Nov 18, 2010

Oil Spill Vacuum Cleaner

Students of Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have invented a new machine "oil spill vacuum cleaner". The machine first blows bark or other absorbent onto the spill, the rotating brushes in the head of the vacuum cleaner thoroughly mixes the absorbent material and oil. Then the direction of the brushes is reversed in order to suck up the absorbent into the machine. This vacuum cleaner is four times more efficient then other conventional techniques used for oil spill clean up, the machines weighs about 10kg but scientists are working to reduce its weight to 5kilo.

After a successful invention the students founded a company, Kaliber Industrial Design and are looking for the investors to help market their invention MOSE- Mechanical Oil spill Sanitation Equipment.

Sep 30, 2010

Biodiversity: an overview

Biodiversity
The 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro defined biodiversity as “The variability among living organisms from all sources, including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part: this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems “. In simple words biodiversity means Variety of life forms or the combination of all life forms on Earth.
In 1980 Thomas Lovejoy first coined the term Biological diversity, while in 1986 the word biodiversity itself was coined by E.O. Wilson, in a report for the first American Forum on biological diversity. The staff of National Research Council (NRC) suggested the word biodiversity to E.O. Wilson, as more effective in terms of communication. 

Sep 27, 2010

Endangered Species

Species which are in danger of extinction in near future are known as endangered species.Some of the causes of endangerment include habitat distruction, climate change, overexploitation, pollution, disease and introduction of exotic species. For the conservation of these animals many international laws, acts and treaties are made, implemented and regulated by different world organisations. Protection of endangered animals is necessary for food web stability and their asteshtic beauty. Existence is the right of every living organism.

Sr. no.
Specie name
Range
1
Sumalia, Sudan and Ethiopia
2
North America
3
Eastern Asia
4
Turkey
5
Chile, peru, Argentina, Bolivia
6
Italy
7
Eurasia
8
Nepal, Southeast Asia, China, Indonesia
9
Southwestern and Central Asia
10
Madagascar
11
Babriusa
Indinesia
12
Bactrian Deer
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan
13
Baluchistan Bear
Iran and Pakistan
14
Banteng
Southeast Asia
15
Beaver
Mongolia
16
Black Rhinoceros
Eastern and Central Africa
17
Black-footed Cat
South Africa
18
Blue Bear
China
19
Blue Whale
Oceanic
20
Bontebok
South Africa
21
Broom's Pygmy-possum
Australia
22
Brown Bear
Palearctic
23
Bulmer’s Fruit Bat (flaying fox)
Papua New Guinea
24
Bumblebee Bat
Thailand
25
Cheetah
Africa to India
26
Chinchilla
Bolivia
27
Cohcito
Mexico
28
Common Chimpanzee
Africa
29
Desert bandicoot
Australia
30
Elephant
Africa, Asia
31
Fin Whale
Oceanic
32
Flat-headed Cat
Malaysia, Indonesia
33
Florida Cougar
United States
34
Gazelle
Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, Sudan, Egypt, Libya, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Arabian Peninsula,Somalia, Ethiopia, Western Sahara, Sinai, Palestine.
35
Giant anteater
Central and South America
36
Giant Armadillo
South America
37
Giant Panda
China
38
Giant Sable Antelope
Angola
39
Golden Lion Tamarin
Brazil
40
Gorilla
Africa
41
Gray Bat
Central and Southeastern U.S.
42
Hawaii Hoary Bat
U.S.
43
Iberian Lynx
Portugal and Spain
44
Indiana Bat
Eastern and Midwestern U.S.
45
Iriomote Cat
Japan
46
Koala
Australia
47
Komodo Dragon
Indonesia
48
Lesser Long-nosed Bat
Mexico and Central America
49
Lesser Panda
Southern Asia
50
Lesser Rabbit bandicoot
Australia
51
Little Mariana Fruit Bat
Western Pacific Ocean and U.S.
52
Lowland Anoa
Indonesia
53
Malabar Large-Spotted Civet
India
54
Manipur Brow-Antlered Deer
India
55
Marbled Cat
Nepal, Southeast Asia, Indonesia
56
Marine Otter
South America
57
Mexican Bobcat
Central Mexico
58
Mexican Grizzly Bear
Holarctic
59
Mountain Anoa
Indonesia
60
Mountain Zebra
South Africa
61
Muskox
Sweden, Siberia, Norway
62
Oncillia
North Argentina
63
Ozark Big-eared Bat
U.S.
64
Pakistan Sand Cat
Pakistan
65
Pig-footed bandicoot
Australia
66
Pink Fairy Armadillo
Argentina
67
Polar Bear
Arctic Ocean
68
Rabbit bandicoot
Australia
69
Red Wolf
North America, Southeastern U.S.
70
Reindeer
U.S. and Canada
71
Right Whale
Oceans
72
Rodrigues Fruit bat (flying fox)
Indian Ocean, Rodrigues island
73
Seladung/Gaur
Southeast Asia, South asia
74
Short-tailed Chinchilla
South America
75
Singapore Roundleaf Horseshoe Bat
Malaysia
76
Snow Leopard
Eastern Asia
77
Sumatran Tiger
Indonesia
78
Tapir
South America, Central America, Southeast Asia
79
Texas Ocelot
Mexico and United states
80
Vicuna
South America
81
Western barred bandicoot
Australia
82
Western Giant Eland
Western Africa
83
White Rhinoceros
Southern Africa
84
Wild Bactrian Camel
Mongolia, China, Central Asia
85
Wild Yak
India, China
86
Wood Bison
Canada
87
Woolly Lemur
Madagascar
88
Kabul Markhor
Afghanistan, Pakistan
89
UrialCyprus