Animal Communication

Although dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) have been trained to match numbers and durations of human vocal bursts [1] and reported to spontaneously match computer-generated whistles [2], spontaneous human voice mimicry has not previously been demonstrated. The first to study white whale (Delphinapterus leucas) sounds in the wild, Schevill and Lawrence [3] wrote that “occasionally the calls would suggest a crowd of children shouting in the distance”. … Continue reading Animal Communication

Germs are us

Human beings are inhabited by as many as ten thousand bacterial species; the bacteria living inside us weigh, all told, about three pounds (the same as our brain). These bacteria work constantly on our behalf: they manufacture vitamins and patrol our guts to prevent infections; they help to form and bolster our immune systems, and digest food. Recent research suggests that they may even alter … Continue reading Germs are us

Unchartered Territories

Felix Baumgartner skydive The key questions answered What was the most likely thing to kill him during his supersonic jump, what happened to his balloon – and is he married? All the questions about the Austrian daredevil you want answered. Readmore… The Fall A journey to the bottom of the ocean James Cameron’s trip to the Challenger Deep Werner Herzog: Encounters at the end of the … Continue reading Unchartered Territories

Bikes as Green transportation

Guardian reporter Peter Walker tries out the new e-bike. The cycling sensation that is sweeping through Holland and Germany. Peter visits a newly opened e-bike shop called justebikes, to find out the secret to this continental e-bike craze and whether such an innovation will catch on in the UK. Video  Source Bikes maintenance MadeGood.org, a free online bike repair resource, takes you through a step-by-step … Continue reading Bikes as Green transportation

Nature’s call…

In a world where 2.5 billion people still do not have access to basic sanitation facilities, and 1.5 million children die each year from preventable diseases as a result, there is a pressing need to find sustainable solutions to this most ancient of human problems. “Nearly half of the population in developing regions – 2.5 billion – still lacks access to improved sanitation facilities. Shockingly, … Continue reading Nature’s call…

The rise of megacities

The rise of megacities – interactive By 2025, the developing world, as we understand it now, will be home to 29 megacities. We explore the latest UN estimates and forecasts on the growth of these ‘cities on steroids’, and take a look at the challenges and opportunities megacities present for the tens of millions living in Lagos, Mexico City and Dhaka.  Source: The Guardian Continue reading The rise of megacities