Nature Articles

Environment » Nature | By Chris Jensen @ Tuesday, 25th November 2008 @ 2:23 AM

That said, there are three things you can start doing today to begin the process of ending your reliance on commercial energy products. Solar Cooking in the Parking Lot If you have a little bit of patience, and choose your locations carefully, you will not need your stove, microwave, coffee maker, or toaster for the entire summer. Among other things, consider the heat generated inside cars and parking lots. In many cases, if you commute to work, you can probably set up a solar cook... more...

Environment » Nature | By Kevin Rockwell @ Saturday, 22nd November 2008 @ 3:12 PM

For more than 200 years inventors worldwide have filed patents for wave-power technology of a dazzling variety of designs-bobbing objects ("ducks"), buoys, articulated rafts, floating bags, overspills, and many others. There has been no shortage of ideas. Many of these ideas are in fact technically feasible, so it seems a shame that this renewable energy resource has not been much used. The main challenge is building a system that is economically attractive when so many other forms of en... more...

Environment » Nature | By Ki Gray @ Saturday, 22nd November 2008 @ 7:06 AM

Zilker Metropolitan Park is perhaps the brightest jewel in Austin's golden crown of parks and other outdoor venues. It is 351 acres of endless amusements for all ages and interests. There is something for every season of the year, from the Trail of Lights at Christmas to a dip in the cool waters of the spring-fed pool on a steamy summer day. It can be hard to pick a spot to begin exploring, but Barton Springs Pool is probably the best known attraction in the park. The three-acre p... more...

Environment » Nature | By Steve Hanson @ Thursday, 20th November 2008 @ 10:55 PM

With oil prices increasing and signs of climate change becoming ever more noticeable, there is much interest these days in alternative fuel sources. On example of such an alternative fuel is hydrogen. What Experts Know About Hydrogen Power You may think of hydrogen as a fuel source, like gasoline, but it is actually more of an energy storage solution, like a battery. This is because there are not reserves of existing hydrogen that can be mined from the earth. Hydrogen must therefor... more...

Environment » Nature | By Steve Hanson @ Thursday, 20th November 2008 @ 10:46 PM

Researchers have created a new material that overcomes two of the major obstacles to solar power: it absorbs all the energy contained in sunlight, and generates electrons in a way that makes them easier to capture. Hybrid Solar Materials Ohio State University chemists and their colleagues combined electrically conductive plastic with metals including molybdenum and titanium to create the hybrid material. In a study published in the current issue of the Proceedings of the Nat... more...

Environment » Nature | By Robert L J Bloom @ Thursday, 20th November 2008 @ 12:48 PM

Spider exists everywhere from the tropics to Antarctica. They are not insects. Unlike insects they are made of two different parts that are connected to each other with a small stalk. The two parts are the head part and the abdomen part. On the head part there is eight eyes and four appendages. On the first two appendages are there is a fang that is linked to the poison gland. The spiders use these two fangs to immobilize its prey or to protect itself. Below there is two other appendages ... more...

Environment » Nature | By Al Haneson @ Thursday, 20th November 2008 @ 9:22 AM

While it shouldn't be, it's often hard for people to wrap their minds around the concept of biodiversity. This is in part because the concept of biodiversity is a complex one, and partly because so many agencies have vested interests in people seeing anything that conserves resources as a threat to their lifestyles. The first steps toward defining the concept of biodiversity were undertaken by E.O. Wilson in the mid-1980s. Since then, the concept has become so important that ... more...

Environment » Nature | By Ki Gray @ Tuesday, 18th November 2008 @ 2:44 PM

These days a stroll through the Zilker Botanical Gardens could lead to an encounter with a small herd of Bambiraptors, dinosaurs with feathered wings similar to a turkey. The word "raptor" means thief and these little creatures, named after the Disney character, were known to steal the babies of other dinosaurs. The usually sedate gardens are full of all kinds of life-size dinosaurs, like the ferocious cousin to T- Rex, a Daspletosaur, standing at 33 feet tall. The 30 creatures from t... more...

Environment » Nature | By Nancy Condon @ Tuesday, 18th November 2008 @ 6:56 AM

Fall is a great time to get out and hike in New England where I live. The landscape is gorgeous, the air is crisp and scenic views are now revealed through leafless branches. No matter where or when you hike, there are some basic necessities you should always carry. Before you hit the trail, make sure your daypack is stocked with these essential items for your comfort and safety: 1-Water. Keeping yourself hydrated is essential. You sweat and lose precious water no matter wha... more...

Environment » Nature | By Jimmy Woodall @ Monday, 17th November 2008 @ 9:18 AM

Composting is a method of waste treatment which varies in complexity, from the humble garden compost "heap", to the new breed of highly engineered municipal commercial composting facilities designed to reduce the quantity of organic waste sent to landfills and to provide a marketable product. A common assumption is that composting makes sense only out in the country or in suburban areas where people have large yards, not so. By composting your organic waste you are retur... more...

Environment » Nature | By Ki Gray @ Sunday, 2nd November 2008 @ 12:25 PM

Trying to come up with things to do with out of town visitors in the height of summer? The Austin area offers a wide variety of activities to entertain even the most difficult audience. During the summer months, your primary goal will be trying to stay cool, and Austin and the surrounding area offers swimming holes a-plenty. The iconic Barton Springs in Zilker Park is open from early spring to late autumn. Sometimes called the soul of Austin, this spring fed pool maintains a steady 68... more...

Environment » Nature | By Janet Winter @ Friday, 31st October 2008 @ 2:42 AM

There's a touch of fall in the air. The days are shorter and the nights cooler. For those living in places where the leaves put on a spectacular show of color, it's a sure sign that winter isn't far away. Wild birds are beginning to prepare for the harsh weather by 'winterizing' their bodies. Backyard birders need to get their feeding stations in order right away to help these beautiful feathered friends find plenty of food. Now is the time when wild birds begin s... more...

Environment » Nature | By Jimmy Woodall @ Wednesday, 29th October 2008 @ 5:33 AM

Composting is the natural breakdown by microbes of organic material to a dark, loose and "earth-like" substance. Composting is a simple, natural, and nearly effortless method for recycling yard trimmings, such as leaves and grass, into a wonderful soil conditioner for lawns and gardens. Composting Myths It is a tribute to composting that humans have taken such a simple, natural process and elevated it through myth and misunderstanding into a form of new age alchemy. Objectives To pr... more...

Environment » Nature | By Al Haneson @ Wednesday, 29th October 2008 @ 3:43 AM

Almost every region of the world has at least one biodiversity hotspot, with a worldwide total of 34 mapped and recorded. These hotspots contain our richest biological treasures, but are the most at risk from human and natural abuses. A biodiversity hotspot is an area that is particularly rich in plant and animal life, but is in grave threat of being destroyed. There are two major criteria for an area to be declared a biodiversity hotspot: It must have at least 1,500 endemic species of v... more...

Environment » Nature | By Lou Altman @ Saturday, 25th October 2008 @ 2:44 AM

The National Hurricane Center issues a Hurricane Warning when a Tropical Storm or Hurricane is expected to strike your area within the next 24 hours. When a Hurricane Warning is posted there are several important steps to take immediately to ensure your safety and prevent damage to your property and/or your business. Foremost, tune in to your local television or radio station and stay informed regarding changing weather conditions. Monitor NOAA weather radio for the most recent hu... more...

Environment » Nature | By Ranju Kumar @ Wednesday, 15th October 2008 @ 9:37 PM

It started thousands of years ago. Man, animals and the flora combined to make our earth the most beautiful planet in the universe. All three blended well, with man and animals making their habitat in the forests and mountains among the flora. Natural resources were shared by all. But with some of the animals being at the top of the food chain, others felt threatened by their presence. Physically being weaker than the animals, man had to plan for his survival and that started the development.more...

Environment » Nature | By Mike McCoy @ Wednesday, 15th October 2008 @ 9:36 AM

Birds need protective cover just like people need the shelter of a house. With more and more destruction of their natural habitat, many birds are having trouble finding places to nest. By providing nesting boxes or birdhouses you will encourage birds to raise their young in your backyard and stay in your area year round. You'll enjoy watching their family life while providing them badly needed shelter. When you place a nesting box in your backyard, you're inviting birds to rai... more...

Environment » Nature | By Steve Hanson @ Wednesday, 15th October 2008 @ 4:58 AM

Wind power has been an effective energy source for nearly twenty years. At the end of 2007, worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators was over 100 gigawatts. It accounts for upwards of 19% of electricity production in countries like Denmark. What is Wind Power? Wind power is the transformation of wind into energy, usually in the form of electricity. Wind technology brought the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria to North America in the 1400's and ran Dutch wind mills, so it is we... more...

Environment » Nature | By Steve Hanson @ Tuesday, 14th October 2008 @ 2:20 PM

Experts have been attempting to harness the power of the wave since the late 19th century. As the wind passes over the ocean, it produces waves. There is a direct correlation between the power of the wind and the power of the wave. Wave energy is produced when electricity generators are placed on the surface of the ocean. The energy provided is most often used in desalination plants, power plants and water pumps. Energy output is determined by wave height, wave speed, wavelength, and wate... more...

Environment » Nature | By Steve Hanson @ Tuesday, 14th October 2008 @ 1:37 PM

What would you do if the utility companies paid you for energy? You, like me, probably didn't even know that was possible. What if you never had to pay energy bills ever again? Again, something else I didn't know was possible. These two questions took me completely by surprise when I started doing research for this article. Especially since both questions pertain to solar power. The Truth About Solar Efficiency Everyone has heard about the bene... more...