Category: Climate Change
Mystery “Blob” in Arctic: Algae or “The Thing”?
Time Magazine has a story on a massive “blob” in the Arctic Ocean off the Alaska coast. Tests have deemed it to be a massive bloom of algae.
World’s First Self-Watering Plant?
Desert rhubarb in bloom (G. Ne’eman)
World’s First Ever Self-Watering Plant Discovered in Israel
The Plant That Can Water Itself
” The Desert Rhubarb can hold 16 times more water than its rivals and has developed a unique ability to effectively water itself in its barren habitat.
Scientists claim ridges in the leaves act like mountain valleys, funnelling the water slowly and directly into the plant while stopping it evaporating. A team from the Department of Science Education-Biology at the University of Haifa-Oranim, in Israel, said the leaves act like a mini irrigation system. Lead researcher Professor Gidi Ne’eman said “We know of no other plant in the deserts of the world that functions in this manner. We have managed to make out the ‘self-irrigating’ mechanism of the desert rhubarb, which enables it to harvest 16 times the amount of water than otherwise expected for a plant in this region based on the quantities of rain in the desert.”
The topography of the leaves channels water to the roots (S. Lev-Yadun)
Turn Out the Lights for Earth Hour
via the Earth Hour Web Site:
Earth Hour 2009 – What Will You Be Doing?
Cuddling up with your loved ones and admiring the stars in the night sky or organising a treasure hunt in the dark? At 8:30pm on Saturday 28 March, people from all corners of the world will turn off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour – and cast their vote for action on climate change. Anybody can participate and join together with millions of people across the globe celebrating Earth Hour.
World Water Day is Sunday, March 22
via Live Earth:
March 22nd is a very important day – World Water Day. It is an international day of observance and action to draw attention to the plight of the more than 1 billion people around the world that lack access to clean, safe drinking water.
Robert Redford Hopes Coal Movie Inspires Citizen Groups
“Narrated by Robert Redford and produced by The Redford Center at the Sundance Preserve and Alpheus Media, FIGHTING GOLIATH: TEXAS COAL WARS follows the story of Texans fighting a high-stakes battle for clean air. The film introduces the unlikely partners-mayors, ranchers, CEOs, community groups, legislators, lawyers, and citizens-that have come together to oppose the construction of 19 conventional coal-fired power plants that were slated to be built in Eastern and Central Texas and that were being fast-tracked by the Governor. “