Who cares less about Global Warming? Definitely neither Bangladesh nor India

Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of Earths near-surface air and oceans. It is caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases resulting from human activity such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation. This has negative consequences amongst which are a rise in sea levels by thermal expansion of water through the addition of water to oceans from the melting of continental ice sheets. Rising sea levels have for example as a result of global warming completely submerged the New Moore, a tiny rock Island in the Sunderbans Bay of Bengal thereby resolving a dispute between India and Bangladesh who for nearly 30 years have been disputing over its control. As for me, I care about global warming and I cannot afford to watch rising sea levels submerge another island without taking action. A few technologies such as mitigation, damage reduction through adaptation and geoengineering although usually associated with some draw backs are a way out as they provide a variety of options to put us on a path toward a stable climate thereby avoiding such drastic impacts.

Criminals, be aware of bacteria!

Have you ever thought that bacteria could help solving a crime? Microbiologist Noah Fierer discovered last month that each of us has a unique combination of bacteria sticking on our fingers. These skin bacteria, which are transferred to the objects that we touch, can survive up to two weeks at ambient conditions. Since bacteria can also be removed easily from objects without any contamination, they can serve as a new identification method when fingerprint analysis fails. A quick comparison between the bacteria at the crime scene and those of the suspect’ skin should be enough as an evidence. So if you are planning to commit a crime, think about the bacteria!

Sofie Wallyn

The Truth of Blue Nile (Abbay) river

Blue Nile (locally named “Abbay” sometimes spelled as “Abbai”) originated from Lake Tana has a total length of 1450kms; of which 800kms is within Ethiopia boundary that separates the country into the northern and the southern halves. The Blue Nile makes more than 60% of the water flow of the main Nile. The major sources of the Blue Nile River are the Ethiopian highlands; ranging from 2000-4000 meters above sea level. Ethiopian highlands contribute to more than 90% of the water volume, the maximum water volume record in the summer rainy season (June to September) and 95% of sediment content and leaves for Ethiopia to Sudan and then Egypt. The Blue Nile water and the fertile soil component are vital to Egypt and Sudan for agricultural practices in the desert land before its arrival into the Mediterranean Sea. Despite the origin and major contributor of highest volume of water, Ethiopia depends only on ‘Tis Issat Fall’; a major tourist attraction site, located 40 km away downstream of Lake Tana.

Jackfruit: The King of Fruits

The jackfruit (Artocarpous heterophyllus), capturing the glory of being the national fruit of Bangladesh comes in all shapes and sizes, from size o to size-M and XL to XXXL, with an exterior armour of prickly skin. Their wide-spectrum range of tastes and flavours, is mind boggling and in terms of nutritional values they are quite rich also. Each and every part of the fruit is edible in a variety of ways such as the whole raw jackfruit excluding the spiny skin can be cooked like meat while the bulb (flesh/meat) of the jackfruit can be enjoyed raw or cooked (with coconut milk or otherwise); or made into ice-cream, chutney, jam, jelly, flakes, chips, paste or can be canned in syrup with sugar or honey and citric acid. Jackfruit seeds can be boiled or fried and eaten those taste very much like chestnuts. After tasting the Bengal jackfruit, you can only thank God for giving a chance to enjoy the exquisite taste and flavours of God's King of Fruits, on Earth!! So, why are you late??? ... ... just get set and GOOOOOOOOOOO ... ... ...

Butterfly: Beauty of Nature

A multicultural symbol of the beauty of nature is butterfly, appearing in numerous examples of nature scenes of many artistic styles. Butterflies are included as elements of these scenes because they most efectively represents all positive characteristics of nature. Logic and prejudice has deprived moths of a similar status. Logically, since most "beauty in nature" scenes are set in day time, butterflies are the obvious choice for inclusion. For some artists, the butterfly and moth only symbolize: the beauty of symmetry, shape, pattern, color. These artists do not require their representations of these creatures to be interpreted. They copy these insects, some as faithfully as the photo-realists would copy a still life, a figure, a panorama, and only ask the viewer to observe the beauty.

White Nights

If you look at this picture, you will be greatly confused: is it day or night? Believe it or not, it is night, white night in Saint Petersburg. White nights are a natural phenomenon which occurs in areas with the latitude of 60°. During 2-3 weeks, around the solstice (in the northern hemisphere – in June; in the southern hemisphere – in December), “sunsets are late, sunrises are early and darkness is never complete”. The places, where you can see those most of all, are, of course, Russia, Finland, Island, Greenland, Sweden, Norway, and Canada. In Russia, especially in Saint Petersburg, during this period many festival and street festivities take place.

Elena Guzeeva

Walia ibex: Living place and sexual dimorphism

Walia ibex, Capra walie, belongs to family bovidae and subfamily caprinae is found exclussively in the mountains of northern Ethiopia at high cliffs that rise above the lower elevated platea, providing a potential risk of falling for careless individuals. The male and the female walia ibex are sexually dimorphic in many aspects of appearance. In overall size, the adult female weights about 80 kg, roughly 50 to 60% of their male counterparts, which can weight up to 125 kg. Horns of the walia ibex are semi-circular in shape and are found in both sexes, but the male horns are more massive, reaching up to 110 cm in length. Key futures of horns are random knots and age rings that distinguish individuals in a population and at older ages, the male develops a black chest and a beard that further distinguishes the sexes. It is very strange that small sized animals like wildcats to foxes are predators of the walia ibex and capable of killing both the adult and juveniles.

Mesele Gemu Tantu