Do You Know?

The Versatile Lemon

2012-08-24T12:05:00.000+07:00

Imagine a product that can be used as medicine, a cleaning agent, a disinfectant, and a beauty treatment. You can eat it, drink its juice, and extract essential oil from it. It comes attractively packaged, is available all over the world, and is inexpensive. You may even have one in your kitchen right now. What is it? The lemon!

It is thought that lemons originated in Southeast Asia. From there they were gradually carried westward, toward the Mediterranean. Lemon trees thrive in mild climates, hich is why they grow so well in places like Argentina, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and even parts of Africa and Asia. A mature tree, depending on the variety and location, can produce nywhere from 200 to a staggering 1,500 lemons a year. The cultivated varieties bloom in different periods, making it possible to harvest lemons yearround.

Lemons Take Root in Italy
Whether the ancient Romans grew lemons is a hotly debated subject. There is written evidence that the Romans knew about the citron, another member of the citrus family, which strongly resembles a large lemon. In his work Natural History, Roman historian Pliny the Elder specifically mentions the citron tree and its fruit. However, leading experts believe that the Romans knew about lemons too. Why? Because numerous frescoes and mosaics apparently depict these fruits and not citrons. One such example is from a villa unearthed in Pompeii, appropriately called The Orchard House, as it is decorated with frescoes that depict various plants, including a lemon tree. Admittedly, at the time, it was likely considered an exotic tree and may have been used only as a medicinal plant. It is impossible to tell how easy lemons were to grow and how widespread they were.

The island of Sicily, with its long warm summers and mild winters, has become the leading producer of citrus fruit including lemons. But there are other areas, mainly along the coast, where good-quality lemons are cultivated.

The beautiful town of Sorrento is just south of Naples, and south of it The VersatileLemon is the Amalfi coast—just over 25 miles (40 km) of spectacular sprawling coastline. Tucked away in coves along the coast are the picturesque towns of Amalfi, Positano, and Vietri sul Mare, just to mention a few. Sorrento and the Amalfi coast produce lemons that have the Protection Authority certificate, a guarantee that they were actually cultivated there. The locals are rightly protective of their lemon trees, as these trees were cleverly planted on terraces on the side of the mountain, where they soak up the sun and produce wonderfully perfumed, juicy lemons.

You don’t need lots of space to grow a lemon tree. Even a sunny balcony is enough, as dwarf lemon trees can be grown in pots and are beautifully ornamental. They like sunny, wind-free spots where they can soak up the warmth, preferably against a wall. However, f the temperature drops a lot during the winter, they need to be covered or brought indoors.

Not Just for Flavor
How often do you use lemons? Some put a slice in a cup of tea; others use the zest or a few drops of the juice in cake recipes. Maybe you squeeze them to use the juice for lemonade. Chefs around the world always have lemons on hand for endless uses in cooking. But have you ever used lemon juice as a disinfectant or to help remove a stain?

Actually, some people clean up and disinfect their chopping boards by rubbing them with half a lemon. Instead of using bleach for stains or cleaning the sink, some use a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda. And half a lemon in the refrigerator or dishwasher is said to eliminate bad odors and keep the appliances smelling fresh.

Lemons are a source of citric acid, which is used as a natural preservative and to give a sour taste to food or drink. The lemon’s pith and peel yield pectin,which is used in the food industry as a thickener, emulsifier, and gelling agent. Additionally, there is an oil extracted from the peel that is used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. The list of uses for lemons could go on and on. Lemons truly are a colorful, flavorful, versatile fruit.

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Extinction of Critical Species

2012-06-28T11:32:00.001+07:00

Over the past five years, beekeepers in the United States have lost about 30 percent of their bees each year on account of colony collapse disorder, a global phenomenon in hich entire colonies of bees abruptly and mysteriously disappear from their hives. Bees do more than provide us with honey. They pollinate key crops, including grapes, apples, oybeans, and cotton. We depend on bees.

“Every year, between 18,000 and 55,000 species become extinct. The cause: human activities.”—United Nations Development Program.

We also depend on phytoplankton. Without it we would have no fish. Without worms to erate the soil, we would have far fewer crops. The extinction of such key species would esult in food shortage and starvation, leading to violence and riots. Pollution, verpopulation, overharvesting, habitat destruction, and climate change contribute to the xtinction of animal species perhaps as much as 1,000 times more than natural rates.

The Hazards of Lobster Fishing

2012-06-27T14:31:00.002+07:00

Lobster fishing might seem to be a safe profession. But it is not. For example, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) says that “from 1993 to 1997, the occupational fatality rate for lobstermen in Maine was 14 per 100,000 licensed lobstermen, more than 2.5 times the national average (4.8 per 100,000 workers) for all industries.”

According to NIOSH, a U.S. Coast Guard investigation found that “lobstermen often become entangled in loose line on deck, are pulled overboard by the traps, and drown when they cannot free themselves from the line or are unable to reboard the vessel.” In a survey of 103 lobster fishermen, conducted from 1999 to 2000, nearly 3 out of 4 reported that at some point they had become entangled by trap line, although not all ere pulled overboard. Safety measures have been recommended so that lobster ishermen could either have the tools to cut themselves free or prevent entanglement in the first place.

The Propulsion System of the Jellyfish

2012-06-23T20:05:00.000+07:00

Jellyfish are at least 95 percent water and range in size from less than an inch to over six feet in diameter. Muscles propel many species along by rhythmically contracting and relaxing their bell-shaped body, somewhat like closing and opening an umbrella.

Scientists who study fluid dynamics have discovered that certain jellyfish, while not fast swimmers, have an intriguing method of propulsion. With each contraction of their body, the animals create a doughnut-shaped vortex, like a smoke ring, which they push away from themselves. The momentum of the rings creates an opposite reaction that propels the jellyfish forward, somewhat like a jet but with pulses of energy instead of a constant thrust. “It sounds simple,” says New Scientist magazine. “But the act of forming a vortex ring has proved very difficult to model mathematically.”

Researchers are studying the jellyfish’s propulsion system in order to build more efficient underwater vehicles. One researcher has already developed a four foot-long submarine that creates a wake similar to that of the jellyfish. The vehicle uses 30 percent less energy than a conventional propeller-driven unit. Another possible application involves the human heart. Because the movement of blood within a section of the heart generates vortex rings, abnormal vortices may reveal early signs of heart disease.

source:jw.org

The TITANIC - The Most Famous Ship in History

2012-06-10T12:02:00.000+07:00

What kind of ship was the Titanic? What caused it to sink? A visit to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, near Belfast in Northern Ireland, helps to provide answers to those questions.

The Titanic - Why Special?

According to Michael McCaughan, former curator of the Folk and Transport Museum, the Titanic is "the most famous ship in history". But the Titanic was not unique. It was the second of three huge vessels constructed in the shipbuilding yards of Harland andWolff in Belfast. The Titanic was one of the largest ships of its day, measuring 882.8 feet in length and 92.5 feet in width.

The White Star shipping line commissioned those huge liners to gain dominance in the lucrative North Atlantic shipping routes. The White Star Line could not compete with its rival, the Cunard Line, for speed. So it concentrated on building bigger and more luxurious vessels to attract the rich and famous.

But the Titanic had potential to serve another purpose as well. “Nearly 900,000 immigrants entered the United States each year between 1900 and 1914,” says William Blair, head of National Museums Northern Ireland. Carrying them from Europe to the United States provided transatlantic shipping companies with their largest source of income, and the Titanic was to be used for that purpose.

The Tragedy

The captain of the Titanic, E. J. Smith, knew the dangers posed by ice in the North Atlantic. He had often sailed this route in the Olympic. Several warnings of icebergs were sent by other ships, but some of these were overlooked or apparently not received.

Suddenly the Titanic’s lookouts warned of an iceberg ahead—but too late! The officer on duty managed to avoid a head-on collision but could not prevent the Titanic from scraping along the edge of the iceberg. That damaged the ship’s hull—and the sea flooded into a number of its forward compartments. Captain Smith soon learned that his ship was doomed. He sent out SOS messages and ordered that the lifeboats be lowered.

The Titanic had 16 lifeboats and four other collapsible boats. At full capacity, they could hold about 1,170 people. But there were some 2,200 passengers and crew on board! To make matters worse, many of the boats pulled away before being fully loaded. And most of them made no attempt to search for possible survivors who had leaped into the sea. In the end, only 705 people were saved!

The Aftermath

After the Titanic disaster, maritime authorities enacted regulations that improved safety at sea. One such regulation ensured that there would be enough lifeboats on future voyages for everyone on board a ship.

For years people believed that the Titanic sank so quickly because it sustained a huge gash in its hull at the time of its ill-fated collision. In 1985, however, after the discovery of the Titanic on the ocean floor, investigators reached a different conclusion—that the icy waters had compromised the ship’s steel, causing it to become brittle and to fracture. Less than three hours after the collision, the ship broke in two and sank, earning its place as one of the greatest disasters in nautical history.

source:jw.org

Natural Disasters of 2010

2012-06-08T18:53:00.000+07:00

A leading insurance company recorded 950 natural catastrophes worldwide in 2010, exceeding the last decade’s average of 785 events per year. The five worst disasters were earthquakes in Chile, China, and Haiti; floods that inundated Pakistan; and a heat wave in Russia, where tens of thousands died from the effects of heat and air pollution.

Over northern Europe, ash from an Icelandic volcano caused little direct damage but nearly paralyzed air traffic. In Australia two severe hailstorms caused in excess of $2 billion (U.S.) of damage. “Total economic losses, including losses not covered by insurance,” says The Telegraph of London, “rose to $130 billion from last year’s $50 billion.”

iPad survives 400 meters drop without any damage

2011-11-17T22:32:00.001+07:00

Your iPad maybe will break when dropped from the table, but what if the iPad is dropped from a height of more than 1300 feet or about 400 meters? It was not damaged.

A group of people from the company's G Form tried to do the testing. They threw the iPad from a plane with a height of 1300 feet in a state of the iPad was playing the video.

Apparently, when examined, the iPad is still active and the screen is still showing the video. Prior to this, G Form also had success throwing the iPad from a height of 500 feet or about 150 feet and struck by a bowling ball.

Quoted from the Daily Mail, 17 November 2011, the secret is casing or sheath which is much thicker than usual. This glove is made of material specially designed military ballistic withstand pressure when falling on the surface.

In another demonstration, G Form also demonstrate how the iPad is able to withstand the blows of a kung fu master.

G Form itself is not the only company that makes special gloves to withstand extreme conditions. Previously, iOsafe has designed a special hard protective bulletproof.

Rolex has also made waterproof tool that is able to create objects in it can last up to a depth of 12 thousand feet or approximately 3,600 meters, a depth which will certainly crush the human body.

REAL-f creating copies of human faces in 3D

2011-10-17T13:33:00.000+07:00

Real-f, a startup company from Japan, provides an opportunity for you to see yourself in new ways.

With rates 2,500 pounds, the Japanese company REAL-f would make a photo of your face and then print them in 3D models to be used as the 'face' which is made of solid vinyl chloride. The result, a model called the 3DPF or 3 Dimensional Photo Form.

If the face is not enough, you could even create a 3D photocopy of your head in full, including the shoulders.

Real-f is not the first company to attempt to create a mask of human face. However, the model generated by Real-f is the most realistic.

Real-f claimed, you could even see the veins and membrane of the eyeball. They even mention the technology that they created a process of 'copy' of man.

"We have switched from monochrome to color. Now is the time for the era of three-dimensional stereoscopic effect, "said Real-f, as quoted from dailymail, October 17, 2011.

Real-f does not explain what their purpose to make these technologies. However, there are indications that the user can install the 'head' them on mannequins. Whatever its use, the buyer needs to wait two weeks until your head is finished.

The ROSAT, a 2.5 tons Satellite will fall to earth

2011-10-11T11:23:00.000+07:00

More recently the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) Falling to Earth belonging to the United States space agency, but another falling satellites threat awaits.

People should be aware of the possibility of falling satellites weighing nearly three tons of spinning out of control and is expected to fall back to Earth.

It is the ROSAT satellite, X-ray telescope made by German-owned British and American technology has been orbiting Earth since 1990. The satellite has been providing much valuable information about the star.

In 1999, scientists lost contact with the ROSAT that weighs 2.5 tons. The experts predict, ROSAT will enter Earth's atmosphere later this month.

German Aerospace Center estimates, there are 30 satellite debris, weighing a total of 1.67 tons, which will reach the Earth's surface. Heat-resistant mirror that is in ROSAT estimated will not burn out during re-entry to Earth. The rubble that fell sharply, including fractions that can be dangerous for the Earth's creatures.

However, people should not be too worried. "Until now, more than 50 years of aerospace history, none of the people affected by satellite debris fractions," said Professor Heiner Klinkrad of the European Space Agency was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

Although it is unlikely anyone would be injured, emergency service workers in Germany are being trained to deal with cases of injury from the debris of space junk.

Last month, Germany's space center has the opportunity to estimate the ROSAT injure someone, 1: 2,000. More risky than UARS satellite which crashed some time ago 1:3.200. However, the possibility of someone falling satellite debris was very small, 1: 14 trillion.

Meanwhile, Klinkrad Heiner, the head of affairs office space debris, the European Space Agency said the unlikely ROSAT produced accurate predictions of the fall today.

Uncertainty will be reduced by increasing the satellite close to Earth. At which point the collapse of the new satellites can be predicted one or two hours before he was pierced through the Earth's surface.

For information, NASA's satellite, the UARS crashed in a remote area in the Pacific Ocean, the entry point satellite carcasses around Christmas Island, south of Indonesia. Exact coordinates of the crash site, as noted by NASA, was at 14.1 degrees south latitude and 189.8 degrees east longitude (west longitude 170.2).

UARS is much smaller than the Mir space station that weighs 135 tons - that fell to Earth in 2001. Also more mini than the Skylab re-entry into Earth in 1979.

Mir fell in the South Pacific, while Skylab crashed in the Indian Ocean - as well as some other parts to fall in Western Australia. Because two-thirds of the earth is ocean, often times falling space junk in the water.

Cosmo Noah, Rescue capsule from tsunami hit and as playhouse

2011-10-10T21:36:00.000+07:00

Japan is known as a country often hit by earthquakes and tsunamis. This is why a Japanese company, Cosmo, creating a rescue capsule specially designed to anticipate the tsunami disaster,which named Cosmo Noah.

Expected to function just like Noah's ark, the rescue capsule is then called Cosmo Noah. Has a shape such as round-yellow like tennis ball, Cosmo Noah will float when the tsunami came.

The experts who make the Cosmo Noah capsule said, Cosmo Noah made of special fiberglass material compacted. So, if there are earthquakes and tsunamis devastating, just as happened on 11 March, is expected to rescue capsule could save people who are on it.

Cosmo company president, Shojo Tanaka said, this capsule has been pilot-tested and resilient to various shocks. This capsule can contain up to four adults.

In addition, the capsule also has a window and a hole to breathe. If not used during the tsunami, these capsules can be used as a playhouse for children.

Cosmo company president said the Cosmo Noah capsule is ready to be launched since the beginning of September. The company has received orders at least as many as 600 pieces at the end of September.

Join Google+, Dalai Lama uses Hangout features

2011-10-10T16:49:00.000+07:00

Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has been officially have a Google+ account. After opening the social networking accounts, The 14th Dalai Lama original name Tenzin Gyatso whose was later perform teleconferencing using Hangout feature, with South African Archbishop, Desmond Tutu.

Conversations with the Dalai Lama with Desmond Tutu made in the inauguration ceremony for Peace Desmond Tutu's speech, October 8 yesterday. Dalai Lama are in India, while Desmond Tutu are in South Africa.

Conversation two recipient of the Nobel Peace lasted for over an hour (the Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, while Desmond Tutu in 1984). The video is also available in the Dalai Lama Google+ account.

Both talk about the universal message of peace, which is taught in every religion and culture. Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu also hope love and peace can be created, although at this time of war, poverty, and exploitation still takes place in every region of the world.

Previously, the Dalai Lama was planning to meet Desmond Tutu in South Africa directly. However, due to visa issues permits still not finished, meetings were held with the existing Hangout features in Google+.

During this time, the Dalai Lama is known as a religious leader, who was not anti against technology, including social networking. Previously, the Dalai Lama also has an active Twitter account, and followed by over 2.5 million followers. While the Facebook fan page belongs to the Dalai Lama now has more than 2 million fans.

Meanwhile, the Hangout feature long as it's deemed to be excess Google+ compared with other social networks. With this feature, users can conduct teleconferences Google+ simultaneously with up to 10 users.

The Eye of Horus house for Naomi Campbell

2011-10-10T13:47:00.001+07:00

As a proof of love, the lover of supermodel Naomi Campbell, Vladislav Doronin, offered a Eye of Horus house as a birthday gift to Naomi-41. Not only luxury, the house is unique because of its shape as the eye of Horus, the god of ancient Egyptian society.

As quoted by the Daily Mail, Eye of Horus house was built on an island off the coast of Sedir, Turkey. The rooms are designed architect Luis de Garrido has 25 luxurious rooms.

When viewed from the air, then the Eye of Horus house This does look like the eyes in the reliefs from ancient Egypt, depicting the god Horus. Dome-shaped house, which resembles the pupil of the eye. While eyebrows, a solar panel as the sole power of existing homes on the island.

This Eye of Horus house is environmentally friendly. In fact, for pumping water, electricity using geothermal energy. It at once became heated water.

The main part or the 'pupils' homes will consist of three levels. It includes five main rooms are very luxurious and park in the building. A number of natural ventilation complements the 'greenness' of this house.

Vlad plans to build this Eye of Horus house seems to also be an indication that the real estate entrepreneur from Russia will be proposed to Naomi Campbell. Vlad and Naomi have been dating for three years. Although new to divorce from his wife, Ekaterina, Vlad reportedly already engaged to Naomi.

The Mystery of the Monkeys on the Rock

2011-08-13T16:17:00.001+07:00

When you think of monkeys, you probably think of the Tropics. Few species of monkeys venture into temperate lands. Nevertheless, there are one or two notable exceptions.

In the high Atlas Mountains of North Africa, where snowfall is common during the winter, small groups of Barbary apes roam through forests of cedar and oak. One isolated group of these monkeys can be found 200 miles [300 km] to the north, marooned on the Rock of Gibraltar, at the southernmost tip of Europe.

How do naturalists explain this mystery? Some believe that the monkeys colonized other areas of Europe in the distant past and that those of Gibraltar are the only surviving group. Others think that Arabic or British colonizers brought them to the Rock. Legend has it that the monkeys crossed the narrow straits dividing Europe from Africa by means of a long-lost underground tunnel. Whatever their origin, they are now the only free-range monkeys found in Europe.

The Barbary apes inhabit the pine woods that cover the upper part of the Rock. Although they number only a hundred or so, they have become “the peninsula’s most famous residents,” according to the International Primate Protection League.

Since seven million tourists visit Gibraltar every year, the mischievous monkeys have an ample food supply. Although they forage for wild plants, they have become adept at begging—and occasionally stealing—food from visitors. Local authorities also provide the monkeys with fruit and vegetables.

Apart from feeding, the monkeys spend 20 percent of their day grooming each other. Both male and female monkeys care for and play with the young ones. They live in close-knit groups, where stress sometimes leads to confrontation. While the older monkeys use threats and screams to chase away the younger ones, they also have an unusual tooth-chattering behavior that seems to calm them down.

Their arrival on Gibraltar may remain a mystery; still, these sociable monkeys add a special charm to the limestone headland that guards the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea. Gibraltar would not be the same without them.

The Early History of Balloon Flight

2011-08-04T11:57:00.000+07:00

Joseph Michel and Jacques Étienne Montgolfier, sons of a wealthy paper manufacturer of Annonay, France, are honored in history for building and launching the first hot-air balloon. Their initial experiments during the early 1780’s involved paper balloons, which they believed were made to rise because of the smoke from burning straw and wool. Before long, they realized that it was the heated air that created the lift.

Later, as they began making cloth balloons, they observed that by launching progressively larger balloons, they were able to achieve higher altitudes and they could lift additional payload. In June 1783, from the public square in Annonay, they released the largest balloon they had built to date. It floated skyward for about ten minutes before descending to earth.

With that achievement, they concluded that it was time to launch a balloon that carried people. First, though, in September 1783, thousands of spectators gathered at Versailles to witness the release of a balloon with a rooster, a duck, and a sheep on board. All three survived the eight-minute flight with no ill effects. Shortly thereafter, on November 21, 1783, the first flight with humans on board was attempted. Louis XVI was persuaded to allow two noblemen to have the honor. They were launched from Château de la Muette and floated over Paris for about five miles [8 km]. After about 25 minutes, they made a forced landing when the balloon caught fire.

About this time, the Academy of Sciences in Paris showed interest in this invention. Professor Jacques Charles, one of the best-known physicists of the day, collaborated with two clever mechanics, Charles and M. N. Robert, and built the first hydrogen-filled balloon, testing it on August 27, 1783. It floated for 45 minutes, covering about 15 miles [24 km], and became known as a Charlière. This type of balloon remains in use to this day in almost its original form.

The Terrible Price

2011-08-03T10:39:00.000+07:00

This meteoric rise in popularity, however, was not without its rumblings of foreboding. In fact, as far back as some 19 centuries ago, the Roman historian Pliny had noted that slaves who worked in asbestos mines seemed to have respiratory problems. His was only the first of many warning voices.

In the early 1900’s, doctors in Europe began to notice that asbestos workers were dying of respiratory ailments. By 1918 some insurance companies were already refusing to cover asbestos workers, noting their unusually short life spans. By the 1930’s, autopsies had established that massive exposure to asbestos could indeed be fatal. The tiny, needle-shaped crystals of many types of asbestos can work their way far down into the lungs, or even into the abdominal cavity, and remain there, sometimes bringing on disease decades later. Following are some of the more common asbestos-related diseases:

Asbestosis. The most common affliction, particularly among those who have had a long-term exposure to asbestos. A scarring of lung tissue that gradually causes the lung to rigidify and that obstructs the air spaces within the lung. Asbestosis causes labored breathing and makes lungs more vulnerable to infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis, which in turn are much more dangerous to people with the condition. Asbestosis is incurable, and it can kill.

Lung Cancer. Also very common, it kills more people than does asbestosis. Interestingly, though, when exposure to asbestos is combined with the smoking habit, the incidence of lung cancer really soars—far higher than if the risks of smoking and of asbestos exposure were simply added together.

Mesothelioma. A rare but extremely lethal form of cancer. It attacks the membrane that lines the chest or abdominal cavity. It may occur even after limited exposure to the mineral, and it may show up after a delay of as long as 40 years.

According to the International Journal of Health Services, asbestos will cause from two to three hundred thousand premature and painful deaths between 1986 and the year 2000 in the United States alone. If that holds true, it would about equal the number of U.S. military personnel who died in combat in World War II.

Social Skills in Infants?

2011-08-01T16:19:00.001+07:00

Babies as young as six months develop “social judging skills before they [can] talk,” say researchers at Yale University, U.S.A. Babies aged six months to ten months watched a large-eyed toy try to climb hills, while other toys either helped it or pushed it backward. The children were then “presented with the toys to see which they would play with,” explains the Houston Chronicle.

“Nearly every baby picked the helpful toy over the bad one.” So to some extent, “even infants can tell the difference between naughty and nice playmates, and know which to choose,” says the newspaper.

Doomsday Clock Advances

2011-07-30T09:39:00.000+07:00

The doomsday clock, conceived by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (BAS) to illustrate how close mankind is to nuclear disaster, has been advanced two minutes, to read five minutes before midnight—the “figurative end of civilization.” The clock has only been reset 18 times in its 60-year history.

The last change was in February 2002, after the World Trade Center attacks in New York. Continued development and presence of nuclear weapons as well as failure to make nuclear materials secure are “symptomatic of a failure to solve the problems posed by the most destructive technology on Earth,” said a BAS statement. Moreover, it continued, “the dangers posed by climate change are nearly as dire as those posed by nuclear weapons.”

Prescription for Danger

2011-07-29T11:03:00.000+07:00

“Medicines claimed more lives in Germany last year than traffic accidents did,” reported the newspaper Stuttgarter Nachrichten. Reportedly, some 25,000 people died in 1998 from wrongly prescribed drugs. This is three times as many as were killed in traffic accidents during the same period. Self-medication is said to play only a secondary role. The main problem seems to be a lack of information and training among doctors about the medicines and their effects. Pharmacologist Ingolf Cascorbi said that according to one estimate, “in Germany each year, 10,000 deaths and 250,000 cases of persons suffering from serious side effects could be avoided if research and training were optimized,” states the report.

Similarly, the French magazine Sciences et avenir reports on a recent study in France revealing that of 150,000 prescriptions given to people over 70 years of age, some 10,700 were either wrong or ineffective. Nearly 1 in 50 was potentially dangerous because of possible reactions with other prescribed drugs or other risks. In France elderly people spend an estimated one million days each year in the hospital as a result of negative reactions to medicine.

An Explosion of Technology

2011-07-28T11:07:00.001+07:00

In Albania it is not unusual to see an older person riding a donkey while talking on a cell phone. In India a beggar might pause in his solicitations to make or take a call on his phone. Yes, from cell phones to computers to television, technology has found its way into every corner of the world—even crossing the divide between rich and poor—and has become a part of life for many.

The pervasiveness of technology is perhaps most apparent in the proliferation of cell phones, many of which are no longer just phones. Advanced models enable users to access the Internet, send and receive e-mail and text messages, watch TV, listen to music, take photos, navigate by the Global Positioning System (GPS), and—oh, yes—phone someone!

According to a report in the Washington Post newspaper, a multimedia smartphone “now has more processing power than did the North American Air Defense Command in 1965.” The Post also states: “There is now one cellphone for every two humans on Earth,” and at least 30 nations have more cell phones than people. Indeed, we are witnessing “the fastest global diffusion of any technology in human history,” says the paper.

Worldwide, almost 60 percent of users live in developing lands, making the cell phone the first high-tech communications device to have the majority of its users in those lands. Afghanistan, for example, added about 140,000 subscribers a month in 2008, while in recent years Africa has seen cell-phone use grow nearly 50 percent annually.

But the communications revolution has its downside. Cell phones, pagers, and laptop computers make people accessible almost anytime, anywhere, causing some users to feel caught in an electronic web. At the other extreme are technology “addicts,” who have a compulsion to be connected, to know what is going on.

“Addiction,” distraction, interruption—these are perhaps the most recognized problems associated with popular communications and media technology. But the same devices also have much power for good. How, then, can you use them in a balanced, wise, and considerate way? The following articles address this question.

Studying The Squid’s Beak

2011-07-27T20:37:00.001+07:00

The beak of the squid baffles scientists. They wonder: ‘How can something that is so hard be attached to a body that has no bones? Should not the combination of materials cause abrasion and hurt the squid?’

The tip of the squid’s beak is hard, whereas the base of the beak is soft. The composition of the beak—which is made up of chitin, water, and protein—changes in density so gradually from soft to hard that the squid can use its beak without causing any harmful abrasion.

Professor Frank Zok, at the University of California, says that studying the squid’s beak could “revolutionize the way engineers think about attaching materials together in all sorts of applications.” One potential application is in the making of prosthetic limbs. Ali Miserez, a researcher at the same university, imagines “creating a full prosthesis that mimics the chemistry of the beak, so that it matches the elasticity of cartilage on one side and, on the other side,” is made of “a material which is very stiff and abrasion resistant.”

Glass spells danger for birds

2011-07-26T13:14:00.000+07:00

When windows are clean and clear, birds often see only what is on the other side, which may include greenery and sky. As a result, unsuspecting birds sometimes fly straight into the glass at full speed. Also, they may see decorative plants inside glass lobbies or homes and try to land on them.

Coated reflective glass can also be a problem. Under certain conditions, birds may see, not the glass, but a reflection of the surrounding area or sky and, here again, come to grief. Birds have even been killed by glass at visitors’ centers and on observation towers at bird sanctuaries and wildlife refuges! Ornithologist and biology professor Dr. Daniel Klem, Jr., believes that more birds are killed by flying into windows than by any other cause related to human activity, except perhaps habitat destruction.

Some birds are especially vulnerable to crashes. Most migratory songbirds, for example, fly toward their destination at night and navigate, at least in part, by the stars. As a result, they may become confused by bright lights on tall buildings. Indeed, some birds have become so disoriented that they have flown around aimlessly until they dropped from exhaustion. Another danger occurs during nights of rain or high cloud cover. On such occasions, birds tend to fly at lower altitudes, which increases their risk of crashing into tall buildings.

The Impact on Bird Populations

Just one tall building in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A., caused an average of about 1,480 known deaths during migration season, according to one report. Thus, over a period of 14 consecutive years, that one building caused the death of some 20,700 birds. Of course, the total number of bird strikes was no doubt much higher. Moreover, these birds “are not the pigeons, gulls, or geese,” says Michael Mesure, director of the Fatal Light Awareness Program of Toronto, Canada, but “birds with endangered populations.”

For example, in Australia in one recent year, glass killed about 30 swift parrots, of which only 2,000 remain. In the United States, many museum specimens of Bachman’s warbler, now possibly extinct, were gathered from collisions with one particular lighthouse in Florida.

Of the birds that survive building strikes, many are injured or weakened. This can be especially hazardous for migratory birds. If they are hurt and come down within a concentration of buildings, they may die of hunger or predation by other animals, some of which have learned to exploit this occasional food source.

The Appeal of Online Dating

2011-07-22T12:44:00.000+07:00

Do you fear rejection? Or do you simply feel there is a lack of potential marriage mates in the area where you live? Then computer dating may appeal to you. For one thing, on-line matchmaking services promise you control over your “dates.” Search boxes that display age groups, countries of residence, personality profiles, pictures, and anonymous screen names are provided. Armed with the power of choice, it may seem that dating on-line is more efficient and less stressful than face-to-face encounters.

What is the reality? Does dating in cyberspace really lead to lasting happiness? Well, consider this: During a six-year period, one matchmaking service had 11 million subscribers. Yet, only 1,475 marriages took place among them. Another dating service with over a million members listed only 75 confirmed marriages! What is wrong with this trend?

Lost Work Ethic

2011-07-21T13:14:00.000+07:00

Many Finnish employers are perplexed by a new generation of job applicants who do not seem to have a clue about the social skills necessary to hold a job. “The recruits tend to interpret work hours freely and think that they can clock in and out whenever they please,” says Anne Mikkola, a restaurateur, in an interview made by a Finnish national service broadcasting company.

Codes of conduct and dress also present difficulties. Especially in the service sector, employers often have to point out which types of attire are not appropriate. That the line between work and private life has blurred is also seen when recruits’ friends drop in at the workplace just to visit.

Youths and The Internet

2011-07-20T15:15:00.001+07:00

“The Internet provides an unprecedented number and variety of meeting places, from message boards to instant messaging to so-called social networking sites,” says Science News magazine.

Young people have quickly adjusted to life online. Indeed, in 2004 nearly 9 of every 10 people in the United States between the ages of 12 and 17 used the Internet, which is accessible in virtually every corner of the globe.

Few people would deny the usefulness of the Internet. But no one should be oblivious to the dangers it poses. For instance, many youths are wandering alone in the online neighborhood, and some are creating social networks with people whom you—and even your child—would never invite into the home.

Some naive young ones even post inappropriately personal details, thoughts, and images on the Internet. According to Professor Zheng Yan of the State University of New York, youths “often don’t realize how many people have access to that information, including sexual predators.”

Let us take a closer look at what many young people are doing online. This will enable us to see potential problems, to determine just what our children are looking for, and to see how we can help them satisfy their legitimate needs.

Loango - Beach Like No Other

2011-07-19T12:08:00.001+07:00

Loango National Park is possibly one of the most outstanding wildlife destinations in Africa. It conserves miles of unspoiled beaches fringed by freshwater lagoons and dense equatorial forest. But what really make Loango’s beaches unique are the animals that walk along the sand—hippos, forest elephants, buffalo, leopards, and gorillas.

Why does the beach attract those animals of the forest? Lining Loango’s white, sandy beaches are pastures where hippos and buffalo can graze. Rônier palm trees, which grow alongside the beach, produce abundant fruit that attracts forest elephants almost as much as ice cream attracts children. But most important of all is the solitude. The only footprints on the sand are those of animals.

The absence of human intrusion encourages the endangered leatherback turtles to choose these lonely beaches as a place to lay their eggs. Rosy bee-eaters have similar nesting tastes, and they excavate their colonial nests in the sand just a few yards above the high-water mark. During the summer months, over a thousand humpback whales congregate in Loango’s undisturbed waters to mate.

Two immense lagoons separate the beaches of Loango from the equatorial forest, and they provide an ideal habitat for crocodiles and hippos. Fish are plentiful in these inland seas, whose banks are lined with mangrove forests. African fish eagles and ospreys scour the open water of the lagoons, while several species of colorful kingfishers search for fish in the shallow waters. Elephants, who love water, happily swim across the lagoons to reach the beach and gorge on their favorite fruit.

Inside the equatorial forest, monkeys scamper along the upper branches of the canopy, while colorful butterflies glide around the sunny clearings. Fruit bats roost in their favorite trees during the day and then, during the night, go about their vital work of spreading seeds throughout the forest. At the forest edges, glittering sunbirds sip nectar from flowering trees and bushes. Understandably, Loango has aptly been described as “a place where you can experience the mood of equatorial Africa.”