Portuguese duo turns leftover acrylic in Bijouterie

Gonçalo Bladder, 35 years old, and Fernando Braz, 32, joined forces to respond to a very specific challenge: what to do with unused raw material into moulds and parts produced by Acrilmolde? The usual procedure is for grinding the material that's left and sell it for recycling. "In this way, waste yourself tons of material in perfect condition and consumes himself enormous power unnecessarily", explains Fernando Green Savers.

The duo then decided to try to give a cheerful and colorful direction to these materials, creating a Fresh acrylic accessories brand. It is a ecological cycle in the industry and waste of a company become the raw material of another.

A positive approach, according to which "life doesn't have to be gray", the brand shows that reuse is possible and brings an added value to the creations. The Fresh offers a range of accessories and jewelry, with collections consisting of necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, clutchs and bags.

The basis of all articles is acrylic but there are Add-ons to other materials such as Cork, metal and other recycled materials. "We have notion that acrylic is a plastic type nothing healthy for the environment, but our aim is their re-use, IE, to spare the environment pieces loose and without utility that can persist for decades," says Fernando.

One of the premises of the project is to give visibility to Portuguese talent â€" in this sense, all creations are ideas of designers who offer their work to the brand. The price of articles, all with Portuguese origin, varies between € 4 ($ 12) and the € 50 ($ 148). Can be purchased through the online store or at LXMarket, where the Fresh is assiduous presence.

Fernando reveals that, in the short term, it's ambition of team approach the public with the opening of a store of its own. "Until then, we continue with the dream of being different as each day passes and pass fills us happiness to be part of this project," he adds.

Read More

Terrestrial oxygen has over 700 million years older than previously thought

A new study reveals that the oxygen first emerged in 700 atmosphere millions of years earlier than once believed. The discovery was made by scientists at the University of British Colombia, in the United States, and the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, which looked at soil of South Africa with three thousand million years old â€" the oldest soil in the world.

The Earth was formed 4.6 billion years ago and, based on the chemical composition of the soil, scientists believe that the oxygen that caused their evolution came about three billion years. Previously, it was believed that oxygen began to accumulate in the atmosphere for only about 2.3 billion years.

Sean Crowe, co-author of the study, argues that this event forever changed the composition of Earth's atmosphere and have finally led to the evolution of animals and humans.

According to the Huffington Post, the study was published in the scientific journal Nature.

Read More

12 nothing but friendly animals that help us to live better

Rats, bats and sharks â€" these animals don't seem to be particularly beautiful and it is believed that they are a threat. The Huffington Post comes precisely prove otherwise. See how the creatures that follow can help people and the environment in ways you never imagined.



1. the sharks help us breathe

To eat the old and sick fish, sharks keep the ecosystem healthy and control the accumulation of algae in the ocean. Scientists predict that if the sharks didn't exist, the levels of algae would be sky-high, making oxygen levels skyrocket and affecting all life on Earth.

Furthermore, humans are much more deadly to sharks than they are to us â€" the man kills some 11,417 sharks every hour.

2. the rats sniff bombs

Mice have an extraordinary sense of smell â€" are so accurate that in Mozambique, have been used to eliminate more than six million square meters of hidden explosives.

3. snakes eat mice

Although mice may be useful, they also spread a number of dangerous diseases. Fortunately, the snakes are controlling their number, and the other carriers of ailments, to feed them.

4. the rottweilers protect us

Although the rottweiler being touted as an aggressive breed, their defense can be very beneficial. In England, in 2010, a rottweiler named Jake saved a woman who was being raped in a park, attacking the attacker.

5. the Chipmunks gives us trees

These small rodents are one of the largest collectors of all time. They love storing nuts â€" and meet so many often forget where they left them. It turns out that those nuts become beautiful trees â€" and we, of course, appreciate it.

6. frogs warn us if the water is clean

When the toads aren't too good, we probably are not going to be. If the frogs are sick, this is a clear sign that the water quality is not at its best.

7. the spiders are good to eat

Maybe not so much for us, but the spiders are delicious for fish and birds. These animals eat so many spiders that, if they didn't exist, they would not survive. Already the spiders also like to eat a lot of insects with which we sympathize, like mosquitoes, flies and cockroaches.

8. the seals help us to study climate change

The seals are known to be a bit mal-humoradas, but their skills while swimmers in the depths they help us a lot. Researchers have them connected sensors to better discover the ocean circulation patterns-in other words, these animals can help save the planet.

9. The bees give us fruits

At the same time to make honey, bees support 80% of growth of agricultural crops. This means that, without them, we would lose a number of foods such as strawberries, apples, peaches, walnuts, among many others.

10. bats help victims of stroke

Bats can seem scary, but actually help save lives. The saliva of bats has been used to dissolve blood clots in victims of strokes. And their feces are a great natural fertilizer.

11. the beetles help regulate the ecosystem

The beetles play a very important role in our lives, eating other insects and promoting biodiversity. Dung beetles help in decomposition to the feeding of animal waste and decomposing corpses.

12. the Beavers avoid flooding

These animals are very useful â€" they build dams help prevent natural flooding, droughts and forest fires.

Photo: under Creative Commons license

Read More

Israel: archaeologists discover Leopard trap with 5,000 years

May resemble just a bunch of rocks piled in the middle of a harsh desert in Israel, but archaeologists have discovered that this primitive structure is actually a trap with 5,000 years used to catch leopards.

It was originally thought that the trap was much more recent, but the revelation of his true age suggests that farmers in the region were far more advanced than initially thought.

The trap was found in the Negev desert in the South of the country, by researchers from the geological survey of Israel. Wasn't far from another cluster of similar stones, with little more than 1,600 years old, which led scientists to believe that had the same age.

However, a sophisticated test able to date materials based on the amount of residual radiation that they absorbed over thousands of years has shown that these slabs were in place nearly 2,000 years before the Foundation of Rome.

At least 50 similar traps have been found in the Negev region, but this is the first to suggest the extreme age of this type of construction, which is as old as the first agricultural civilizations in the world.

"The most interesting thing is the antiquity of these carnivorous traps, which is totally unexpected," said Naomi Door, co-author of a study on the traps. "They look like a pile of stones, it takes a good look and also some digging around to find out what it is."

According to the investigator, quoted by Live Science, when the animal entered the structure and pull the bait, a rope connected to a slab close it so that the cat was trapped inside the trap.

Although it is referred to as a trap of leopards, the framework could also be used to catch foxes, wolves or hyenas. Believed to have been an essential method for old farmers manage to keep predators away from their herds, and that proves that there is much that animals have complaints of the human being.

Read More

The world's first 3D scanner for iPad win the crowd

The American company Occipital just reveal the Structure â€" the first 3D scanner Sensor in the world for iPad. The project was launched yesterday in crowdfunding platform Kickstarter with the aim of achieving the € 75 thousand (R $ 224 thousand), and only one day has surpassed largely that value.

After the boom of 3D printers last year-with impressions of success that included bones and food-, 3D scanners are definitely the next big breakthrough in technology. These devices allow you to capture the dimensions of an object, in order to print an exact replica with a 3D printer.

As a rule, these scanners need to be stuck at a desk â€" which is not ideal for capturing objects during travel or other fixed in certain locations. The most affordable portable scanner to date is the Fuel3D â€" also the fruit of a well-financed campaign on Kickstarter â€" which costs €748 (£ 2,243).

The Structure Sensor can be even cheaper. It is true that for the use has to have an iPad, but the kit will cost only €260 ($ 783) â€" that can get a discount of € 15 ($ 45) to support the campaign. The device consists of a small aluminum unit with infrared LEDs that fits on the back of the iPad and connects to it through a cable.

The device can not only scan a 3D object, like whole rooms, with all dimensions. Also allows users to create augmented realities for games where the virtual world is the real world.

According to Inhabitat, LEDs offer night vision to the iPad. And, besides all this, the sensor of the structure features its own battery for four hours, so as not to spend the the iPad.

Read More

First smartphone with ethically-sourced the world hits the market

Love your Blackberry or iPhone, but worries about the impact that it causes in the environment? Want to know if workers extracted materials or set up the device were exploited? Know then that no longer have to choose between their conscience and the ability to stay connected â€" has already been revealed in London the Fairphone, the first smartphone in the world with ethically-sourced.

The Fairphone has partnered with Ngos, such as Solutions for Hope and Conflict Free Tin Initiative to ensure secure source of supply chain of your Tin, tungsten and tantalum components â€" most electronic products receives these minerals from mines controlled by the army in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Fairphone is also working in the secure delivery of cobalt and gold certified by Fairtrade to other components.

The Chinese laborers who assemble the phone Gets the same consideration that the mines. Is already underway a review of the minimum wage for workers of the Fairphone factory, in order to ensure that they will be fairly remunerated when you start mass production of the devices in November.

The company is also trying to make their mobile phones greener than your typical smartphone. Rather than forcing the client to pay for expensive arrangements, or replace the appliance fully when he damaged, the Fairphone is designed to be opened easily and comes with instructions that help users to notice us by themselves.

At this point, the phone is only available for pre-orders in Europe and costs € 325 ($ 963). According to Inhabitat, have already been ordered more than 15 thousand units, for delivery in late autumn. Funding for the project was fully covered through crowdfunding.

Read More

Bad urban planning may be responsible for the obesity of children

The number of obese children in the United States has doubled in the past 30 years â€" only 8% of young people between 12 and 19 years have recommended time of daily physical activity. Research shows that some factors are genetic, or linked to the habit, but one of the least explored areas has to do with what surrounds the body and not necessarily what you ingest.

A group of researchers at the University of California, in the United States, wanted to ascertain whether the design of the neighborhood can shape the activity and people's health. For this, they measured the children's activity levels of a community with smart growth (quiet neighbourhood, green areas, compact construction, variety of transport, etc.), compared to the children's activity levels of conventional suburban communities. Connecting GPS and accelerometers to belt loops of 386 children accompanied their activities every 30 seconds â€" 120 times per hour â€" during a week.

After the analysis of the results, the researchers realized a significant difference: the neighborhood kids with smart growth showed activity levels 46% higher than those of other children living in rows of post-war housing.

According to Fast, the team estimated that Coexist, living in well-designed communities, children are susceptible to win 10 more minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity around their homes.

Still, overall levels of activity between the two distinct communities were similar. "This means that parents and children who live in these communities should be involved in conventional physical activities outside their neighborhood," says Michael Jerrett, main author of the article.

The results support the idea that the design of neighbourhoods can play an important role in health. Jerrett argues that physical activity in communities with smart growth is fairer: "while maintaining physical activity on site, free of charge, people aren't going to be economically unable to participate."

Photo: under Creative Commons license

Read More

New form of grazing prevents spread of fires (with video)

In Vila Pouca de Aguiar, a fire prevention project that uses goats to control vegetation. The system has nothing innovative, but has now been rediscovered at a time where, ironically, there are fewer and fewer goats.

"Formerly there was so many fires because, in a village like ours, all the houses had herds. Nothing burned. The cattle and goats clean up the land, "explained to the green economy pastor Francisco Beetle.

Francisco follows today, to the letter, the rules of a new form of grazing, explained by Henrique Pereira dos Santos, Manager of a directed grazing project.

"In traditional grazing for a limited area which is pastored steadily throughout the year, with headers of a goat and a half per hectare. [Grazing directed] may have some 800 goats per hectare, but for a period of three or four days, "said the Manager.

With this new form of grazing, soil is fertilized with the excrement of animals and vegetation blows harder. The aim is to create many of these areas, which act as a buffer and allow the spread of flame control.

See the episode 121 of the green economy.

Read More

Draft photo reveals biodiversity of Vale do Ave

There are many corners of the country where nature still emerges in an almost untouched, as if time had stopped there, aside from the hustle and bustle and commotion of big cities. The Vale do Ave was one of those places â€" before the harmful human touch to make him notice. Henry Triães believes that it is possible to reverse the situation and, with his camera in hand, is dedicated to recording the richness of there lives.

Located between the Minho and Douro Litoral, the Vale do Ave is composed of a diversity of municipalities that contribute to the unique landscape frame that features â€" like Fafe, Guimarães, Póvoa de Lanhoso. The Ave River is one of the most striking natural features of the region and who turned out to be more significant in the course of history of local industry.

The Vale do Ave page Nature and Lanscapes, which you bring, is an initiative of the amateur photographer Henry Triães, of 28 years, dedicated to capturing the biodiversity that characterizes this piece of Portugal. The project comes as a way to promote the natural heritage of the area and raise the debate around issues related to the "enchanted Valley", as you call it.

For four generations the family of Henry's address in Vale do Ave, where once ever a clean River, where it was possible to swim. "Dad Was relatively recently and it made me have the desire that, one day, my daughter can still view this valley as he once was â€" clean and beautiful", told Green Savers.

This man believes that the Vale do Ave region suffers from a large gap as regards the preservation, due to the heavy industrialization of the area. Actions such as the cleaning of rivers Vizela and Bird help to ecosystem health, but there are few efforts through such fragility.

"With the visits I do regular Vizela River I can see that the reappearance of new species, especially birds, due to the fact that the river be gaining new life, with the increase of marine life," says Henry. "This year I spotted a stork, which I didn't think possible in Vale do Ave."

See some of the images that Henry captures, showing that the recovery effort of natural areas affected by human activities give fruits.

Read More

USA: Alabama suggests not to save baby raccoons

Raccoons are among the wild animals injured by hunters, which people more welcome and care in Alabama, in the United States. But this State reported recently to the animal advocacy groups that should leave some species to abandon â€" including wild pigs, bats, opossums and raccoons rightly. The aim, according to the authorities, is to keep his anger under control.

"There is no biological reason to rehabilitate these animals," said Ray Metzler, Assistant Chief of wildlife of the Department of conservation and natural resources of Alabama. "People need to learn to let nature take its course."

The nature and its course, however, are being disturbed by threats very unnatural, like trees felled to clear the land and new roads that increasing car traffic. These are strong causes of death of mothers who, in turn, delivered to your luck helpless chicks.

Wildlife advocates remain committed to save these orphans and other injured animals. "If someone brings me a raccoon baby, I'm not going to put it away," said one of the handlers, according to Grist. "It's a death sentence."

The handlers blame the culture of hunting as a promoter of the anti-guaxinim movement that's taking care of the State. Argue that it is precisely this mentality that has led to the suggestion by the State not to rescue animals in distress.

Photo: under Creative Commons license

Read More

USA: City with six thousand inhabitants collects €32 thousand with rate against plastic bags

The city of Aspen, which houses a renowned Winter resort in the u.s. State of Colorado, gathered €32 thousand (R $ 96 million), from may 2012 and may 2013, the rate that started charging for plastic bags sold in two supermarkets in the village.

According to The Aspen Times, the measure was passed in 2012 to reduce the "mountain of plastic" that appeared each year in the city. Thus, all consumers who buy plastic bags were forced to pay €0,15 ($ 0.45) per unit, as a way to reduce its presence in municipal waste.

The paper explains that the two supermarkets were allowed to stay with € 750 ($ 2,200) from money raised with this fee the first year. From now on, they can collect € 75 ($ 220) per month, which, not being a fortune, it's always some money into the accounts of merchants.

The remaining money is used for a municipal Fund, responsible for implementing a waste reduction program that provides reusable bags at the city airport, vehicles rental locations, hotels and the city's Environment Department.

According to The Aspen Times, another small town two hours from Aspen â€" a resort called Vail â€" will soon launch its own fee for purchase of plastic bags.

Read More

The 10 cities most threatened by natural disasters

The world is today the scene of two major trends: their populations are increasingly concentrating in urban centers, and climate change is increasing the intensity of natural disasters and thus aggravate their damage. When these two facts are mixed, the result is the annual damage among the €44 billion ($ 133 billion) and the €74 billion ($ 221 billion), as a result of hurricanes, earthquakes and floods.

The trend of major storms in the world, more people in the big cities-generally near the water â€" make sound the alert. And the question arises: what cities are facing greater risks now? The answers below, taking into account the number of people in danger and the impact on the country's economy.

The results are based on a report from the insurance company Swiss Re Switzerland. many of the threatened cities are located in Asia, the continent that has been exposed to the widest range of natural disasters, according to the document.

There are more at-risk cities in Japan than in any other country, because this is one of the most active fault lines on the planet.



The most threatened cities, taking into account the number of people affected:



The most threatened cities, taking into account the impact on the economy of the country:

Read More

School milk programmes reach record numbers of children across the world

More than 67 million children around the world received milk or other nutritional drinks in schools in Tetra Pak packaging during the year of 2012. This number represents an increase of 30% compared to 2011.

These figures were revealed today, in commemoration of the 14th day of the school milk scheme promoted by the United Nations.

"The significant increase in school milk programmes is due to greater recognition of the link between nutrition and safe food supply in schools and the development of the economy and production at local level, by governmental authorities and international organisations," he explained in a statement Ulla Holm, Director of the Food for Development, organization of the Tetra Laval Group that works on the development of school milk programmes around the world

Holm paid tribute to the role played by NGOs and Governments, so that every year an increasing number of children can benefit from these programs. "In recent years, Government support to programs already in operation has been strengthened and a series of new Governments took the decision to support the launch of these projects in their countries."

In China, the school milk programme grew 150% since 2000, after the Government decided to launch a draft Supplement to improve the nutritional situation of children in remote areas. In 2012, 14 million students from 28 Chinese provinces, 660 cities and 60,000 schools receive daily milk in aseptic packaging of Tetra Pak ' s card, stressed the Protects What's good.

Other countries follow this path was Myanmar, which started a milk distribution program in schools and led the launch of a three-year programme, developed with the support of Tetra Pak and Tetra Laval group, which will benefit about 45 thousand students of first cycle.

El Salvador is another example of a country that, in 2013, started a school milk programme especially attentive to the issue of food security. Currently, more than 800 thousand children receive at schools milk in Tetra Pak aseptic packaging.

For more than 50 years Tetra Pak, through Food for Development, works actively in supporting the school milk programmes around the world.

"The creation and promotion of school milk programs requires an investment, commitment and long-term partnership," said Ulla Holm. "We are proud of the important role that we assume in this process, in collaboration with governmental agencies, customers, international organisations and NGOs."

Photo: school milk Program in Toronto, Canada (1923). Under Creative Commons license

Read More

Rental market wins new followers in the United States

The rate of homeowners in the United States, came down from 70 to 65% over the past five years, the lowest percentage in the last 18 years. According to the Financial Times (FT), this number will arrive soon to 60%, as more and more Americans rent housing and away forever the idea of buying a House.

"With the real estate bubble exploding, the number of homeowners would always go down. Somehow, this is a healthy move, because the country has been reviewing some of its excesses. Not everyone should be homeowners, "said Michael Gapen, Senior Economist of Barclays, to FT.

According to the charge, the big question is how far will grow the market for rental homes. Other analysts speak of a potential investment of €74 billion ($ 220 billion).

This change in American habits in relation to real estate is also the result of the enormous growth of the city centres, to the detriment of the suburbs, something that hasn't happened since 1920. Younger Americans â€" those who are buying cars â€" want to rent apartments in city centres, but now also the poorer classes are doing.

Which brings us to another question: How can the city centres and business win with this paradigm shift and at the same time, how can we gain quality of life in cities â€" with less traffic and cleaner air, for example.

On the other hand, the growth of the rental market may also relaunch the urban rehabilitation, with a bigger bet on the energy efficiency of houses-which may reduce our addiction resources.

And in Portugal, will be that the mentalities are changing?

Read More

New mobile phone receives parts of different brands to avoid becoming obsolete

What if, instead of spending money on new appliances every year, could simply keep your phone but update the camera, replacing the screen and increase the storage space? This is the idea behind the Phonebloks.

Created by Dutch designer Dave Hakkens, Phonebloks is a custom smartphone made of "modular elements", or blocks, that can be easily swapped out and replaced. If the battery is addicted to, for example, can be placed a new in the same place. The storage can be updated or can also be adapted to different cameras.

Hakkens wanted to develop a concept of smartphone more eco-friendly and easy to recycle, so as to avoid the trend of replacing the appliances almost every year. "Every year millions of cell phones are thrown away because they are broken or obsolete. In most cases, it's just a piece that needs repair or adjustment, and all other parts work well ", justified the creator.

Although Hakkens admit that its creation would not solve the problem of e-waste and pollution, it is a more economical alternative and environmentally friendly. And fight against the planned obsolescence.

The Phoneblok consists of separate components, each with its own function, which can be conjugated. The parts include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi transmitters, battery, camera, display and storage â€" of different brands. Each of the blocks is fixed to a base that contains all electrical connections.

"Choose componentry allows you to customize the phone according to their needs," says Hakkens. "Are you taking pictures? Choose a better camera. Is working on ' cloud '? Choose less storage space. There is no need of any particular function? Get back to basics and choose a top quality battery. "

After buying the base Phoneblok, the individual elements will be sold through the Blokstore â€" similar to an app store, but for hardware. The device is not yet available for purchase and Hakkens asserts that the concept will be sold only if there is a significant interest on the part of customers, such as hardware partners.

Read More

New serum filtration system reduces waste

Tetra Pak has just released the Tetra Alcross RO Lite, a new filtration system that will help small and medium-sized enterprises to convert dairy whey in an additional source of income.

The whey is a by-product in cheese making regions, but production is often considered waste of production, warns the Protects What's good. The Tetra Alcross RO Lit lets you turn it into a new source of income, while reducing the environmental footprint.

In fact, the whey only has commercial value when focused, but filtering technology needed to do so is pretty customized and too expensive for most companies of small and medium-sized dairy. In addition to being easily installed, the new system costs less 30% customized alternatives.

The system uses a reverse osmosis filtration process that continuously removes excess water from saline, tripling the degree of concentration at the same time that retains the salts, lactose, acids, proteins and fats that are dissolved in aqueous solution.

This concentrated serum can be sold to agri-food companies as an ingredient in the manufacture of various products, constitute a new source of revenue for companies small and medium-sized dairy, while significantly reduces or even eliminates unnecessary costs with waste management and transport.

Read More

English Duo develops flying bike

The British John Foden and Yannick Read are known for their unusual design of bicycles, but this time beat all expectations with the Paravelo, a model which allows the two-wheeled vehicle to fly.

According to The Guardian, the Parevelo uses a fan to rise to 1,200 meters above sea level, an exercise that, surely, will not be for all urban cyclists, though, if we pull a little by the imagination, we can see this bike as an ally in the fight against urban traffic.

"If we have a thirst for adventure but there is no space or enough money for a helicopter, so the Parevelo is the solution," joked the Royal Guardian. "She combines the traditional folding bicycle with a small trailer, with a powerful fan".

The two parts can be used together or separated, being the bike small enough to stay in an apartment or even get to our workplace.

"The Wright brothers were former bicycle mechanics, so there's a real relationship between pedal and the birth of flight. That's what was recaptured in the spirit of Parevelo ", explained John Foden, who co-desenhou the bike.

The bike cannot be used in most cities, however. On the other hand, is not anyone who can handle, so the sales will never be very representative. For those interested, here are some numbers: the project will be marketed so Read and Foden joining of € 60 million ($ 177 million). Each prototype will cost € 12, 000 ($ 35,000).

Read More

Futuristic House and dismountable to 1960 on display in the Netherlands

In 1968, the Finnish designer Matti Suuronen designed the Future House-a modular House, shaped like a flying saucer, capable of being assembled and disassembled in rough terrain. Now, the structure became an iconic piece landed on the futuristic Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam.

Suuronen chose a rounded design, not only for its strength but also through space, keeping the use of the materials at a minimum. The walls are made of glass fibre reinforced polyester with plastic, a new light material which makes the House easily transportable and well insulated.

The Future House has three feet tall and eight feet in diameter. Has a capacity for 8 adults and includes living room, kitchen, bathroom, fireplace and chairs. With her, the tenants will have a mobile home that accompanies them to where they are.

During the oil crisis in 1972, production of this housing was suspended, with plastic prices nearly triple their built-up land. Altogether about 100 copies were built â€" it is estimated that only half survived until today. One of them can be rented in Wisconsin, in the United States.

After an extensive restoration project that lasted two years, the original prototype of Future House is being displayed for the first time in decades, in the Netherlands. It is the centrepiece of an exhibition called Future â€" Constructing Utopia which discusses the search for perfect construction form. According to Inhabitat, this is considered one of the best examples of perfect shape of the history of design.

Read More

South Africa: lion coexists with community

Dear readers, do not attempt what Annel Snyman does every day: take care of a lion, Timba, as if to a child. The lion, now with eight months, eats four pounds of meat per day and which cat, lies quietly on the couch of Annel.

Annel and Timba live in South Africa, and in the Waterburg known each other since March this year, was a baby Timba. The lion sits on the couch, in the kitchen and take long walks with Diesel, Annel dog.

The lion has 120 pounds and, imagine, to deal with the family and friends of Annel: "when I visit, my family and friends have to adjust the Timba", explains the young man of 31 years.

When I was a kid, Timba slept with Anne, but now prefers to play on the sofa. Second Annel, its neighbors are still surprised when they see walking down the street Timba. And no wonder, as you can see by the pictures.

Read More

England: pay parking with chestnuts

A group of parks gave the English their drivers the chance to pay his place with chestnuts, instead of money. People have been able to deliver a handful of chestnuts â€" each worth €0,20 (US $ 0.72) â€" and buy five to six minutes of space to park.

Each seed will be used to sponsor a forest in the United Kingdom and help offset the growing levels of vehicle emissions. "We thought it would be a fun idea to raise awareness and give a little back carbon emissions," said Ben Ziff, director of Town Centre Car Parks.

A maximum of 50 nuts thanks, until yesterday, € 12 ($ 36). The chestnuts could be used in the Merrion Centre and Clarence Dock in the city of Leeds, and in the Park of Tariff Street in Manchester.

In the Park of the Merrion Centre have been charged €2,62 ($ 7.97) for an hour of parking â€" which equates to 11 chestnuts. In the Park of Clarence Dock the price was €2,40 ($ 7,24) per hour-10 chestnuts. The parking lot of the Tariff charged €3,58 Street (US $ 10.86), or 15 chestnuts, for two hours and €4,77 ($ 14,49), or brown 20, for three hours.

The project ran until yesterday, September 22.

Foto: Sob licença Creative Commons #gallery-1 { margin: auto; } #gallery-1 .gallery-item { float: left; margin-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 33%; } #gallery-1 img { border: 2px solid #cfcfcf; } #gallery-1 .gallery-caption { margin-left: 0; } /* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */

Read More

Portuguese Site discloses homemade and traditional products

If it's a craftsman or Portuguese producer, know that there is a platform where you can publicize your work for free. The www.caseiro.pt directory brings together and promotes the best in homemade and traditional form of Portugal.

The project was born at the beginning of this year, as a way to give impetus to national breeders in the current panorama of crisis. This is a community and business directory of producers and products made at home â€" whether they be food, crafts or cosmetics.

"We believe that what is Portuguese is good and deserves to be released", explains Ana Tavares, one of the promoters of the project. In this online space, people can disclose what they're doing, creating free publications for their products or services. These publications may include links to the site, Facebook and Twitter, description, contact details and photographs, increasing the range of potential customers.

In order to find products and services that may be of interest, users should do a search by region and by category.

"There are a lot of homemade producers on the internet but dispersed for Facebook pages, blogs and Web sites," explains Ana. "It was considered important to the same crowd at a site in order to allow users to go to one site to find homemade and traditional producers in their region."

If it creates some kind of product or provides a service â€" basically, if it's an entrepreneur â€" know so he can count on another tool in the dissemination of their work.

Photo: under Creative Commons license

Read More

The engineering miracle transforms highway in countryside

Two years ago, queues of cars were constantly stops on A3 in Devil's Punch Bowl in Surrey. Now, this area is a quiet countryside, where families stroll calmly and enjoy natural views.

All this transformation has as a backdrop a "miracle" of engineering that led this highway down the Hill. Here, about 1,000 vehicles per hour follow your destiny.

According to British media, this infrastructure cost rose million. Those responsible for the work, on the other hand, were astounded by how nature regained the place.

These works, which are part of the motorway which connects London to Portsmouth in the South of the country, started in 2008, taking the motorway was opened in 2011. In addition to return to its natural heritage part of his inheritance, the work has reduced travel in 20 minutes.

Instead of cars, now are the runners, walkers and cyclists who use the space. In addition to the trees, the birds also won with this engineering solution â€" many of them are coming back to a place where their ancestors lived.

See some of the photos of before and after the infrastructure.

Read More

The European Union wants to take trucks of city centres

European cities have the reputation they get people out of their cars for the transfer to buses and bicycles, but many urban areas continue to suffer from an almost permanent congestion. To combat this problem, the European Union has sought ways to eliminate the traffic of city centres â€" in particular the trucks.

The City port, EU-funded project, addresses the impact of freight transport in urban traffic. To make deliveries faster and keep the trucks from the streets during rush hour, the project has developed a new vehicle that combines features of a container of goods and a mailbox.

The BentoBox, implemented last year in Lyon, France, resembles a large cart where they can fit different containers. These boxes can then be easily pushed to the ramp of the truck, speeding up the loading time.

The boxes are then sent to small storage facilities, where guests will raise their orders when it suits them â€" open the container that you have been assigned a password, SMS-pré-enviada, a touchscreen system.

The password system does not need to be in place to receive the delivery. The obvious limitation of the concept is that it requires a deposit space in town for work.

Another brilliant idea the City Move also involves a mini deposit â€" is the Freightbus, which uses the typical truck chassis, in which three main units can be quickly placed and withdrawn. The truck works like a small bus between central station and a distribution warehouse in town â€" there turns out your units, which are then embedded on up to three smaller vans proceed to supplies.

This simple size reduction in vehicle distributor makes delivery simpler and faster and less intrusive.

Take these projects beyond the pilot phase will be a much slower process than develop them â€" it is necessary to invest in vehicles and depots and an entire logistical adjustment. Even so, the effort will be worth it.

Photo: under Creative Commons license

Read More

Peru: discovered whale fossil with legs

Peruvian paleontologists have discovered the fossil ancestor, with 40 million years, a whale able to walk the Earth. The specimen with paws may provide a valuable clue of how marine mammals of today evolved from amphibians to aquatic beings.

The discovery was made in the vast desert of Ocucaje, in southern Peru, an area known to be a rich deposit of ancient cetaceans. This is the first time that a marine mammal with such age is found in South America.

According to Euronews, the whale belongs to the Group Achaeocetes-former Marine mammals that still revealed some of the features of their terrestrial ancestors. The fossil discoveries made over the last 30 years have revealed a sequence of evolutionary transformations that have brought the whales known today to occupy oceans and leave once the solos.

The first whale that existed was a furry, four-legged with omnivore, which evolved into a number of species of amphibians for 50 million years. Over time, lost the connection between his backbone and hind legs and then gradually lost totally paws, winning fins.

It is thought that the whales have evolved into fully aquatic beings about 45 million years ago.

Until today, were found in the desert of Ocucaje fossilized remains of more than 15 marine mammals. It is believed that the bodies have been preserved by the low level of oxygen in the substrate, which will retard the decomposition caused by bacteria.

Read More

Panda droppings can be used in biofuel production

Scientists at the University of Mississippi claim that biofuels can be made from microbes found in the panda droppings instead of corn. They found that these microbes break woody materials, that can become an alternative to the traditional production of biofuels.

The search of Ashli Brown, biochemistry, University, points out that several species of microbes found in the droppings of the pandas can be reproduced and used in the creation of biofuels, as it can break the raw vegetable materials used in the process.

Brown believes, to replicate these microbes, the US could contribute to the development of alternative fuels that do not interfere with food production and still allow a big money saver.

"One of the more expensive processes in the production of biofuels is the pre-treatment, where sugar polymers are chemically treated so that it can be used to make ethanol or fuel," said Brown. "If we can insert a Microbe that does this naturally and efficiently, the production costs of alternative fuels would be tremendously reduced."

The researcher explains that microbes in question are similar to digestive bacteria found in the intestines of termites, the help from and digest the wood. "However, our studies suggest that the species of bacteria of the intestine of the pandas can be more efficient than plant material from the species of bacteria of termites."

The Inhabitat progresses that the discovery could have a huge impact in Mississippi, a State with abundant forest resources.

Obviously there are some problems in the production of biofuels be based around a species facing extinction. Therefore, the study's focus also on red pandas that also feed on bamboo and exist in greater numbers.

Read More

Belgium: Court inspired in hazelnut tree

The newly-opened Court of Hasselt in Belgium, is now ready to enforce the law. The Tower has 20,763 m2 of office space, meeting rooms, library, reception area, café and courtrooms. The entrance of natural light and transparency have played key roles in the project, as expressed by the façade of the building.

The exterior of the structure contains perforated panels that provide shade to the interior and prevent solar heat gains, while letting natural light in the building â€" as do the leaves of a tree. The inspiration for the project was precisely the avelãzeira â€" present in the coat of arms of the city â€" and that's why the tower features a branched facade.

The influence of Art Nouveau in the construction, on the other hand, also refers to steel buildings of the city and its industrial past. In fact, it cannot be said that the project has devalued the history of the site for which it was intended.

The Inhabitat advances that the building is divided into three units: the courts, the library for students and an Office Tower, with a restaurant on top, which offers panoramic views of the city and its surroundings.

The Court is one of two towers built in a new area of Hasselt which includes a park, public buildings, offices, hotels and residential condominiums. The project counted with the collaboration of the studios West 8, j. Mayer h. Architects, also, in 20 Lens° Ass Architecten, Architecten. The exterior was completed in 2011 and the now officially opened to the public space, the day September 13, 2013.

Read More

Israel: bus to the junkyard turned into incredible housing

Two Israeli women saw an opportunity where most people see only junk. Instead of leaving a public bus outside of rusting operation in the junkyard, they decided to turn it into a surprisingly luxurious space. Access to housing is a major problem in Israel, so that the duo turned the vehicle in an affordable housing at the same time that prevented the giant in order to follow life to a landfill.

Tali Shaul, psychotherapist, and Hagit Morevski, ecological water treatment specialist, became friends through the children from each. Quickly realized they shared similar views and decided to initiate a creative project or a business idea where they could work together. The inspiration came, finally, through an article about alternative solutions to housing in a women's magazine.

In the same week, Shaul and Morevski went to a junkyard and bought a bus public transport. To give the space a touch more original, decided to design the whole interior around the original layout of the vehicle. This task has become easier with the help of a friend and designer, Vered Sofer Drori, explains the Inhabitat.

Adapting the design ideas of the two partners to the Windows, the doors and the large interior arches of the existing wheels, the team managed to preserve the unique character of the bus, part of him still a bathroom, a bedroom, storage space, a full kitchen and even air-conditioning.

The result is absolutely amazing. Now just find a local buyer, someone interested in living in a dwelling only motorized.

Read More

Bulgarian youth open 100% natural cosmetics shop in Portugal

This is more a story of entrepreneurship allied to health and to respect for nature. Alexandra Pavlova, 23 years, it is natural of Bulgaria and studied management in Switzerland and in France. Currently living in Portugal â€" and it was precisely in Lisbon earlier this year, I decided to create the Naturessima, online shop for 100% natural organic cosmetics.

Alexandra long opted for organic cosmetics, once the conventional never helped her overcome certain problems â€" such as dry skin and irritated around the eyes or after bathing and beach. "Common problems, can I say", stresses the young.

"Over time, I started reading and find out more about the ingredients found in cosmetics, and I didn't like them â€" are toxic to us and to the environment," explained Alexandra Green Savers. "Unfortunately there are many brands that claim to be natural but that are not, use dangerous ingredients that harm your health."

In his quest, Alexandra found some truly natural marks, but use them if not revealed exactly practical: always had of the order of other countries, subjecting themselves to the waiting time and the high cost of shipping. However, it was exactly this embarrassment that served as the impetus for the creation of an area where the Portuguese could find organic cosmetics at affordable prices-according to her, "the first 100% natural cosmetics shop in Portugal".

Beauty comes directly from nature â€" this is the motto that Alexandra joins to your project. And that's how, far from any kind of chemicals, the Naturessima offers face care products and body covering cleaning, hydration, exfoliation, mask, and bath oils.

Most products are made of fruits, herbs, flowers and vegetables. All the raw materials come from fair trade, meaning they are bought by the real value for them, which helps to ensure the survival and improvement of life of vulnerable communities around the world. "Each product is handmade from start to finish, from individual ingredients, by real people," says Alexandra.

At this point, the store works with brands, Akamuti and Trevarno Kivvi, but the range can increase. "We are always looking for new brands and partnerships that produce 100% natural cosmetics," explains young. The entire offer is available in the online store, as in the spa Naturalis, in Maia.

Alexandra plans to organize workshops and events in the near future, such as open a physical space where people can try the products of Naturessima. On view will be the promotion of natural and healthy alternatives, such as warning of the dangers of conventional cosmetic.

Read More

Scientists discover how flew the first birds

Scientists at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, have revealed new clues about the evolution of bird flight, through a series of experiments based on dinosaur fossils â€" in particular of microraptor.

The first dinosaur described as having feathers on the arms, legs and tail lived about 140 million years ago and had five wings. But the microraptor assumes that the evolution of bird flight went through a phase of four wings â€" which represents an important step in the evolution of the beating of wings and soar.

Scientists conducted a series of tests and flight simulations in a tunnel with winds of 72 km per hour, using a life-size representation of the dinosaur (see below). The results were astounding â€" show that the microraptor was more stable to glide when generated high elevations with the wings.

The results show that the debate on the position and orientation of the dinosaur legs and wind shape is irrelevant, since these variables had very little impact on your flight.

Gareth Dyke, co-author of the study and professor of vertebrate paleontology at the University, stressed that the study showed that microraptor "did not require a sophisticated and modern morphology to perform effective slips".

According to Dyke, this conclusion is consistent with the fossil record and with the hypothesis that the symmetric flight evolved first in dinosaurs for aerodynamic functions, being then adapted to form efficient aerodynamic surfaces.

The study was published this month in the latest issue of the journal Nature Communications.

Read More

The American city where cars do not enter there are 115 years

Mackinac Island, in the u.s. State of Michigan, is a quiet popular island and vacation resort, a place where more than 15 thousand people seek some days more calm and healthy. She is best known, however, for another done: there are 115 years that don't go in any car.

The ban on the entry of vehicles in Mackinac Island emerged January 6, 1898, when a law was passed that sentenciava: "the transit of horseless carriages are prohibited within the limits of the village of Mackinac". Since then, the law has been revised so that bicycles could be carried over without breaking the rules, but the cars remain banned.

According to the sustainable planet, when the first cars appeared in the region, residents decided they posed too much pollution and noise. The solution: ban them forever.

Today, bicycles are the main means of transport of the population â€" there are 14 miles of roads â€" but also the carriages did not lose the charm of other centuries, and can be seen easily.

In Mackinac Island there are no parking spots or gas stations. For security reasons, the local Council has a few cars to its dispôsição. But they only come out on the road in case of emergency.

"It is an egalitarian society, since all have the same means of transport," wrote Jeff Potter on Bicycle Times. According to the journalist, the air is cleaner in Mackinac, there are fewer diseases and road accidents.

Ironically, Michigan is also the main State of the American car industry. Coincidences.

Read More

University Innovation Center seeks four technological start-up

Tec Labs, Innovation Center of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, has four new laboratories available to be occupied. Thus, the Center launched a contest to "raise" four technology-based startups or research departments of companies that might be interested.

The nominations are held until 6 October and should be submitted here. The selected projctos can start its activity already from 1 November.

"We offer an ecosystem of interface with the academic world and the industrial reality, with access to specialized equipment and services, as well as a wide network of contacts," explains the Tec Labs in a statement.

The institution has 20 years of experience in technology-based projects â€" and with particular focus on the areas of life sciences, cleantech and IT. In the last three years, organizations received by the Innovation Center moved over € 10 million and involved 150 employees.

Read More

Scotland will receive the biggest Europe's maritime energy project

The largest energy project, ocean currents of Europe can now be put into practice in the Pentland Firth, Strait in northern Scotland after having been granted permission for the first phase. Following the decision of the Scottish Government, will be built six turbines to occupy the waters between the Orkney Islands and the Scottish coast.

"Today we guarantee permission for the MeyGen Limited develops the largest set of tidal turbines in Europe and the first commercial project in these back," said Fergus Ewing, Minister of energy. "This is a big step for the marine renewable energy industry in Scotland."

When fully operational, the 86 megawatt system will be capable of generating enough electricity to power the equivalent of 42 thousand homes. And this is only the first phase of a project that could eventually produce up to 398 megawatts.

Upon the urgent need to combat climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, the maritime energy can in fact prove to be an excellent solution for those countries that enjoy a privileged geographic position â€" as is also the case of Portugal.

If they are fully developed, it is estimated that the resources of the waves and tides can provide 20% of the electricity in the United Kingdom, ensures the Guardian.

"This is a significant announcement and a big boost to the renewable sea industry in Scotland," said Lang Banks, director of the WWF in the country. And he added: "Now we need Ministers of the United Kingdom and Scotland to find a path that will allow us to harness the full potential of this clean energy source".

Photo: under Creative Commons license

Read More

Baby elephant attacked by the mother cries for five hours

The zookeepers were forced to intervene after a female elephant tried to trample her calf to death, soon after being born in a Chinese reserve, at the end of August. As a result, the newborn injured cried nonstop for hours.

His dam tried to crush the baby almost immediately after birth. Initially, the veterinarians Shendiaoshan Wild Animal Natural Reserve Area in Xuanwei, in Shandong province, thought to be an accident. Withdrew creates to treat their wounds and returned it to the mother, two hours later â€" but this began to step on it again. The handlers then decided to withdraw definitively the baby elephant to the progenitor.

What happened is touching: the infant cried for five hours. The staff tried to comfort him, but even that seemed to calm him down. Fortunately, creates is evolving well from injuries caused by his mother and has already been adopted by a handler.

"The calf was very upset and cried for five hours, before you can be comforted," said a spokesman for the reserve. "He could not bear to be separated from his mother and it was she who was trying to kill."

It is unknown why the female rebelling against the calf, but the case reinforces spectacularly the sensitivity of these wonderful animals.

Read More

Abm3E takes recycling to younger people with project Pow

The Amb3E launched yesterday the Pow project â€" Gives Power to the Electron â€" an initiative to raise awareness of young people from around the country for the importance of channelling of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) through Electron Points, thus allowing its treatment and recycling.

The initiative will take place in three phases, with the duration of a school year, and encourages young people and national schools to participate in a challenge of videos that can function as elements of behavioral change the environmental level. The action has three ambassadors that will encourage young people to participate: the presenters John Manzarra and Carolina Torres and Pedro Fernandes humorist. Each of these ambassadors will launch one of the phases of the project.

The challenge to teenagers is to create creative videos in which the waste electrical and Electronic equipment (WEEE) and its proper routing take lead role. Each stage of the action (coincident with a school period) will have a different motto: "Do the WEEE back home"; "It makes you to WEEE that endanger your world" and "Do the Electron and deposits your WEEE". All videos will be submitted in the project site, where, at each stage, 20 finalists will be chosen through online voting.

The finalists will be evaluated by the jury â€" composed of representatives of the entities involved (Amb3E, APA and IPDJ), as well as by Ambassador the respective phase â€" which will choose three winners. The first place will be awarded a smartphone, the second with an LCD and the third with a camera.

At the same time, the challenge will be released to schools, in which these have to create videos that convey environmental habits with respect to recycling, as well as add their good practices in a manifest. These will be subsequently assessed by the jury. In this case, the winners will receive a prize of 1500 euros in electrical and electronic equipment.

This initiative aims to encourage young people and schools to work as elements of behavioral change the environment at the same time sensitizing the general population to the importance of the correct forwarding of WEEE. Emerges in the wake of other projects of the Association as the Electron School, or Electron headquarters.

Read More

Bubbles, the elephant who fell in love with a labrador

Nature is prodigal in surprising friendships, how many times we read in Green Savers. This time, the Union between a labrador Retriever and an elephant's world, not only for its improbability, but also for the cause itself: the elephant Bubbles is in a reserve of The Rare Species Fund, in South Carolina, a Wildlife Conservation Association, and full support to publicize the cause is necessary.

Bubbles is an elephant orphan, collected by The Rare Species Fund, and found in labrador Bella his best friend. "They love to play with each other," explained to the press Bhagavan Antle, director of the Wildlife Park where the two live, Myrtle Beach.

Bubbles has a Facebook page, where it is described as very "small" for an elephant, when she was found, and was later sent to the United States â€" a lucky that many other elephants, with whom he lived, did not.

At the age of thirty and 2.7 metres, Bubbles weighs 3.6 tonnes. Nothing to get away from Bella, the labrador that shares with the elephant part of the games. See some pictures of this unlikely Union.

Read More

Consumers increasingly seek environmental labels

The demand for renewable materials and environmental labels, from consumers, increased globally, according to the 5th biannual study of Tetra Pak for the area of the environment. According to Protects What's good, the study reveals that recycling remains as the main expectation, to consumers and operators, in the food industry.

The study reveals a significant increase in attitude vis-à-vis the renewable materials among the agents of the food industry, driven by the recent development of new technologies. The use of materials of biological origin is highlighted as one of the leading environmental trends that shape the future of packaging for beverages.

According to Protects What's good, the report also States that consumers continue to punctuate the cartons for liquid foods as the type of packaging more "environmentally friendly", due to the use of the card â€" a renewable material. On the other hand, more than 50% of consumers believe that the use, in the plastic packaging of biological origin, will further improve the environmental image of cartons for liquid foods. 

Environmental labelling is more sought

The report also identifies a growth in demand for environmental information for consumers. In order to make informed choices, 37% of consumers seek, on a regular basis, the presence of environmental seals in food packaging. Currently, 54% of consumers trust the ecolabelling compared to the 37% recorded in 2011. One in five consumers surveyed in this study recognizes the Forest Stewardship Council â„¢ logo (FSC â„¢), with the largest membership in the responsible management of forests.

On the other hand, the separation and selective deposition of used packaging for later recycling continues to be the main environmental activity among consumers, a variable that remains since 2005. The recyclability of packaging materials is a top priority for food industry operators in the development of a new product or service.

The study asked consumers and 7,000 more than 200 food industry representatives from 13 countries, including Brazil. Portugal not part of this list.

See the report in its entirety in Protects What's good.

Read More

FC Porto's equipment is manufactured with recycled plastic bottles (with video)

Sustainability reaches all sectors of activity, and how many times we have been reporting, nor the football escapes this demand by reducing waste, recycling and green economy.

One of the most interesting achievements of recent times, in this area, has the jerseys as a backdrop. A Nike innovation is driving the footballers of several clubs and national teams, such as FC Porto and Portugal, wearing t-shirts and shorts made from recycled bottles.

The equipment is made of recycled polyester â€" eight plastic bottles for the sweaters and five for the shorts. Plastic bottles are recovered and melted down to produce new threads, converted after the fabric that allows you to create these high performance equipment.

The process saves raw materials, while reducing power consumption by approximately 30% compared to manufacturing virgin polyester.

In addition to mitigate the environmental impact, the new equipment are also cheaper. "In economic terms, we have reduced in 8% the cost of the equipment, which allowed a very large economy," explained to the green economy Gil Santos, commercial director of FC Porto.

For the footballer, this innovation represents an evolution in sports equipment: it weighs only 150 grams, being 23% lighter than the previous one. According to Nike, the new equipment help regulate body temperature, eliminating the sweat and keeping players fresh and dry during the game.

Since 2010, the Nike reaproveitou more than 1.1 billion plastic bottles from landfills.

Read More

Google launches maps visualization and Galapagos species

Google updated its Street View program with a collection of amazing images of Galapagos. The new maps with a view of 360 degrees allow you to meet the marine life and the rails with islands that Darwin has probably encountered for 178 years. Users can even help in the ongoing conservation of the region, identifying plants and animals you see on the screen.

In collaboration with the Galapagos National Park, the Charles Darwin Foundation and the Catlin Seaview Survey, Google collected images over 10 days of the month of May this year. Using cameras used both along hiking the Islands, as in underwater environments, the mapping expedition provides a completely unique documentation of this unique ecosystem.

Many of the animals that the cameras were able to capture only exist in this archipelago â€" including the giant tortoises, sea lions and the lesser-known marine iguanas. It is believed that many of these unique creatures have inspired the theory of natural selection by Charles Darwin, when he studied the region in 1835.

Some of the animals, as well as aquatic and terrestrial habitats, are under threat from invasive species, and research in the field is expensive and time-consuming. In this way, in addition to serve as entertainment, this extensive online documentation of the Islands will help groups who study "the environment, conservation, animal migration patterns and the impact of tourism on the Islands," according to the Inhabitat.

The draft gives the chance of amateur scientists, such as experts, may also be involved. Google has established a partnership with the iNaturalist and created the Darwin for a Day program that allows users to help catalog the plants and animals shown in the images of the Street View, making it a conservation tool.

Read More

English warship that sank in 1744 can now be viewed online

The most powerful battleship of her time there are 269 years lies at the bottom of the sea, in the channel, in too deep and dangerous for most adventurers. But, thanks to more sophisticated technology of diving, the historic HMS Victory can now be seen for the first time in detail, in virtual form.

The original images available on HMS Victory 1744 â€" show the traces of the most important ship of the United Kingdom, followed by the Mary Rose. The site in question is practically inaccessible, 75 meters deep, and became even more dangerous with the changes of the tides and strong currents.

Now, from the comfort of the ground, filming in high definition simulate the experience of exploring the ship like a diver. The HMS Victory was the most powerful ship in the 18th century, before being let down. Upon returning home after a successful mission against the French in Lisbon and Gibraltar, October 5, 1744, succumbed to a violent storm, causing the death of the entire crew of 1,100 people.

I thought that the ship was lost, but the Odyssey Marine Exploration was able to solve the big mystery â€" the leading expert on maritime archaeological research at sea found that the vessel lies 80 Km South-East of Plymouth.

Studies of the wreckage revealed that the excessive weight of the ship and its instability, caused by heavy weapons and possibly rotten timbers, made him more vulnerable in the storm. The ship was carrying at the time 110 bronze cannons.

The images now available online have been captured with a robot Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and show a place filled with dozens of cannons, wood, anchors and rudders â€" such as a multitude of marine life.

The Odyssey in the debris zone warns that is at risk, due to fishing trawlers that often drag heavy equipment of the ship across the sea floor. A three-ton bronze Cannon, for example, was dragged for 233 yards away of the remaining ruins.

Sean Kingsley, director of Wreck Watch International, London consultant specializing in global maritime heritage, said: "the location of the wreck is more dangerous now than on the day the storm swallowed the Victory".

Read More

Hundreds of millipedes causing train accident in Australia

The millipedes aren't exactly great â€" hence have been required a group of hundreds of them to derail a train in Australia last week, 40 Km North of Perth. The train was traveling slowly, but failed to avoid the crash of another who was on the platform. Still, the accident left six people injured at the level of the neck.

It seems that the animals â€" "maria-cafes", as they are commonly known in Portugal â€" tend to occupy the rails of the train, where their black exosqueletos and brilliant work as the perfect camouflage. When a large number of millipedes is crushed, that interferes with the physics of iron lines, making them more viscous and slippery, losing its normal capacity of friction. In this case, "the train lost traction and slipped," explained David Hynes, spokesman for the public transport Authority of Western Australia.

This is not the first time that the tiny creatures are involved in accidents. In 2002, they settled in many railways between Melbourne and Ballarat that 50 trains had to be prevented from circulating. In 2009, the agglomeration of thousands of animals over a length of 1.6 Km, causing delays and cancellations in the service of vehicles.

The Australia has a lot of millipedes because animals simply have no natural predators on the island. Interestingly, according to The Atlantic, these creatures are coming from Portugal, having traveled to Australia in 1953. Are known for their distinctive black color, as for the terrible odor emitting.

This case serves to remind how closely linked are the nature and the human infrastructure in the current highly developed world. The public transport Authority of Western Australia is already conducting an investigation on the effects of these beings in the train tracks in the region.

Read More

Beijing resorts to drastic measures to reduce pollution

The air quality in Beijing has become so bad that even start driving away tourists. But the lack of tourists is the smallest of the Chinese problems. Among other things, the city is working on your system of public bicycles and in the restructuring of roads and sidewalks to get public transportation, but remains a question: who will want to ride your bike in an environment like this?

The pollution has reached such a State that the residents and employees of the city, before the approaches on the reticent greenhouse gas emissions at the expense of economic growth, already require drastic solutions to the shortage of breathable air.

Beijing has a limit to the new records of cars available each month. In August, 1.6 million people have signed up for new licenses, but it turns out that only 22 thousand are issued monthly.

Now, between a set of new measures to combat air pollution in the city, the restrictions on new automobiles will be even more afincadas. The City currently has about 5.4 million cars â€" the authorities want to ensure that the numbers fall into six million by 2017. This means that only about 10 thousand new licenses will be issued per month during the next five years.

As part of the five-year plan, it was also announced that 1,200 of the more polluting companies and factories will be required to improve their facilities or terminate until 2016. Additionally, companies that break environmental laws will face a ban on receiving bank loans, raising funds through public offerings and tax incentives, starting this year.

According to Grist, the ultimate goal is to reduce the harmful particles in the air at 25% until 2017. The measures will no doubt burdensome to comply, but the alternative is to live in a town where unfortunately the surgical masks have become a common accessory.

Photo: under Creative Commons license

Read More

United Kingdom wants to eliminate paper documents to reduce waste

The think thank said in a report, Policy Exchange, which the British Government is wasting billions of pounds when working with paper documentation in their public services. In the article you can read that in order to carry the Government into the digital age ", all its activities shall be scanned, eliminating the use of paper.

The report highlights the waste involved in operations such as the Crown Prosecution Service, which prints one million daily sheets, and other agencies that print forms that could be fully scanned. Adopting this recommendation could lead to a saving of €83 billion ($ 250 billion) until 2020.

A total transformation of Government to digital technologies would also put an end to the productivity gap between the public and private sectors, adds the report. According to Edie, the Cabinet Office Minister, Francis Maude, says that the report recognises the "extraordinary potential" of this alternative.

"We estimate that the change of government transactions to digital channels can save € 1.4 billion ($ 4.3 billion) by 2015. This will provide a better value for the working families and better public services designed around users ' needs. In the future, all government services will be fastest, practical, agile and fingerprints, "said Maude.

The director of Policy Exchange and author of the report, Chris Yiu, argues that "the change to digital in everything the Government does would generate a savings of billions of pounds that could be used to reduce the deficit or improve public services".

A survey commissioned by the Two Sides, an initiative that seeks to promote the production and the responsible use of paper and prints by supply chain companies of graphic communications, found that 54% of companies agree that paper records are more sustainable and 68% means that impressions "are based on a renewable resource".

Read More

The world's largest living cat

His name is Hercules, weighs 420 pounds and was considered the largest feline in the world by the Guinness Book of records. The feline-a liger â€" is one of the attractions of the 2014 Edition of the famous book of curiosities and lives in Myrtle Beach Safari, a wildlife reserve in South Carolina, United States.

With 3.3 meters long and 1.2 meters high, this animal doesn't exist in the wild only in captivity. He is the Union of a lion (father) and a Tiger (mother) and is considered the largest cat in the world, coming to have four feet.

The males of this animal are barren, once the number of chromosomes of the lion and tigers are pairs, but females can mate with other animals with similar characteristics, creating the liligre. However, these may have a fragile health.

This wildlife sanctuary was established in 1982 to help several endangered animals from around the world. Since then, I've received elephants, rhinos, orangutans and other large animals.

See two photos of this burly beast.

Read More

Global food waste causes more CO2 emissions than any country

A recent study by the United Nations food and Agriculture estimates that 1.3 billion tons of food wasted around the world cause more greenhouse gas emissions than those issued by any country â€" except for China and the United States.

The study takes into account the energy, water and chemicals used in the production of foods such as on their elimination â€" totaling about 3.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year.

In industrialized countries, all this waste is due to the fact that consumers buy too much food and dumping out that they don't eat. In developing countries, it turns out that people do not have adequate food storage facilities and practise inefficient farming techniques.

With the world population continues to increase year after year, reduce food wastage not only would reduce emissions of polluting gases, how could help prevent possible food shortages that will travel in the coming decades.

According to Inhabitat, the UN suggests some changes on the part of producers in developing countries, they could opt for a greater investment in harvesting, in cooling and packaging methods that reduce the waste. These improvements may allow the food reaches consumers more efficiently.

The solutions proposed for industrialized countries are simpler, but equally far reaching: consumers should be encouraged to eat smaller portions and make better use of leftovers, while businesses can donate surplus food to charity. Find alternatives to food particles that follow for landfills can also help reduce emissions.

Read More

Portuguese project transforms old picture frames in thematic frames (with video)

According to the musicians of the American rock band Guns n ' Roses song Sweet Child o' Mine was written in just five minutes and counted with the collaboration of five members. It was one of the biggest musical hits of years 80 and proof that inspiration has no defined time periods: or without having or not.

He was also a true inspiration, we can say, what happened when Gonçalo Pina e Melo came in as a guest on MC Capital â€" and graphics out, five hours later, with a business designed.

"I came to the Capital MC do playback of a specific poster. I spent five to six hours and left with a project proposal ", explained to the green economy. The project is called Afterframes and transforms old or damaged frames in thematic frames.

The company has four partners, all with different formations, and joins several areas of interest: interior decoration, music and recycling. And yet the James Oliver, as you can see here.

It is also a way to preserve the history of frames that, of old and damaged, are appealing. Gonçalo admits that had this idea several years ago â€" of making trips abroad â€" and began working the frames for his own House.

Was one of these frames that, curiously, came to the Capital ordering MC, when the business was designed. "It was an attractive project," explained to the green economy Paulo Cardoso, one of the partners of Afterframes and responsible for the graphics. For Paulo Cardoso, the deal allows you to recycle part of the card that would otherwise be considered waste.

The first collection is themed concert posters of the years 50, 60 or 70. Another decade and perhaps have a recycled frame with allusion to Sweet Child o' Mine, the one song that was written in five minutes. A little less â€" very little â€" the creation of Afterframes.

Read More

Fish-Gotha voted the ugliest animal in the world

The fish-drop-or fish-bubble â€" was considered the ugliest animal in the world by "friends" of the Ugly Animal Preservation Society, in an unusual contest with a noble purpose: to draw attention to the animals that are endangered, few times are referred to in the press: the ugly.

The fish-drop (blobfish) received 795 votes in more than 3,000 considered valid by the Ugly Animal Preservation Society. The Association will honor the fish-drop in a way also unusual: he will be their new mascot.

According to the Association, all endangered species, the ugly animals need more help to be preserved, since they are less appealing to the masses.

"A long time ago that we needed an ugly face to the endangered animals [We], and it was with great surprise that we noticed the reaction of the public. For a long time, the cute animals and beautiful received greater attention, but fish-drop will be the voice of the animals always forgotten, "explained the President of the Association, Simon Watt.

In addition to the fish-drop, also the OWL Parrot, the Axolotl, salamadra the frog titicaca and the proboscis monkey reached the top 5.

Drop fish lives on the southeast coast of Australia and in Tasmania and is at risk of extinction due to the fishermen who accidentally catch in their nets.

Read More