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Field Listing :: Environment - current issues
This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry:
Acidification - the lowering of soil and water pH due to acid precipitation and deposition usually through precipitation; this process disrupts ecosystem nutrient flows and may kill freshwater fish and plants dependent on more neutral or alkaline conditions (see acid rain).
Acid rain - characterized as containing harmful levels of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide; acid rain is damaging and potentially deadly to the earth's fragile ecosystems; acidity is measured using the pH scale where 7 is neutral, values greater than 7 are considered alkaline, and values below 5.6 are considered acid precipitation; note - a pH of 2.4 (the acidity of vinegar) has been measured in rainfall in New England.
Aerosol - a collection of airborne particles dispersed in a gas, smoke, or fog.
Afforestation - converting a bare or agricultural space by planting trees and plants; reforestation involves replanting trees on areas that have been cut or destroyed by fire.
Asbestos - a naturally occurring soft fibrous mineral commonly used in fireproofing materials and considered to be highly carcinogenic in particulate form.
Biodiversity - also biological diversity; the relative number of species, diverse in form and function, at the genetic, organism, community, and ecosystem level; loss of biodiversity reduces an ecosystem's ability to recover from natural or man-induced disruption.
Bio-indicators - a plant or animal species whose presence, abundance, and health reveal the general condition of its habitat.
Biomass - the total weight or volume of living matter in a given area or volume.
Carbon cycle - the term used to describe the exchange of carbon (in various forms, e.g., as carbon dioxide) between the atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial biosphere, and geological deposits.
Catchments - assemblages used to capture and retain rainwater and runoff; an important water management technique in areas with limited freshwater resources, such as Gibraltar.
DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane) - a colorless, odorless insecticide that has toxic effects on most animals; the use of DDT was banned in the US in 1972.
Defoliants - chemicals which cause plants to lose their leaves artificially; often used in agricultural practices for weed control, and may have detrimental impacts on human and ecosystem health.
Deforestation - the destruction of vast areas of forest (e.g., unsustainable forestry practices, agricultural and range land clearing, and the over exploitation of wood products for use as fuel) without planting new growth.
Desertification - the spread of desert-like conditions in arid or semi-arid areas, due to overgrazing, loss of agriculturally productive soils, or climate change.
Dredging - the practice of deepening an existing waterway; also, a technique used for collecting bottom-dwelling marine organisms (e.g., shellfish) or harvesting coral, often causing significant destruction of reef and ocean-floor ecosystems.
Drift-net fishing - done with a net, miles in extent, that is generally anchored to a boat and left to float with the tide; often results in an over harvesting and waste of large populations of non-commercial marine species (by-catch) by its effect of "sweeping the ocean clean."
Ecosystems - ecological units comprised of complex communities of organisms and their specific environments.
Effluents - waste materials, such as smoke, sewage, or industrial waste which are released into the environment, subsequently polluting it.
Endangered species - a species that is threatened with extinction either by direct hunting or habitat destruction.
Freshwater - water with very low soluble mineral content; sources include lakes, streams, rivers, glaciers, and underground aquifers.
Greenhouse gas - a gas that "traps" infrared radiation in the lower atmosphere causing surface warming; water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, and ozone are the primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere.
Groundwater - water sources found below the surface of the earth often in naturally occurring reservoirs in permeable rock strata; the source for wells and natural springs.
Highlands Water Project - a series of dams constructed jointly by Lesotho and South Africa to redirect Lesotho's abundant water supply into a rapidly growing area in South Africa; while it is the largest infrastructure project in southern Africa, it is also the most costly and controversial; objections to the project include claims that it forces people from their homes, submerges farmlands, and squanders economic resources.
Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) - represents the 145,000 Inuits of Russia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland in international environmental issues; a General Assembly convenes every three years to determine the focus of the ICC; the most current concerns are long-range transport of pollutants, sustainable development, and climate change.
Metallurgical plants - industries which specialize in the science, technology, and processing of metals; these plants produce highly concentrated and toxic wastes which can contribute to pollution of ground water and air when not properly disposed.
Noxious substances - injurious, very harmful to living beings.
Overgrazing - the grazing of animals on plant material faster than it can naturally regrow leading to the permanent loss of plant cover, a common effect of too many animals grazing limited range land.
Ozone shield - a layer of the atmosphere composed of ozone gas (O3) that resides approximately 25 miles above the Earth's surface and absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation that can be harmful to living organisms.
Poaching - the illegal killing of animals or fish, a great concern with respect to endangered or threatened species.
Pollution - the contamination of a healthy environment by man-made waste.
Potable water - water that is drinkable, safe to be consumed.
Salination - the process through which fresh (drinkable) water becomes salt (undrinkable) water; hence, desalination is the reverse process; also involves the accumulation of salts in topsoil caused by evaporation of excessive irrigation water, a process that can eventually render soil incapable of supporting crops.
Siltation - occurs when water channels and reservoirs become clotted with silt and mud, a side effect of deforestation and soil erosion.
Slash-and-burn agriculture - a rotating cultivation technique in which trees are cut down and burned in order to clear land for temporary agriculture; the land is used until its productivity declines at which point a new plot is selected and the process repeats; this practice is sustainable while population levels are low and time is permitted for regrowth of natural vegetation; conversely, where these conditions do not exist, the practice can have disastrous consequences for the environment.
Soil degradation - damage to the land's productive capacity because of poor agricultural practices such as the excessive use of pesticides or fertilizers, soil compaction from heavy equipment, or erosion of topsoil, eventually resulting in reduced ability to produce agricultural products.
Soil erosion - the removal of soil by the action of water or wind, compounded by poor agricultural practices, deforestation, overgrazing, and desertification.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation - a portion of the electromagnetic energy emitted by the sun and naturally filtered in the upper atmosphere by the ozone layer; UV radiation can be harmful to living organisms and has been linked to increasing rates of skin cancer in humans.
Waterborne diseases - those in which bacteria survive in, and are transmitted through, water; always a serious threat in areas with an untreated water supply.
Environment - current issues
Afghanistan limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution
Akrotiri hunting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base
Albania deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents
Anguilla supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system
Antigua and Barbuda water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly
Arctic Ocean endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack
Armenia soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a seismically active zone
Aruba NA
Ashmore and Cartier Islands illegal killing of protected wildlife by traditional Indonesian fisherman, as well as fishing by non-traditional Indonesian vessels, are ongoing problems
Atlantic Ocean endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to international disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea
Bahamas, The coral reef decay; solid waste disposal
Bahrain desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources (groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs)
Bangladesh many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; waterborne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation
Barbados pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers
Belize deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal
Benin inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification
Bermuda sustainable development
Bhutan soil erosion; limited access to potable water
Botswana overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources
Bouvet Island NA
British Indian Ocean Territory NA
Brunei seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Burundi soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations
Cameroon waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing
Cape Verde soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; water shortages; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing
Cayman Islands no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments
Central African Republic tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation
Christmas Island loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining
Clipperton Island NA
Cocos (Keeling) Islands fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs
Comoros soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation
Congo, Republic of the air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation
Cook Islands NA
Coral Sea Islands no permanent fresh water resources
Cuba air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation
Dhekelia netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn
Djibouti inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land; desertification; endangered species
Dominica NA
Dominican Republic water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation
El Salvador deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes
Equatorial Guinea tap water is not potable; deforestation
Eritrea deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare
European Union NA
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the 1986 Chornobyl disaster
Faroe Islands NA
Fiji deforestation; soil erosion
French Polynesia NA
French Southern and Antarctic Lands introduction of foreign species on Iles Crozet has caused severe damage to the original ecosystem; overfishing of Patagonian toothfish around Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen
Gabon deforestation; poaching
Gambia, The deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent
Greece air pollution; water pollution
Greenland protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting
Grenada NA
Guam extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species
Guatemala deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution
Guernsey NA
Guinea deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage
Guinea-Bissau deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing
Guyana water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation
Heard Island and McDonald Islands NA
Holy See (Vatican City) NA
Honduras urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, with heavy metals
Hong Kong air and water pollution from rapid urbanization
Iceland water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate wastewater treatment
Indian Ocean endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea
Ireland water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff
Isle of Man waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution
Jamaica heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions
Jan Mayen NA
Jersey NA
Jordan limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Kiribati heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk
Korea, North water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
Korea, South air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing
Kuwait limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification
Kyrgyzstan water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices
Latvia Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household, and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010
Libya desertification; limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities
Liechtenstein NA
Lithuania contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases
Luxembourg air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland
Macau NA
Macedonia air pollution from metallurgical plants
Madagascar soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna unique to the island
Mali deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching
Malta limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination
Marshall Islands inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels
Mauritania overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river; locust infestation
Mauritius water pollution, degradation of coral reefs
Mayotte NA
Micronesia, Federated States of overfishing, climate change, pollution
Moldova heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
Monaco NA
Montserrat land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation
Namibia limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas
Nauru limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalination plant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainly by a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources
Navassa Island NA
Nepal deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions
Netherlands Antilles NA
New Caledonia erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires
New Zealand deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by invasive species
Nicaragua deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Niger overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction
Niue increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture
Norfolk Island NA
Northern Mariana Islands contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development
Oman rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; limited natural fresh water resources
Pacific Ocean endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and South China Sea
Pakistan water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; most of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification
Papua New Guinea rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought
Paracel Islands NA
Paraguay deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands
Pitcairn Islands deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)
Puerto Rico erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages
Qatar limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities
Russia air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination from toxic waste; urban solid waste management; abandoned stocks of obsolete pesticides
Saint Helena NA
Saint Kitts and Nevis NA
Saint Lucia deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
Saint Martin fresh water supply is dependent on desalinization of sea water
Saint Pierre and Miquelon recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
Samoa soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing
San Marino NA
Sao Tome and Principe deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion
Senegal wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing
Seychelles water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater
Singapore industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Slovakia air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests
Solomon Islands deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands NA
Southern Ocean increased solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from the Antarctic ozone hole in recent years, reducing marine primary productivity (phytoplankton) by as much as 15% and damaging the DNA of some fish; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in recent years, especially the landing of an estimated five to six times more Patagonian toothfish than the regulated fishery, which is likely to affect the sustainability of the stock; large amount of incidental mortality of seabirds resulting from long-line fishing for toothfish
note: the now-protected fur seal population is making a strong comeback after severe overexploitation in the 18th and 19th centuries
Spratly Islands NA
Svalbard NA
Tajikistan inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides
Tanzania soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory
Timor-Leste widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion
Tokelau limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand
Trinidad and Tobago water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion
Tunisia toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
Turks and Caicos Islands limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater
Uganda draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; widespread poaching
United Arab Emirates lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll: no natural fresh water resources
Kingman Reef: none
Midway Islands and Palmyra Atoll: NA
Uruguay water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal
Uzbekistan shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including DDT
Vanuatu most of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; deforestation
Virgin Islands lack of natural freshwater resources
Wake Island NA
Wallis and Futuna deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources
West Bank adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment
Western Sahara sparse water and lack of arable land
Yemen limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
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Early eocrinoids and brittle stars

Early eocrinoids and brittle starsEarly eocrinoids and brittle stars

NPL 14795
Found in the Erfoud region of Morocco

This intriguing limestone slab was extracted from Middle-Upper Ordovician (about 450 million years old) rocks in the Anti-Atlas part of the Atlas Mountains of Morocco. This slab was once part of an ancient sea floor that was uplifted and incorporated into mountains about 80 million years ago, long after the sea floor turned into thick layers of rock.

The fossils preserved in this slab include early echinoderms (spiny-skinned marine invertebrate animals) known as eocrinoids and ophiuroids (brittle stars). The brittle stars are clearly recognizable, with their five prehensile arms and compact central body. They look very similar to living species of brittle stars, most of which live in reef, shallow near shore and deeper water environments, and feed on small organisms suspended in the water.

Eocrinoids are more unusual, with long thin tapering stems and clusters of arm-like appendages at the opposite end. These animals are probably the eocrinoid Ascocystites, a suspension feeder that would have extracted food directly from the water column, filtering out micro-organisms with the help of those appendages.

Despite the name, eocrinoids were unrelated to crinoids (sea lilies) and differ in several morphological features from ancient and modern crinoids. However, like many fossil crinoids, their elongated stem allowed for attachment to hard substrates and the possibility of raising themselves higher off the sea floor.

There appear to be several larger individuals along with a number of much smaller ones. Those smaller animals may be juveniles of the larger form or a different species. Do you notice how the smaller individuals often seem to be in close contact with the brittle stars? We are left to wonder whether the brittle stars were feeding on the smaller eocrinoids.


Media centre

Electromagnetic fields and public health: mobile phones

Fact sheet N°193
Reviewed October 2014

Key facts

  • Mobile phone use is ubiquitous with an estimated 6.9 billion subscriptions globally.
  • The electromagnetic fields produced by mobile phones are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
  • Studies are ongoing to more fully assess potential long-term effects of mobile phone use.
  • WHO will conduct a formal risk assessment of all studied health outcomes from radiofrequency fields exposure by 2016.

Mobile or cellular phones are now an integral part of modern telecommunications. In many countries, over half the population use mobile phones and the market is growing rapidly. In 2014, there is an estimated 6.9 billion subscriptions globally. In some parts of the world, mobile phones are the most reliable or the only phones available.

Given the large number of mobile phone users, it is important to investigate, understand and monitor any potential public health impact.

Exposure levels

In addition to using "hands-free" devices, which keep mobile phones away from the head and body during phone calls, exposure is also reduced by limiting the number and length of calls. Using the phone in areas of good reception also decreases exposure as it allows the phone to transmit at reduced power. The use of commercial devices for reducing radiofrequency field exposure has not been shown to be effective.

Mobile phones are often prohibited in hospitals and on airplanes, as the radiofrequency signals may interfere with certain electro-medical devices and navigation systems.

Are there any health effects?

Short-term effects

Tissue heating is the principal mechanism of interaction between radiofrequency energy and the human body. At the frequencies used by mobile phones, most of the energy is absorbed by the skin and other superficial tissues, resulting in negligible temperature rise in the brain or any other organs of the body.

A number of studies have investigated the effects of radiofrequency fields on brain electrical activity, cognitive function, sleep, heart rate and blood pressure in volunteers. To date, research does not suggest any consistent evidence of adverse health effects from exposure to radiofrequency fields at levels below those that cause tissue heating. Further, research has not been able to provide support for a causal relationship between exposure to electromagnetic fields and self-reported symptoms, or “electromagnetic hypersensitivity”.

Long-term effects

Epidemiological research examining potential long-term risks from radiofrequency exposure has mostly looked for an association between brain tumours and mobile phone use. However, because many cancers are not detectable until many years after the interactions that led to the tumour, and since mobile phones were not widely used until the early 1990s, epidemiological studies at present can only assess those cancers that become evident within shorter time periods. However, results of animal studies consistently show no increased cancer risk for long-term exposure to radiofrequency fields.

The international pooled analysis of data gathered from 13 participating countries found no increased risk of glioma or meningioma with mobile phone use of more than 10 years. There are some indications of an increased risk of glioma for those who reported the highest 10% of cumulative hours of cell phone use, although there was no consistent trend of increasing risk with greater duration of use. The researchers concluded that biases and errors limit the strength of these conclusions and prevent a causal interpretation.

Based largely on these data, IARC has classified radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B), a category used when a causal association is considered credible, but when chance, bias or confounding cannot be ruled out with reasonable confidence.

While an increased risk of brain tumors is not established, the increasing use of mobile phones and the lack of data for mobile phone use over time periods longer than 15 years warrant further research of mobile phone use and brain cancer risk. In particular, with the recent popularity of mobile phone use among younger people, and therefore a potentially longer lifetime of exposure, WHO has promoted further research on this group. Several studies investigating potential health effects in children and adolescents are underway.

Exposure limit guidelines

Radiofrequency exposure limits for mobile phone users are given in terms of Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) – the rate of radiofrequency energy absorption per unit mass of the body. Currently, two international bodies 1, 2 have developed exposure guidelines for workers and for the general public, except patients undergoing medical diagnosis or treatment. These guidelines are based on a detailed assessment of the available scientific evidence.

WHO'S response

In response to public and governmental concern, WHO established the International Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Project in 1996 to assess the scientific evidence of possible adverse health effects from electromagnetic fields. WHO will conduct a formal risk assessment of all studied health outcomes from radiofrequency fields exposure by 2016. In addition, and as noted above, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a WHO specialized agency, has reviewed the carcinogenic potential of radiofrequency fields, as from mobile phones in May 2011.

WHO also identifies and promotes research priorities for radiofrequency fields and health to fill gaps in knowledge through its research agendas.

WHO develops public information materials and promotes dialogue among scientists, governments, industry and the public to raise the level of understanding about potential adverse health risks of mobile phones.

1 International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). Statement on the "Guidelines for limiting exposure to time-varying electric, magnetic and electromagetic fields (up to 300 GHz)", 2009.

2 Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). IEEE standard for safety levels with respect to human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields, 3 kHz to 300 GHz, IEEE Std C95.1, 2005.

For more information contact:

WHO Media centre
Telephone: +41 22 791 2222


Tropical Forests

Magical Rainforests

For biologists, tropical rainforests are some of the richest, most exciting areas on earth! They are home to gigantic trees, colourful birds, millions of brightly hued insects, and a variety of fascinating mammals. There are 3 main regions of tropical rainforest: in Central and South America, in West and Central Africa, and in Southeast Asia.
The Amazon Basin forest is the largest, covering 6 million sq km.

Although rainforests are such important centres of biodiversity, they cover only about 6% of the Earth's land surface, less than half the area they covered not so very long ago.

What makes a tropical forest?
Tropical rainforests are very wet places, receiving heavy rainfall either seasonally or throughout the year. They are close to the equator and get lots of sunlight and warmth. Temperatures are uniformly high - between 20 and 35°C. They usually receive more than 200 cm rainfall per year.

Rainforest trees are quite different from trees of the temperate forests. In the rainforest, trees grow to gigantic size, supported by strong, strut-like buttresses at the base of the trunk that help to stabilize them in the shallow forest soils. Huge creepers twine themselves around the trunks of trees.

Some are parasites, but others merely use the trees for support. Many rainforest trees have dark green, often leathery, leaves which taper sharply so that water drains quickly from the surface. Flowers like orchids and bromeliads (members of the pineapple family) grow directly on trunks and larger branches - they are called epiphytes.

Birds and butterflies insects easily reach these flowers and act as pollinators. Where rain falls all year round, the forests are evergreen - the trees do not lose their leaves, or do so at different times.

A mature lowland tropical forest consists of several layers. The top layer of vegetation consists of scattered tall trees which tower above a closed canopy layer formed by the crowns of other trees. The canopy is the most exciting part of the rainforest, it is here that most of the flowering and fruiting of the trees takes place, attracting a variety of spectacular creatures.

Below the canopy is a third layer, formed by smaller trees whose crowns do not meet. Below this is a layer is composed of woody and herbaceous shrubs. Finally, there is the ground layer, which receives very little sunlight.
Tropical forests of the world. / ©: WWF
Tropical forests of the world.
A world of abundance...
Tropical rainforests have more kinds of trees than any other forests in the world. The richest in plant species are Amazon forests, but in general all tropical forests have an incredible variety of trees.

A hectare of Malaysian rainforest may contain 180 kinds of trees (compare this to a temperate forest where a hectare might have just 10 species of tree). The tropical forests of West and Central Africa have the fewest species of trees, but even here the diversity is high compared to a temperate forest.

Some rainforest trees like mahoganies, teaks, rosewoods and okoumes provide valuable timber, while other rainforest products are nuts, fruits, rubber and rattans.
Conservation concern
Rainforests are perhaps the most endangered habitat on earth. Each year, some 140,000 sq km of rainforests are destroyed. Rainforests are being felled for timber by logging companies and cleared by people for farming. The most endangered rainforests are those in West Africa, where human populations are doubling every 20 years, and in Central America and South-East Asia.

Although large areas of rainforest remain in Central Africa and South America, they, too, are disappearing at an alarming rate. Time is short if we are to save the remaining rainforests for future genrations.

WWF is committed to conserving the world's rainforests, not only for the incredible wealth of plants and animals that live in them, but for the benefit of the indigenous peoples who live in them.

WWF has been working to save rainforests for more than 35 years. Today, work continues in key areas like Peru's Manu Biosphere Reserve and the Korup National Park in Cameroon. Assisting tropical countries to save their rainforests - through creating protected areas and exploring ways of using forests wisely - is a priority for WWF.
Birds of the rainforest. / ©: WWF
Birds of the rainforest.

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Consumers Faced with Halted Radio Streams Find Alternatives

Many consumers who listen to radio station rebroadcasts on the Internet have encountered streams that have been halted due to disputes over rights fees, but have easily found other sources of streaming audio that deliver similar programming, according to a new study by Arbitron and Coleman, a media research firm specializing in music, trends and branding.

This new study - Broadband Revolution 2: The Media World of Speedies - examines the media usage characteristics of "Speedies" - consumers who have broadband Internet access at home, work or school. Nearly 70% of speedies who have used streaming audio are aware disputes over rights fees that have caused some sources of audio on the Internet to stop streaming. One-third have encountered radio station websites that have ceased streaming due to these disputes. More than two-thirds (68%) of those who have encountered halted audio streams were able to find other sources of similar-sounding audio programming online.

"Traditional radio stations that have temporarily discontinued their rebroadcast on the Web risk losing their webcast audiences to Internet-only webcasters," said Bill Rose, general manager and VP of Arbitron Webcast Services. "Our research indicates that the rapidly growing number of those with super fast Internet access, whom we call "Speedies," will find alternative sources of audio if they can't find their favorite station online."

Another key finding of the new study also shows that more than half (59%) of Speedies report tuning to the same sources of audio over and over again, while only less than a quarter (24%) say they seek new sources of audio when they tune in online.

Coleman VP Warren Kurtzman said, "Like consumers who listen to over-the-air radio, online listeners say they spend most of their time with one or two sources of audio when they tune in. Therefore, if they can't find the audio they want it will far more difficult to win these listeners back after they leave."

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Eric Hill

Eric Hill (1927-2014) was born in North London and lived there for many years. He started his artistic career as an art studio messenger and from there went on to become a cartoonist and eventually an art director at a leading advertising agency. In 1978 Eric made up a story about a small puppy to read to his son at bedtime and Spot was born. The success of his first bestselling lift-the-flap classic Where's Spot? in 1980 convinced him to become a full-time author, and his Spot books have been enjoyed by children around the world ever since. In 2008 he was awarded an OBE for services to children's literacy.


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The Metamorphosis

The Metamorphosis

by Franz Kafka

Analysis: Booker's Seven Basic Plots Analysis

Christopher Booker is a scholar who wrote that every story falls into one of seven basic plot structures: Overcoming the Monster, Rags to Riches, the Quest, Voyage and Return, Comedy, Tragedy, and Rebirth. Shmoop explores which of these structures fits this story like Cinderella’s slipper.

Plot Type : Tragedy

Anticipation Stage

Gregor wakes up to discover he's a bug.

You're probably glancing at the rest of the plot analysis thinking that maybe Kafka's skipped ahead a couple of stages. Being a disgusting insect could very well qualify for the "Frustration," "Nightmare," or even "Destruction or Death Wish Stage," depending on how much you hate bugs. But no, Kafka's story begins with the main character suffering a horrendously tragic fate. Let the hijinks begin.

Dream Stage

Gregor grows accustomed to some aspects of his new body, while he finds other aspects perplexing or disgusting.

Despite Gregor's intolerable situation, he actually seems to enjoy exploring his new body's capabilities sometimes. Who wouldn't enjoy defying gravity and clambering all around the room? He even feels a light euphoria as he hangs upside down from the ceiling.

Frustration Stage

Gregor's efforts to reach out to his family, particularly his sister, Grete, are thwarted.

Even though Gregor can find some positive aspects to his transformation, his family can't accept any of it—they barely tolerate him. Grete, for example, no longer takes care of his room with the same considerate attention that she did in the beginning. Gregor grows increasingly shabby and famished, and his room more cluttered with refuse, as the story goes on.

Nightmare Stage

Gregor attempts to communicate with his sister, but instead sets off a series of reactions that end with the whole family agreeing that they must be rid of him.

Gregor's situation is v aggravated by the fact that his family refuses to believe that he can understand them or that he's attempting to communicate with them through non-verbal ways. His attempt to reach out to his sister during her violin recital only confirms the family's worst fears about what he's become—a despicable vermin.

Destruction or Death Wish Stage

Gregor dies.

For Gregor, his family's rejection of him is so absolute that it arguably takes away his will to live. Grete's assertion that Gregor is no longer Gregor, but just a nameless bug that must be eliminated just like any other bug, is a denial of Gregor's existence that Gregor finds so compelling that he agrees with her and literally ceases to exist.

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Types of Complaints National Origin

National Origin

Nationality discrimination involves treating people unfavorably because they were born or their family originated from a particular country or part of the world, because of their ethnicity or accent, or because they appear to be of a certain ethnic background (even if they are not).

For more information:


Stormy Weather, 1943
Stormy Weather, 1943
Directed by Andrew Stone
35 mm black-and-white film
78 minutes
Twentieth Century Fox

This all-black musical about the relationship between an aspiring dancer (Bill Robinson) and a popular singer (Lena Horne) serves as showcase for renowned African American entertainers of the mid-twentieth century. Although pleasurable to watch for its music, costumes, and extravagant dance numbers, Stormy Weather avoids the issues of segregation and prejudice that would have realistically touched the lives of its characters. In the face of a segregated military in World War II—and the fight for freedom abroad while liberty was still in short supply for blacks at home—the film begins with Robinson, portraying an American soldier, triumphantly marching down Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue at the close of World War I. The scene ignores an abiding reality: black soldiers back from the war encountered unequivocal racism and segregation at all levels of society. Indeed, their return precipitated the bloody summer of 1919, when race riots erupted across the country; the positive reception of black soldiers in Europe was not repeated upon their arrival home.

Nevertheless, Stormy Weather—essentially a musical revue with the thinnest of plots—provided African American audiences with a national platform for extraordinary black entertainers. Its star, Lena Horne, is a vision of loveliness, modesty, and considerable talent. The film’s array of dance routines is a mini-genealogy of tap. Aside from Robinson, it features the Nicholas Brothers, stars in Hollywood and at New York City’s Cotton Club since the 1930s, as well as the wonderful music of Cab Calloway and his band.

This was the last of the great Depression-era Hollywood black musicals. The genre would reemerge in the 1950s in the form of more serious and socially charged movies such as Carmen Jones and Porgy and Bess, both starring Dorothy Dandridge—Hollywood’s Lena Horne of the 1950s—as the romantic lead.

Michele Wallace


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Word of the Day!

complementary colors

Colors that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel, such as red and green, blue and orange, and violet and yellow. When complements are mixed together they form the neutral colors of brown or gray. Note that this term is spelled differently than the word "complimentary," which means gift.

The study and use of the significance of symbols, people, buildings, and subjects in the meaning of art. Dutch painters have traditionally filled their paintings with religious iconography.

Example: Hugo van der Goes' The Adoration of the Shepherds, c. 1476

igneous rock

Rock formed by the cooling and solidifying of the subterranean molten mass of the earth. Examples of igneous rocks include: basalt, diorite, dolerite, granite, granodiorite, obsidian, and porphyry.

See Also:  Mohs Scale of Hardness (or Mohs Scale)stone

Often found in the initial letter of medieval manuscripts, illumination is decoration in gouache, tempera, and golden paints.

Example: Book of Kells, 800

A design or picture in a book, magazine or other print or electronic medium that explains the text or shows what happens in a story.

A picture, idea, or impression of a person, thing, or idea; or a mental picture of a person, thing, or idea. The word imagery refers to a group or body of related images.

A thick or lumpy application of paint or deep brush marks, as distinguished from a flat, smooth paint surface. May also refer to a thick application of pastel. (pr. im-poss'toh)

Example: Rembrandt's Self-Portrait, c. 1659

Abbreviation for inch.

A unit of distance measurement equal to 1/12 of a foot, or 1/36 of a yard. To convert inches into centimeters, multiply them by 2.54. To convert square inches into square centimeters, multiply them by 6.4516. To convert cubic inches into cubic centimeters, multiply them by 16.3871. Abbreviated in. or with a " (feet abbreviated as either ft. or with a ').

Cutting into a surface, typically in metal, stone, or pottery, often used for text and decoration.

India ink (or Indian ink)

The name in the United States for black ink, the pigment made from carbon-- traditionally lampblack (derived from non-electric lamps). This ink is also used in solid forms, mixed with a binding agent and molded into cakes or sticks. Such solid forms are often called Chinese ink, Japanese ink, or sumi ink.

indirect carving

A carving technique in which a sculpture is made by copying the proportions of a small scale model.

indirect casting

Lost-wax metal casting in which the model that is "lost" is not the original model, but a wax cast from a piece mold taken from the original model. This second wax model is sometimes called an intermodel. If the intermodel is hollow, a core is pored into it. The ancient Greeks developed this method of casting. Indirect casting has numerous advantages because it: 1.ensures an even wall of wax. 2. ensures an even wall of metal. 3. enables repairs to be made if part of the cast is defective. 4. enables another version to be made if the whole cast fails. 5. permits the multiple edition of a sculpture, because the original model is preserved.

Sluggish in motion, or unable to move or act at all. In chemistry, not readily reactive with other elements; thus forming few compounds.

to apply pigment, stain or glaze to an unglazed or glazed surface so that in subsequent firings the color melt into, and combines with, the glaze layer.

Liquid or paste media containing pigment(s) and used for writing, pen and brush drawing, and printing. Writing inks, even blacks, are rarely sufficiently permanent to be used for art purposes. Black drawing ink, known as India ink in the United States, is especially made for use in permanent works. When it dries it is water resistant, enabling it to be gone over with a wash or watercolor. Also available is a water-soluble drawing ink; though otherwise permanent, it is capable of being washed away with water, and may be preferred to water-resistant ink for certain work. Chinese ink is similar to India ink, although various minor ingredients are added to enhance its brilliancy, range of tone, and working qualities. Most colored drawing inks are not permanent; chose made with permanent pigments are usually labeled with names of pigment ingredients rather than the names of hues. Printing ink is actually more closely related to paints than to the pen and brush inks.

An image formed by dripping ink onto a piece of paper, and then folding the paper in half. In psychology, inkblots have been used in the Rorschach test. Painted versions of inkblots are called blotto paintings.

Making an image by setting thin pieces of a material precisely into a depressed ground. Examples of materials typically inlaid are wood, metal, stone, shell, glass, ivory and tile. Also, a piece of work made this way.

To mark as with letters or numbers, often a short label, as an artist might formally mark his name, a title, the year, a dedication, etc.

Art made for a specific space, exploiting certain qualities of that space, more often indoors than out. The term became widely used in the 1970s and 1980s, largely replacing the term "site-specific," which means the same thing. Installations may be temporary or permanent, but most will be known to posterity through documentation. As a consequence, one aspect of installations is often the difficulty with which they can be commoditized.

Example: Judy Chicago's The Dinner Party, 1979

The collective term for several graphic processes in which prints are made from ink trapped in the grooves in an incised metal plate. Etchings and engravings are the most typical examples.

Inlay work, primarily in wood and sometimes in mother-of-pearl, ivory, bone, marble, etc. This may result in either pattern or picture. Taken from the Italian "lavoro di intarsia." (pr. in-tahr'see-uh)

See Also:  veneer

intermediate colors

Also known as tertiary colors, they are produced by mixing unequal amounts of two primary colors. For example, adding more red to the combination of red and yellow will produce the intermediate color of red-orange. Intermediate colors are located between the primary and secondary colors on a color wheel. Other intermediate colors are orange-yellow, yellow-green, green-blue, blue-violet, and violet-red (also known as purple)-- all colors in the spectrum except violet-red-- a mixture of the two colors at the extremes of the visible spectrum.

See indirect casting.

A description for sculpture which has been realized in three-dimensions. Sculpture which is in the round should be viewed from all angles and sides, as there is no true front.

Example: Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux's Ugolino and His Children, 1865-1867

One of the three main architectural orders which describes the style of the capital of a column. The Ionic order is distinguished by its scrolled capital.

Example: Andrea Palladio's Villa Rotunda, c. 1566-1570

iris print

A recently developed printing process using advanced technology to create a lustrous, continuous-tone digital print that meets or exceeds the quality of traditional lithography and screen printing. Organic, water-based inks in four colors are applied to the paper's surface from tiny jets one tenth the diameter of a human hair.

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by Winsor & Newton

6 in. x 8 in.

Suitable for all Water Colors

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I like this product very much and have been using it for year's to make all kinds of window clings. I just wish the Plaid company would bring back more of the shimmers and sparkle type paints. However,I have found you can add your own sparkle with glitter..I use many different types of glitters and my window clings are beautiful.
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What are volcanoes?

Quatr.us answers questions: an online encyclopedia of history and science

What are Volcanoes?

Mount St. Helens
Mount St. Helens volcano erupting

Volcanoes are places where the plates of the Earth's surface have cracks in them, so that the very hot melted rocks that are under the tectonic plates bubble up to the surface. The hot melted rocks are called magma. The magma is under a lot of pressure inside the Earth's plates, so when it gets a chance to let off some of that pressure by shooting out into the air, it does just that. There are volcanoes on other planets, too.

Probably in the early years just after the planet Earth formed, about four and a half billion years ago, there were a lot more volcanoes than there are now, and they erupted more frequently. It may be that the heat from these volcanoes was what warmed up the water in the oceans so that it melted and got warm enough to make proteins into proteinoids, part of the beginning of life on Earth. Volcanoes also may be the thing that created land, by shooting up rocks into the ocean that covered the whole Earth, and then piling those rocks up, eruption after eruption, until the tops of the piles stuck out of the water and became islands.

While volcanoes are very dangerous to people when they are erupting, after the eruption volcanoes still bring many useful things to plants and animals. The magma that shoots out of the volcanoes cools into different kinds of igneous and metamorphic rocks like lava, quartz, pumice, granite, and basalt, and when these rocks wear down and become dirt it is very rich dirt that is good for growing plants. The obsidian, or volcanic glass, made good sharp tools for Neolithic farmers, and even today doctors still use obsidian for knives for operations.

Learn by doing - different kinds of rocks
More about earthquakes

Bibliography and further reading about volcanoes:

More about igneous rocks
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Copyright 2012-2015 Karen Carr, Portland State University. This page last updated August 2015.


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Whenever weather permits, coffee is sun dried on the concrete patios. If there are storms in the area, it is collected and put into the mechanical dryers. Patio dry is always preferred (by me at least) because it makes the green coffee more durable over time. But slow, careful mechanical drying is definitely preferale to soaking coffee in a rainstorm! Raining on parchment coffee ruins it. Here, the parchment coffee (pergamino) is collected and covered at the end of the day. Then it is run over by the forklift ... okay, that's a joke.


Hey Guys, I saw the google map with places to play in the South Bay, and East bay, but are there any (e.g. high school) open gyms or badminton places cheap or free, in the City proper? (San Francisco)?

Sadly I have no access to a vehicle, and paying public transit to get to Bintang or BayBadminton would be pricey and take a long time, only to pay more to actually play, then pay and wait to get home when finished

Intermediate level, been playing twice weekly for about 5 months. Thanks in advance!


TV Shows

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Strawberry Shortcake(1980 - 1980)
The show might have only lasted 6 episodes, but Strawberry Shortcake's empire continues to this day. Strawberry was originally conceived by Hallmark in 1980 as a greeting card character. Soon the village of Strawberryland grew lots of friends including Raspberry Tart, Apple Dumpling, Blueberry Muffi...
Strange World(1999 - 2002)
Strange Luck(1995 - 1996)
A photographer- appropriately named Chance- suffers from strange luck and good and bad events occur to him on a daily basis. Starring D.B. Sweeney
Storytime(1992 - 1997)
A children's reading television series that aired on PBS during the 90s. The show was hosted by a puppet named Kino, and co-hosted by two women named Lucy and Mara. This educational series also featured celebrity guest stars that would read to children in the audience and to viewers at home.
Storybook Squares(1969 - 1977)
The Hollywood Squares set was heavily redecorated into a storybook wonderland, with two children sitting in the contestant seats. The amount screens remained blank; the winner of each round won a prize, like a small RCA color TV or even a small sailboat. If the show ran out of time during the last...
Stop Susan Williams(1979 - 1979)
Stoppit and Tidyup(1988 - 1992)
Stoppit and Tidyup was a kids programme narrated by Terry Wogan. The main characters all had names that kids would hear their parents say, e.g. Stoppit, Tidyup, Hurryup, Notnow, Calmdown, Takecare, Eatyourgreens... and they all lived in the land of Do-As-Your-Told.
Stone Protectors(1993 - 1993)
Stone Protectors was a multi-media entertainment property consisting primarily of an action figure line and animated series. The series also had a video game on the Super Nintendo and a Beta on the SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis. Only lasted 13 episodes.
Stingray(1985 - 1987)
Ray is a shadowy character with a mysterious 'secret agent' past. People in trouble often come to him for help, since he has a lot of important and powerful contacts. He refuses to be paid for his services; however, those seeking his assistance must promise him a favor. Some time in the future, Ray...
Stick Stickly(1996 - 1998)
For years, one of Nickelodeon's most popular characters was Stick Stickly. He was the popsicle stick puppet host of Nickelodeon's "Nick in the Afternoon" summer programming block which aired weekdays from 3-5pm. Sadly, he is no longer used on Nickelodeon.
Quote O' Matic


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The WorldWide Telescope

WWT is a powerful virtual telescope that helps students visualise and understand our vast cosmos. It inspires learners to explore, to ask questions, and to practice the scientific skills that astronomers use to build our understanding of objects that are literally across the universe.

Young children can learn about the causes of night and day by manipulating the real-time model of Earth in our solar system. Middle school children can use it to understand seasons and Moon phases, as well as distance scales in the universe. High school students can learn how astronomers have pieced together the life cycle of stars by observing breathtaking nebulae, white dwarfs, and red giants. Tertiary students can explore important maps made by astronomers that help us to understand how gravity influences the shapes and structures we see in the universe. Every student can use it to tell and share their own stories of what they have learned about astronomy and space

Where can I find out how to use it?

There’s a WorldWide Telescope Ambassadors Program to enrich interactive learning. It’s an outreach initiative run by researchers at Harvard University, WGBH, and Microsoft Research. Ambassadors are astrophysically-literate volunteers who are trained to be experts in using WWT as teaching tool. Ambassadors and learners alike use WorldWide telescope to create dynamic, interactive Tours of the Universe, which are shared in schools, public venues, and online. Ambassador-created Tours are being made freely available and will ultimately form a comprehensive learning resource for Astronomy and Astrophysics. You can learn more at

The other place to look is the Education page on the WorldWide Telescope website. Amongst other things, there is also a set of resources for classroom use, developed in the form of curriculum guides, lesson plans and additional resources to assist teachers and students launching into an exploration of the universe through the lens of the WorldWide Telescope. Since it uses the most current data taken from celestial imaging, users can easily pan and zoom into specific areas of outer space for fine tuned investigations. Images are taken from the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as numerous telescopes here on Earth.

    Want to go further in using it for teaching - you need a dome!

    imageThere is a do-it-yourself option for creating a planetarium for about a thousand dollars, using supplies from local office and hardware stores and a special first surface spherical mirror.

    Many students never have a chance to go to a bricks and mortar planetarium to learn astronomy, so the team created a virtual planetarium with WorldWide Telescope. However, outer space is still best experienced in an immersive environment like a dome, so they have published a set of plans that enable schools to build their own small planetarium that will allow 15-30 students at a time to experience a high-quality digital projection of space. The investment is less than $1,000 in building materials, plus a laptop and projector, along with some household tools and ‘sweat equity’ (ie there’s work involved!).

    One of the principal benefits of having an on-site planetarium is that WorldWide Telescope will allow students to create their own shows to share what they have learned with the rest of the school- completing the learning cycle. You can download the instructions to build your own here.

    Where do I get WorldWide Telescope from?

    WorldWide Telescope is available as a programme to download, or a web-based virtual telescope.
    You can get both versions at the WorldWide Telescope website


learn more… | top users | synonyms (1)

In Pandante, why is the fine for a failed challenge against a player telling the truth multiplied by the total number of players?

From the rules of Pandante, about resolving the winner of a gambit: When you’re challenged as lying about your poker hand, your two options are: a) keep your hand secret, fold, and pay each ...


In the framework of minor actinide bearing blanket fuel fabrication, the sintering of uranium/americium (U0.85Am0.15O2 ± δ) homogeneous mixed-oxide pellets was studied. After the characterization of the U0.85Am0.15O2 ± δ starting powder (granulometry, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy), its densification under a reducing atmosphere was monitored through dilatometric measurements and compared to a similar experiment with UO2+δ. During the heating phase, up to 2173 K, the U0.85Am0.15O2 ± δ pellet shrinks from 70 to 95%TD (theoretical density). Neck formation and growth initiate the densification of this pellet at 1200 K. Two subsequent mechanisms were also evidenced, and a maximum shrinkage rate was observed between 2000 and 2100 K, suggesting an optimal sintering temperature within this range. The associated activation energy (Q) of sintering process was also determined using three different models which yield values noticeably higher than those reported or measured for UO2.