- Technological curiosities from the world
Arsenic detector Scientists in Singapore have developed a novel nanobionic optical sensor that can detect and monitor arsenic levels in soil in real time. This extremely toxic heavy metal is a serious problem in the food production process. Arsenic contamination is most commonly reported in rice, vegetables and tea leaves. Long-term exposure to arsenic can lead to serious diseases of the cardiovascular system, heart attacks, diabetes, fetal defects, pathological skin changes, as well as skin, bladder and lung cancer. Elevated arsenic levels in soil are the result of human activities related to mining and smelting. They can be harmful to plants by limiting their growth. Moreover, plants can absorb arsenic and thus poison food. - Vehicle disassembly station and integrated permit
Question: Is the vehicle dismantling station (within the meaning of Article 3 point 10 of the Act of 20 January 2005 on the recycling of end-of-life vehicles, Journal of Laws of 2019, item 1610, as amended) processing more than 10 Mg per day (in total more than 3650 Mg / year) of hazardous waste - used vehicles - classified as hazardous waste should always have an integrated permit? - Biomass of living organisms on Earth then and today
The scale of human transformation of life on Earth is illustrated by the results of research on the biomass of various groups of organisms. The total biomass of the planet is about 550 billion tons of carbon, the biomass of people is only a fraction of this number. Since the beginning of civilization, we have reduced the biomass of all organisms by half, and of wild mammals by 83%. During this time, the global mass of wild mammals decreased 6 times and today they account for only 4% of the biomass of mammals. 10,000 years ago, the biomass of all humans in the world, including domesticated animals, accounted for 0.1% of the mass of terrestrial vertebrates. Currently, 97% of biomass is used by humans and livestock, while the biomass of wild vertebrates (3%) is negligible. - Silent Night Walnut - His Majesty
It would be easier to guess from the wrinkles on the shell what the walnut is up to ... - Ecological awareness of the Żarnowiec commune society
This article describes the international idea of environmental education and the concept of environmental awareness of the society. The research part includes survey questions addressed to adult residents and primary school students in the Żarnowiec commune, province Silesian. The aim was to obtain the opinion of the public on environmental protection in the commune. The research showed that the respondents declare the will to protect the environment, but in practice such behavior is rare. - Macro photography not only with a macro lens
Macro photography allows you to capture in photos what the human eye cannot see. Extreme enlargements show us a microscopic and fascinating world hidden in the surrounding nature and in seemingly ordinary objects. Can it be discovered without specialized optics? It turns out that it is. Fantastic patterns visible only when enlarged, can delight with their unusual colors and texture. No wonder then that macro photography is extremely popular among photography enthusiasts. The motifs that most often appear in macro photos are mainly related to plants, insects, snowflakes and water drops. However, not everyone is aware that thanks to macro photography, we can create images that will show many other objects in an amazing way. Fancy patterns visible on rusting structures, abstract shapes hidden in everyday objects or details of human skin are just a few ideas for phenomenal enlargements. In macro photography, the only limitation is our imagination. Outdoor macro session Regardless of the subject of our photos, there are several universal rules in macro photography that will work during each session. The most important thing is lighting, of course, and that's what we should pay attention to first. - Production of motor biofuels using the second generation methods
The second generation biofuels mean all types of biofuels (mainly bio-diesel, bioethanol) obtained from biomass, which do not compete with food. In terms of quantity, the most common raw materials for the production of second generation biofuels (BtL) are materials containing the so-called lignocellulosic complex, e.g. straw, wood, vegetable waste from the food industry, sewage sludge or waste from paper production. The use of such raw materials enables potentially efficient production of bioethanol, but the mere conversion of plant waste to ethyl alcohol is a huge technological and financial challenge. Currently, the potential of this type of fuel is quite small. It is assumed that engine fuels from biomass (2nd generation) reduce global CO2 emissions and have an effective effect on agriculture and forestry, also creating new jobs in them. After 2025, the second generation biofuels should be financially competitive in relation to the production of fuels from crude oil and coal. - Niepołomice are fighting smog
In 2018, Niepołomice was ranked 29th in the ranking of the most polluted cities in the European Union. Air quality in the commune, despite the improvement (it was 15th in 2016), is still not good. The biggest problem is the so-called low emissions, the main source of which are ineffective coal-fired furnaces and boiler houses. The commune undertakes many activities to improve air quality, including takes part in numerous projects and programs aimed at reducing low emissions and improving energy efficiency in both public buildings and private homes. - Co-combustion
A dozen or so years ago, co-firing enjoyed a good reputation. It was only in 2018 that the European Commission refused the status of a renewable energy source from multi-fuel biomass combustion with coal. As a result, reducing CO2 emissions would have to be paid for with serious damage to the environment and the economy. Nevertheless, the ideas to burn wood produced in the State Forests in the energy sector have not disappeared, and have recently gained value in fighting the effects of the pandemic. - On the table and in the first aid kit, that is about lichens in human life
Secondary metabolites of lichens are usually specific to them and are of exceptional importance in nature. They are also used by humans, mainly as food and medicine. The article gives examples of some species of lichens and their chemical compounds, which have been used for a long time in folk and official medicine. - Ethics in environmental protection
Ethical issues in the protection of the natural environment began to be raised gradually, as did the concept of corporate social responsibility, which also takes into account ecological issues. However, the problem of respect for animals and plants was taken up by A. Schweitzer as early as 1915, that is before the emergence of socology. The article discusses the approach to environmental ethics both from an anthropological perspective - from the point of view of the special status of man in the natural world, as well as from a biocentric perspective. In turn, among the factors popularizing the concept of CSR, including environmental protection, the introduction of the ISO 26000 quality standard and the development of the social economy sector (social and solidarity economy) may play an important role. - Air quality in Europe
A marked improvement in air quality in Europe in the last ten years and fewer pollution-related deaths, according to official data from the European Environmental Agency (EEA). Report entitled However, the "Air Quality in Europe - 2020", published in November this year, shows that almost all Europeans still suffer from air pollution.
AURA Ochrona Środowiska (AURA Environmental Protection) - the whole list