Some words, passing from one language to another, take on completely different expressions. Some of them are almost untranslatable. On the contrary, other words almost need no translation, because they sound strangely similar everywhere. Just like “huh”, “coffee” and “ok”. But also like “guitar”!
There are several natural remedies that can give more energy, both physical and mental. Among them are the foods we bring to the table. Nutritious, low in fat and calories, they stimulate the metabolism, improve the mood and recharge the batteries. Rice, red fruit, honey and chocolate are only some of these.
A minor cabbage larva bites and swallows a piece of leaf. Immediately afterwards, a wave of light propagates in what remains of the plant, as if to signal the attack in progress. This is the alarm system that plants use to activate hormonal defence mechanisms, the last bastion against parasites. This signalling mechanism is nothing more than the “nervous system” of the plants.
Necessity is the mother of inventions. This is also what happened during the Great Depression. It was one of the worst financial crises in modern history, after the collapse of Wall Street in 1929. At that time there were the conditions for small and big ideas to take shape or spread on a large scale, sometimes changing our lives. Among them there were the zipper and even the tale of the 3 Little Pigs.
Reducing our ecological footprint also involves reducing waste and recycling. For example, if you’re renovating your wardrobe, don’t throw away the clothes you no longer use. Old jeans in particular are perfect for recycling. Jeans are very durable and versatile, so we can reuse them in many ways. For example, we can create home storage projects out of jeans, as well as new piece of clothing or bags.
One of the largest and most complex megalopolises on Earth is almost unknown. And it wasn’t built by man, but by termites. We are in Brazil, particularly in the forest of Caatinga. Here scientists have used satellite images to calculate the size of the expanse of earth mounds raised by termites. They discovered that there are about 200 million earth cones up to 8 feet high and up to 30 feet wide. And all these together cover an area of about 90,000 square miles. In other words, it’s about the size of UK.
Some people have abilities that resemble the superpowers of comic book or science fiction movie characters. Instead, they are widespread in remote populations, as a result of adaptation and the secular work of some geniuses. Moreover, by studying these secret abilities, scientists could develop a cure for some diseases.
One of the most common objections to an environmentally sustainable lifestyle is that it is too expensive. In reality, reducing environmental impact and saving often goes hand in hand. However, people often engage in behavior that they believe they are convenient but which unfortunately end up being counterproductive. Even when it comes to savings tips, there are many false myths that die hard, like that washing dishes by hand saves money compared to using a dishwasher.
Most of us spend most of our day indoors, like the workplace. Often without even doing much physical exercise. This condition can, in the long run, lead to more or less important health problems. But it only takes a few minutes a day to take a “green bath” and recover from the daily routine. Among the benefits of contact with nature there are: stress reduction, increased vitality and creativity, increased attention in children and also improved memory.
When we raise our eyes to a starry sky, we more or less all know what we are looking at. There are stars, planets and celestial rotations. The universe is still very mysterious, but at least we know what we are dealing with. Much of our knowledge is in fact due to the research of ancient scholars. They have challenged the beliefs of their time to analyze natural phenomena and discover the secrets of the world. Galileo Galilei is one of these pioneers of physics and astronomy.
There are many elements that make a home ecological. Yet one of the main sources of domestic pollution is building materials. In fact, using natural materials for floors allows you to have a healthier air in your home first and foremost. This is due to the fact that wood and stone do not release harmful substances, unlike synthetic floors.
In Canada there is a huge unexplored cave. The dream of every speleologist has emerged from the snows of British Columbia. The entrance alone is about 330 feet wide. It seems that no one has ever entered the cave – not least because you can’t see the bottom.
We call them border wars. They are the conflicts between nations, large and small, that take place close to an unshared border. Fortunately, not all border wars result in armed conflict, as they did at the time of the Falkland War or as the eternal Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On the contrary, most of the time states limit themselves to non-violent claims. Some of these “wars” have ancient origins, others are the result of recent landslides.
We should always consume fresh, home-cooked food. However, we often prefer packaged products for convenience or for a short time. Industrial food labels, however, often have a long list of ingredients, most of which are incomprehensible to non-experts. What we know, however, is that some of them are harmful to our health, such as aluminium additives, artificial dyes, aspartame.
Large rivers that flow uninterrupted from their origin to their mouth are now rare. A study published in Nature shows that two thirds of the longest rivers on Earth suffer one or more “setbacks”. This is due to the presence of dams, reservoirs, flow regulation interventions or other forms of artificial dams. Based on this data, it is clear that we need a change. In fact, we must consider that large waterways provide food security for hundreds of millions of people.
For a long time people thought that gods watching over human actions were necessary for developing societies on a large scale. In a small community where everyone knows each other, it is impossible not to notice uncooperative behavior. But when the number of people increases, it can be more difficult to detect an anti-social attitude. To facilitate cooperation, there was a need for a “surveillance system”, that is, gods. However, collective faith in supernatural and moralizing entities is a consequence of the development of structured civilizations, not its engine, as has long been hypothesized.
Hair dyes are one of the most used products by women. However, after the many alerts about health risks raised by experts, many wonder if it is best to change their habits. Unfortunately, it is not enough to look for ammonia-free hair dyes to take cover. In fact, ammonia is not the worst ingredient. Dyes contain an endless list of chemical ingredients, as well as powerful allergens.
How is climate change affecting rainfall today? Researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) have tried to answer this question. To do so, they have developed an innovative approach, based on precipitation weather data from the last century (1921-2015). The study shows unequivocally that human-induced climate change in recent decades has influenced precipitation over the last 100 years.
Although we are in the 21st century, gender selection is still a major problem. Gender-selective abortions performed in recent decades have caused an unexpected distortion in the ratio of males to females. Statistically, every 100 newborn babies are born 103-107 males. It is not yet clear, from a scientific point of view, why there is such unbalance. However, from the 1970s onward there has been an unnatural imbalance in the genus of newborns. In favor, of course, of males.
Considering the amount of electronic waste we produce, we need to implement green technology. The hi-tech field needs to renew itself and find greener solutions. Someone actually has already tried to combine technology and respect for the environment. As a result, we now have some eco-friendly, energy-efficient or easily recyclable products on the market. For example, there are fair trade smartphones, wooden earbuds and solar power banks.
Every year in the world, the total mass of insects decreases by 2.5%. And this has been happening for some years now. At this rate, insects could disappear completely within a century. The situation is so serious that the conservationists do not call it ‘insect extinction’, but even ‘insect apocalypse’. Yet, in addition to classic pollution, soil consumption and climate change, a new cause has emerged from more recent studies. Its name is ALAN, which stands for ‘artificial light at night’.
When in Rome, take your units of measures. It is already difficult to convert from feet to meters or from pounds to kilograms, which is essential to move in European countries. Things get even more hard if we think that there are some original units of measurement, unknown to most people. For example, have you ever heard about the Porunkusema, the Waffle House or the Mickey?
Most people would never say that, yet the substances most dangerous to health are inside our homes. How can we avoid contact with indoor sources of pollution? As well as being careful when buying furniture, preferring eco-friendly detergents and natural paints, and often changing the air at home, plants can also help. Many can purify the environment and neutralize harmful compounds.
Valentine’s Day is a day to show love to those who are important in our lives: if there are creatures that deserve all the love, they are pets.
The pagan origins of Valentine’s Day, the feast of lovers, were wild and uninhibited. The highlight of the feast was when the matrons let themselves be whipped by a group of naked young men. Then came a pope who christianized the feast with the saint, or rather with 3 saints.