The Greenland ice sheet is less stable than thought

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a new model that shows that, despite his apparent stability, the massive ice sheet that covers most of Greenland is more sensitive to climate change than estimated earlier studies. If it is true, it could speed up sea level rise, which threatens coastal communities around the world.

In addition to assessing the increasing levels of water created by melting and dumped in the ocean with the heating, the model takes into account also the role that soft and spongy ground beneath the ice layer holds in changing their dynamics.

According to the study, which was published yesterday in Nature, the Greenland ice sheet is the second largest in the world and covers 1.7 million square miles, containing enough ice to raise sea levels by more than seven metres if all melt.

Currently, only with surface melting, the ice loss takes place at an annual rate of 200 gigatons, equivalent to a rise of 0.6 mm annually. Globally, the level rises to 3 mm per year, today's data.

"Be due to seasonal change or climate warming, the layer does not melt like an ice cube," said Marion Bougamont, Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, to Red Orbit. "Instead, there are two sources of loss of ice melt on the surface ice flow himself, and there is a link between these two mechanisms we don't understand fully and that is not taken into account in default templates."

See what the world's most vulnerable cities and its gallery.

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Foto: Christine Zenino / Creative Commons

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8 of the smallest villages of Portugal

Are small, almost sensitive, but have an incredible beauty that saves on time and fills them with tourists from time to time. We're talking about some of the smallest villages of Portugal, who were identified in 2012 by Top blog now Rural recovered for you, dear readers.

Explains the blog that these seven locations give us a chance to shut down the city everyday. See if you know any of these villages and also read a brief summary of each.

1. Village of Shame â€" 6 km

Located 325 kilometres from Lisbon and 20 kilometers of São Pedro do Sul, the village of pen is the typical village of shale. Is considered a compulsory passage point for those who love nature due to its location â€" bottom of a valley in the hills of St. Macarius â€" and has only 10 houses and six inhabitants.

Pitchers - 4 people 2.Aldeia

This village, located in Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Trás-os-Montes, counted in 2012 with only four people â€" two elderly couples. It is the second least populated village of all seven we give to know and, among other things, has a magnificent 12-kilometre pedestrian pathway, which stretches over endless landscapes.

3. new village-33 km

With a conventional name and located in the municipality of Almeida in Freixo da Serra, the new village has 33 km â€" almost 75% than in 1900. So, the main production of this village was rye, but the inhabitants were "fleeing" to France as times get harder.

4.Goujoim - 58 people

With only 58 inhabitants, Goujoim is now considered a "Village Museum", for being one of the oldest in Portugal. Located in the municipality of Armamar, district of Viseu. His name should derive from the name Aben or Uvim, and changed throughout history: from Gomjoym to Gojoim and Gojim, until you reach the current designation. In Goujoim lived in the production of olive oil, wine and wheat, rye, and many of these traditions can still be observed.

5.Asnela - 10 inhabitants

For 50 years, the village of Asnela had 250 people, but there is currently no more than ten. One of the attractions of this village transmontada are the granite houses. Known for the self-sufficiency of its inhabitants, who sow potatoes, beans, onions and create animals, Asnela remains separated from the 21st century â€" no bakeries or cafes nearby.

6.Monte high - 70 inhabitants

The village of Monte Alto is the exception that proves the rule of abandonment of these locales, all over Portugal. In 1993, the village possessed 11 inhabitants. Today, she's 70, due to the construction of the social centre of Monte Alto, which reversed the trend of desertification. Located in Mértola, near the border with Spain, the village has cottages for rent, which also contributes to the local economy.

7.Cortecega - 11 inhabitants

The village of Cortecega, near de GOIs, has so much online presence and even videos on YouTube that would be far to guess who has just â€" or had, in 2012-11 inhabitants. This traditional village, like many across the country, is near extinction.

8.Adagoi - 0 inhabitants

Until recently, Adagoi had an inhabitant, which eventually moved to the nearby village to combat loneliness. With plenty of rural accommodation in the vicinity, this village in the municipality of Valpaços, Trás-os-Montes, is a good opportunity for anyone who wants to meet a secular location which is abandoned. Or for those who want to buy and retrieve.

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Street performer joins PETA to remember the suffering animals

The New York street artist Dan Witz, a specialist in urban architecture, is putting pieces of bodies of chickens and chickens throughout Greater London. The project is being developed in partnership with the Organization PETA pró-animal and is related to a program against the slaughter of animals, which has the catchy name "Empty the Cages" ["Empty cages" in Portuguese].

"The reputed street performer Dan Witz has created these pieces to connect us to the millions of animals who suffer and die every year to transform into food," explained to PETA.

The project "Empty the Cages" intends to relocate these animals in the eyes of the public and remind Londoners what happens every day in farms and slaughterhouses. "We also want to remind you that your fate is in our hands and we have the power to save them, to choose not to consume their flesh," continued the PETA.

See some of the pieces of Witz and map of their locations. Also record the recent appeal of Morrissey, in its passage through the Coliseu dos Recreios in Lisbon.

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Dog saves cat through rare blood transfusion between species

Buttercup, an Orange Cat, arrived last month at Marathon Veterinary Hospital in Florida, between life and death. Blood tests determined that the red blood cell count was too low and the feline would be unlikely to survive without an immediate blood transfusion.

The only problem is that the cat had blood type B, while most cats in the United States have type A blood. "it's pretty hard to get blood type B," said vet of Buttercup, Sean Perry, the Dodo. "Sometimes it is cats with type B blood but the problem is that if we have blood type B to a cat with blood type A, the result is an anaphylactic reaction and death in a few minutes," he explains.

So, with the hope of saving the cat, the vet performed a transfusion with blood from another species â€" with the blood of a donor dog. The blood belonged to a greyhound that was donated to a local blood bank to animals.

"In these cases it is safer to give dog blood of the same type than give different type cat blood. The dog's blood allows the cat to survive some time until you can get suitable blood or the body of the animal start to function normally, "says the vet.

Perry indicates that it is not certain what caused the decrease of red blood cells in Buttercup, but since receiving the transfusion, erythrocytes cat levels returned to normal and the animal is recovering well. The veterinarian indicates that the cat had luck in the transfusion have resulted because the blood exchange between species is effective only once. To receive dog's blood, the Buttercup body created antibodies and if ever receive canine blood your immune system will attack the blood.

Although work only once, the blood transfusion between species does any side effects to the animal receives the blood. Cases like that of Buttercup are the example that like humans, animals must also donate blood whenever possible.

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As green taxation reform benefits future buyers of electric cars and hybrids

Cars with higher emissions of pollutants will be more expensive in 2015, in Portugal, but the call of green taxation reform brings good news for trams and hybrids.

So there will be an increase in vehicle tax (ISV) of the first, while the "green" cars, especially hybrids, see tax rebate increase up to 60%.

But not all hybrids gain, according to the business journal: the plug-in, IE, that carry the batteries connecting to mains, olds get only with a deduction of 25%, when before, there is no differentiation, had 50%.

The State is preparing to invest € 8 million a year in tax incentives for the purchase of electric cars and plug-in hybrids, through new amounts eligible for tax expenditure and autonomous taxation of IRS and IRC.

Meet 11 arguments for buying an electric vehicle.

The scrappage incentive also returns with green taxation, but to get the highest benefit you must buy a tram â€" the incentive could reach € 4,500. The plug-in hybrids will also be covered (maximum of € 3,250 of encouragement), as well as some of the most common models (€ 2,000 incentive) that have reduced emissions of polluting gases.

Finally, the Government provided an alternative for anyone who has an end-of-life vehicle but do not wish to proceed to the purchase of a new one. The solution will pass by the assignment of an allowance for the use of public transport. "It's created an incentive regime and destruction of end-of life vehicles, translated in the allocation of collective public transport vouchers [on the value of money]", reveals the Government

One of the most media-reform proposals of green taxation, recalled, through the inclusion of a €0,08 fee for each plastic bag lightweight, i.e. those that are normally distributed by supermarkets. According to the Government, each Portuguese will reduce your consumption of plastic bags of 466 (number anything exaggeration) to 50 per year.

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Pets are part off the deck in the Ebola outbreak

"Pets are not a significant risk for the Ebola virus in United States", according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Center for disease control and the State Department of agriculture.

According to a statement from the three organizations, cited by The Dodo, the hypothesis of an American contracting Ebola virus through dogs, cats or other animals is very low.

"The risk of an Ebola pandemic affecting many people in the United States is very low. Thus, the risk of a pet being affected is also very low, since he would have to be in contact with blood or bodily fluids of a person with Ebola. Even in areas of Africa where the Ebola virus is present there's been no news of dogs or cats get sick with Ebola, "said the Center for disease control, CDC North.

On the other hand, an act unlikely to a dog or cat find someone with Ebola, it is not clear whether the animal is a risk to humans. A 2005 study, quoted by the Washington Post, found antibodies in dogs gaboneses, after an outbreak of Ebola--that is, the animals were exposed to the disease, but there is no proof that the canines were infected or contagious.

For the pets of employees exposed to Ebola-like for example in the case of Dallas, United States â€" the small animal Veterinary Association advises that they are quarantined, and are not automatically eutanasiados.

Photo: Marina del Castell/Creative Commons

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The rare foray by an icy Cave of volcanic Russia

Very little is known on the Kamchatka peninsula, in Russia, but the photographer Sergey Krasnoshchekov did everything to diminish our thirst for knowledge with their last series of photos that captured the beauty of an ice grotto.

Sergey, of 28 years, waited until the summer to make the expedition the peninsula of us so far off the beaten path, but was concerned at the fact that small parts of the cave, with one kilometre, could collapse.

Still, curiosity got the better of him and Sergey ended up coming home with an unbelievable series of beautiful pictures. "The caves are hard to access and we need special cars to reach the site," explained the Russian photographer.

"I spent a few days near the caves, but didn't stay too long in there. I was afraid that the ceiling colapsasse, once that the cave is very close to an active volcano "continued.

The colors that Sergey found inside the cave are amazing and look like from another world â€" and, in fact, Kamchatka is a new world for Westerners.

The photographer took the expedition to capture some volcanic eruptions in Kamchatka peninsula â€" has more than 100 volcanoes, many of them considered by UNESCO as a world heritage site.

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