Diesel pollution can cause serious damage to honeybee population

 

Honeybees play extremely important role in global economy, due to pollination which significantly increases the yield of many crops, thus resulting in more food. Sadly, bees are said to be rapidly declining in many parts of the world due to pollution with pesticides and several other reasons. The latest study from the University of Southampton showed that diesel fuel is also among the factors that have negative impact on honeybees.

The UK scientists from the Southampton University have found the connection between the air pollutants found in diesel exhaust and the bees inability to recognize flower odors.

Honeybees use floral odors in order to locate, identify and recognize the flowers from which they forage but chemicals found in diesel exhaust such as NOx gases alter the odor's profile of flowers thus making honeybees unable to recognize flowers.

Emissions limits for nitrogen dioxide are regularly exceeded in large parts of the world, especially in urban areas which could lead to even bigger decline in honeybee population thus further reducing global pollination activity and leading to reduced food production.

It has been said that honeybees use a variety of chemicals found in a floral blend to discriminate between different blends and they certainly do not need various nitrogen oxides to disrupt their recognition process, especially now when world is rightly worried about the ongoing decline in bee population.

Global food security without preserving honeybees is almost unimaginable and we must discover all the factors that have contributed to decline in honeybee population and reduce them as much as possible.

damage : injury

earth products: crops

smells: odors

unable: incapable

chemical: chemical element

Elephants may know when it's raining 150 miles away

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/10/18/newser-elephants-know-when-its-raining/17497275/

What can elephants detect? 

Do elephants migrate?  

Why do the elephants change his movements ?

Brussels: Chocolate

The New York Times OCT.17,2014

Brussels: Chocolate

Nearly half the chocolate consumed in the world is savored in Europe, and Belgium — with per-capita consumption of 14.99 pounds a year —certainly devours its fair share. While Brussels, the country’s capital, is home to hundreds of chocolatiers, what makes a visit imperative, at least from a chocophile’s perspective, is the rich heritage of artisanal chocolate-makers.

And none epitomizes the nation’s devotion to craft and quality more than Mary Delluc established her business in 1919 on the Rue Royale, the route the king took to the Royal Palace each day. In 1942 she achieved her goal of becoming the chocolate purveyor to the royal family, an honor that was bestowed on the brand three more times, most recently in 2013.

Royale BRUSSELS | Displays at Mary chocolate shop.

 CreditMary

While Mary has retained a presence on Rue for 95 years, it has changed address three times, the most recent (Rue Royale 73) undergoing an overhaul in 2010.

“We went back to the roots of Mary,” the managing director, Olivier Borgerhoff, said, noting the return to the original white-and-gold color scheme and prominence of the oblong logo. As for the chocolate, it might as well be the 20th century. “We don’t change the types of chocolates often,” Mr. Borgerhoff said. “We try to improve the choices we have.” That means sourcing top-quality ingredients and eschewing preservatives and unnatural additives of the dozens of caramel, marzipan, mousse, ganache and cream-filled bonbons that are stacked in neat rows down a long central counter, along with glass bowls of hand-rolled truffles, flaked with almonds and dusted in powdered sugar. A 250-gram box is 17 euros ($21).

Another chocolatier, is decidedly more whimsical. The small chain, established in 1983 by Marc Debailleul, produces bonbons and ballotins, or boxes, that are so refined and beautiful, it’s almost — almost — a shame to indulge. The options are limited: traditional pralines and creamy ganaches, many hand-painted with cupids, the letter “D” or other flourishes, and vanilla, coffee and caramel-flavored truffles. Visit the factory store (Rue de Ganshoren 27-39). It will be as if you’ve discovered secret treasures of the chocolate capital.

 AMY M. THOMAS

1.searches the synonyms of these words in the text

Handmade (lines 1 at 5)

Business (lines 6 at 13)

Come back (lines 14 at 19)

Crystal (lines 20 at 24)

Found (lines 25 at 31)

How the World will look like in the next 50 years

Howthe World will look like in the next 50 years

People have always been intrigued of what the future will look like. The answers are quite simple and here you have them for the next 50 years.

How can we know what the future will look like?
To be able to understand the future, you must know the past. What has taken us to where we are today and what has changed along the way.

The world has changed a lot in the last 150 years, but we humans are driven by the same basic needs as we were 150 years ago, food, sleep, sex, the feeling of being appreciated and loved. Will this change in the next 150 years? No.

What inventions have really made a difference in the last 150 years?
If you take away all gadgets that people in some part of the world are using for entertainment, the inventions that have affected most people around the world for everyday living are the telephone, electricity, radio, television, computer, the car and the ability to communicate through Internet. Then we of course have a lot of inventions that have made life easier, like new medicine, faster transports etc.

In general the inventions for the last 150 years have been a human strive for freedom and communication, to be able to get in control of the time and world. Since there is still much to do in this area, this will be the focus at least for the next 150 years. 

But why do we need to predict the future?
Predicting the future is important for two reasons; first we need to start to think about what kind of future we would like for ourselves and to pass on to the next generation, and then we need to know what decisions we need to make today that will give the best result in the future. 

How about the virtual worlds, do I need to go on vacation in the future or just have all the cells in my body experience an artificial vacation?
It might be possible in the future to experience the sand between your toes, feel the salt from the ocean on your lips, hear the waves and smell the seaweed, just lying in your bed at home. But we will not be able to fool the mind in the way that no matter how real the experience will feel, you will always know that it haven’t happen for real. That will make all the difference. You can tell people today that you have seen the pyramids in Egypt because you have seen a picture of them, but you will never get the feeling of being there. So, even if a great invention is there for an affordable price, it will never replace the common experience if it is not genuine.

Please tell me we will get in contact with some aliens in the near future...
It is most likely that there are other life in the Universe considered there are billion solar systems. In the aspect that our solar system is about 4.6 billion years, other civilisations could be 10 million or even 1 billion years ahead of us. With these numbers in mind there is no greater chance that they will make contact with us within the next 50 years than in 100,000 years, and with the size of the Universe we will not likely be able to make any contact with them during this time.

So what will the future look like then?
What we will see in the next 50 years is the transition from an oil-dependent society, new medicine, the first steps in the development of artificial intelligence, continuedexploration of space, more people todie from AIDS, hopefully a better state for the poor people in the world, challenges in the climate change, and new inventions that make life a little easier and entertaining for some.  

How should I do then to make the future great?
Well, as you know the winner in life is not the one with the most money when he dies, the winner is the person who sleeps best at night. To feel good about yourself and the people around you, listen to them and show them the love and respect they deserve as fellow human beings and help those in need. That is what will matter when you go to bed at night in 50 years from now, and hopefully will give you a good night’s sleep.

1.     Find in the text synonyms of these words:

Easy

Quicker

Find out

Motives

Ébola in New York

A man who recently traveled to West Africa was admitted to the emergency room in Manhattan's Mount Sinai Hospital late Sunday with a high fever and gastrointestinal problems, symptoms that are consistent with the Ebola virus.
The patient, whom The New York Times did not identify out of respect for his privacy, is currently being tested for the virus in isolation. The hospital would not elaborate on which country he had traveled to, what he was doing there, or if he was exposed to the virus while in the region.
"We will continue to work closely with federal, state, and city health officials to address and monitor this case, keep the community informed, and provide the best quality care to all of our patients," Dorie Klissas, a spokesperson for the hospital, told The New York Times. "All necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety of all patients, visitors and staff."
Even if the Mount Sinai patient ends up being diagnosed with Ebola, though, Americans shouldn't panic about the potential spread of this dangerous disease. While Ebola isn't exactly innocuous, it's far less contagious than other diseases with serious epidemic potential, like bird flu or MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome). And since Ebola can only be transmitted through bodily fluids like blood, vomit, and feces — not through coughing or sneezing — it's unlikely that anyone who isn't a health-care worker would come into contact with the disease.
In fact, many of the reasons for Ebola's deadly spread are sociocultural. Doctors in countries like Sierra Leone and Liberia have never experienced outbreaks of the disease before, and therefore may not be trained in how to diagnose and treat it. Some Africans also must bury their dead on their own, meaning they may contract the disease while laying a family member to rest.

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Griffin reaching breaking point

Clippers forward Blake Griffin is one of the most athletic and high-flying players in the NBA. And as frequently as he drives hard to the rim, he just as often finds himself at the end of a lot of hard fouls. Thus far, Griffin has managed to take the physicality in stride, keeping a cool head time after time. But after another incident last night in a preseason game against the Utah Jazz, Griffin noted that his patience is reaching its breaking point. Dan Woike of the Orange County-Register has more…

After the game, Griffin was asked if it was difficult to keep things from escalating.

“I was going to (take things further), and I thought, ‘It’s preseason. It’s not worth it. That’s not the person I’m going to waste it on,’” Griffin calmly said.

[Trevor] Booker was called for a flagrant 1 foul, and Griffin, Booker and Chris Paul were all called for technical fouls for their roles in the incident.

After the game, Paul didn’t hide his amazement at picking up a technical, as he said he was trying to play peacemaker.

“That was ridiculous,” he said. “…He gave me a tech. He said it was because I escalated the fight. You can fine me, do whatever. I know Trevor Booker. I’m trying to keep him away. Like, I know him personally. And they give me a tech. It’s preseason. Everyone’s trying to figure it out.”

Griffin admitted to trying to figure out what to do with the extra contact he takes. Following the Clippers win, Doc Rivers said he thought Griffin gets hit with more cheap shots than anyone in the league.

“I don’t think it’s close,” Rivers said.

Griffin, who has been often criticized for his reactions to hard fouls, realizes he’s in a bit of a Catch-22.

“On one hand, everyone tells me to do something. On the other hand, people tell me to not complain and just play ball,” Griffin said with a smile. “That happens. You’re not going to please everybody. I just have to do whatever I think is right and use my judgment.”

Questions:

1- What is his position in the team?

2-What is the name of his team?

            3-What happened between Blake and Trevor?

This article can be found here