http://www.studyphysics.ca/mybb/ Tue, 10 Nov 2026 06:07:48 +0000 MyBB http://www.studyphysics.ca/mybb/showthread.php?tid=551 Thu, 27 Feb 2020 00:07:37 +0000 Vanessa Angotti]]> http://www.studyphysics.ca/mybb/showthread.php?tid=551 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51632790 

The red panda is not one species but two, according to DNA evidence. They are already endangered due to hunting and habitat loss and conservation efforts are now even more critical, say scientists. 
The red panda lives in the mountainous forests of China, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar, where numbers are down to a few thousand individuals and decreasing every day. Two varieties have long been suspected based on physical features. Chinese red pandas have redder fur and striped tail rings, while Himalayan pandas have whiter faces. Himalayan red panda needs more urgent protection, because of its lower genetic diversity, and small population size.

Researchers in China analysed the DNA of 65 wild red pandas. This revealed two separate species which went their own separate ways after populations were divided by a river about 250 thousand years ago.
Mike Jordan, director of plants and animals at Chester Zoo, which has a pair of red pandas, says the genetic evidence allows us to say they're considered to be completely different species, rather than variations of one species. The population is down to what may only be a few thousand. 

The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) was initially considered a relative of the raccoon because of features such as its ringed tail, and then thought to be related to bears. It is now known to be in a family of its own and one of the most evolutionary distinct and globally endangered mammals in the world. The mammal is illegally hunted for its fur in southwest China, especially for its highly valued bushy tail from which hats are produced.

Being two different species means conservation action plans can be specific to the two different species needs and requirements. Due to the fragmentation of their natural habitat, small numbers, and niche food requirements they are on the border of extinction.]]> https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51632790 

The red panda is not one species but two, according to DNA evidence. They are already endangered due to hunting and habitat loss and conservation efforts are now even more critical, say scientists. 
The red panda lives in the mountainous forests of China, India, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar, where numbers are down to a few thousand individuals and decreasing every day. Two varieties have long been suspected based on physical features. Chinese red pandas have redder fur and striped tail rings, while Himalayan pandas have whiter faces. Himalayan red panda needs more urgent protection, because of its lower genetic diversity, and small population size.

Researchers in China analysed the DNA of 65 wild red pandas. This revealed two separate species which went their own separate ways after populations were divided by a river about 250 thousand years ago.
Mike Jordan, director of plants and animals at Chester Zoo, which has a pair of red pandas, says the genetic evidence allows us to say they're considered to be completely different species, rather than variations of one species. The population is down to what may only be a few thousand. 

The red panda (Ailurus fulgens) was initially considered a relative of the raccoon because of features such as its ringed tail, and then thought to be related to bears. It is now known to be in a family of its own and one of the most evolutionary distinct and globally endangered mammals in the world. The mammal is illegally hunted for its fur in southwest China, especially for its highly valued bushy tail from which hats are produced.

Being two different species means conservation action plans can be specific to the two different species needs and requirements. Due to the fragmentation of their natural habitat, small numbers, and niche food requirements they are on the border of extinction.]]> http://www.studyphysics.ca/mybb/showthread.php?tid=550 Thu, 20 Feb 2020 03:38:33 +0000 Vanessa Angotti]]> http://www.studyphysics.ca/mybb/showthread.php?tid=550 https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51548361

Ocean-going ships could be powered by ammonia within the decade as the shipping industry takes action to curb carbon emissions.
The chemical - the key ingredient of fertilisers - can be burned in ships’ engines in place of polluting diesel. The industry hopes ammonia will help it tackle climate change, because it burns without CO2 emissions. The creation of the ammonia itself creates substantial CO2, but a report says technology can solve this problem.

The challenge is huge, because shipping produces around 2% of global carbon emissions – about the same as the whole German economy. Making ammonia is also a major source of carbon. A report by the Royal Society says ammonia production currently creates 1.8% of global CO2 emissions – the most of any chemical industry. But the authors of the report say new technology can create zero carbon ammonia. One way is by trapping the CO2 emissions created when ammonia is produced, and burying the CO2 in underground rocks. Another way of making so-called "green" ammonia is to use renewable energy which doesn't create any CO2. Burning ammonia may not cause CO2 emissions, but it does create nitrogen oxides, which are also greenhouse gases.

The big question is whether enough clean energy will be available to create ammonia at scale in the coming decades.
 
Environmentalists have consistently complained the industry is not playing its part in reducing emissions. In the short term they want to reduce the amount of shipping overall, and impose slower cruising speeds to save fuel.
 
I believe that this is a good effort in trying to decrease the CO2 emissions in the environment, but I am not too sure how well this will end up working or how long this will last. Do you think this will be beneficial and work? ]]> https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51548361

Ocean-going ships could be powered by ammonia within the decade as the shipping industry takes action to curb carbon emissions.
The chemical - the key ingredient of fertilisers - can be burned in ships’ engines in place of polluting diesel. The industry hopes ammonia will help it tackle climate change, because it burns without CO2 emissions. The creation of the ammonia itself creates substantial CO2, but a report says technology can solve this problem.

The challenge is huge, because shipping produces around 2% of global carbon emissions – about the same as the whole German economy. Making ammonia is also a major source of carbon. A report by the Royal Society says ammonia production currently creates 1.8% of global CO2 emissions – the most of any chemical industry. But the authors of the report say new technology can create zero carbon ammonia. One way is by trapping the CO2 emissions created when ammonia is produced, and burying the CO2 in underground rocks. Another way of making so-called "green" ammonia is to use renewable energy which doesn't create any CO2. Burning ammonia may not cause CO2 emissions, but it does create nitrogen oxides, which are also greenhouse gases.

The big question is whether enough clean energy will be available to create ammonia at scale in the coming decades.
 
Environmentalists have consistently complained the industry is not playing its part in reducing emissions. In the short term they want to reduce the amount of shipping overall, and impose slower cruising speeds to save fuel.
 
I believe that this is a good effort in trying to decrease the CO2 emissions in the environment, but I am not too sure how well this will end up working or how long this will last. Do you think this will be beneficial and work? ]]> http://www.studyphysics.ca/mybb/showthread.php?tid=549 Thu, 20 Feb 2020 03:19:07 +0000 Vanessa Angotti]]> http://www.studyphysics.ca/mybb/showthread.php?tid=549 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51544476

Exactly a year from now, a capsule will come hurtling through the atmosphere of Mars with the Americans' next big rover. If it survives the "seven minutes of terror" that describe its descent to the surface, the new robot promises a very different mission to all those that have gone before it. Although Mars 2020 looks like a simple copy of the Curiosity vehicle of 2012, its goals take a decisive turn towards answering the most fundamental of questions: is there - or has there ever been - life on the Red Planet? 

Recent investigations have concentrated on characterising the "habitability" of Mars. That's to say, these prior missions asked only if past conditions were conducive to biology. Mars 2020, on the other hand, will be engaged in an explicit hunt for life's traces. Evidence for life on the early Earth always attracts a degree of scepticism, even controversy, and laboratory equipment the size of a large room is often required to back up a claim. 

The rover will trundle across equatorial Jezero Crater seeking out rocks that look as though they might have been laid down in the presence of biology. The best examples will be drilled and sealed in small tubes the size of whiteboard markers. These canisters will then be placed on the surface for a later mission to pick up and take home. It's all about recognising tell-tale patterns, textures, and chemical compositions.

I think it is interesting to see what they will find on the planet and what new things they will learn about it.
How do you think people will react if a rover finds something intriguing imprinted in billions-of-years-old rock on another planet? ]]> https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51544476

Exactly a year from now, a capsule will come hurtling through the atmosphere of Mars with the Americans' next big rover. If it survives the "seven minutes of terror" that describe its descent to the surface, the new robot promises a very different mission to all those that have gone before it. Although Mars 2020 looks like a simple copy of the Curiosity vehicle of 2012, its goals take a decisive turn towards answering the most fundamental of questions: is there - or has there ever been - life on the Red Planet? 

Recent investigations have concentrated on characterising the "habitability" of Mars. That's to say, these prior missions asked only if past conditions were conducive to biology. Mars 2020, on the other hand, will be engaged in an explicit hunt for life's traces. Evidence for life on the early Earth always attracts a degree of scepticism, even controversy, and laboratory equipment the size of a large room is often required to back up a claim. 

The rover will trundle across equatorial Jezero Crater seeking out rocks that look as though they might have been laid down in the presence of biology. The best examples will be drilled and sealed in small tubes the size of whiteboard markers. These canisters will then be placed on the surface for a later mission to pick up and take home. It's all about recognising tell-tale patterns, textures, and chemical compositions.

I think it is interesting to see what they will find on the planet and what new things they will learn about it.
How do you think people will react if a rover finds something intriguing imprinted in billions-of-years-old rock on another planet? ]]> http://www.studyphysics.ca/mybb/showthread.php?tid=548 Thu, 20 Feb 2020 00:36:46 +0000 Vanessa Angotti]]> http://www.studyphysics.ca/mybb/showthread.php?tid=548 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51540981

Health officials in China have published the first details of more than 44,000 cases of the Coronavirus. Data from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention finds that more than 80% of the cases have been mild, with the sick and elderly most at risk. The research also points to the high risk to medical staff (a hospital director in the city of Wuhan died from the virus). Pointing out the risk to medical staff, there is a total of 3,019 health workers have been infected, 1,716 of which were confirmed cases. 

Officials reported 98 new deaths and 1,886 new cases in the past day, with 93 of those deaths and 1,807 infections in Hubei province - the epicentre of the outbreak.

Looking at the sex ratio, men are more likely to die (2.8%) than women (1.7%). The study also identifies which existing illnesses put patients at risk. It puts cardiovascular disease at number one, followed by diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and hypertension.

The virus has spread beyond mainland China to countries around the globe and two cruise ships are now confirmed to have been affected. The Diamond Princess was quarantined in the Japanese port of Yokohama on February 3rd, after a man from Hong Kong tested positive. More than 450 of the 3,700 people on board have since become infected. A second ship, the MS Westerdam, was turned away by multiple ports around Asia over fears it could be carrying the virus. It was finally cleared to dock in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, after no cases were found on board. Disembarking passengers were personally welcomed by Prime Minister Hun Sen. No one was quarantined. However, days later, a woman who had been on the ship tested positive after arriving in Malaysia. Huge efforts are now being made to track down the passengers, who have moved on to many different countries including Malaysia and Thailand, but also further afield to the US and Canada. Several countries have said they will not admit foreign visitors who were on the ship. There are still 255 guests and 747 crew on board the MS Westerdam, while more than 400 passengers have been sent to a hotel in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, to await test results.

What are your thoughts about the Corona virus? Do you agree with the idea to quarantine everyone on the cruise ship? What are some ways you think could help prevent the virus? ]]> https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51540981

Health officials in China have published the first details of more than 44,000 cases of the Coronavirus. Data from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention finds that more than 80% of the cases have been mild, with the sick and elderly most at risk. The research also points to the high risk to medical staff (a hospital director in the city of Wuhan died from the virus). Pointing out the risk to medical staff, there is a total of 3,019 health workers have been infected, 1,716 of which were confirmed cases. 

Officials reported 98 new deaths and 1,886 new cases in the past day, with 93 of those deaths and 1,807 infections in Hubei province - the epicentre of the outbreak.

Looking at the sex ratio, men are more likely to die (2.8%) than women (1.7%). The study also identifies which existing illnesses put patients at risk. It puts cardiovascular disease at number one, followed by diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and hypertension.

The virus has spread beyond mainland China to countries around the globe and two cruise ships are now confirmed to have been affected. The Diamond Princess was quarantined in the Japanese port of Yokohama on February 3rd, after a man from Hong Kong tested positive. More than 450 of the 3,700 people on board have since become infected. A second ship, the MS Westerdam, was turned away by multiple ports around Asia over fears it could be carrying the virus. It was finally cleared to dock in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, after no cases were found on board. Disembarking passengers were personally welcomed by Prime Minister Hun Sen. No one was quarantined. However, days later, a woman who had been on the ship tested positive after arriving in Malaysia. Huge efforts are now being made to track down the passengers, who have moved on to many different countries including Malaysia and Thailand, but also further afield to the US and Canada. Several countries have said they will not admit foreign visitors who were on the ship. There are still 255 guests and 747 crew on board the MS Westerdam, while more than 400 passengers have been sent to a hotel in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, to await test results.

What are your thoughts about the Corona virus? Do you agree with the idea to quarantine everyone on the cruise ship? What are some ways you think could help prevent the virus? ]]> http://www.studyphysics.ca/mybb/showthread.php?tid=547 Fri, 07 Feb 2020 02:51:35 +0000 Vanessa Angotti]]> http://www.studyphysics.ca/mybb/showthread.php?tid=547 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-24021772 

Scientists say global warming could have a catastrophic effect on the planet. Human activities have increased carbon-dioxide emissions, driving up temperatures.

What is climate change? The Earth's average temperature is about 15C but has been much higher and lower in the past. There are natural fluctuations in the climate but scientists say temperatures are now rising faster than at many other times. This is linked to the greenhouse effect, which describes how the Earth's atmosphere traps some of the Sun's energy. Solar energy radiating back to space from the Earth's surface is absorbed by greenhouse gases and re-emitted in all directions. This heats both the lower atmosphere and the surface of the planet. Without this effect, the Earth would be about 30C colder and hostile to life. Scientists believe we are adding to the natural greenhouse effect, with gases released from industry and agriculture trapping more energy and increasing the temperature.

What are greenhouse gases? The greenhouse gas with the greatest impact on warming is water vapour and it remains in the atmosphere for only a few days. Carbon dioxide, however, persists for much longer. It would take hundreds of years for a return to pre-industrial levels and only so much can be soaked up by natural reservoirs such as the oceans. Most man-made emissions of carbon dioxide come from burning fossil fuels. When carbon-absorbing forests are cut down and left to rot, or burned, that stored carbon is released, contributing to global warming.

Since the Industrial Revolution began in about 1750, carbon dioxide levels have risen more than 30%. Other greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide are also released through human activities but they are less abundant than carbon dioxide.

What is the evidence for warming? The world is about one degree Celsius warmer than before widespread industrialisation. The 20 warmest years on record all occurred in the past 22 years, with 2015-2018 making up the top four. Across the globe, the average sea level increased by 3.6mm per year between 2005 and 2015. Most of this change was because water increases in volume as it heats up. However, melting ice is now thought to be the main reason for rising sea levels. Most glaciers in temperate regions of the world are retreating. Satellite records show a dramatic decline in Arctic sea-ice since 1979. The Greenland Ice Sheet has experienced record melting in recent years. Satellite data also shows the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is losing mass. A recent study indicated East Antarctica may also have started to lose mass. The effects of a changing climate can also be seen in vegetation and land animals. These include earlier flowering and fruiting times for plants and changes in the territories of animals.

There is uncertainty about how great the impact of a changing climate will be. It could cause fresh water shortages, dramatically alter our ability to produce food, and increase the number of deaths from floods, storms and heatwaves. This is because climate change is expected to increase the frequency of extreme weather events. As the world warms, more water evaporates, leading to more moisture in the air. This means many areas will experience more intense rainfall - and in some places snowfall. The risk of drought in inland areas during hot summers will increase. More flooding is expected from storms and rising sea levels. Poorer countries, which are least equipped to deal with rapid change, could suffer the most.

Plant and animal extinctions are predicted as habitats change faster than species can adapt. As more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, uptake of the gas by the oceans increases, causing the water to become more acidic. This could pose major problems for coral reefs. The World Health Organization has warned that the health of millions could be threatened by increases in malaria, water-borne disease and malnutrition. 

The UN is leading a political effort to stabilise greenhouse-gas emissions. China emits more carbon dioxide than any other country. It is followed by the US and the European Union member states. Even if we now cut greenhouse-gas emissions dramatically, scientists say the effects will continue. Large bodies of water and ice can take hundreds of years to respond to changes in temperature and it takes carbon dioxide decades to be removed from the atmosphere.
I think that more countries should be understanding the ‘bad’ that they have put into the environment and begin by following a simple act of change. I think even the smallest actions will help because eventually they will all add up and make a change and we can fight against climate change. I think we should try everything and anything that we can do, even if it seems like it won't change or do anything. We need to try to remove the carbon dioxide from the air now because it will be too late if we leave it all to the last minute.]]> https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-24021772 

Scientists say global warming could have a catastrophic effect on the planet. Human activities have increased carbon-dioxide emissions, driving up temperatures.

What is climate change? The Earth's average temperature is about 15C but has been much higher and lower in the past. There are natural fluctuations in the climate but scientists say temperatures are now rising faster than at many other times. This is linked to the greenhouse effect, which describes how the Earth's atmosphere traps some of the Sun's energy. Solar energy radiating back to space from the Earth's surface is absorbed by greenhouse gases and re-emitted in all directions. This heats both the lower atmosphere and the surface of the planet. Without this effect, the Earth would be about 30C colder and hostile to life. Scientists believe we are adding to the natural greenhouse effect, with gases released from industry and agriculture trapping more energy and increasing the temperature.

What are greenhouse gases? The greenhouse gas with the greatest impact on warming is water vapour and it remains in the atmosphere for only a few days. Carbon dioxide, however, persists for much longer. It would take hundreds of years for a return to pre-industrial levels and only so much can be soaked up by natural reservoirs such as the oceans. Most man-made emissions of carbon dioxide come from burning fossil fuels. When carbon-absorbing forests are cut down and left to rot, or burned, that stored carbon is released, contributing to global warming.

Since the Industrial Revolution began in about 1750, carbon dioxide levels have risen more than 30%. Other greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide are also released through human activities but they are less abundant than carbon dioxide.

What is the evidence for warming? The world is about one degree Celsius warmer than before widespread industrialisation. The 20 warmest years on record all occurred in the past 22 years, with 2015-2018 making up the top four. Across the globe, the average sea level increased by 3.6mm per year between 2005 and 2015. Most of this change was because water increases in volume as it heats up. However, melting ice is now thought to be the main reason for rising sea levels. Most glaciers in temperate regions of the world are retreating. Satellite records show a dramatic decline in Arctic sea-ice since 1979. The Greenland Ice Sheet has experienced record melting in recent years. Satellite data also shows the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is losing mass. A recent study indicated East Antarctica may also have started to lose mass. The effects of a changing climate can also be seen in vegetation and land animals. These include earlier flowering and fruiting times for plants and changes in the territories of animals.

There is uncertainty about how great the impact of a changing climate will be. It could cause fresh water shortages, dramatically alter our ability to produce food, and increase the number of deaths from floods, storms and heatwaves. This is because climate change is expected to increase the frequency of extreme weather events. As the world warms, more water evaporates, leading to more moisture in the air. This means many areas will experience more intense rainfall - and in some places snowfall. The risk of drought in inland areas during hot summers will increase. More flooding is expected from storms and rising sea levels. Poorer countries, which are least equipped to deal with rapid change, could suffer the most.

Plant and animal extinctions are predicted as habitats change faster than species can adapt. As more carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere, uptake of the gas by the oceans increases, causing the water to become more acidic. This could pose major problems for coral reefs. The World Health Organization has warned that the health of millions could be threatened by increases in malaria, water-borne disease and malnutrition. 

The UN is leading a political effort to stabilise greenhouse-gas emissions. China emits more carbon dioxide than any other country. It is followed by the US and the European Union member states. Even if we now cut greenhouse-gas emissions dramatically, scientists say the effects will continue. Large bodies of water and ice can take hundreds of years to respond to changes in temperature and it takes carbon dioxide decades to be removed from the atmosphere.
I think that more countries should be understanding the ‘bad’ that they have put into the environment and begin by following a simple act of change. I think even the smallest actions will help because eventually they will all add up and make a change and we can fight against climate change. I think we should try everything and anything that we can do, even if it seems like it won't change or do anything. We need to try to remove the carbon dioxide from the air now because it will be too late if we leave it all to the last minute.]]> http://www.studyphysics.ca/mybb/showthread.php?tid=546 Fri, 07 Feb 2020 02:16:25 +0000 Vanessa Angotti]]> http://www.studyphysics.ca/mybb/showthread.php?tid=546 https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51375600 

A new analysis shows the likelihood of a bee being found in any given place in Europe and North America has declined by a third since the 1970s. Researchers said that the climbing temperatures will increasingly cause declines, which are already more severe than previously thought.
Bumblebees are among the most important plant pollinators. Bumblebees are key pollinators of many fruits, vegetables and wild plants. Without them, some crops could fail, reducing food for humans and countless other species.
They have linked this decline to climate change - and more specifically to the extreme temperatures and the climate chaos that climate change is producing. Declines in range and abundance have been documented from a range of causes, including pesticides, disease and habitat loss. Bees have been hardest hit in southern regions such as Spain and Mexico due to more frequent extreme warm years. While populations have expanded into cooler northern regions, this has not been enough to compensate for the losses. There are around 250 species of bumblebee in the world. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, declines have been documented in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia, caused by a variety of threats that range from habitat loss and degradation to diseases and pesticide use.

I believe that we should start taking serious measures to try to stabilize the temperature instead of constantly increasing it. The choices we make now will determine how much the planet's temperature will rise. Higher temperatures mean that heat waves are likely to happen more often and last longer. Heat waves can be dangerous, causing illnesses such as heat cramps, heat stroke, and possibly even death. Increasing air temperature affects the oceans, weather patterns, snow and ice, and plants and animals (ex. bees). The warmer it gets, the more severe the impacts on people, animals, and the environment will be. I think that we should start to utilize our resources better, like using less electricity, car pooling, using the bus, cutting down less trees, and start regrowing more forests. I believe that if everyone comes together to do little things then eventually it will all add up and make a difference to our Earth and to the climate. We should be thinking about the future because it will be too late if we leave it all until the last minute.]]> https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51375600 

A new analysis shows the likelihood of a bee being found in any given place in Europe and North America has declined by a third since the 1970s. Researchers said that the climbing temperatures will increasingly cause declines, which are already more severe than previously thought.
Bumblebees are among the most important plant pollinators. Bumblebees are key pollinators of many fruits, vegetables and wild plants. Without them, some crops could fail, reducing food for humans and countless other species.
They have linked this decline to climate change - and more specifically to the extreme temperatures and the climate chaos that climate change is producing. Declines in range and abundance have been documented from a range of causes, including pesticides, disease and habitat loss. Bees have been hardest hit in southern regions such as Spain and Mexico due to more frequent extreme warm years. While populations have expanded into cooler northern regions, this has not been enough to compensate for the losses. There are around 250 species of bumblebee in the world. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, declines have been documented in Europe, North America, South America, and Asia, caused by a variety of threats that range from habitat loss and degradation to diseases and pesticide use.

I believe that we should start taking serious measures to try to stabilize the temperature instead of constantly increasing it. The choices we make now will determine how much the planet's temperature will rise. Higher temperatures mean that heat waves are likely to happen more often and last longer. Heat waves can be dangerous, causing illnesses such as heat cramps, heat stroke, and possibly even death. Increasing air temperature affects the oceans, weather patterns, snow and ice, and plants and animals (ex. bees). The warmer it gets, the more severe the impacts on people, animals, and the environment will be. I think that we should start to utilize our resources better, like using less electricity, car pooling, using the bus, cutting down less trees, and start regrowing more forests. I believe that if everyone comes together to do little things then eventually it will all add up and make a difference to our Earth and to the climate. We should be thinking about the future because it will be too late if we leave it all until the last minute.]]>