Condoms with pictures of endangered animal species

Center for Biological Diversity has already distributed more than 350,000 condoms with pictures of endangered animals

American Association for the Protection of Nature on 31 December will share 50 000 condoms with pictures of animals threatened with extinction, in an effort to encourage the public to reflect on the devastating impact of the increasing population of our planet on the environment.

More than 600 volunteers from the Center for Biological Diversity across the U.S. will distribute condoms unusual New Year's Eve when their use, according to data available to the environmental organization, is the largest. The statement says that the inhabitants of the earth almost doubled since 1970. and will soon on our planet live nearly seven billion inhabitants.

"The increase in population and mass consumerism that accompanies it, exhaust the limited natural resources on Earth, acting more on plant and animal species, many of which are on the verge of extinction, " the organization said in a statement. Center for Biological Diversity has already distributed more than 350,000 condoms at which the images of animal species that were particularly vulnerable in 2010.

Light pollution - how dangerous is it?

Nighttime lighting has strong impact on the environment, animals and on human sleep

As stated by Emma Marrington, an activist for the Protection of Rural England, light pollution damages the character of the environment, and blurs the distinction between town and country, a people denied the experience of dark and starry sky. "It's not just that it violates the aesthetic experience of the village. Light pollution harms wildlife, and may adversely affect the human dream, " he adds.

Activists say that excessive nighttime lighting causes problems in birds, nocturnal mammals and insects. Specifically, lighting can dangerously affect the ability to navigate and hunt bats, while the birds were disoriented thinking constantly approaching dawn. However, those who support the night lighting argue that good lightened public places reduce the risk of crime, especially in remote places.

Research conducted 2007th, which was attended by 2000 people, showed that only 2 percent were able to see more than 30 stars in the night sky, and more than half of respondents could not see more than 10

Agave - the source of tequila and biofuels

Agave, the plant from which we make a popular alcoholic drink tequila, could soon become a major source of biofuels. Researchers have discovered that the plant composition very well for the production of biofuels, but perhaps most importantly that it could solve the biggest problem at the moment when it comes to these fuels, and that is land use. What's the secret? Biofuels could receive in the form of byproducts from the production process tequila, as in Mexico, Africa and Australia and many other places, but there are plantations with the plants (some of them have been abandoned), there is simply no need to seek new ground for its cultivation . In other words, there is no need to take land that is already used for food production or to cut down forests. True, it is necessary to conduct further research to see what kind of agave can ensure maximum efficiency and that is most resistant to semi-dry regions in which to grow, but by all accounts, we only hear about this plant and its usefulness.

Bioenergetic analyst Sarah Davis said: "We need plants for bioenergy, which includes a small risk of unplanned changes in land use. Biomass from the agave can be collected in the form of by-products of tequila without additional requirements for the land. "At the same time, says analyst, stoned plantations in Mexico and Africa that were formerly used to obtain different fibers could be re-regulate the production of biomass for biofuels. The fact is that aloe could be a new hero in the bioenergy world besides in the form of tequila pleases students at parties. But it is very economical and environmental terms is very acceptable and suitable for the production capacities of Africa, Australia and Mexico.

The study was conducted at the University of Illinois, and the details published in the journal Global Change Biology Bioenergy. The scientists are based on 14 sub-studies concluded that two types of agave are incredibly high biofuel potential, much higher than that of corn, soybeans, wheat and sorghum.

A world without birds - how would it look like?

Extinction of birds has long term negative effects on flora and fauna, is seeking urgent measures to protect endangered species

Every eight bird species is threatened with extinction, according to a research of Bird Life International, and the main causes can be found in deforestation and urbanization. Particularly affected by New Zealand on which they were in the 17 and 18 century, together with colonies of people arrived mammals, especially rats, who assailed the birds' eggs. It is believed that it was precisely because of bird populations in New Zealand halved. New Zealand scientists have therefore decided to investigate the impact of birds on the world ecosystem, and reached the conclusion that we should be worried.

Birds pollinate many plants, certain species of birds are even specialized for a particular plant. It would be logical that the survival of plants depends primarily on the survival of birds, but this claim has not yet been any clear evidence. The five-year investigation led by New Zealand scientists Sandra Anderson brings us the first concrete evidence, reports the journal Science. The study focused on the bush Rhabdothamnus solandri with delicate orange flowers, and only three species of birds that pollinate them, and whose survival is threatened.

Scientists track changes in spreading shrub, depending on the existence of certain birds in a given area. On the main island, which has survived only one bird species, the number of bush fruits was significantly lower, and one bush has produced only 37 seeds. In contrast, the island where the presence of all three species is one of Bush even gave 232 seeds. Similar results are obtained when we compare the number of new and old shrubs, which indicated that the birds directly affect his long-term survival.

In Europe, responsible for the pollination of bees (which are also endangered) and bumblebees, but the birds and an important element of the ecosystem because they provide dispersal of seeds in the wider area. Furthermore, many birds feed on insects that damage agricultural crops. As shown in a New Zealand study, the extinction of birds has long term negative effects on flora and fauna, and the process will continue if not take appropriate protective measures.

It is possible - fuel from spinach

Popeye was right: to get the energy all we need is sun and spinach

Researchers have long tried to reproduce the way in which photosynthetic organisms use energyfrom sunlight to separated water into oxygen and hydrogen, which subsequently react with carbondioxide to produce sugar.

But now a team of scientists led by Hugh O'Neill from the American office for energy, proteins,combined with the light sensitive components, known as polymers and platinum catalysts, toproduce a membrane that generates hydrogen from sunlight. Scientists have extracted proteinsfrom spinach, then add the liquid containing copolymers and sodium hexachloroplatinate, whichturns the plate in the presence of light and protein.

Proteins react with the copolymer, forming layers like those naturally found in photosynthetic membranes. When researchers studied these layers, they found that the membrane produces hydrogen. What is interesting, it continued to produce the next 100 hours.

Protein molecules absorb sunlight and releases electrons, transferring them to the platinum molecules. Platinum then catalyzes the reduction of protons to hydrogen, which can be used as fuel.