One quarter of plant species around the world are at risk of extinction, but a few Greeks are trying to counteract that development in their country by organizing a "flea market" for plant seeds. Spyros Panagiotiakis is standing in front of a box filled with plant seeds, and he's thrilled. Black tomatoes, yellow watermelons, yellow beans and slender eggplants are filed in countless paper bags. It's like the Garden of Eden for the man from Crete. "Nature is generous enough to offer us these plants," he said. "We must do everything we can to preserve this wealth."
Spyros Panagiotiakis is standing in front of a box filled with plant seeds, and he's thrilled. Black tomatoes, yellow watermelons, yellow beans and slender eggplants are filed in countless paper bags. It's like the Garden of Eden for the man from Crete.
"Nature is generous enough to offer us these plants," he said. "We must do everything we can to preserve this wealth."
Three young German architects are designing structures made completely out of living trees, including a pavilion for concerts in downtown Stuttgart. But designing the ultimate treehouse turns out to be trickier than one might expect. Ferdinand Ludwig grows trees on trees. That's what he does. And he has grafted together -- trunk to top, top to trunk -- seven young willow trees. At the moment a scaffold supports the young architect's unusual tree tower. The roots of individual trees protrude sideways and into containers of soil. But soon the roots will be cut off. And "at that point," the young architect says, "the trees will finally have merged into a single organism."
Three young German architects are designing structures made completely out of living trees, including a pavilion for concerts in downtown Stuttgart. But designing the ultimate treehouse turns out to be trickier than one might expect.
Ferdinand Ludwig grows trees on trees. That's what he does. And he has grafted together -- trunk to top, top to trunk -- seven young willow trees.
At the moment a scaffold supports the young architect's unusual tree tower. The roots of individual trees protrude sideways and into containers of soil. But soon the roots will be cut off. And "at that point," the young architect says, "the trees will finally have merged into a single organism."
Lonesome George, the last remaining giant tortoise of his kind, may soon be a father, in a development that has delighted conservationists. Unhatched eggs have been found in his "bachelor" pen in the Galapagos Islands, his keepers have said.For decades, the last known Pinta island tortoise had shown little interest in reproducing. But at age 90, George is said to be in his sexual prime.
Unhatched eggs have been found in his "bachelor" pen in the Galapagos Islands, his keepers have said.
For decades, the last known Pinta island tortoise had shown little interest in reproducing. But at age 90, George is said to be in his sexual prime.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Harvard University researchers have issued a new report that confirms what many experts already feared: Stopping greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants is going to cost a lot of money. Electricity costs could double at a first-generation plant that captures and stores carbon dioxide emissions, according to the report from energy researchers at the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center. Costs would drop as the technology matures, but could still amount to an increase of 22 to 55 percent, according to the report, "Realistic Costs of Carbon Capture," issued this week. These projections "are higher than many published estimates," but reflect capital project inflation and "greater knowledge of project costs," wrote researchers Mohammed Al-Juaied and Adam Whitmore. Coal is the nation's largest source of global warming pollution, representing about a third of U.S. greenhouse emissions, equal to the combined output of all cars, trucks, buses, trains and boats.
Electricity costs could double at a first-generation plant that captures and stores carbon dioxide emissions, according to the report from energy researchers at the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center.
Costs would drop as the technology matures, but could still amount to an increase of 22 to 55 percent, according to the report, "Realistic Costs of Carbon Capture," issued this week.
These projections "are higher than many published estimates," but reflect capital project inflation and "greater knowledge of project costs," wrote researchers Mohammed Al-Juaied and Adam Whitmore.
Coal is the nation's largest source of global warming pollution, representing about a third of U.S. greenhouse emissions, equal to the combined output of all cars, trucks, buses, trains and boats.
Or... we could stop using coal, since Coal Is Carbon Captured™. Why take it out the ground, capture the carbon, and then stick it back in the ground. Wouldn't it be simpler, cleaner, and less destructive to simply just not take coal out of the ground in the first place?
Bats use sonar to navigate and hunt. Many have been killed by wind turbines, however, which their sonar doesn't seem to recognize as a danger. Surprisingly, radar signals could help keep bats away from wind turbines, scientists have now discovered.
Hat tip Naked Capitalism "Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
Texas wind farm pioneers radar technology to protect migrating birds - Guardian- Friday 1 May 2009 Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.
Frank Delaney ~ Ireland
After assessing 687 individuals named as "dissenting scientists" in the January 2009 version of the United States Senate Minority Report, the Center for Inquiry's Credibility Project found that: * Slightly fewer than 10 percent could be identified as climate scientists. * Approximately 15 percent published in the recognizable refereed literature on subjects related to climate science. * Approximately 80 percent clearly had no refereed publication record on climate science at all. * Approximately 4 percent appeared to favor the current IPCC-2007 consensus and should not have been on the list.Further examination of the backgrounds of these individuals revealed that a significant number were identified as meteorologists, and some of these people were employed to report the weather.
* Slightly fewer than 10 percent could be identified as climate scientists. * Approximately 15 percent published in the recognizable refereed literature on subjects related to climate science. * Approximately 80 percent clearly had no refereed publication record on climate science at all. * Approximately 4 percent appeared to favor the current IPCC-2007 consensus and should not have been on the list.
Further examination of the backgrounds of these individuals revealed that a significant number were identified as meteorologists, and some of these people were employed to report the weather.
Hat tip A Siegel "Dieu se rit des hommes qui se plaignent des conséquences alors qu'ils en chérissent les causes" Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
