Wiki World

World Cypress Disease Came From California

California may be a great place to live with its good weather, but it is the source of a dangerous tree-killing fungus. Seiridium cardinale actually began its spread across the world from the San Joaquin Valley. Cypress trees are dying by the thousands from cypress canker disease. Ninety five per cent of pine plantations primarily of cedars and junipers are affected.

The fungus jumped the Atlantic to France about 80 years ago when seedlings were imported from California. Italian cypress planted there were devastated. This pretty tree occurs all over southern Europe. Landscapes have been changed irreversibly.

Cracks in the bark are entry points for the disease that produces toxins obstructing the flow of sap, water and nutrients. The fungus clones itself asexually as well as reproducing sexually. There are two variants of the fungus. Only one of these variants is found in Europe. The second variant has found its way to the southern hemisphere. Work to develop resistant strains of cypress is proving difficult. The best way to fight the damage its to monitor the movement of trees through trade.

http://www.adventure--australia.blogspot.com/
http://www.tysaustralia.blogspot.com/
http://www.feeds.feedburner.com/AdventureAustralia
http://www.technorati.com/blogs/
http://adventure--australia.blogspot.com

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dog Watch

"I know, you know I'm here!"

http://vistacomputersolutions.blogspot.com/

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Funny Animal Photos

Possible Sunscreen Tablet From Coral

Australia has the highest skin cancer rate in the world. This is because the population of this country is composed mainly of fair-skinned northern Europeans and Australia is very hot in summer. Despite advertising campaigns citing the dangers of sun bathing men still go around with no shirts and women bake in their back gardens or at the beach. If only people could take a pill to stop skin cancer.

Tests on a coral indicate that a tablet to prevent eye and skin damage from exposure to the sun may be within reach. The coral contains natural UV blockers. Though the coral is on the Australian Great Barrier reef, research is being done by the British government. Paul Long of King's College London is taking samples from Acropora microphthalma coral on night dives. Walter Dunlap of the Australian Institute for Marine Science noticed the attribute in 1986.

While the coral contains the UV protector, a base chemical is created by algae living nearby. The coral absorbs this chemical converting it into a natural sunscreen. Both the algae and coral benefit from the UV blocker as well as fish that feed on the coral. If fish are protected by eating the coral, humans could also benefit from consuming the coral or more practically by imbibing the UV blocking chemical. It is hoped that it will be possible to develop a synthetic version as the coral is endangered.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Science

Hidden Mouse

"You can't see me can you?"

http://vistacomputersolutions.blogspot.com/

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Funny Animal Photos

New Way to Kill Cane Toads

It has recently been discovered that the way to fight the intrusive cane toad in Australia is to fence off all waterholes and dams. Without water they die. Another method has also been identified. A chemical that is in the toad itself is used against it. Tadpoles contain this chemical that kills toad eggs on contact. Those that survive grow at a slower rate than normal, so they are more vulnerable to predators.

The chemical is harmless to native species. Ways of implementing this strategy nationwide need to be developed, but this is only a matter of time. The pest has just reached the far west coast of Australia, leaping its way across the whole country.

West Australians are on search and destroy missions into the night. Queenslanders gave up on this years ago at it had no impact on their numbers. The fight continues.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Science

Smart Cat

"If you want to know anything just ask me."

http://vistacomputersolutions.blogspot.com/

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Funny Animal Photos

More University Students Studying Online

Soon universities and colleges made of bricks, stone and concrete with be a thing of the past as young and old turn to the Internet to get their degrees. Leading Australian universities are trying to "buck the trend" by not offering online course, but if they don't change their student enrolments will fall. Initially it was mature age students who chose to study online; now more of the young are studying this way as well.

Next year the restriction on the number of places Australian universities can offer will be abolished. The market will open up as institutions will be able to offer as many openings as they want. With no investment in new buildings planned new offering have to be online. Charles Sturt University already has two-thirds of its students studying online with growth at 14 per cent a year.

For many, the only time they will set foot on a university campus will be to receive their degrees. Lecturers will no longer be able to hide their heads in text books. They will have to be up-to-date on journal articles and world happenings and be virtual entertainers because their recorded lectures will have to be interesting to hold student attention. The days of the stuffy, tweed-dressed professor bonded by a guaranteed, safe contract to a university are numbered.

A problem will persist for some time, however. Access to information is tied to academic books and journals only accessible in a physical library. University libraries will have to make these publications available online to registered students. This will mean that all journal article will have to be scanned and stored, and the latest books written by specialists must be available in eBook form.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Education

Cat Fish Food

"If you think I'm going to eat that, think again."

http://vistacomputersolutions.blogspot.com/

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Funny Animal Photos

Labels: again , angry , bowl , cat , eat , fish , food , look , think , upset

New Laser Processing of Uranium Is a Danger

The last thing the world needs is an easier way to enrich uranium. There is nowhere to put the used uranium and the disaster in Japan shows the potential risk and damage from nuclear power stations.

A new laser enrichment process has been developed by General Electric. It enables production of enriched uranium cheaper, quicker and in larger amounts. It is feared that "rogue" states will get hold of the knowledge and make uranium for nuclear bombs.

Claiming that nuclear power is a way of reducing greenhouse gases is ridiculous. If more power plants are built more will be at risk from natural disasters. Vast tracts of land will be left uninhabitable as in Japan. It is ironic that GE has made this leap forward in partnerships with a Japanese company, Hitachi.

They are talking now about turning the damaged power plant back on because the country cannot manage without it. Workers there will have to wear full-protection suits all day every day to generate electricity.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Science

Dog Chick

"I did have one very large egg."

http://vistacomputersolutions.blogspot.com/

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Funny Animal Photos

More Disabled People Suffer Other Illnesses

Disabled people have poor health generally. A report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare have made this "Discovery". It is only common sense really. Living with a permanent disability has to be tough and a drain on the body's resources. The stress of living makes these people dependent on cigarettes and food, so they tend to be overweight.

On a scale of health, the greater the disability the worse the general health. Living with constant pain is a problem 40 per cent of them face. Only four per cent of other Australians suffer constant pain.

Having a disability is not the only problem. Nearly 70 per cent of the group have up to four other chronic health conditions such as heart disease, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, asthma, diabetes, mental illness and arthritis. Ninety nine per cent knew they were ill compared to 31 percent of the rest of the population who said they were in poor health.

The Government crackdown on disabled people under 36 who have to work at least part time appears to be misplaced.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Health

Dog Wants Horse

"I could eat a horse."

http://vistacomputersolutions.blogspot.com/
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Funny Animal Photos

Labels: bite , dog , eat , food , horse , jaw , meal , mouth , teeth , yawn

Your Dog Could Be Taken

People want dogs. They really do. Apart from pit bull crosses used for fighting, pedigree and cute dogs are also being taken by "admirers". There was a time when you just tied your dog up outside a shop and when you came back the pet was still there, but not today. Do this and you may never see your beloved friend again.

When thieves in the UK break in to steal your car keys they are likely to take the family dog as well. In the US dogs are stolen from parked cars and when they go for a run in the park with their owners.

Microchips are no deterrent. The new owners never take dogs to places where chips can be scanned. Unchipped dogs are resold. Some are held for ransom money to be paid.

Introducing laws making microchipping compulsory only works when dogs reach a shelter, and this only happens when the new owners have lost interest in them.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Society

Dancer

"I can dance!"

http://vistacomputersolutions.blogspot.com/

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Funny Animal Photos

Elephants Can Solve Problems

Only a few animals including humans experience the "aha" moment. That is when there is an attempt to solve a problem and a mental moment occurs when the solution is identified.

Tests were set up for elephants to retrieve food through the bars of their enclosure. Unfortunately, they didn't use poles provided to them to pull the food towards them. When elephant use their trunk to pick things up they lose their ability to smell the food, so they don't bother.

Another test was worked out which left the trunk free: food was hung up above the elephant's heads and objects to stand on were put inside their pen. A young elephant rolled a cube under the food, placed his front feet on the cube then grabbed the tasty treat. He later rolled the cube down a hill, put it under some flowering tree blossoms and promptly stood on the cube to reach the food. This shows application of a concept to different situations. When the cube was taken away he used a tire or ball to reach suspended treats.

Oddly, two females in the same pen as the test elephant did not attempt to reach the food at all. Maybe they weren't interested.

Elephants are intelligent creatures especially when doing forestry work. They know what their handlers want them to do. This test shows that they also have insight into problems and can solve issues that confront them.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Science

Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )