15th November 2008

The Dangers of Losing Fat the Wrong Way

Surgery definitely is a drastic step but obesity too, should be avoided. The gastric bypass surgery reduces the small intestine to one third of its original size so that one can eat less.

The Harmful Effects

The operation fails in 15% cases.

The patients start eating a lot of snacks. They eat a lot of sugary stuff that in turn leads to dumping syndrome in which the body feels dizzy, one complains of flushing, nauseating and excessive sweating.

Diet Drinks and Preservatives

All the cola companies ask you to buy their 0 calorie drinks and people buy them think that they are not consuming calories so what’s the harm in it? The harm is the ingredients of these fluids help the body acquire more fat, that is, you start gaining fat from other foods because your body becomes more receptive to it. The same goes for preservatives in foods.

What To Avoid?
Any form of carbohydrates is to be avoided. Therefore, say no to breads, pasta and potatoes.

What To Include?

Fresh vegetables and fruits are always on the list.

Save The Kids

It becomes very important to save the kids before they are headed the wrong way. Actually, choosing good food is a habit which can be inculcated in kids from a very young age. Children follow their parents, so, if they find their parents following a certain kind of diet they do the same. Remember there is another good side to it. Trying to be an example would mean you are going to stay in shape also.

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21st August 2008

Ships Polluting Sea Air

Scientists are continuing their efforts towards saving Mother Nature; one such revelation being that ships are polluting the sea air. Sea air is considered to be healthy for humans as it is abundant in iodine and sodium, two vital factors that helps the body to function better. Infact, coastal climate is recommended for people suffering from chronic illnesses such as rheumatism and bronchitis.

The study claims that dirty smog pouring out of the funnels of the funnels of the ships are posing a great threat to the environment. Through a “chemical finger printing technique”, researchers identified “primary sulphate” in the ships’ release of smoke.

Scientists believe that ship emissions could have caused nearly 60000 deaths worldwide. Infact, scientists at the University of California (San Diego – UCSD) found that sodium emissions into the atmosphere were far more than realized earlier.

In their study, researchers conducted an analysis on the primary sulphate and other sources such as the vehicle exhaust emissions. About 44% of the sulphate polluting the coastal areas of California was traced down to be released from ships.

Scientists claimed that on some occasions, sulphate took up 50% of the atmospheric air as compared to other fine articles in the air. They further opine that ports such as the Los Angeles port, San Diego and Long Beach Port that have ships burning high sulphur fuel are all responsible for polluting the coastal areas of California.

Some international rules that are coming into effect since next year and 2015 are – that all cargo and cruise ships and also tankers will have to switch to more cleaner fuels and expensive fuels when they are 24 miles from the coast.

Professor Mark Thiemens, who led the study at UCSD, said that ships go unregulated and unchecked when it comes to polluting the atmosphere. When this study was conducted in San Diego, scientists found that the contribution of sulphur particles called primary sulphate to be quiet high in the atmospheric air.

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14th July 2008

Moon Not All That Dry

Water has been found on the Moon, which counters the belief that the Earth’s satellite is absolutely dry. Geologists made use of latest technology to coax molecules of water, which was brought from the moon by two Apollo missions decades back.

The researchers claim that water  was released containing magma through the eruptions of “fire mountains” about three million years ago from the moon’s surface.

The findings question the accepted “giant impact theory”, which is of the view that the moon was formed over billion years before a body of Mars size slammed into Earth. This sent debris into the orbit.

Researchers are of the view that the impact proved to be hot to vaporize the volatile elements. This includes the building of blocks of water.

The new study limits the scope of how hot this planet was and how quickly the volatile elements got condensed into the solid, according to lead author of the study, Alberto Saal, geologist, Brown University. The study appears in the July 10 issue of the journal Nature.

Astronomers claim that collision took place between a rogue planet and Earth around 4.5 billion years ago. This impact made molten debris enter the  orbit surrounding the Earth. Under such circumstances, the heat caused due to the impact should contain light vaporized elements, including hydrogen necessary for the formation of water.

Previous studies indicated the presence of light elements   below the surface of the moon such as sulfur, fluorine, chlorine and carbon. Evidence of water has been very elusive. On account of this the co-authors were denied funding of research for three years.

The study authors claim that during the eruptive phase   only 95 per cent of the water vapor was lost into space . Evidence of the remaining 5 per cent was from the lunar volcanic glasses, which are pebble type of beads. These were collected and brought to Earth by two of NASA’s Apollo Mission.

By using a technique that was highly sensitive to ascertain the chemical composition of the samples. By measuring the charged particles, the team authors were in a position to ascertain minute quantity of water in the matter from the Moon.

The researchers noticed that the moon magna may have contained water up to 750 parts per million prior to the “fire fountain eruptions.”

The study will also provide us with further insight into the duration of the presence of water on Earth.

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27th June 2008

Biggest Forest Protection Fund Released to Save Congo Rainforest

Largest forest protection fund has been released to protect Congo rainforest. The fund so released is basically to provide African government and people residing in the rainforest an alternative to logging, felling trees and mining for subsistence farming and firewood. Norway and Britain are granting £108m and will also help in monitoring the area by providing satellite imaging technology.

After Amazon rainforest Congo rainforest is the second largest tropical rainforest in the world. Congo rainforest would be almost twice the size of France but is quickly decreasing. At the rate of 25,000 football pitches per week the Congo rainforest is being cut down. It is said that deforestation is the major factor behind carbon dioxide warming the atmosphere nearly accounting for 18% of the annual emission.

The funds will be provided to those projects which will show alternative source of energy and income cutting down the rate of deforestation. The effectiveness of the project will be monitored by the high definition cameras that are under construction in the Rutherford Appleton laboratory in Oxfordshire, UK. These high definition cameras would be mounted on the satellite and will be launched in the orbit in the next 2 years.

At the launch of the scheme Gordon Brown said: “We are pledging to work together to secure the future of one of the world’s last remaining ancient forests.” He further added: “Preserving our forests is vital if we are going to reduce global emissions and tackle climate change.” Britain initiated the fund and is providing £58m.

The Norwegian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg told The Guardian that: “By doing something about deforestation we can achieve a big and rapid reduction in emissions.” Both the Norwegian and British government thinks that the greatest challenge faced in the whole scheme is that the money should be spent effectively.

The Congo rainforest spreads around Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Central African Republic, Gabon and Republic of the Congo. Stoltenberg said: “We know the technology. Everyone knows how not to cut down a tree. The big challenge is the institutions, the framework, the monitoring and the control. I don’t believe that is easy but that cannot prevent us for trying. [Otherwise] we won’t have any chance of reaching the reductions we need to avoid serious global warming.”

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17th June 2008

East and South East Asia- Incubators for Influenza Virus

Southeast Asia and East Asia are incubators for influenza viruses, particularly their new strains, which spread to all parts of the world. Two new studies indicate that the virus spreads through cities, such as Bangkok and Hong Kong as well as to other countries.

Colin Russell, University of Cambridge, U.K., as author of the study, claims that for more than 60 years, worldwide migration of the influenza viruses has been more of a mystery.

The new research observations will help scientists to predict the evolution of the common influenza virus, A (H3N2), which could help in the improvement of flu vaccines.

The research team analyzed 13,000 samples of influenza A (H3N2) virus , which had been collected all over six continents, covering a period from 2002 to 2007. The findings appeared in the April 2008 issue of Science.

New strains of the virus initially appeared in Southeast Asia and East Asia. It then proceeded to Europe as well as North America after a period of nine to six months. Several months later, the virus appeared in South America. The reason why South America was the last to be infected is because people travel less to that continent from South East Asia and East Asia.

The researchers claim that once the virus strains leave the place, where they originated, they rarely return to that place. They also feel that South East Asia and East Asia are popular breeding spots for these viruses, because they are densely populated and well connected to cities within the region.

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5th October 2007

The Arabian Oryx

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The Arabian Oryx is a medium-sized antelope which weighs around 65 - 75 kg (140 - 170 lb). Before its extermination in the wild, it is believed to have occurred in flat and swelling gravel plains.

The Arabian Oryx feed mainly on grasses. Herbs, seedpods, fruit, fresh growth of trees, tubers and roots are also a part of its diet. An Arabian Oryx can survive for week without water. It is believed that the Arabian Oryx dig shallow depressions in soft ground under trees and bushes for resting.

The Arabian Oryx are believed to live in wandering herds that follow the rare rains. It is able to make use of the fresh plant growth that occurs after a rainfall. Normally the group consists of 8 - 20 animals, but herds of up to 100 have also been reported. Oryx are very friendly with one another and the frequency of aggressive interactions is less. This allows these animals to share speckled shade trees under which they may spend 8 hours in the summer heat mostly during the day.

Arabian Oryx’s previous habitation was the rock-strewn, sandy desert regions of the Arabian and Sinai Peninsula, Jordan, Syria and Iraq. Even though they were wiped out in the wild, it was reintroduced into Oman in the 1980’s.

The Arabian Oryx’s are prized for their horns and coat and that adds them to the endangered species list.

From the time when mechanical hunting and automatic weapons began in the mid 1940’s, the Arabian Oryx became extinct in the wild by 1972.

The main reason for the extinction of the Arabian Oryx in the wild was excessive hunting. They were hunted for both meat and hides. They were mostly hunted by the Bedouin and by sport hunting by motorized

parties. Poaching of re-introduced wild Arabian Oryx has become a serious threat again. About 200 Oryx were taken away or killed by poachers from the re-introduced wild Omani herd in three years after poaching began there in February 1996.

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