rate. New study shows there could be more drought in the future. The new study will be of immense use in planning strategies to combat climate change. (Photo: Nasa) The water cycle, a natural phenomenon through which plants and land surfaces release moisture into the air, is getting impacted due to climate change. A new study of gravity observations over 17 years indicates the rapid change as global warming heats up the planet. Dubbed as "evapotranspiration", researchers have found a surge of 10 per cent in the process between 2003 and 2019. Studies on the mass change of water between the oceans and continents revealed that this rate of increase is up to two times higher than previous estimates. Evapotranspiration is a critical branch of the global water cycle a cycle that creates sustainable conditions for life on la...

TASMANIAN DEVILS BORN IN THE WILD IN AUSTRALIA FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 3,000 YEARS   After being bombarded with a barrage of bad news about biodiversity extinction, we finally have wonderful news from the wilds of Australia. For the first time in 3,000 years, Tasmanian devils were born in the wild, Down-Under. The population of these marsupials, according to a   report   in   CNN , had reduced after the arrival of the wild dog species known as Dingoes, on the mainland. Their numbers were further reduced because they fell victim to the Devil Facial Tumor Disease (DFTD). Since it was discovered in 1996, DFTD killed 90 percent of the Tasmanian devil's population.                  For the first time in 3,000 years, Tasmanian devils were born in the wild in Australia. Tasmanian devils are  carnivorous marsupial  and have a coarse coat of black or brown fur. They look like baby bears but have either a white strip or a pa...

 

  World’s Largest Iceberg Breaks Off of Antarctica The chunk of ice is larger than the state of Rhode Island The humongous chunk of ice calved from the western side of the Ronne Ice Shelf in Antarctica. Credit:  ESA and Earth Observation An enormous iceberg, a little bigger than the state of Rhode Island, has broken off of  Antarctica . An iceberg bigger than Majorca that calved off an Antarctic ice shelf has been spotted by satellites, and declared the world’s largest iceberg. The finger-shaped iceberg, which is about 4320 square kilometres in size, isn’t thought to have been caused by anthropogenic climate change. Named A-76, the iceberg broke off the Ronne ice shelf into the Weddell Sea in recent days, according to the European Space Agency. The area has been spared an influx of warm ocean water affecting other parts of western Antarctica, which is threatening to release huge glaciers  such as one called Thwaites . “It’s not an area that is undergoing any signific...

Sunderlal Bahuguna and the story of Chipko movement Bahuguna, 94, who passed away due to Covid-19 on May 21, and was credited with coining the term 'Chipko' movement—hug the trees. His work led to a 15-year ban in 1980 on the culling of trees in ecologically-sensitive areas in the Himalayas Sunderlal Bahuguna, a beacon of the Indian environmental movement, will continue to be a source of inspiration from his heavenly abode. His passing is an irreparable loss for the nation. A home-grown environmentalist who steered a spontaneous ‘ Chipko Movement ’ of the 1970s into a strong people’s movement and saved the forests of the great  Himalayas  and the forest-based livelihoods of its indigenous communities was a living image of unfettered dedication. When I met him for the first time at the  Gandhi Peace Foundation  in Delhi in 1975, it was an awe-inspiring moment. I was a student and greatly moved by his thoughts and ideals. “Harmony with nature is the only way of life,” ...

  National Walnut Day –  May 17, 2021 They may not be as popular as almonds or peanuts, but let’s show walnuts some respect: they’re great for your heart, your brain, and your bones; you can incorporate them into any meal; and they’ve literally been around for almost 10,000 years. The Walnut Marketing Board established National Walnut Day in the 1950s, and we’ve celebrated on May 17 ever since. Read on for all the best ways to use walnuts, because they’re so much more than just another ingredient to toss in chicken salad. NATIONAL WALNUT DAY TIMELINE 2000 B.C. The OG Walnuts The first historical account of walnut cultivation dates back to Babylon. 1800s English Walnut European walnuts are shipped from England to North America where it becomes a popular tree. 1949 Nuts About Nuts The Walnut Marketing Board creates National Walnut Day to celebrate and promote walnuts. March 3, 1958 Best Resolution Ever A Senate Resolution proposed by William F. Knowland leads to an official decl...

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES The big global environmental issues we need to resolve by 2030 Climate change is the big environmental problem that humanity will face over the next decade, but it isn't the only one. We'll take a look at some of them — from water shortages and loss of biodiversity to waste management — and discuss the challenges we have ahead of us. This coming decade will be vital when it comes to solving the big environmental issues facing our planet. The third decade of the 21st century has begun and the environmental challenges we have ahead of us, set out in the  UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,  are many. This global plan of action adopted in 2015 puts forward specific measures to achieve  a world that is fairer, more prosperous and more respectful of the environment  within ten years. In this regard, the UN itself warns that we are running late, and the question now is whether we still have time to save the planet. Below, we sum up some of th...

  How To Make Your Home Office Eco Friendly Digital Office Your home office is a place in which you spend a large amount of your time and because of this, you should invest in it. In addition to making it comfortable and stylish, you might also consider making your office eco-friendly. Set aside some time and a little bit of money to lessen your carbon footprint but also make healthier surroundings for yourself. Remember that going green can be costly but it doesn’t have to be. The most environmentally sound thing you can do is not waste anything. The energy and resources used to manufacture, transport, sell and then dispose of things is huge. Avoid all that simply by not throwing things out or only buying what you absolutely need and will use. You can save up some money by opting for second-hand furniture or by investing in long-lasting pieces. Here are some helpful tips to focus on when making your home office eco-friendly. Choose ‘greener’ paint We seem to forget how much impact...