General Awareness

ENVIRONMENT - November 2014

Nov 2014

Aug 14, 2015

Toxic Blue-green Algae Pose Increasing Threat

According to a report, blooms of toxic cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, are a poorly monitored and underappreciated risk to recreational and drinking water quality in the United States, and may increasingly pose a global health threat.
Several factors are contributing to the concern. Temperatures and carbon dioxide levels have risen, many rivers have been dammed worldwide, and wastewater nutrients or agricultural fertilizers in various situations can cause problems in rivers, lakes and reservoirs.
As per researchers, the problems with these toxins reach their peak during the heat of summer.

Aug 12, 2015

Rare White Humpback Whale Spotted

A rare white humpback whale was sighted north of Australia's Gold Coast.
There was speculation whether it was the world famous white whale called Migaloo. This beast was first spotted in 1991, and until recently was the only known albino humpback, among a population of about 23,000 whales that pass by the Gold Coast on their way from Antarctica to warmer waters to the north.
But Sea World marine sciences director Trevor Long confirmed that it was another albino mammal.

Aug 11, 2015

UK Butterfly Species at Risk of Extinction

Continuing climate change caused by carbon emissions from power stations and vehicles is set to have catastrophic consequences for British butterflies including currently widespread species such as the cabbage white and large skipper.
As per researchers, the increase in extreme droughts as global warming takes hold will cause six species of UK butterflies to be lost from several areas of the country as soon as mid-century.

Aug 09, 2015

World's First Venomous Frogs

Scientists claimed to have discovered the world's first known venomous frogs with spikes on their heads in Brazil.
Scientists have long known of poisonous frogs, but the two species of frog discovered in the wilds of Brazil have been found to be capable of injecting poison into predators using horns on their head.
As per study even tiny amounts of these secretions introduced into a wound caused by the head spines could be dangerous and these frogs are capable of using their skin toxins as venoms against their would be predators.

Aug 05, 2015

World Glaciers Melting Faster than Ever

The intense ice loss of the past two decades has resulted in a strong imbalance of glaciers in many regions of the world, indicating that glaciers will suffer further ice loss even if the climate remains stable.
The observed glaciers currently lose between half a meter and one meter of its ice thickness every year. This is two to three times more than the corresponding average of the 20th century.
According to the team, the current rate of glacier melt is without precedence at global scale, at least for the time period observed and probably also for recorded history.
In addition, the study shows that the long-term retreat of glacier tongues is a global phenomenon.

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