Category Environtal Studies

When did Darwin publish The Origin of the Species?

Upon his return from the voyage, Darwin turned over all the specimens he had brought back to cataloguing experts in Cambridge and London. In South America he had found fossils of extinct armadillos that were similar but not identical to the living animals he had seen. On November 24, 1859 Darwin published his theories in a book called The Origin of the Species. It caused a great sensation, but it was some time before it was accepted by the scientific world. The first edition sold out immediately and by 1872 the work had run through six editions. It became generally accepted that evolution took place along the lines that Darwin suggested. His theory on evolution of species solved many puzzles.

Fact File:

We can see how evolution has changed living things by examining fossils. Fossils preserve the body parts of living creatures from long ago so that we can see how they have changed over millions of years.

 

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When did Darwin sail to the Galapagos Islands?

In the year 1831 Charles Darwin (1809-1882) set out on an exploratory voyage in the ship Beagle, heading for South America. The voyage lasted five years and during this time Darwin kept careful notes of everything he saw, in particular the strange animal life on the Galapagos Islands, off the western coast of Ecuador. He was disturbed by the fact that the birds and tortoises of the Galapagos Islands tended to resemble species found on the nearby continent, while inhabits of similar adjoining islands to the Galapagos had quite different animal populations. In London Darwin later learned that the finches he had brought back belonged to a different species, not merely different varieties, as he had originally believed.

Fact File:

When Charles Darwin first published his theories on evolution they created a sensation, but it took a while before they were accepted.

 

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Why do some people believe that global warming is not a threat?

                        Is global warming an elaborate hoax? Is it true that the western developed countries are playing a nasty game to prevent the development of the poor countries? Though the majority of scientists have warned the world of the dangers of global warming, some still deny that it is the result of human activity.

                      They point out that there is no long-term data to support the theory that global warming is happening. They argue that any increase in global temperatures could be caused by a natural climate shift, and are confident that plants and animals will adapt to warmer climate patterns. These people also believe that the planet is resilient, and able to withstand climate shift.

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Is it true that by saving water and electricity we are helping our environment?

            Water is one of the substances on Earth that is most essential for the survival of living things. Apart from drinking, we use water for many other purposes. But we do not know how to use water wisely; and therefore, it is frequently wasted.

            Let us use water wisely when washing and bathing. Let us also try to prevent water leakage.

            Like water, we must save electricity too. Turn off electrical devices when we do not use them. For example, if we are not watching TV, let us turn it off. Turn off the light when we leave a room, even if we intend to return.

            Let us also use energy-efficient light bulbs instead of regular bulbs. They last longer. Let us save nature.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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How do we conserve energy?

                Energy is essential for the survival of human societies. However, how do we find more nature friendly energy sources?

                Fossil fuels are great sources of energy, but they have great impact on the environment and contribute to pollution and global warming. The fact is that all transportation accounts for more than a third of our green-house gas emissions globally. We will be helping the environment greatly by driving less and using more eco-friendly modes of transportation instead.

                Can we ride a bike or walk instead? They are excellent choices and provide the extra bonus of helping you stay fit and in shape. We can also choose public transportation.  Choosing not to drive during the rush hour and opting to go on vacation somewhere closer to home also helps. When buying a new car, opt for electrical, hybrid or low fuel consumption options on the market.

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Why is avoiding plastic essential?

                  Plastic has become an indispensable commodity in Man’s life. Plastic is everywhere. We encounter it wherever we go. Are our lunch boxes made of plastic? We eat our take-away food in plastic plates with plastic forks. The list of plastic materials is  endless.

                  Do you know that according to EDN, an electronics industry website, over 100,000 marine animals and one million birds die from ingesting and choking on plastic each year? Let us all take the pledge today to eliminate unnecessary plastic from our life. Let us start using reusable water bottles, travel mugs, and grocery bags.

                 Let us avoid disposable water bottles. The best options are stainless steel water bottles, which contain no dangerous toxic material, which you find in plastic bottles. Say no to plastic straws. Store your food in glass or stainless steel containers. Though it may be easy to store leftovers in plastic containers, if we try to heat these plastic containers, they become toxic.

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