Climate change is already happening and represents one of the greatest environmental, social and economic threats facing the planet.
The European Union is working actively for a global agreement to control climate change and is taking domestic action to achieve substantial reductions in its own contribution. It is also developing a European strategy for adapting to climate change.
The Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shows that the Earth's average surface temperature has risen by 0.76° C since 1850. Most of the warming over the past 50 years is very likely to have been caused by emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other 'greenhouse gases' from human activities.
Without action to reduce these emissions, the global average temperature is likely to rise by a further 1.8-4.0°C this century, and by up to 6.4°C in the worst case scenario, the IPCC projects. Even the lower end of this range would take the temperature increase since pre-industrial times above 2°C - the threshold beyond which many scientists believe irreversible and possibly catastrophic changes would become more likely.
The European Union has long been at the forefront of international efforts to combat climate change and was instrumental in the development of the two United Nations climate treaties, the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol, agreed in 1997.
The EU has also been taking steps to limit its greenhouse gas emissions since the early 1990s.
In 2000 the European Commission launched the European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) which has led to the adoption of a wide range of new policies and measures, including the pioneering EU Emissions Trading System.
The Kyoto Protocol requires the 15 countries that were EU members at the time ('EU-15') to reduce their collective emissions in the 2008-2012 period to 8% below 1990 levels. Emissions monitoring and projections show that the EU-15 is well on track to meet this target.
In 2007 EU leaders endorsed an integrated approach to climate and energy policy and committed to transforming Europe into a highly energy-efficient, low carbon economy. They made a unilateral commitment that Europe would cut its emissions by at least 20% of 1990 levels by 2020. This commitment is being implemented through a package of binding legislation.
The EU has also offered to increase its emissions reduction to 30% by 2020, on condition that other major emitting countries in the developed and developing worlds commit to do their fair share under a future global climate agreement. This agreement should take effect at the start of 2013 when the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period will have expired.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Latest Inventions in Science
If you are interested in the latest inventions in science, you should know that the scientists are currently working on the development of 'smart' contact lenses able to measure pressure within the eye and distribute medicament according to the measurements. They invented a new material called polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Then, they managed to place powdered silver, with antimicrobial properties, on the PDMS in a precise pattern, thus creating conductive wires.
The scientists gave the PDMS-silver a contact-lens shape, so it could serve as a simple pressure sensor. A contact lens for continuous measurement of pressure within the eye and transmitting the data to a computer would greatly help doctors find out more about glaucoma, a major cause of blindness, and improve the ways of its treatment.
The scientists gave the PDMS-silver a contact-lens shape, so it could serve as a simple pressure sensor. A contact lens for continuous measurement of pressure within the eye and transmitting the data to a computer would greatly help doctors find out more about glaucoma, a major cause of blindness, and improve the ways of its treatment.
LATEST INVENTION IN MAN AND WOMAN
In spite of the common believe erotic photographs evoke different reactions for men and women , Center of Behavioral Neuroscience (CBN) study says. Women show more interest and pay more attention to sexual acts and men focus on faces.
Women and men were tested on visual response to erotic photographs that depicted sexual act to make clear the nature of sexual urges and its influence on health. The tests were made using eye-tracking technology that show the visual focus on various body parts. It was supposed that typical response to sexual stimuli would be women looking at faces and men looking at genitals. However, the results were unexpected and quite the opposite. Women were more attracted at sexual acts first and men would pay their attention at faces.
Previous study, published in Hormones and Behavior magazine concluded that sexual stimuli outlines gender differences, particularly for brain activity of men and women. Presumably women who took hormonal pills were more often focused on genitals and those who took no pills paid their attention to the context of the picture. Although it is known that men would more readily respond to visual stimulation, their concentration is initially less sexually oriented.
Researches suggest, that key to the findings may lie in peculiarities of brain activities in certain sections. From one of the fMRI (Functional magnetic resonance imaging) studies, conducted by Dr. Hamann and Wallen, where amygdalia brain section was examined, gender differences were prominently seen. Men showed increased brain activity in amygdalia viewing sexual stimuli. As amygdalia is known to deal with our emotions, there can be a link between this part of the brain and men's reaction to faces.
These scottsdale women are examples of women's beautiful faces, looking at which men could use their amygdalia to stir up their emotions.
Take part in a poll on the most unusual place you've ever had sex.
Powered by www.infoniac.com
Women and men were tested on visual response to erotic photographs that depicted sexual act to make clear the nature of sexual urges and its influence on health. The tests were made using eye-tracking technology that show the visual focus on various body parts. It was supposed that typical response to sexual stimuli would be women looking at faces and men looking at genitals. However, the results were unexpected and quite the opposite. Women were more attracted at sexual acts first and men would pay their attention at faces.
Previous study, published in Hormones and Behavior magazine concluded that sexual stimuli outlines gender differences, particularly for brain activity of men and women. Presumably women who took hormonal pills were more often focused on genitals and those who took no pills paid their attention to the context of the picture. Although it is known that men would more readily respond to visual stimulation, their concentration is initially less sexually oriented.
Researches suggest, that key to the findings may lie in peculiarities of brain activities in certain sections. From one of the fMRI (Functional magnetic resonance imaging) studies, conducted by Dr. Hamann and Wallen, where amygdalia brain section was examined, gender differences were prominently seen. Men showed increased brain activity in amygdalia viewing sexual stimuli. As amygdalia is known to deal with our emotions, there can be a link between this part of the brain and men's reaction to faces.
These scottsdale women are examples of women's beautiful faces, looking at which men could use their amygdalia to stir up their emotions.
Take part in a poll on the most unusual place you've ever had sex.
Powered by www.infoniac.com
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through space-time, as well as all applicable concepts, such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.
Physics is one of the oldest academic disciplines, perhaps the oldest through its inclusion of astronomy. Over the last two millennia, physics had been considered synonymous with philosophy, chemistry, and certain branches of mathematics and biology, but during the Scientific Revolution in the 16th century, it emerged to become a unique modern science in its own right. However, in some subject areas such as in mathematical physics and quantum chemistry, the boundaries of physics remain difficult to distinguish.
Physics is both significant and influential, in part because advances in its understanding have often translated into new technologies, but also because new ideas in physics often resonate with other sciences, mathematics, and philosophy. For example, advances in the understanding of electromagnetism or nuclear physics led directly to the development of new products which have dramatically transformed modern-day society, such as television, computers, domestic appliances, and nuclear weapons; advances in thermodynamics nled to the development of motorized transport; and advances in mechanics inspired the development of calculus.
Physics is one of the oldest academic disciplines, perhaps the oldest through its inclusion of astronomy. Over the last two millennia, physics had been considered synonymous with philosophy, chemistry, and certain branches of mathematics and biology, but during the Scientific Revolution in the 16th century, it emerged to become a unique modern science in its own right. However, in some subject areas such as in mathematical physics and quantum chemistry, the boundaries of physics remain difficult to distinguish.
Physics is both significant and influential, in part because advances in its understanding have often translated into new technologies, but also because new ideas in physics often resonate with other sciences, mathematics, and philosophy. For example, advances in the understanding of electromagnetism or nuclear physics led directly to the development of new products which have dramatically transformed modern-day society, such as television, computers, domestic appliances, and nuclear weapons; advances in thermodynamics nled to the development of motorized transport; and advances in mechanics inspired the development of calculus.
CHEMISTRY
Chemistry is the science of matter and the changes it undergoes. The science of matter is also addressed by physics, but while physics takes a more general and fundamental approach, chemistry is more specialized, being concerned with the composition, behavior, structure, and properties of matter, as well as the changes it undergoes during chemical reactions. It is a physical science which studies of various atoms, molecules, crystals and other aggregates of matter whether in isolation or combination, which incorporates the concepts of energy and entropy in relation to the spontaneity of chemica processes.
Disciplines within chemistry are traditionally grouped by the type of matter being studied or the kind of study. These include inorganic chemistry, the study of inorganic matter; organic chemistry, the study of organic (carbon based) matter; biochemistry, the study of substances found in biological organisms; physical chemistry, the study of chemical processes using physical concepts such as thermodynamics and quantum mechanics; and analytical chemistry, the analysis of material samples to gain an understanding of their chemical composition and structure. Many more specialized disciplines have emerged in recent years, e.g. neurochemistry the chemical study of the nervous system (see subdisciplines
Disciplines within chemistry are traditionally grouped by the type of matter being studied or the kind of study. These include inorganic chemistry, the study of inorganic matter; organic chemistry, the study of organic (carbon based) matter; biochemistry, the study of substances found in biological organisms; physical chemistry, the study of chemical processes using physical concepts such as thermodynamics and quantum mechanics; and analytical chemistry, the analysis of material samples to gain an understanding of their chemical composition and structure. Many more specialized disciplines have emerged in recent years, e.g. neurochemistry the chemical study of the nervous system (see subdisciplines
INVERTEBREATE ZOOLOGY
Invertebrate means lacking a spinal column. Animals in this category include species of the following: protozoans, annelids, cnidarians, echinoderms, flatworms, nematodes, molluscs, and arthropods. Invertebrates make up 90% of the Earth's animals. They range in size from minute to extremely large. They possess soft bodies and external skeletons.
Vertebrate zoology
Vertebrate means having a spinal column or backbone. Animals in this category include species of the phylum Chordata: fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals. These are characterized by a segmented spinal cord and a distinct differentiated head. These animals possess internal skeletons which include the vertebral column which at least partially encloses the spinal cord and a skull which houses the brain. Vertebrates also usually possess two pairs of limbs and an outer covering (fur, skin, feathers).
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