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COMPASSION with dignity, humour, and tolerance..
KNOWLEDGE with effort, perseverance and sharing..
LOVE with peace and harmony towards all
LIFE ON EARTH.
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By Maria-José Viñas, NASA's Earth Science News Team
Arctic sea ice appears to have reached on March 7 a record low wintertime maximum extent, according to scientists at NASA and the NASA-supported National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) in Boulder, Colorado. And on the opposite side of the planet, on March 3 sea ice around Antarctica hit its lowest extent ever recorded by satellites at the end of summer in the Southern Hemisphere, a surprising turn of events after decades of moderate sea ice expansion.
On Feb. 13, the combined Arctic and Antarctic sea ice numbers were at their lowest point since satellites began to continuously measure sea ice in 1979. Total polar sea ice covered 6.26 million square miles (16.21 million square kilometers), which is 790,000 square miles (2 million square kilometers) less than the average global minimum extent for 1981-2010 – the equivalent of having lost a chunk of sea ice larger than Mexico.
These line graphs plot monthly deviations and overall trends in polar sea ice from 1979 to 2017 as measured by satellites. The top line shows the Arctic; the middle shows Antarctica; and the third shows the global, combined total. The graphs depict how much the sea ice concentration moved above or below the long-term average. (They do not plot total sea ice concentration.) Arctic and global sea ice totals have moved consistently downward over 38 years. Antarctic trends are more muddled, but they do not offset the great losses in the Arctic. Credit: Joshua Stevens/NASA Earth Observatory. More information from NASA's Earth Observatory.
The ice floating on top of the Arctic Ocean and surrounding seas shrinks in a seasonal cycle from mid-March until mid-September. As the Arctic temperatures drop in the autumn and winter, the ice cover grows again until it reaches its yearly maximum extent, typically in March. The ring of sea ice around the Antarctic continent behaves in a similar manner, with the calendar flipped: it usually reaches its maximum in September and its minimum in February.
On March 7, 2017, Arctic sea ice hit a record low wintertime maximum extent in 2017. At 5.57 million square miles, it is the lowest maximum extent in the satellite record, and 455,600 square miles below the 1981 to 2010 average maximum extent. Credit: NASA Goddard's Scientific Visualization Studio/L. Perkins. Download related video in HD formats from NASA Goddard's Scientific Visualization Studio.
This winter, a combination of warmer-than-average temperatures, winds unfavorable to ice expansion, and a series of storms halted sea ice growth in the Arctic. This year’s maximum extent, reached on March 7 at 5.57 million square miles (14.42 million square kilometers), is 37,000 square miles (97,00 square kilometers) below the previous record low, which occurred in 2015, and 471,000 square miles (1.22 million square kilometers) smaller than the average maximum extent for 1981-2010.
“We started from a low September minimum extent,” said Walt Meier, a sea ice scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. “There was a lot of open ocean water and we saw periods of very slow ice growth in late October and into November, because the water had a lot of accumulated heat that had to be dissipated before ice could grow. The ice formation got a late start and everything lagged behind – it was hard for the sea ice cover to catch up.”
The Arctic’s sea ice maximum extent has dropped by an average of 2.8 percent per decade since 1979. The summertime minimum extent losses are nearly five times larger: 13.5 percent per decade. Besides shrinking in extent, the sea ice cap is also thinning and becoming more vulnerable to the action of ocean waters, winds and warmer temperatures.
On March 3, 2017, the sea ice cover around the Antarctic continent shrunk to its lowest yearly minimum extent in the satellite record, in a dramatic shift after decades of moderate sea ice expansion. Credit: NASA Goddard's Scientific Visualization Studio/L. Perkins.Download related video in HD formats from NASA Goddard's Scientific Visualization Studio.
This year’s record low sea ice maximum extent might not necessarily lead to a new record low summertime minimum extent, since weather has a great impact on the melt season’s outcome, Meier said. “But it’s guaranteed to be below normal.”
In Antarctica, this year’s record low annual sea ice minimum of 815,000 square miles (2.11 million square kilometers) was 71,000 square miles (184,000 square kilometers) below the previous lowest minimum extent in the satellite record, which occurred in 1997.
Antarctic sea ice saw an early maximum extent in 2016, followed by a very rapid loss of ice starting in early September. Since November, daily Antarctic sea ice extent has continuously been at its lowest levels in the satellite record. The ice loss slowed down in February.
Operation IceBridge, NASA's aerial survey of polar ice, flies over a lead, or opening in the sea ice cover, near the Alaskan coast on March 11, 2017. Credit: NASA/Jeremy Harbeck.
This year’s record low happened just two years after several monthly record high sea ice extents in Antarctica and decades of moderate sea ice growth.
“There’s a lot of year-to-year variability in both Arctic and Antarctic sea ice, but overall, until last year, the trends in the Antarctic for every single month were toward more sea ice,” said Claire Parkinson, a senior sea ice researcher at Goddard. “Last year was stunningly different, with prominent sea ice decreases in the Antarctic. To think that now the Antarctic sea ice extent is actually reaching a record minimum, that’s definitely of interest.”
Meier said it is too early to tell if this year marks a shift in the behavior of Antarctic sea ice.
“It is tempting to say that the record low we are seeing this year is global warming finally catching up with Antarctica,” Meier said. “However, this might just be an extreme case of pushing the envelope of year-to-year variability. We’ll need to have several more years of data to be able to say there has been a significant change in the trend.”
Death is inevitable! Soon I and millions from my Baby Boom generation will die and the burden of funeral arrangements will fall to those we leave behind. But why does it have to cost a fortune? We can change the concept a little and plant Mom and Pop in an organic Urn. One that will decompose and grow a Tree or a Rose Bush or wild flowers. We can even place engraved Copper Plaques on the Trees identifying them for future generations. For example: here grows Mom who was our mighty Oak of stability. Dad is the Willow Tree out back!
And why do we have to stick Mom and POP in a cemetery? Why not plant them in the back yard of the family home where they can grow into beautiful Trees? Of course if you live in an apartment you can simply plant them in a large vase and grow a beautiful plant! I am of the opinion that Grandma and Granddad will be well watered and protected over the years. You might even be able to eat them if you like Tomato Plants.
Of course the idea is not original as many large Trees presently grow in Cemeteries where grieving family and friends planted them many years ago to commemorate their departed. The problem is that the concept won't work if too many people die at once which is possible with the Baby Boom generation all nearing the same expiry date! Trees can grow large and they need plenty of space and Sunshine to grow Tall. Crowding them together in a Cemetery is not a good idea!
Now this is not to say we won't have funeral costs. Cremation is a cost. A free lunch for the grieving survivors is a cost. The Urn, however, is more than reasonable. All you need is Flower and Eggs and a small amount of Clay. You can create your own masterpiece! Bye for now!
Trillions of warriors, in a battle visible from space
See the murky cloud in the water? It's made of dying warriors - tiny sea creatures called coccolithophores who are fighting viruses, losing, dying and falling to the sea floor.
It's not an unusual event. It happens around the globe all the time. This war has been going on for millions of years. The combatants have evolved intricate strategies to outwit each other. And most interestingly, the way this battle plays out is crucial for all oxygen-breathing life on this planet.
Listen to the story here. You won't regret it! It's well-told, it's thrilling, and it will make you think of the world in a new way:
Every day, every moment, an epic battle is raging across the globe. It's happening in the ocean. And the evidence is both highly visible and totally hidden, depending on your perspective. In this short, the tale of an arms race involving trillions of sea creatures--and why their struggle is vital to our survival.
In 2016, more than 66,000 sensitive, social seals were bludgeoned or shot during the commercial seal massacre off the eastern coast of Canada—and in a matter of days, the violent slaughter of thousands of young seals will begin again.
Sealers have already started killing some adult seals, and very soon, they will begin to kill many thousands of seal pups—most just weeks old—and strip them of their skin, often while other seals watch in terror.
Despite growing opposition around the world, the large-scale commercial slaughter of seals is about to begin yet again. Many young seals will not have even eaten their first solid meal or learned how to swim before they are cruelly slaughtered.
Some will be shot to death, while others' soft skulls will be crushed with hakapiks—hooked clubs with piercing metal tips. After the seal pups are beaten to death, their killers will drag their bodies across the ice and tear the skin off them. To avoid damaging the fur as they drag them, the killers will jab the clubs' tips into the animals' eyes, cheeks, or mouths.
Because of PETA members and other kind people all over the world—as well as seal-product bans in the U.S., the EU, Russia, and most recently Switzerland—there are few countries left that are willing to buy the bloody goods that come of this carnage. Even the Canadian government's own attempts to push seal products into the Chinese market have fallen flat, and its recent legal challenges to the EU's ban have failed just as spectacularly. Were it not for the millions of dollars in subsidies paid by Canadian taxpayers, Canada's horrific commercial seal-slaughter industry would likely have collapsed by now.
There is hope that Justin Trudeau, Canada's forward-thinking prime minister, may signal a turning point in this campaign. PETA has contacted him to urge him to end his country's federal subsidies of the commercial seal slaughter, and our "seal" activists—including our giant costumed seal—are reminding all Canadians that another violent slaughter of thousands of young animals is no way to commemorate the country's 150th birthday.
We're as close as ever to seeing the end of this massacre, and we must press forward now. Thank you for all that you are doing to help prevent the cruel and violent deaths of baby seals and other animals who are in harm's way.
Kind regards,
Danielle Katz
Associate Director of Campaigns
P.S. While the Canadian commercial sealing industry may be a shadow of what it once was, that shadow still has the capacity to kill thousands of animals this year.Your $5 gift today will immediately support our vital work to stop the slaughter and save more living beings from cruelty and abuse.
Hey gentle people, join in and improve this poem. The author won't care as he or she is unknown. Simply copy the poem and add what you like. Post it wherever you like. THE BEST OF THE BEST!
We are briefly conscious
Within a dynamic of changing energy...
Small bits of thinking life surviving proud within
Eternally changing energy...
And while confronting dangerous consequences fearlessly
Fly into space to explore the unknown...
We are infinitely small bits of life
Existing within an absolute Universe,
Trying to discover and understand what is unknown
For the benefit of all life on Earth...
For we are NASA scientists.
And we are the best of the best!
Author: Unknown.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
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How to Make Your Own Natural Paint
Paint has not been kind to us — humankind — over the years. It seems that, despite knowing different ingredients were carcinogenic or otherwise detrimental to our health, corporations have elected to put them into our household paints. These are the paints we give our children for art. These are the paints we put on the walls of our bedroom. But, these paints are toxic.
There are solutions to the issue. There are companies that make safe products with “zero” VOCs (volatile organic compounds), the major players in what makes paint questionable to use. There are also companies that make full-fledged non-toxic paints. Either one of these options, of course, ups the price, sometimes doubling it.
Then, there is always the option of making a natural paint right at home. It seems a massive stretch – if paint were easy to make, why have we all been buying it all this time? Well, those are deeper, darker answers than we are prepared to delve into for this article. For the time being, let’s just take on the how-to of it.
What’s in a Paint?
First, we should break paint down into its major components. What exactly is that goes into making paint? Pigments to color paints, and in conventional paints, these are sourced from toxic compounds and heavy metals (Ah, anyone remember the days of lead?). Binders are what adhere paint to surface, and they are normally derivatives of the oil industry. Fillers, like chalk or limestone, bulk paint up, while solvents — full of VOCs (We are all very familiar with this smell) — thin it back into a workable consistency. Manufacturers also include many unlisted additives to help the paint dry faster or resist mold (biocides).
Seemingly, if we can replace all the toxic ingredients of paint with something safe and natural, we’d be doing ourselves a big favor. Lucky for us, this isn’t all that difficult. There are many naturally sourced — from plants and minerals (Vegans, be careful not use those create from insects) — color pigments. Flour is a fantastic binder, as is linseed oil. Clay is a great filler, especially paired with flour, and citrus can make an effective thinner (and natural turpentine is a thing, too). What’s even better is that these elements are often a bit kinder to the things they painted onto, allowing them to “breathe.”
Things to Consider Before Mixing It Up
Obviously, just as with commercially produced paints, there are things to consider before making paint at home. Namely, we have to consider whether the paint is for interior or exterior use. After that, considering the climate might help us adjust the recipe, and of course, noting the type of surface — wood versus stone versus drywall, etc. — can make a massive difference. Flour paint is usually a good choice for interior surfaces, while oil-based (linseed oil) paints tend to hold up a bit better to weather exposure outside.
How to Make Flour Paint
Well, this paint won’t be gluten-free (and it probably isn’t all that tasty anyway), but it should work well for painting wood, drywall, stone, wallpaper, plaster or masonry. What it doesn’t do well is hold up on a surface that is cleaned frequently. As for making it, there are couple of things to know. It’s food, so it will go bad if it isn’t used. And, flour paint doesn’t jive with rollers and can be rough on brushes, so go with a cheap brush and have a few extras around.
Start by mixing a cup of flour with two cups of cold water, whisking it until smooth. Add this mixture to a cup and a half of boiling water, simmering it all into a thick paste. Once it’s a paste, remove it from the heat and slowly dilute it with a couple more cups of water. In a separate container, combine a cup of clay filler (available in natural colors) with a half-cup of natural powder filler, such mica or limestone. Add the mixed fillers to the diluted paste until the paint becomes the consistency of paint.
How to Make Linseed Oil Paint
The difficulty with oil paints and glazes is that they take a long time to dry, a reasonable expectation being about 48 hours between coats. However, the plus side is that they can withstand wet weather and help to preserve surfaces. They are particularly good for wood and also work on cement or unglazed brick. The general consensus is that the best results come with a coat of natural oil primer (equal parts raw or stand — not boiled — linseed oil and natural citrus thinner, either store-bought or homemade) applied first.
Start by adding color pigment a little at a time to a few tablespoons of linseed oil. Different pigments absorb the oil differently, but we are basically after a sort of dough consistency. From there, add oil until the thick mixture it such that it can be poured. Then, a citrus thinner can be added until the oil mixture becomes a paint-y mixture. If there are lumps in it, it can be finished through a strainer.
Amazingly, it’s that easy. You can paint your interiors and exteriors – and do it all naturally! You can make it all at home and save loads of money, too. By not relying on the companies who value profits over their customers’ well-being, we can ensure that our families and friends are safe from unwanted toxins and chemicals. Plus, nothing feels quite so good, bring about quite the same pride in a paint job, as empowerment.
The Mediterranean diet is heavy on fruits, vegetables and olive oil. (Photo: Marian Weyo/Shutterstock)
You've probably heard of the Mediterranean diet. It's touted everywhere from morning news shows to magazine articles as one of the most healthful eating styles around, but you may not know how or why this diet — which is filled with fruits and vegetables from places like Italy, Greece and Turkey — is so good for you.
Science is only just beginning to decipher why eating some foods, skipping others or combining them in the right ways can thwart illness and ward off disease.
What does the Mediterranean diet look like?
"The Mediterranean diet includes foods and beverages native to the land for which it's named. Rich in fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, beans, legumes, a variety of herbs and spices, wine, fish, seafood and olive oil, this meal plan may reduce the risk of heart disease and other inflammatory conditions like arthritis," says Martina Cartwright, a registered dietitian.
The foundation of the diet consists of fruits like apricots, citrus, dates, figs, grapes, apples and pears; veggies like tomatoes, avocados, kale and dark green leafy spinach, onions, garlic and leeks, celery, carrots, cabbage and cucumbers; beans and legumes like chickpeas (hummus), fava beans and kidney beans; nuts like cashews and almonds; red wine (a glass a day); fish three times a week and a serving or two of low-fat dairy or yogurt each day (think Greek yogurt). Olive oil is recommended for cooking and is the main source of dietary fat in salad dressings and baking along with fats from avocado and nuts.
Why is this food regimen so healthful?
"The Mediterranean diet has been shown to significantly reduce risk for cardiovascular disease and for recurrence of cardiac events. It also reduces risk for type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and Alzheimer's disease, and is associated with fewer cardiovascular- and cancer- related deaths, decreased risk of stroke and depression, improved physical functioning, and a slower rate of cognitive decline," says Julieanna Hever, author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition."
"The mechanism for how the diet works is unclear. However, the theory is that since the diet is rich in anti-inflammatory fats (olive and fish) and antioxidants (which help with cell repair and include vitamin C, vitamin E, beta carotene and phytochemicals), it helps the body’s repair mechanisms," Cartwright says.
Using 25,000 random adults from the Italian region of Molise, researchers found 1,197 with histories of heart disease. Those participants who adhered closely to the diet saw their death rate from any cause drop by 37 percent over the study's seven year period. The researchers acknowledged that their study was "observational" and that further research was needed to establish a causal link.
The Molise researchers may need only to look at a 2014 study that may have unearthed a "secret ingredient" that gives the Mediterranean diet such a powerful effect on health and longevity. When the unsaturated fat in olive oil meets the naturally occurring nitrates that many Mediterranean vegetables (such as tomatoes, eggplant, garlic and leafy greens) are rich in, a special kind of molecule is produced called nitro fatty acids.
Lowering heart disease risk may not be the only thing the diet's good for, either. A2017 study published in the journal Neurology shows that the Mediterranean diet also helps with brain health.
Researchers followed the eating habits of 967 Scots around the age of 70 who showed no signs of dementia for three years. MRIs were conducted on 562 to measure brain volume at the start of the study, with 401 of them receiving another brain scan at the end of the study. Scans were compared to how closely the participants followed the diet, and researchers found that those who didn't stick to the diet showed a higher loss of total brain volume over three years than those who did. The results remained the same when researchers accounted for other facts such as education, age and blood pressure.
"In our study, eating habits were measured before brain volume was, which suggests that the diet may be able to provide long-term protection to the brain," said study author Michelle Luciano. "Still, larger studies are needed to confirm these results."
How do nitro fatty acids work?
Researchers from King's College London and the University of California, Davis used genetically engineered mice to figure out how this biochemical process worked.
Beneficial omega-6 fats are normally broken down in the body by an enzyme, but these nitro fatty acids block the action of that enzyme. As a result, the "good fats" stay in the blood longer, where they may have a long-lasting effect.
"The Mediterranean diet may reduce inflammation and blood pressure through a unique combination of dietary fats and nitrogen-rich vegetables. When consumed together in a meal, this dynamic duo form a type of fat that may help reduce blood pressure, bad cholesterol and perhaps inflammation," Cartwright says.
The theory is, the longer the good fats stick around, the more opportunity they have to elicit healthful benefits in the body.
Hever says she believes the benefits of the diet stem from the fact that it is plant-heavy, providing opportunities for synergy to occur, as mentioned in the research. "Synergy between phytochemicals and other nutrients in plant foods work harmoniously to enhance immune function and protect against chronic degenerative diseases," she says.
In fact, she believes there are likely thousands of similar reactions that are the result of consuming a wide variety of plant foods.
How to make the Mediterranean diet work for you
If you want to incorporate the Mediterranean diet into your life, Cartwright says to start with plenty of fruits and veggies, then add some unsalted nuts, seeds and legumes to the mix. Sprinkle in plenty of antioxidant-rich spices like curry, cinnamon, paprika, cumin, turmeric and ginger. Add fatty fish two to three times a week. Switch to olive oil for cooking and homemade salad dressings. Eating whole grains plus some low-fat dairy are great ways to get started with this Mediterranean-inspired meal plan.
This story was originally published in September 2014 and has been updated with new information.