Travel Archivi | Page 4 of 7

Termites Built Their Own Underground City Over the Centuries

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.

5 Reasons Why Contact with Nature Make Us Feel Good

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.

There Is a Vast Unexplored Cave Down in Canada

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.

Fewer and Fewer Large Rivers Run Free to the Sea Because of Humans

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.

How Climate Change Affects Rainfall Today in Our Hemisphere

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.

How Insect Extinction Is Also Due to Light Pollution

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’.

Surviving Fires: Nature Does It Better than Humans

Surviving fires is not easy, yet nature does it better than humans. Fire has an important and often negative impact on wild plants and animals, but some systems have adapted to it. And, paradoxically, some species cannot live without fire. In an environment adapted to the fire, in fact, once the fire is extinguished, nature can resume the lost ground. Moreover, some species, even with a fire, do not die and can grow back very quickly.

Here Are The Most Incredible, Best Marathons in the World

The most famous are those in New York, with more than 50 thousand participants, that of Berlin and that of Athens. But there are many other suggestive marathons that can give unique emotions. Among them, we have the Outdoor Marathon in Australia, the Kilimanjaro Marathon, the Midnight Sun Marathon in Norvegia, the Inca Trail Marathon and the Grand to Grand Ultra.

4 Things You Probably Do Not Know About Rainbows

The word rainbow comes from the Latin arcus pluvius. This shows that even our ancestors understood its physical origin: there can be no rainbow without rain. But how are rainbows formed? They occur when sunlight – i.e. all wavelengths of light, which together appear as white light – passes through water droplets. And how many color do they contain? That really depends on us. Some scientists even think that perception can be a cultural issue.

If We Are Eating Cheese Today It Is Thanks to a Prehistoric Fly

Do you like eating cheese and dairy in general? Then you should know where do they come from. In fact, if today you can satisfy your passion and enjoy cheddar or mozzarella, you must thank a prehistoric fly. Neolithic farmers were actually the first to learn how bacteria and other tiny creatures could help preserving and transforming food. This is what emerges from a study published in Current Biology. This new discovery is rewriting, at least in part, the food history of man.

3 Yoga Retreats to Find Peace of Mind Around the World

Are you feeling stressed out in your everyday life? Do you want to drop everything and run away? Then a nice trip might be just the thing for you. In particular, you could take refuge in a place where you can meditate in peace. For example, you can find many yoga retreats throughout the world – starting from As

Stone Age People Already Struggled Against Sea Level Rise

Even in prehistoric times, people living near the sea had to deal with the risk of flooding. In fact, the remains of what seems to be a coastal defence barrier have come to light off the Israeli coast. The wall that stretches over 100 meters protected a small community of Stone Age people around 7000 years ago. According to archaeologists at the University of Haifa (Israel), it is the oldest and most impressive sea wall ever identified. Unfortunately, however, it did not prevent the village from being submerged.

Hachiko True Story – The Most Faithful Dog in the World

After the sudden death of its master, Hachiko went every day to wait for him, in vain. For nine years, the Akita dog returned to Shibuya Station at the time the man usually got off the train on his way home from work. This dog became the icon of fidelity and unconditional love in Japan, and later throughout the world. But what is Hachiko true story?

4 Wild Places in the World Where You Can Admire the Beauty of Nature

If you need to take a break from city life, then a trip might be just the thing for you. The ideal would be to regain contact with nature, enjoying enchanted wild places in the world and breathtaking scenery. From the Amazon, to Indonesia, Cambogia, Patagonia: you are just spoilt for choice.

There Is a Good Bacteria in Our Body That Helps Us Feel Better

It consists of colonies of microorganisms – over 1,000 species of bacteria, fungi and protozoa – that live in our digestive system. The bacterial flora, or gut microbiota, is a valuable ally for our health. First and foremost, it prevents the proliferation of pathogens and synthesises useful substances such as Vitamin K. In addition, it digests the most complex molecules and keeps our immune system in “training”. For this reason, we must try to keep these good bacteria healthy. We can do this with our daily diet, which allows us to provide energy and nutrients to intestinal microorganisms. We feed the bacteria and they help us to make the digestive system and the immune system work properly.

Water Shortage: Why Are We Running Out of ‘Blue Gold’?

Our planet is experiencing an unprecedented water shortage. There are many reasons for this, but they all have to do with man – and climate change. First of all, world population is growing and this leads to an increase of water demand. In addition, as a consequence of global warming, droughts are more frequent and ice glaciers melt faster. As a result, we are losing drinking water and increasing the amount of sea water that is unusable for life.

Help Wildlife Animals Get Through the Winter With These Tips

Winter frost can pose a dangerous threat to the wildlife animals that live around us. However, we can help them by equipping the balconies and gardens to offer them protection for the coldest days. As for birds, you could place some mangers with seeds on the balcony or in the garden or build a small bird house. Mammals, on the other hand, prefer dried fruit, dried bread, vegetables and fresh fruit. The most important thing, however, is to provide them with water and a shelter!

The New Seven Wonders of the World

The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World have been dethroned by the Seven New Wonders of the World: do you know them?

Halligen – The Islands of Germany that Are Slowly Disappearing

In medieval times there were even 50, while in 1600 there were 25. Today they are only ten. They are the Halligen, small islands between the North Frisian Islands of the North Sea, on the border between Germany and Denmark. But why are they gradually disappearing? These tiny strips of land are submerged every winter by the tides of the Wadden Sea. As a result, over time some of them have been completely swallowed up by water.

This Lake in Costa Rica May Kill You if You Even Go Near It

There is a wonderful lake in Costa Rica, with breathtaking colors and pastel shades ranging from pink to blue to green. Sadly, it is as beautiful as deadly. Its pH reaches even zero while the bottom is covered by liquid sulphur. No living creature can inhabit it. In other words, it is a living hell of water. Due to its strange activity, the Poás volcano provides an excellent and extreme example of the effects of acid rain.

Interrail in Europe: Our top 5 destinations

Interrail Destinations in Europe: Our top 5 recommendations.

There Is a Beautiful Rainbow Mountain in Perù Called Vinicunca

There is a magical place in Peru where you can walk in a rainbow of colors. People call it the “rainbow mountain”, but its geographical name is Vinicunca. Its particular color is due to the fact that millions of years ago materials such as iron, dolomite, sulphur, copper and hematite deposited on the mountain, which today create this effect. It’s still a unique and uncontaminated place because to see it you have to go on a demanding trekking at high altitude that can last several days.

Scientists Have Discovered a Sea of Freshwater Beneath the Ocean

A sea of freshwater under the salt ocean. It seems a paradox, but it is real. A research group at Columbia University has discovered a giant freshwater aquifer trapped in porous sediments. In fact, it is below the vast expanse of water from Massachusetts to New Jersey. This is really interesting because it could provide water for the world’s arid regions.

Akarmara – The Mining Town Reclaimed by Nature in Only 20 Years

Trees and vegetation have invaded houses and streets. Welcome to Akarmara, the former Soviet city of Abkhazia, a Caucasian territory claimed by Georgia. Actually it is an independent region – and in recent years it has become a forest. It was once a mining town, but in the 1970s, due to war and economic change, people started to leave the city. As a result, nature once again took control of what belonged to it and invaded the town, which today has only 35 inhabitants.

This Indian Lake Is So Polluted, It Keeps Catching Fire

There is an Indian lake that is always burning making life difficult for locals. It is Lake Bellandur in Bangalore and once again, the only one responsible for this phenomenon is man. The fires, in fact, would be the result of the continuous, illegal dumping of waste into the lake. As a result, the waters of Bellandur are toxic and nowadays there is still no definitive solution to this situation.

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