Tag Archives: oceans

Complex Life Found Under Antarctic Ice

The Antarctic ice sheet is one of the two polar ice caps of the Earth. It covers about 98% of the Antarctic continent. Antarctica is considered as a desert as this place is the coldest, driest, and windiest on the earth. It has the highest average elevation of all the continents. Now, NASA ice scientists have found a shrimp-like creature and a possible jellyfish 'frolicking' beneath 600 feet of solid Antarctic ice, where only microbes were expected to live.
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Insect Attack May Have Killed Dinosaurs

Insect are the most diverse group of animals on the Earth, with over a million described species— more than half of all known living organism. Insects may be found in nearly all environments on the planet, although only a small number of species occur in the oceans. Now there is a new theory that suggests that insect attack may have finished off dinosaurs. An important contributor to the demise of the dinosaurs, experts say, could have been the rise and evolution of insects, especially the slow-but-overwhelming threat posed by new disease carriers.

Insect Attack May Have Killed Dinosaurs

From the article:

Asteroid impacts or massive volcanic flows might have occurred around the time dinosaurs became extinct, but a new arguemet is that the mightiest creatures the world has ever known may have been brought down by a tiny, much less dramatic force -- biting, disease-carrying insects.

=> Insect Attack May Have Finished Off Dinosaurs

Fight Global Warming With Methane-Eating Bacteria

Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation.Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans in recent decades and its projected continuation.

The geographic distribution of surface warming during the 21st century calculated by the HadCM3 climate model if a business as usual scenario is assumed for economic growth and greenhouse gas emissions. In this figure, the globally averaged warming corresponds to 3.0 °C (5.4 °F).

Now, NEW Zealand scientists hope a newly discovered bacterium that eats methane could ultimately help counter a key global warming gas.

The bacterium was discovered living about 30cm below the ground in the hot, acidic environment at Hells Gate in Rotorua, a geothermal area.

The Blue Planet

The Blue Planet - DVD is all about a natural history of the oceans. It includes superb image of marine life, information on new species and its habitats. In very the first episode when you see 'Blue Whale', you realized how amazing is ocean world and start to believe on God. It has some the most stunning footage of marine life that you never knew exists. After seeing this DVD my respect towards ocean and especially marine life is increased.

The entire DVD is divided into eight episodes. Each episode starts with introduction and followed by in depth coverage of the topic. It includes a very nice soundtrack from the award-winning composer George Fenton.

Episode # 1: The Blue Planet
This the opening episode. It explains the important of the oceans and complexity of the blue plant (our earth)

Episode # 2: The Deep
It takes you into deep dark sea where different animals plays each day the game of hide and seek. Different type of predators exists in deep see, they comes in all shapes, colors and uses weird techniques for hunting.

Episode # 3: Open Ocean
Open ocean is like a desert where nothing saves the burning sun above and the blackened abyss below. However, in this vast open ocean live many of the most spectacular predators.

Episode # 4: Frozen Seas
It is all about frozen worlds of the Arctic and Antarctic and it is compared, where the annual freeze and retreat of the sea ice governs the pace of like. Tempratures goes down as low as 70 celcesion and below, however spring comes and changes the life. respite

Episode # 5: Seasonal Sea
Following the seasons of the year, this episode explores the effects of the changing power of the sun on marine life in the richest of all the oceans habitats, the temperate seas.

Episode # 6: Coral Seas
Bathed in warm, clear tropical water and brilliant sunlight, coral reefs are the rainforest's of the sea.

Episode # 8: Tidal Seas
Tides dominate marine life, dictating precisely where and when many will breed and tidal marshes are also one of the most productive part of the world,, yet life is not easy

Episode # 8: Coasts
The world above the tide line is possibly the most dynamic habitat in the oceans. Constantly in flus the coasts have a few permanent residantes but many must return from open ocean to breed.

It also includes additional features such as Making Waves

* Final words:

"This is an informative collection of rich marine life. A must have for you and especially of kids to gain compressive, knowledge on the natural history of the worlds oceans"

* Studio: BBC Video
* Rated: NR
* Special Features:
i) The making of blue planet
ii) Deep trouble an ecological documentry
iii) Blue 5 minute theatrical short
iv) Photo gallery

v) Interview with production team

* My Ratings: 4-1/2 out of 5
* Subtitles: YES (English SDH only)
* Number of DVD: 4
* Running time: 488 mins approx
Offical URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/programmes/tv/blueplanet/. It has articles, games and other information.

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