UNESCO Approves 13 New Biosphere Reserves

Posted on June 9, 2010 by Rashid Faridi

Ethiopia and Zimbabwe have added their first biosphere reserves to the network of reserves created by the United Nations to halt the loss of biodiversity and promote sustainable development. One of the two new Ethiopian reserves protects the place of origin of the plant Caffea Arabica, believed to be the first species of coffee ever cultivated.

The decision to include the reserves in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe was taken by the International Coordination Council of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme, which concluded its annual session Friday at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.

The Council also added 10 biosphere reserve sites in Iran, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Poland, Slovenia, South Korea, and Sweden, while five sites were extended in Chile, Costa Rica, Finland, Germany and Switzerland.

The World Network of Biosphere Reserves now numbers 564 sites in 109 countries.

Biosphere Reserves are areas designated under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme to serve as places to test different approaches to integrated management of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine resources and biodiversity. They are protected areas that are meant to demonstrate a balanced relationship between humans and nature.

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NASA Rover Finds Clue of Mars’ Environment for Life

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Rashid Faridi

Rocks examined by NASA’s Spirit Mars Rover hold evidence of a wet, non-acidic ancient environment that may have been favorable for life. Confirming this mineral clue took four years of analysis by several scientists.

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Titan: Oasis For Life

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Rashid Faridi

Two teams of scientists reported last week that data from NASA’s Cassini orbiter reveal unusual chemical activity on Saturn’s giant moon Titan.

It’s plausible, but far from definitive, that a primitive exotic form of life on Titan’s frigid surface could be causing the strange results.

Earth organisms would barely last a few seconds before freezing solid on Titan’s -300 degree Fahrenheit surface. But this could be tantalizing evidence for “cryo-life.” It would be an utterly alien biology existing at very low temperatures where liquid methane and ethane are used in place of water as a solvent.

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Brazil and Argentina to develop satellite

Posted on June 8, 2010 by Rashid Faridi

The Brazilian Space Agency (AEB) along with Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE) will develop, the Sabiá-Mar Satellite, for the global observation of the oceans and the monitoring of the Brazilian and Argentinean coastline as well. The joint initiative was approved at the last meeting of the AEB Board in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.USD 2.5 million for the initial studies was also approved during the meeting in the presence of foreign ministers from both countries and project managers from Brazilian and Argentinean Mechanism of Integration and Coordination range (MICBA). Expected time period for the initial studies is nine months.The satellite will be efficient enough to detect colour of the oceans, monitor oil exploration, manage coastal areas and contribute to the fishery, among other applications. The National Institute for Space Research (INPE) will be in charge of this project. The Sabiá-Mar project is in line with the objectives set by the international scientific community and more specifically with those established by the Committee on Earth Observation Satellite.According to what was set up among AEB, INPE and CONAE, the studies accomplished on the Sabiá-Mar Satellite development shall reach the optimisation of its payload (camera imaging) aiming the complementarity of the optical missions that have been previously designed and foreseen in Brazil and Argentina (Amazonia-1 satellite, CBERS-3 and 4, SAC-D/Aquarius).Considering the industrial and the technological capabilities of both countries, it will be proposed a better division of tasks that include both the payload and the platform. The studies that comprise the mission phase will take into account the option of developing together a new platform that fulfils the requirements of Sabiá-Mar satellite and the future missions that might happen between the two countries.

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