Scientists have always attempted to follow animals and track them in their natural environment. In the past, these efforts were limited for various reasons. We are in an age, now, where we know so much more about life on Earth (and even off Earth). It’s astonishing to look back and be able to see the advancements we’ve made in our understanding of the way our ecosystem is working.
We have made these strides by tracking animals in their natural habitats. Doing so, we are able to see how and where they live, what they eat, and how they react to intruders and dangerous situations. According to the authors of a research article in Science Magazine, animal tracking and the information we receive from it is crucial to our environment and us. Behold, the awesome strides made possibly by animal tracking technologies…
Out With The Old, In With The New!
Scientists have used VHF radio technology in the past to track animals. This traditional form of tracking has previously given us a decent amount of information on animals and their whereabouts. Unfortunately, using radio technology has limited our ability to have a “big picture” view of the animal and its species. The main form of tracking that is being used today is by GPS transmitter. A satellite picks up the signal and transmits the information back to scientists where they record the data.
What We Can Learn With GPS Tracking
These new GPS trackers can observe a larger array of animals at once and also several different facts about the animals fitted with the transmitters. Specifically, we can learn physiological details and even monitor brain waves. This type of tracking gives us a more complete and accurate picture of the animal and its patterns. With this system, we can also track their energy levels, health condition, interaction with other animals, and real-time whereabouts.
According to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s research associates, because of this new equipment, we are in a golden age of animal tracking and gaining knowledge about the environment. According to the Science Magazine article, written by Roland Kays, Margaret Crofoot and Martin Wikelsk, “The unique perspective offered by big-data animal tracking enables a new view of animals as naturally evolved sensors of environment, which we think has the potential to help us monitor the planet in completely new ways.”
Understanding each of these elements of the animal and its lifestyle is vital for biodiversity and ecology research. I think research of this magnitude could potentially assist us in preventing the destruction of smaller ecosystems and aid in our understanding of what is happening on our planet.
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Scientists have taken a technology which once was only dreamed about in science fiction, and taken it further than anyone could ever have imagined. Experts in Japan have created 3D holographic technology that not only projects an image, it allows a viewer to interact with what is projected before them.
Whether it was the first appearance in Jules Verne’s “The Carpathian Castle”, later in George Lucas’ “Star Wars”, or even James Cameron’s “Avatar”, Holographic images have always captivated daydreamers and scientists alike.
Engineering behind holograms that react to physical touch
Researchers from various universities in Japan have used what they describe as a safer alternative laser called a “femtosecond” to facilitate this invention. Femtosecond lasers use pulses of light that are emitted at a rate so fast that they are not harmful, it would otherwise burn skin with human contact if not for its special design, “a high-intensity laser excites a physical matter to emit light at an arbitrary 3D position. Popular applications can then be explored especially since plasma induced by a femtosecond laser is safer than that generated by a nanosecond laser.”
The femtosecond laser sounds rather miraculous, but it is has been applied for years in other facets of the modern world. The femtosecond laser uses ultra-short pulses of electromagnetic light and has been used for applications in the study of chemistry, medical imaging technology, and has been used in cataract eye surgery since 2001.
So they’ve built a hologram that users can touch, now what?
Development doesn’t stop for the researchers at just creating the holographic technology. In their publication describing the details of their research, they discuss future practical applications of their advanced piece of engineering, “We envision a laser-induced plasma technology in general applications for public use, If laser-induced plasma aerial images were made available, many useful applications such as augmented reality (AR), aerial user interfaces, volumetric images could be produced. This would be a highly effective display for the expression of three-dimensional information.”
Research has led the team to believe that the public will benefit tremendously from the future 3D representations rendered using the laser imaging technology. Holographic images have been around for years now in the real world, but now science has taken a step beyond what imagination thought possible and created holograms that can be touched by human hands.
Twitter plays the hero; Would it be crazy to say that if the Rwandan genocide happened today, lives might have been saved? Interviews and studies published in the last months suggest that the bloodshed of the 1994 slaughter, which killed up to 1 million people, might have been drastically reduced if the spread of social media happened merely one decade before.
Pictures showing the west exactly the harshness of the situation, would have put such a strong pressure on policy makers, that the UN would have never decided to withdraw its soldiers and politicians would have done whatever possible to gain more consensus.
Quite interestingly (and what led me to look into this topic more in depth) British former prime minister Gordon Brown, in a special interview to British leading newspaper The Guardian, went as far as stating that given the current spread of social media platforms “You cannot have Rwanda anymore”.
In the same field, a Canadian professor called Walter Dorn expressed a similar position on the matter, emphasising that “It is much more likely that the genocide could have been prevented, had there been social media at the time”.
Thinking of that terrible event in such ways it is hard to have a clear position, especially because re-imagining the course of historical events under different circumstances often turns out to be quite misleading.
In the case of Rwanda in particular, it is quite complicated to follow this path as politicians and the UN knew exactly what was going on and did not take the correct measures to save lives. Actually, the UN purposely withdrew its Blue Berets from Rwanda and the reasons behind this decision are still not clear.
The ongoing “internet revolution” is definitely more tumultuous than any previous social uprising. Social media websites have empowered individuals from all over the world to report breaking news, share stories and gather support for a cause. Social media platforms allow any individual to become a reporter by letting the world know what is happening in a certain place at a given time.
Something all of us are aware of, is that technological advancements have been a major feature of recent years, thanks to the spread and development of social media tools like Twitter around the world and the massive growth of mobile phone and smartphone usage. Social media usage has inevitably had effects on political foreign policy choices and in reporting faraway disasters.
These advances have brought a “democratisation of information”, meaning that specific areas of political competence are no longer the province of just a few elites. But how does this occur?
Foreign policy shaped by public opinion
Visual material such as videos and photos always help deliver a clear understanding of the gravity of the events. When thinking about the impact of social media in reporting faraway disasters, we should think about its ability to shape public opinion in a way that the political class feels forced to act. Gordon Brown himself said that “information would come out more quickly about what is actually going on and the public opinion would row to the point where action would need to be taken”.
We can associate therefore the so-called Twitter Revolution to the CNN-Effect of the 1990s. This refers to the influence of then-new 24h broadcast service on International Politics, which largely shaped public opinion and drove foreign policy in specific directions.
Kenya’s successful technology
When talking about this “social media revolution”, think of the recent Arab Spring, which started in Tunisia in 2011 and had strong domino effect throughout other North African countries also thanks to videos and pictures of protests spread through social media. The tole of social media was Important in allowing young protesters from different backgrounds to come together to fight for a common cause, and for those affected by the violence to spread videos and images all over the web in order to stimulate political action from developed countries.
In fact, the moment in which pictures showing thousands of children and families killed by chemical weapons in Syria in 2013 spread all over the web, generated massive discussions in the developed west which turned into immediate political debate on whether humanitarian intervention was necessary or not.
NGOs in line with digital developments
It is interesting also to look at the role of NGOs in the effectiveness of social media of reaching a wide number of people from across the world. The idea that they can create impact through the use of social media platforms by gathering support and aid has in fact led many organisations to increase the use of Facebook and Twitter among their information tools.
Annelie Abildgaard, head of communications at IBIS, one of Denmark’s leading development NGOs with programmes in different countries, emphasised how the use of social media by NGOs in Denmark is growing, by creating platforms for participating debates.
Referring to the potential of social media to shape public opinion and force the political elite to take action, Abildgaard emphasised how “creating awareness is crucial, by informing people and making them understand that they can act in a way that pushes the pressure on the political class to change and end poverty”.
“What I really like about social media” she added “is that it is way less elitist than radio and television as it holds a great democratic position. With social media, you don’t have to be someone to have a voice”.
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It’s official! On Friday, June 26, same-sex marriage became just marriage. It was legalized in all 50 states and we all became witnesses to this moment in history. This is something we will be able to tell our grandchildren one day: “I was standing right outside the Supreme Court when they announced that me and your grandfather could get married anywhere in the country.” Although it was a 5–4 decision and I would have preferred it be unanimous, progress is progress. Majority rules! I love democracy. There are a number of benefits of making same-sex marriage just marriage and here are three you should now:
1. Better Weddings
It is no secret that gays are more stylish, fashion forward, and more creative than the rest of the population. Don’t deny it, it’s true. Accept it and move on. Our innate creativity allows us to throw the best parties and events. And if you’re invited to a gay wedding, definitely get ready for the time of your life.
2. More Adoptions, Happier Kids
Adoptions are easier for couples that are married. Hopefully, more same-sex couples will start to adopt more children in need. When these children are adopted, they will be the happiest children on the planet. Same-sex couples understand diversity and practice acceptance, allowing children to be true to themselves. Adopted children of same-sex couples will also never have to want for anything. Gay couples plan for children. They make sure that their finances are intake and that they have enough time to take on the responsibility. Unlike parents who have children because they forget to take the pill, gay parents prepare their lives for a new member of the family.
3. Focus On a New Cause
Now that we have conquered same-sex marriage, it is time to move on to a new cause. There are so many problems and issues out in the world that need our attention. Let’s all put our focus on to making history and bringing big changes to our world in a new way.
Although, I only listed three benefits of making same-sex marriage legal, there are plenty more out there. I’m sure if you pay close attention you will start to see our society developing a better well-being. Not to mention that this will boost our economy with the increase in the amount of weddings and honeymoons. Same-sex marriage is now just marriage. No matter your sexual orientation, remember that Friday, June 26, was a win.
Longer secondary schooling reduces the risk of contracting HIV, particularly for girls. Harvard researchers found this trend after a study in Botswana.
According to the research an estimated 2.1 million individuals are newly infected with HIV every year. Education is known to be closely associated with health, but whether or not it actually protects against HIV infection has been a debated topic for decades.
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EDUCATION AND HIV RISK
The research used a policy reform in secondary schooling in Botswana as a ‘natural experiment’ to determine a casual effect for education on HIV incidence.
Botswana has one of the highest rates of HIV in the world, with nearly a quarter of the population aged 15 and above infected, according to Avert.
For each additional year of secondary school (grades 8-12), students appeared to decrease cumulative their risk of HIV infection. Individuals with an extra year of secondary schooling were 8% less likely to test positive for HIV about a decade later, when most of those exposed to the education system reform were in their mid 20s. Effects of education on the spread of the virus were particularly significant in women, whose HIV risk dropped by 12% with each added year of secondary school.
EDUCATION A COST-EFFECTIVE PREVENTIVE MEASURE
The first author of the study, Jan-Walter De Neve said the findings confirm that secondary schooling is a crucial structural determinant of HIV infection. Researchers also believe that education could actually be a cost-effective way to prevent HIV infections.
“Expanding the opportunities of young people through secondary schooling will not only have economic benefits but will also yield health benefits and should be a key priority for countries with generalised HIV epidemics.”
HIV IN BOTSWANA
Researchers examined data from about 7,000 people who participated in the Botswana AIDS Impact Surveys-national household surveys. The survey included HIV-testing to people who were at least 18 years old at the time of the surveys.
The study, published online in The Lancet Global Health, suggests that schooling should be considered alongside other interventions a part of a “multi-pronged ‘combination’ HIV prevention strategy.”
GUINNESS WORLD RECORD – CLOSING THE HIV GAP
Recently a HIV testing and counseling campaign in Botswana, South Africa and United Republic of Tanzania has set a new Guinness World Record by testing 4367 people over an 8-hour period.
“This is a true testament of the coordination and mobilization of local resources to achieve a magnificent result within such a short period of time. We hope to do more in actively involving civil society organizations and the community to achieve greater outcomes,” said Grace Muzila, National Coordinator of the Botswana National AIDS Coordinating Agency.
Keisha Eldred Mushi, one of the participants said that he decided to get tested so that he could be aware of his HIV status. “I have big dreams that I would like to achieve in life like everybody else and I want to stay healthy and prevent myself from HIV infection.’’
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Facebook is now allowing anyone to use Messenger, even if they’re not a part of the 1.44 billion users social network. This is Facebook’s latest step in making the messaging app an independent and self-sustaining product.
MESSENGER NOW JUST LIKE WHATSAPP
Just like for WhatsApp, to sign up to Messenger without a Facebook account, a name, phone number and a photo will be enough. Facebook wrote on the news section of its website that with Messenger, they’ve been dedicated to creating the best messaging experience possible for users.
With this update, more people will be able to enjoy the innumerable features available on the app, regardless of their social media preferences. The option, however, is currently available only in Canada, the United States, Venezuela and Peru.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Now, on Messenger’s initial screen, users will find a “Not on Facebook?” option. Subsequently, one can sign up, without necessarily being a member of the social network. The app will create a friend list based on phone book contacts for users to share photos, videos, enjoy group chats, and make voice and video calls with their network of friends.
COMPETITION ON THE RISE
Facebook already owns photo-sharing app Instagram and messaging app, WhatsApp which has now increasingly similar features to Messenger, such as sending photos, stickers and videos, group chats, voice and video calling.
But the competition is getting fierce. Facebook Messenger must increasingly play the game with other popular messaging services such as WeChat and SnapChat.
Consequently, the company wants to turn Messenger into one of its most vibrant and dynamic components.
The recent strategic move to make Messenger accessible to virtually everyone will help Facebook to make the app available to all new kind of users who will join a ‘global army’ of 700 million people who already use the chat service.
Facebook recently opened its Messenger doors to developers, as well as businesses, allowing them to use the app to handle customers. The company also unveiled a number of new features and objectives for its different apps at its annual meeting. Guess what? The spotlight is increasingly on Messenger.
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While a study published last week about the sixth mass extinction is still spreading across the internet, scientists and conservationists are urging the public to redirect their efforts from the study’s fear-mongering media hype towards a more productive focus on active conservation changes.
Is The Sixth Mass Extinction a Myth?
As social media continues to fan the flames of our impending self-destruction in the “sixth mass extinction,” the much-sensationalized study is drawing criticism from the scientific community. The study was co-published in Science Advances by Gerardo Ceballos and Paul Ehrlich.
Ehrlich’s credentials should not be discredited as he is well-known in the scientific community. However, he has also been dubbed the Doomsday Prophet Professors by some for his incredulous cataclysmic warnings of certain doom, all of which have been, so far, false.
The new study concludes that with current estimates, there has been “an exceptionally rapid loss of biodiversity” that proves the sixth mass extinction isn’t just coming, it’s already upon us.
Study Findings and Dissent from the Scientific Community
While the study isn’t inaccurate, scientists and researchers want the public to know there is a sixth mass extinction underway. However, this event, called the Holocene extinction has been happening for the past 12,000 years. Yes, we are in the sixth mass extinction. Yes, many thousands of species have been eliminated (between 20,000 to over hundreds of thousands). But no, it’s not the time to give up all hope and accept the cruel fate we have thrown upon ourselves.
The study pins humans as the primary cause for the extinction with the researchers estimating that the extinction count is at 477 species over the last 10,000 years. Ehrlich says this rate of species extinction is the highest ever in 65 million years.
Some researchers dissent from this finding, including mass extinction expert Seth Finnegan.
“This study doesn’t take the inferential approach. They are tallying up well-documented, well-observed extinctions of mammals,” says Finnegan, assistant professor in the integrative biology department at UC Berkeley.
Don’t Lose Hope! Alleviating the Sixth Mass Extinction Damage through Conservation Efforts
Many news sources have cited the study as evidence that we currently in the sixth mass extinction, which has started and is being increasingly exacerbated by human existence. With thousands of species being threatened within these reports of mass extinction, the public response has been one of generalized fear and hopelessness, which is precisely the opposite of what scientists are urging us to do with this recently highlighted information.
The study also concluded that it “is still possible through intensified conservation efforts” to slow down the rate at which the extinction is moving. Rather than rely on the fatalistic terms of Erhlich, who insisted we are “sawing off the limbs that we are sitting on,” we can apply the knowledge gleaned from the study to focus on how we can improve our situation as recommended by a world leader in present-day extinctions.
Dr. Stuart L. Pimm suggests that conservationists should not be doomsayers, but instead should spend time using the very innovations that garnered the fear-mongering results to prevent extinctions. In a study published last year, Pimm offers a different view of the current mass extinction that focuses on protecting nature and providing suggestions to diminish its effects.
Rather than accept our doomed fate as one of extinction, with concentrated, real conservation efforts, we can alleviate the effects of the sixth mass extinction, bringing hope to the world rather than casting a dim shadow on our lives.
