The Great Barrier Reef In Peril

Half of the Great Barrier Reef has died since 2016 and scientists say it's a direct result of climate change.

Coral lives in a symbiotic relationship with algae. Algae converts energy from the sun into food that feeds and nourishes the coral. When water temperatures rise the algae vacates, causing the coral to 'bleach' and eventually die. The results can be devastating. The bleaching spreads across miles of reef, transforming once spectacular ecosystems into barren wastelands.

See Stock Images of the Reef

"People often ask me, will we have a Great Barrier Reef in 50 years or 100 years?" says Terry Hughes, the director of the ARC Center of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. "And my answer is, yes, I certainly hope so – but it's completely contingent on the near-future trajectory of greenhouse-gas emissions."

Marine Phone Case

The Paris climate agreement of 2015 set a goal to prevent the globe from warming by two degrees Celsius. Since the Industrial Revolution the global average temperature has risen one degree, causing most of the world's reefs to bleach three to four times since the 1990s.

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The world is currently not on track to reach the Paris agreement's goals, and the United States' recent withdrawal from the agreement marks an enormous setback.

If we're unable to stop rising sea temperatures, many of our coral reefs will be destroyed for centuries to come.

Hope lies ahead with organizations such as the Coral Reef Alliance devoted to the health and preservation of reefs. Find out how you can help below.

 

Help Save The Great Barrier Reef Today

AI – The Mind of the Future

AI, technological leap or existential threat?

From robotic telephone calls to self-driving cars, everywhere you look Artificial Intelligence is entering into our lives.

While it might unnerve some, much of this technology falls under the category of weak or narrow AI, meaning it's designed to learn and perform a single task. Specialists are more concerned with strong AI that can adapt to different situations, acquiring new skills and knowledge.

Last October, Google released a unit called Alpha Go Zero, which was able to learn the Chinese video game Go without human aid or programming. It did this simply by playing the game multiple times against itself.

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The full potential of strong AI is still unknown, making it a cause for concern for many. In a recent interview, the preeminent scientist and entrepreneur Elon Musk said:

“We have to figure out some way to ensure that the advent of digital super intelligence is one which is symbiotic with humanity…mark my words: AI is far more dangerous than nukes.”

Other scientists are less pessimistic, seeing AI as a step forward for technology and the world.

What do you think? Inspire your vision of the future with the image gallery below.

AI Stock Image Gallery

• msnbc.com
• nature.com

Mimicry in Nature

Is it a twig or an insect? A harmless moth or a scary owl? Animals have amazing tricks up their sleeves to protect themselves, take advantage of looking like another creature or looking like their environment.

There are many types of animal mimicry. One example is an animal that pretends to be a totally different animal, usually much larger and stronger one, to scare off predators. The pattern on the wings of an Owl Moth (photo above) resemble the eyes and face of an owl. 

Stock Images of Mimicry in Nature

Camouflage, where an animal resembles it's surrounding to hide from predators, is a much-studied type of mimicry. The Dead Leaf Katydid is a beautiful example. It looks just like the dead leaves it lives on. Other animals look like rocks, thorns, twigs, flowers and even bird droppings.

The King Snake, which is non-poisonous, has a scale pattern like that of the Coral Snake, a type of venomous snake. It tricks predators into thinking they have encountered its very dangerous relative.

Animal mimicry is found through the animal and even the plant world. One of the most amazing examples is the octopus, which can change not only its color but also its skin texture within seconds to hide in a variety of underwater environments.

Additionally, the mimicking species may smell, sound or act like the creature or object it is copying. 

Greeting Cards, Mugs, and Other Mimicry Custom Gifts

• allyouneedisbiology.wordpress.com
• bbc.co.uk
• wikipedia.com

Alzheimer's Disease, a Tragic Future for Our Aging Population

An estimated 82 million people will have dementia by 2030, according to the World Health Organization. By 2050, the number of people with dementia in the U.S. will be double what it is today, and 80% of these individuals will have Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's is a noncurable condition that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. A person can have the beginnings of Alzheimer's for years without any visible symptoms. It progressively worsens over time and never improves.

Most people develop Alzheimer's after age 65, although some people may get Early-Onset Alzheimer's decades earlier. 

The greatest factors in getting Alzheimer's is aging and having Alzheimer's in your family. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes also increase the odds. Head injuries and not sleeping regularly contribute to a lesser degree as well.

At first, symptoms may not be very noticeable. Misplaced keys, a lost book, a missed appointment. After all, everyone forgets things on occasion. However, with those suffering from Alzheimer's Disease, memory loss and confusion become more frequent, eventually interfering with daily living. They will also exhibit bouts of unexplained anger, depression and mood swings. Usually, close family and friends are the first to notice that something is not right.

In the long run, a patient suffering from Alzheimer's will need care 24 hours a day. They will not recognize family, will forget basic vocabulary, and not know how to feed themselves or accomplish even the most basic day-to-day tasks without assistance.

The brain of an Alzheimer's patient deteriorates due to the development of a type of plaque in brain cells called beta-amyloid, as well as tangles in nerve cells called tau. 

Treatment is limited, as there are only 5 drugs available that slow the progression of memory loss but do not stop it. Sleep drugs, anti-depressants and other mood enhancing drugs are usually prescribed to deal with common symptoms.

We have no way to cure Alzheimer's, nor to restore parts of the brain that have been lost. 

Luckily, there are many new drugs in development. Researchers are working on drugs to slow the deterioration of brain cells. Some hope to develop drugs that may one day even prevent Alzheimer's altogether. 

If pharmaceutical companies are successful, there may be a much brighter future for the elderly and the world may never reach the 82 million patients currently expected to develop this terrible disease.

Stock Images & Stock Video About Alzheimer's Disease

• alz,org
• webmd.com

Lower Back Pain? You're in Good Company

If you have lower back pain, you are in good company. According to researchers, more than 80% of all Americans will suffer from lower back pain at some point in their life. One of the reasons it is so widespread is that this pain can be caused by many conditions, some not even related to your back.

The back is a complex framework of joints, bone, muscles, and ligaments, that must coordinate to do their work. The lower back supports your upper body and provides sensation and power for movement of hips, legs, and feet. Your back also houses and protects your spinal cord.

Stock Images & Video About Lower Back Pain

This complexity makes your back susceptible to injury and disease if not properly cared for. Muscles can be pulled, sprained, become inflamed or even torn. Bones can fracture or break. The nerves protected inside your spine may swell or get pinched. There are numerous medical conditions that may contribute as well, such as arthritis, lumbar spinal stenosis, sciatica, osteoporosis, scoliosis or herniated discs. 

Your lower back may be perfectly healthy, but you may give yourself lower back pain through your actions. Take a fall, slouch, lift a heavy object, or carry too much weight and your back may be in pain.

Most frustrating of all is that lower back pain may be caused by something other than your back; this is called referred pain. Tumors, kidney infections, endometriosis, fibromyalgia are likely medical culprits.

But do not fear, there are a number of things you can do to prevent or minimize the odds of suffering from lower back pain. Exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are at the top of the list. Don't smoke because it restricts blood flow to your spine. Practice proper posture when sitting, standing and lifting.

If you do get lower back pain, it often clears up after a few days or weeks. To be on the safe side, always check with your doctor.

• Lower Back Pain, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment, spine-health.com
• Tips for Pain Relief, webmd.com
• Chronic Low Back Pain on the Rise, med.unc.edu

Feathered Dinosaurs

Could the giants of the Jurassic have sported feathered frills and colored plumage? Modern paleontology investigates this wild theory.

The evolutionary connection between birds and dinosaurs has been a fierce debate among scientists for generations. Thomas Huxley first suggested the species shared a common ancestry in 1856 when he compared the fossils of Compsognathus and the first bird, Archaeopteryx lithographica. In 1876, he created a feathered model of Compsognathus and presented it at a lecture in New York City. But the preeminent dinosaur expert, Richards Owen, rejected the theory, and it laid dormant for decades.

Stock Image Gallery

It was not until 1969 that John Ostrom revived the subject. His work drew new parallels between birds and dinosaurs, such as similarities in their necks, pelvises and wrists. Quill knobs (feather access points) under the forearms of some dinosaurs as well integumentary structures in the dorsal spines of reptiles and fish gave further support to the theory.

In 2016, the Museum of Natural History in New York showcased a new exhibit called Dinosaurs Among Us, which featured feathered dinosaurs beside their winged counterparts – birds.

Archeopteryx mug

As this new vision of dinosaurs emerges, artists and illustrators are quick to capture it in striking imagery. Explore more in the links below.

Dinosaur mugs, phone cases and wall art

 

 

• news.nationalgeographic.com
• audubon.org

Biometrics: Never Need a Password Again

Imagine never having to remember a password or enter a PIN number again. Your phone, computer, bank account and even your own front door will all be able to recognize you through the use of biometrics. Your fingerprints, ears, voice, face, iris, retina, gait and even your distinct odor can already be used to identify you.

As convenient as it sounds - since you will always have your body with you - some are concerned about the potential for invasion of privacy and also the possibility of security breaches.

Stock Images About Biometrics

If a hacker steals your password, you can create a new one. But, if the computer storing your biometric data is hacked you cannot get a new ear, iris or voice. And since biometric security opens many doors, literally and figuratively, hackers may be able to gain much more than with a single password.

Privacy advocates warn this may be the beginning of Big Brother watching you, and not just online. Facial recognition software can pick an individual out of a football stadium full of people. Security cameras are already prevalent in public places, making it possible for you to be followed by the police, the government,  companies and hackers. This can happen as you walk down the street, shop, bike, or do anything where security cameras are located.

You may say, "I'm not going to hand over my biometric data to anyone." Well, the truth is you may already have done so.

Touch ID on cell phones and voice-controlled assistants such as Alexa or Echo collect your fingerprints and your voice print. Social media sites such as Facebook already use facial recognition software to label photos of you and your friends. Even your iris can now be scanned from up to 30 feet away without you being aware.

Biometric Coffee Mugs, Beach Towels and more

In short, it looks like biometrics is here to stay as a method of identification and for use in security. One can only hope that those with the data do the best they can to keep your personal face, ear, eye, and other biometric information safe from hackers.  

• theatlantic.com
• engadget.com
• wired.com
• scientificamerican.com