Nature Articles

Environment » Nature | By David Urmann @ Friday, 23rd November 2007 @ 9:57 PM

The giant squid is one of the monstrous creatures still alive and always alluring many researchers around the world but till this time seems more mystifying as none of the giant squids are captured alive and the research is based on the corpses which are washed ashore. This has led the scientists and researchers to study this mammoth sea creature from the carcasses washed ashore. With limited samples, the researchers have been able to know some amazing facts about this mammoth sea... more...

Environment » Nature | By Roger Munns @ Friday, 23rd November 2007 @ 12:27 AM

The Arctic tundra may soon see a second visit from Prince Albert of Monaco. A Russian news agency announced in October that Albert II intends to visit the North Pole in a Russian airship next spring. The expedition will be led by Jean-Louis Etienne, a French explorer famous for becoming the first man to travel to the North Pole alone on foot in 1986. Not only does he have Arctic experience, he crossed the entire continent of Antarctica on foot in 1989 and 1990. He has also sailed around the worl... more...

Environment » Nature | By Jimmy Cox @ Wednesday, 31st October 2007 @ 4:36 AM

North, South, East or West - no matter where you live - there are evergreens for every garden. The luxuriance of their foliage, the different shades of green, their variety of forms, textures, and heights contribute lavishly to the planting design. Indeed, like old friends, they can always be depended on to give us real enjoyment through the years. Their easy upkeep, permanence, and the all-year-round green they provide make them all-important in garden-making. In making a planting plan i... more...

Environment » Nature | By MIKE SELVON @ Friday, 19th October 2007 @ 10:11 PM

Not all national parks in Canada are cut from the same cloth. They are as diverse as the country is wide. From the east coast of Newfoundland to the farthest reaches of the Northwest Territories, you will find something for every taste and budget. There are too many to name all national parks in Canada but below are three popular ones you shouldn't miss. Cape Breton Highlands, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Driving along the Cabot Trail that skirts the rocky cliffs of the northern c... more...

Environment » Nature | By Roger Munns @ Friday, 19th October 2007 @ 10:36 AM

The UN has launched a campaign to plant a billion new trees, which is being welcomed by environmentalists, but with a warning by some that in certain regions it could do more harm than good. While the campaign claims that each tree uses up 26 pounds of co2 emissions and in return produces enough oxygen for a family of four, planting the right trees is important to help the world improve her ecological and environment balance. In areas that historically have suffered from a lack of ... more...

Environment » Nature | By Roger Munns @ Sunday, 14th October 2007 @ 12:59 AM

Global warming and rising tea temperatures aren't playing to the script that environment campaigner Prince Albert of Monaco might have expected, according to recently released figures. Since becoming Soverign of Monaco, Prince Albert has let it be known that the environment is a major concern of his, and early on in his reign made a visit to the North Pole to highlight global warming, and he has established a foundation to study among other things, ironically sea temperatures. more...

Environment » Nature | By Roger Munns @ Saturday, 13th October 2007 @ 1:22 AM

If ever there was an industry that needed global warming not to be true, it has to be the ski industry. No snow, no skiing, and the skiing industry would belong to a sporting museum. So perhaps it comes as no surprise that one European country which relies on the ski industry trade more than most others has decided to ditch traditional print brochures for the internet only. Andorra is a small country with borders that meet both France and Spain, set in the Pyrenees mountains. Andor... more...

Environment » Nature | By Derek Both @ Tuesday, 9th October 2007 @ 10:17 PM

Experts are predicting that climate change is going to reshape investment returns and investment opportunities over the next few years. With eleven of the last 12 years ranking as the warmest on record, people have to face up to the fact that global warming is happening and will have an effect on everyone. While people are facing up to the realities of global warming investment opportunities are going to be popping up all over the place. This is because new technologies and going to be de... more...

Environment » Nature | By Nikki Fox @ Wednesday, 5th September 2007 @ 1:30 AM

There have been many myths about spiders that have propogated through the ages. Here I will explain the truth with regards to the ten most popular spider myths. Myth 1: The daddy-longlegs has the world's most powerful venom, but fortunately its fangs are so small that it can't bite you. Fact: This is a fully-fledged urban legend, with no basis in fact whatever. It is so widespread that many people believe it who should really know better, including some teachers and TV document... more...

Environment » Nature | By Nikki Fox @ Wednesday, 22nd August 2007 @ 5:18 PM

Humans have used spider silk for a number of uses for a long time. The Roman encyclopaedic Pliny tells us that spider web is excellent for sealing wounds and this is true as far as I know. It has certainly been used by many people since then. The answer may lie in both its immunity from microbial attack and its strange combination of softness and strength. Many people through the ages have also used spider web silk to make clothes from. When woven it is both strong and light. Alt... more...

Environment » Nature | By Nikki Fox @ Wednesday, 15th August 2007 @ 1:11 PM

The are some pretty dangerous spiders roaming around our planet today. Here's a look at two of the most notorious ones... Brown Recluse DESCRIPTION The brown recluse spider (Loxosceles spp.) is a poisonous spider that is light brown in color. The adult body varies from 1/3- to 1/2inch in length, with the arrangement of the legs producing a larger overall size of 1 inch diameter or greater. The body is yellow to dark brown, has a violin-shaped marking on the thorax (mid-section)... more...

Environment » Nature | By Nikki Fox @ Monday, 6th August 2007 @ 6:29 PM

Spiders are normally thought of by humans as scary beasts that serve no other purpose than to frighten the living daylights out of us. Well, ok, they control the fly and insect population as well I suppose, but mostly they are just not much fun to discover around the home or office. But have you ever asked yourself, what are spiders themselves scared of? Well, I've got a few answers for you... Because they are small, spiders have many enemies. Many of the larger animals ... more...

Environment » Nature | By Nikki Fox @ Monday, 6th August 2007 @ 6:27 PM

The order Araneae (spiders) is traditionally divided into three divisions: 1) Mesothelae (also known as the Liphistomorpha). These normally have a narrow sternum and always have 4 pairs of spinnerets 2) Mygalomorphae (tarantulas and relatives - also called the Orthognatha or the Theraphosomorphae) . These all have downward pointing fangs (called chelicerae) and can live for up to 25 years 3) Araneomorphae (the rest of the spider family - also known as the Labidognatha).These are disting... more...

Environment » Nature | By Jack Deal @ Friday, 3rd August 2007 @ 5:46 PM

In aspiring to the quest of a free and inquiring mind I often get exposed to the unexpected and sometimes exotic. Such was my brush with Tepe. I have a few Tepes on my jungle ranch and, along with my jaguar and boa, felt it important to get to know my critters, responsible caretaker that I am and all that touchy feely soft side stuff. The agrarian reform law and my fellow ejido members have legally put me and mi senora in charge of what is allowed and not allowed on our jungle ranch. Inclu... more...

Environment » Nature | By Nikki Fox @ Friday, 3rd August 2007 @ 4:16 PM

Spiders are living animals and they therefore need to eat just as you and I need to eat. Because spiders are predatory animals eating means first catching some other living animal. Most spiders are not fussy, though some have definite preferences and some have specific hunting techniques that catch them a particular type of prey. Most spiders eat only living or freshly killed food, and most are not particular about their prey. Having said this many spiders will take dead prey in captivit... more...

Environment » Nature | By Nikki Fox @ Friday, 3rd August 2007 @ 3:19 PM

Tarantulas, or Theraphosids have recently become relatively familiar creatures in Europe and the North America. However, despite our familiarity with these large relatively harmless spiders, they are not really a sufficient apart of our history for us to have included them in our myths. Tarantism as it occurred in Europe during the Middle ages had nothing to do with what we call 'Tarantulas' today. Nevertheless the word 'Tarantula' stems from Europe and was given to t... more...

Environment » Nature | By Nikki Fox @ Friday, 3rd August 2007 @ 12:41 PM

Like all animals spiders need to reproduce and there are two main elements to this reproductive process. First there is that anatomy and physiology of the reproductive organs and secondly there is the ecology of boy meets girl. The reproductive ecology of spiders basically involves three steps: 1) a male has to find a female 2) he has to succeed in mating with her 3) the female has to lay and protect the eggs. Within this simple plan spiders have evolved a wonderful ra... more...

Environment » Nature | By MIKE SELVON @ Saturday, 28th July 2007 @ 9:06 AM

No matter which of the US national parks you choose to visit, you will discover intriguing wildlife and breathtaking scenery. There are a handful of parks, however, that offer things that you won't find anywhere else. From the Grand Canyon in Arizona to the stunning gorges of northern New York, the United states offers some spectacular natural scenery. Enjoy this brief journey through those parks. Everything about California's Yosemite National Park is big. The park itse... more...

Environment » Nature | By MIKE SELVON @ Saturday, 28th July 2007 @ 9:06 AM

Our national parks have developed a reputation for several appealing features. Incredible monuments, gorgeous scenery, and intriguing wildlife are but a few of the many attractions of our parks. The unspoiled majesty of our national parks is a living treasure and it could be difficult to choose one or two to visit at any given time. Why not start with two of the more popular sites; The General Grant Tree and Kings Canyon. The General Grant Tree towers over 260 feet above the Grant... more...

Environment » Nature | By MIKE SELVON @ Saturday, 28th July 2007 @ 9:05 AM

National parks are wonderful resources. In this era of constant deforestation and construction, national parks offer a bit of a respite. These federally protected areas are good for the environment and good for us, as they give us a place to get out of the hustle and bustle of urban life. Many people do not fully understand the purpose and need for national parks, and in this article, we will address some of the most frequent questions about them. In the United States, what activi... more...