Nature Worlds

Chiral blastomere arrangement dictates zygotic left–right asymmetry pathway in snails

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:05:00 +0000

Most animals display internal and/or external left–right asymmetry. Several mechanisms for left–right asymmetry determination have been proposed for vertebrates^1,^2,^3,^4,^5,^6,^7,^8,^9,¹⁰ and invertebrates^1,^2,^4,^9,^11,^12,^13,¹⁴ but they are still not well characterized, particularly at the early developmental stage. The gastropods Lymnaea stagnalis and the closely related Lymnaea peregra have both the sinistral (recessive) and the dextral (dominant) snails within a species and the chirality is hereditary, determined by a single locus that functions maternally^15,^16,^17,¹⁸. Intriguingly, the handedness-determining gene(s) and the mechanisms are not yet identified. Here we show that in L. stagnalis, the chiral blastomere arrangement at the eight-cell stage (but not the two- or four-cell stage) determines the left–right asymmetry throughout the developmental programme, and acts upstream of the Nodal signalling pathway. Thus, we could demonstrate that mechanical micromanipulation of the third cleavage chirality (from the four- to the eight-cell stage) leads to reversal of embryonic handedness. These manipulated embryos grew to 'dextralized' sinistral and 'sinistralized' dextral snails—that is, normal healthy fertile organisms with all the usual left–right asymmetries reversed to that encoded by the mothers' genetic information. Moreover, manipulation reversed the embryonic nodal expression patterns. Using backcrossed F₇ congenic animals, we could demonstrate a strong genetic linkage between the handedness-determining gene(s) and the chiral cytoskeletal dynamics at the third cleavage that promotes the dominant-type blastomere arrangement. These results establish the crucial importance of the maternally determined blastomere arrangement at the eight-cell stage in dictating zygotic signalling pathways in the organismal chiromorphogenesis. Similar chiral blastomere configuration mechanisms may also operate upstream of the Nodal pathway in left–right patterning of deuterostomes/vertebrates.

ational design of a structural and functional nitric oxide reductase

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:05:00 +0000

Protein design provides a rigorous test of our knowledge about proteins and allows the creation of novel enzymes for biotechnological applications. Whereas progress has been made in designing proteins that mimic native proteins structurally^1,^2,³, it is more difficult to design functional proteins^4,^5,^6,^7,⁸. In comparison to recent successes in designing non-metalloproteins^4,^6,^7,^9,¹⁰, it is even more challenging to rationally design metalloproteins that reproduce both the structure and function of native metalloenzymes^5,^8,^11,^12,^13,^14,^15,^16,^17,^18,^19,²⁰. This is because protein metal-binding sites are much more varied than non-metal-containing sites, in terms of different metal ion oxidation states, preferred geometry and metal ion ligand donor sets. Because of their variability, it has been difficult to predict metal-binding site properties in silico, as many of the parameters, such as force fields, are ill-defined. Therefore, the successful design of a structural and functional metalloprotein would greatly advance the field of protein design and our understanding of enzymes. Here we report a successful, rational design of a structural and functional model of a metalloprotein, nitric oxide reductase (NOR), by introducing three histidines and one glutamate, predicted as ligands in the active site of NOR, into the distal pocket of myoglobin. A crystal structure of the designed protein confirms that the minimized computer model contains a haem/non-haem Fe_B centre that is remarkably similar to that in the crystal structure. This designed protein also exhibits NO reduction activity, and so models both the structure and function of NOR, offering insight that the active site glutamate is required for both iron binding and activity. These results show that structural and functional metalloproteins can be rationally designed in silico.

Cancer-associated IDH1 mutations produce 2-hydroxyglutarate

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:04:00 +0000

Mutations in the enzyme cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) are a common feature of a major subset of primary human brain cancers. These mutations occur at a single amino acid residue of the IDH1 active site, resulting in loss of the enzyme's ability to catalyse conversion of isocitrate to -ketoglutarate. However, only a single copy of the gene is mutated in tumours, raising the possibility that the mutations do not result in a simple loss of function. Here we show that cancer-associated IDH1 mutations result in a new ability of the enzyme to catalyse the NADPH-dependent reduction of -ketoglutarate to R(-)-2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG). Structural studies demonstrate that when arginine 132 is mutated to histidine, residues in the active site are shifted to produce structural changes consistent with reduced oxidative decarboxylation of isocitrate and acquisition of the ability to convert -ketoglutarate to 2HG. Excess accumulation of 2HG has been shown to lead to an elevated risk of malignant brain tumours in patients with inborn errors of 2HG metabolism. Similarly, in human malignant gliomas harbouring IDH1 mutations, we find markedly elevated levels of 2HG. These data demonstrate that the IDH1 mutations result in production of the onco-metabolite 2HG, and indicate that the excess 2HG which accumulates in vivo contributes to the formation and malignant progression of gliomas.

Coral Cove Park and the Blowing Rocks Preserve: The Little Sur

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:02:00 +0000

The Experience

It's 3:30 a.m. and I wake to the sound of my cell phone's alarm. The smell of the freshly brewed coffee is the start of a day that I have been looking forward to for a while. Today, I visit the Blowing Rocks!

I dread making the phone call to my shooting buddy, Paul, who is definitely not a morning person, but he wants to go anyway. After a couple of rings, a comatose voice answers, "Huh?"

I yell out on the phone, "I'm on my way, get up!"

I kiss my wife good-bye and I'm gone. The excitement that I feel almost makes the coffee unnecessary, yet the 2 hours on the road have me thinking that teleportation would be an awesome creation. Suddenly, the annoying voice of my GPS alerts me that I am nearing my destination. Yes! After the long, dark, boring ride, we're finally here!

As we unload the gear from the car, we hear a thunderous rumble. Then we hear another... and another. We can't help but think that the thunderstorms will probably block our sunrise. But we're here, and we might as well make the best of it. As we make our way over the dunes, we are welcomed by perfect conditions. The first bit of twilight just barely lets us make out the perfectly placed clouds. The thunderous sounds we heard were actually waves crashing violently against the largest rock formations I had ever seen on any Florida coast. At the same time, I also knew that this was not the Blowing Rocks Preserve. These rocks are much smaller. This was, in fact, Coral Cove Park and it was so interesting that we decided to do our shooting here. It just seemed like a sure thing.

Daylight was coming and the sun, although still below the horizon, blessed the sky with shades of magenta, pink, orange and blue. The color of the clouds almost perfectly matches the colors of the rocks. The crashing waves make for a nice fog over the surface of the water in our photos, as we experiment with long exposures. Setting up a tripod can be pretty tricky as the rocks are pitted by hundreds, even thousands of years of erosion. The smooth, reddish-colored rock formations seem to have somewhat of a sandstone appearance, but it is actually anastasia limestone. The waves splash large volumes of water up onto the rocks and as the water recedes, they make an abundance of tiny "waterfalls" which also add a bit of interest to the images we capture. The salt mist creates a natural Orton effect on my ND grad filter, though after a while, it can prove to be a bit too much. All of the crevices, boulders, miniature canyons, blowholes and seashells provide a photographer with so many compositions that it can almost be overwhelming. It's such a great place that it's difficult to stay in just one spot. If only the sun could slow it's ascent, then I could take the time I need to make all these images work. Those are the little things that have me looking forward to my next few trips, though. No two sunrises are ever the same and each trip is a new lesson and a new experience.

The Real Blowing Rocks

On the next trip, we shot sunrise at Coral Cove Park again. It's a summer day with another great sky and the fantastic breeze made it feel like we were still in March. Wispy clouds colored up in a reddish tone and though the waves were still crashing, the tide was lower and the seas were slightly calmer than our last visit. The low tide left behind pools in the craters of the rocks. As I set up the tripod for my next composition, I noticed that one of these pools had trapped a hatchling loggerhead sea turtle. He appeared exhausted, so I took him out of the hole. Paul and I fired off a few shots of the hatchling as he rested. When he seemed to gain enough energy to make his way back toward the ocean, we took him to an area without rocks and set him free at the shoreline. I sure hope he made it.

The sun finally made its way over the horizon, and after wiping down our camera gear with rags dampened with fresh water, we decided to take the 1.25-mile hike up the beach to the Blowing Rocks Preserve. This hike looks much easier than it is. Loosely packed sand and heavy camera gear make the short hike feel like it was over 3 miles uphill. With our calves aching and my lower back in a knot, we finally make it. The preserve has a much easier way to get in, a front door, but they don't open until 9:30 a.m. and we were still an hour away from that time. The tide was not high, but not low either. Though the light was a bit too harsh for my taste, I took the time to scan and photograph the area to scout for possible compositions in the future. At the top of the cliffs, where less erosion takes place, the limestone is a lot more like jagged limestone should be. Walking barefoot was almost worse than the pinnacle rock that I often encounter on my Everglades ventures. Just a little tip: Don't leave your shoes behind!

This area is beautiful! The condominiums that line the coast suddenly cease and for a good stretch of the beach, we are now surrounded by nature. Over the next couple of high-tide visits, I witness the spectacle that gives the area its descriptive name. Strong winds and big waves send water gushing up 40 to 50 feet in the air. Air and water rushing through some of the narrower holes make a barking sound that had me looking for a dog along the beach. Photographer and NPN editor, Richard Bernabe pointed out that the blowholes were working in a sequence as the waves roll in at a slight angle. That was a real show in itself. Although it may be difficult to emphasize this sequence in a photo, the new HD video capable DSLRs would be a great tool to show this off.

Low tide may also present fantastic photo opportunities. A lower tide exposes smaller rocks that would normally be submerged while allowing photographers to shoot from below, showing off the height of the 2 story cliffs in their images. The early morning glow lights up these cliff walls beautifully and this low angle may provide depth to your images. Don't risk it though. If the low tide is not exposing sand, stay away from the cliffs. Rogue waves are common here and they can send you crashing up against the rocks, costing you your gear and possibly your life.

The History

Blowing Rocks is a part of Jupiter Island, which separates the Atlantic Ocean from the Indian River Lagoon. The Blowing Rocks Preserve is now owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy. Although development has taken up much of Jupiter Island, it was actually the island's residents who decided that the area was so beautiful and unique, that it needed protection. They purchased the land and donated it to The Nature Conservancy in 1969. The Nature Conservancy is now working on restoring the 73-acre area of its native plants and protecting this fragile ecosystem.

Residents and visitors both literally and metaphorically walk on eggshells when it comes to coexisting with nature here. This stretch of coast is a very important nest area for three species of sea turtles. Loggerhead, Atlantic Green and the largest of all, the Leatherback sea turtles use this coast for nesting as they have for millennia. During summer months, the sea turtles' struggle for survival is obvious. Hatchlings race toward the water as sea gulls, pelicans, osprey and other native birds try to pick them off. Once in the water, in addition to the birds, all sorts of marine animals now become a threat to the hatchlings. Sometimes the eggs themselves aren't safe. Take a walk down the beach and look for small craters in the sand. You may notice that the craters are surrounded with raccoon prints. Upon closer inspection, you may also notice that some of the broken eggshells still have baby turtles in them that would have otherwise been many days away from hatching. It's a sad situation, but it's nature. This is why sea turtles lay so many eggs. Only one in every hundred makes it through their first year. Humans could make matters worse, but fortunately in this case, the folks at The Nature Conservancy and the caring residents are there to help.

Photography at the Blowing Rocks

This is a fantastic place to get some very unique images, but there are concerns for photographers as well. We are nothing without our photography equipment. Don't let the hazardous conditions have you packing up and leaving early.

Salt water is a killer when it comes to electronics. Crashing waves can wet your gear, causing it to act funny. Even weather-resistant cameras can short out or otherwise malfunction. Make sure you take plenty of lens cloths and rags with you. Keep one handy and make sure the others are kept dry in your camera bag. You will have to change them pretty often. Play it safe and don't give the saltwater a chance to seep into any openings in your electronic gear. Check your lens often as well. Make sure you have no drops on it, which could be a pain in the neck to clone out later.

A tripod is absolutely necessary. Just make sure to rinse it in freshwater when you are done. Coral Cove Park has freshwater showers available near the restroom and playground area.

Do you prefer using ND grads, or blending two to three exposures? I do both, depending on the situation. When shooting at Blowing Rocks Preserve or Coral Cove Park, I find it easier to use a grad. They allow you to catch the action in the water and waves without having to deal with the cumbersome blending process. Blending the images can be tricky with the water movement and splashing waves, especially when using shutter speeds from 1/4 sec. to 2 seconds. Long exposures will completely blur the water, giving it a misty or foggy appearance. Because most of the texture in the water is lost, blending together two long exposures is relatively easy.

Is the weather not what you expected? Make the best of it! Sunrise isn't your only option. If the clouds give way to the sun on the west, with clouds on the east, the colors can be spectacular as sunset approaches. Even if the opposite occurs, look out for a display of anti-crepuscular rays on the east. Even thunderstorms can provide you with a really dramatic sky. With slow enough shutter speeds and a little bit of luck, maybe you'll get some lightning in the image as well.

On your next visit to South Florida, this may be a place of interest to you. It's not what you may expect from the Florida coast, but that's what makes it worthwhile photo shoot. And while it might lack some of the drama of California�s Big Sur, it�s a beautiful place nonetheless. Think of it as �Little Sur!�

Blowing Rocks Preserve is located about half an hour north of West Palm Beach at 574 South Beach Road, Hobe Sound, Florida. The preserve can be contacted at (561) 744-6668.

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Overfishing linked to algal blooms

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:01:00 +0000

Depletion of large predatory fish disrupts food chain.

Matt Kaplan

Predatory pike can ultimately help to control algal blooms.Photolibrary

Nitrogenous fertilizers and detergents have long been known to cause algal blooms that block sunlight and strangle ecosystems, but a study now reveals that overfishing of large predatory fish is also playing a key part.

Britas Klemens Eriksson at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands noticed that populations of predatory fish in the Baltic Sea seemed to be declining in areas where algal blooms subsequently tended to form. Curious as to whether there was a connection, Eriksson and a team of colleagues from the Swedish Board of Fisheries in Öregrund set up an investigation.

The team reviewed a year's worth of field data on predatory pike (Esox lucius) and perch (Perca fluviatilis) populations from nine areas covering 700 kilometres of coastline in the Baltic Sea. They then compared this information with information collected during the same period on smaller fish and algal populations in the region. They found some intriguing patterns.

"In areas where there were strong declines in perch and pike there were massive increases in smaller fish and large blooms of algae," comments Eriksson. Where perch and pike populations were intact, the surrounding waters had a 10% chance of experiencing an algal bloom; in areas where their populations had been substantially reduced, the chances of an algal bloom were 50%.

Intrigued by these trends, the researchers ran small-scale field experiments for 2 years in unpolluted waters to investigate the forces responsible for controlling algal growth. They manipulated the environmental conditions in these experiments by: sometimes excluding large predatory fish through the use of cages; sometimes adding nitrogenous fertilizer pellets; sometimes applying both techniques; and sometimes leaving areas as untouched controls.

As expected, the nitrogenous pellets increased algal growth. But surprisingly, when predatory fish were prevented from accessing a given area, algae in that area became much more prevalent. The effect even proved to be true when nitrogenous pellets were not added to the system.

"This is the first study to show that top predators are linked to the formation of macroalgal blooms," says marine biologist Heike Lotze, at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada.

In tiers

Eriksson speculates that the effect results from the disruption in the food chain caused by excluding the large predator fish. Top-predatory fish feed on mid-level predatory fish, which in turn feed on invertebrate herbivores such as snails and crustaceans. These are the animals that control the algal community. Knock out the top predators, and mid-level predators develop huge populations which, in turn, reduce the numbers of algal-eating species, allowing blooms to grow unchecked, explains Eriksson.

The team report in Ecological Applications¹ that, on the basis of their findings, fighting algal blooms by more tightly controlling nitrogenous materials in waste water and agricultural run-off is not the best approach. "If we want to manage algal blooms effectively, we need to start by taking an ecosystem perspective … we have to restore depleted fish communities," says Eriksson.

"That they are showing effects over four trophic [feeding] levels is really impressive," says Lotze. "We've tried to experimentally explore these sorts of interactions before, but with so many levels there is often too much noise to see trends. That they've managed to get clear results is exciting."

Yet even with these results, nitrogenous material must not be ignored. "When we added nitrogen and removed predators we saw blooms that were two times larger than those created by predator depletion alone. The two certainly appear to be connected," says Eriksson.

This is an important finding, because environmental management programmes currently handle fish population conservation and algal-bloom control as separate entities. "Environmental practice has to change based upon these results," says experimental ecologist Birte Matthiessen at the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences in Kiel, Germany. "Eutrophication and fisheries management need to be combined."

Technology transfer on the table

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Climate summit will seek ways to help developing nations build a low-carbon energy infrastructure.

Jeff Tollefson

To tackle climate change, poor countries may need green technologies, such as these wind turbines in India.A. Dave/Reuters

Cutting global carbon emissions and slowing climate change will require a massive dissemination of clean-energy technology from rich nations to the developing world. And although negotiators remain deadlocked over goals for cutting emissions (see page 550), they are converging on a framework for speeding up the spread of the necessary technologies.

Several proposals for this will be on the table when delegates from 192 countries gather in Copenhagen for the climate summit next week, but two elements seem to be gathering momentum in the run-up discussions. The first is the idea of a centralized technology-transfer body under the United Nations climate convention. The second is a network of regional centres, or some kind of technology corps, to help poor nations implement sustainable-development plans.

Both proposals sidestep the issue of access to patented technology, the focus of a long-running dispute between rich and poor nations. Instead, they would help poor countries address an array of mundane but in many ways more pernicious issues, such as energy infrastructure, government policy and workforce development, that hinder their ability to absorb new technologies. Blueprints for a solar thermal power station, for instance, aren't much use without qualified engineers to build and run it and power lines to carry the electricity — challenges even for industrialized nations.

"You have to come back to the basic question about how technology is flowing to the developing world, and it's primarily flowing through transactions within the business community," says Björn Stigson, president of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in Geneva, Switzerland. Government policies, local economics and workforce issues can all affect those deals, he says. "The biggest bottleneck is availability of human resources."

Exactly how this new framework would function, what kind of authority it would have and how much money it would command remain to be worked out. But poor and rich countries alike support the general idea, says Kunihiko Shimada, a Japanese delegate who has stepped aside as a negotiator in order to co-chair the technology-transfer group at the UN climate talks.

“We need a proliferation of efforts and institutions, because we don’t know what is going to work.”

Shimada acknowledges that negotiators in Copenhagen could still get bogged down in the debate over access to the patented technologies found in everything from the latest solar panels to low-emission coal-plant prototypes. Developing countries have to varying degrees called for compulsory licensing, which would force companies to put certain patents in the public domain, or for a fund to purchase patented technologies, which would then be put in the public sphere. Industrialized countries are resisting such proposals, declaring that intellectual property is crucial to driving innovation.

In fact, little is known about how patents affect technological diffusion in the energy industry, when any given 'technology', such as a wind turbine or a clean coal plant, might contain dozens or hundreds of patents, many of which originated in other industries. "We are flying blind," says Bernice Lee, a researcher who has been studying the issue at Chatham House, a think tank in London.

Lee recently headed a Chatham House analysis of nearly 57,000 patents in six energy sectors, which found that the 30 most-cited patents in each sector took two to three decades to hit the mass market. That lag time will need to be halved by 2025 if the world is to meet its climate goals, according to the report. In order to disperse crucial technologies more quickly and widely, Chatham House recommends expanding global demonstration programmes for high-risk sectors such as carbon capture and storage, coordinating technology standards, and accelerating international collaboration on research and development.

All of these functions could be promoted through a technology-transfer body under the UN climate convention, although few think that will be enough to get the job done. "We need a proliferation of efforts and institutions, because we don't know what is going to work," says Michael Levi, a climate expert at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City. "What we can't afford is to focus on a single mechanism and then find out over the course of a decade that it doesn't work very well."

The developing world, for its part, can't simply wait for the rich countries to equip it for a low-carbon future, says Shane Tomlinson, a researcher with the London-based advocacy group E3G, which promotes sustainable development. One proposal under discussion would require countries to create their own sustainable-development strategies, perhaps in concert with plans for adapting to climate change, to be eligible for international aid. "It's a balanced approach between top–down strategic prioritization and bottom–up low-carbon development plans that is really key to getting the marketplace right," Tomlinson says. "We really do need both."

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:59:00 +0000

Reuters

Climate analysts are praising China's promise to slash the country's emissions — even as they wonder if the target is achievable or ambitious enough.

Last week, China's State Council announced that the country will cut its carbon intensity — carbon emissions per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) — by 40–45% from 2005 levels by 2020. "It is a very welcome decision," says Fatih Birol, chief economist at the International Energy Agency in Paris. "If the target is met, it would have significant implications for China and the rest of the world."

Yet some think that the target is not far-reaching enough given China's booming economy and its track record of improving energy efficiency. The country reduced its energy intensity — energy consumption per unit of GDP — by 47% between 1990 and 2005, and looks likely to cut it by another 20% from 2005 levels by the end of next year. Carbon intensity can drop faster than energy intensity if clean-energy sources are brought into the mix.

Online collection

Xie Zhenhua, deputy director of China's National Development and Reform Commission, says that China has picked low-hanging fruit by closing energy-inefficient factories and power plants. In China, industry accounts for an unusually large share — 50% — of energy consumption. "The further we go, the more challenging and costly it will get," he says.

If China sticks to current policies, it will reduce its carbon intensity by about 30% by 2020, says Zou Ji, an environmental economist at Renmin University in Beijing. "To get extra mileage and reach the 40–45% target, China will have to instigate substantial social and economic reforms across the board," he says.

Indeed, the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), a joint Chinese and international advisory board to the state government, recently laid out a road map to a low-carbon economy. It includes recommendations in such wide-ranging areas as energy pricing, industrial development, technological innovation, tax systems, land use and urban planning. "The daunting challenge that China faces cannot be underestimated," says Zou. "The concern is not only whether China is willing to make that step forward but whether its development state will allow a smooth economic transition."

Emissions peak

The new pledge will be included in China's next five-year plan along with policies to help it shift towards a low-carbon economy.

The target puts China on a path for emissions to peak around 2030, says Knut Alfsen, head of research at the Center for International Climate and Environmental Research in Oslo, and an author on the CCICED report. That peak, he says, "will take place at a level where emissions per capita are only half of what we have in the developed world today".

China's announcement came the day after US President Barack Obama pledged to cut his country's emissions by 17% from 2005 levels by 2020. It is the first time that the world's top two emitters have offered specific targets at the same time for controlling their emissions.

"It's very important for the two countries to put numbers on the table," says Jim Watson, a policy researcher at the University of Sussex in Brighton, UK.

In recent weeks other developing countries have made ambitious pledges. South Korea has promised a 30% cut below a business-as-usual scenario, and Brazil at least a 36% cut by 2020. Both would be modest cuts compared with 2005 emissions.

India followed China's announcement by saying it would "be willing to sign on to an ambitious global target for emissions reductions or limiting temperature increase" — but with the catch that "this must be accompanied by an equitable burden-sharing paradigm". China and India, along with Brazil, South Africa and Sudan, last weekend reiterated developing countries' insistence that developed nations help bear the cost of climate change, including facilitating technology transfer (see page 555).

So far, the European Union has pledged the most aggressive emissions cuts in the developed world, of 20% from 1990 levels by 2020, to be increased to 30% below if rich non-EU nations follow suit. The US target announced last week would be equivalent to a 3% reduction from 1990 levels.

Obama must also work with the Democrat-dominated Congress to pass climate legislation that would make its targets binding. The 17% cut he announced last week is in agreement with a bill passed by the House of Representatives earlier this year. The Senate is expected to vote on its own version of climate legislation early in 2010. The Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions if Congress does not act.

Tramping New Zealand's National Parks

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:09:00 +0000

On the island nation of New Zealand, tramping isn't just a word but rather it is a national pastime enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. The word 'tramping' may be unknown to most people outside of the country, but the recreational activity is simply known elsewhere as hiking or bushwalking. To be more precise, tramping usually involves walking New Zealand's rugged terrain, carrying all the equipment needed for your trip. A night stay is usually a part of tramping and this can take the form of an overnight campout in one of New Zealand's National Parks. With fourteen national parks in total there are so many beautiful areas for you to explore on a New Zealand walking holiday. Here are our pick of the islands' best:

Mount Aspiring National Park

This national park located close to the city of Wanaka is named after the towering Mount Aspiring; one of the country's highest points. The park is one of the best places in New Zealand for walking and is a serene dreamland of glaciers, mountains and alpine lakes. The park has a number of tramping trails, some of which are more challenging than others. The three day Routeburn track is stunning, but visitors with less time on their hands should try the Aspiring Hut walk, a one and a half hour trek which takes you around the perimeter of Mount Aspiring. The park also has something for the more adventurous, and you could finish your tour with a jetboat ride along the River Dart or even a heli-skiing adventure in the Northern Buchanan region.

Fjordland

This area of New Zealand is almost Norwegian in appearance, with its U-shaped glaciers and towering snow-capped mountains. Spectacular waterfalls cascade down through the valley and these can be explored via sea kayak. On your kayaking trip you may be lucky enough to spot some of the park's local residents, dolphins, penguins and fur seals. This national park is the best in New Zealand for walking and of the country's ten 'Great Walks' three can be found in this very park. The most famous being the Milford Track, a five day trail which begins at the head of Lake Te Anau and ends at Milford Sound, from where it is possible to book a fjord cruise taking in the rest of the region.

Tongariro

Parts of the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy were shot on location at the Tongariro National Park. Therefore, visitors to this region can not only enjoy walking amongst vaguely familiar landscape but in doing so can hope to learn more about the volcanic past of New Zealand. Walking the Alpine Crossing in this national park attracts 70,000 visitors each summer and visitors to this region are awarded with breathtaking views of the three snow-covered volcanoes, Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro. The largest of these volcanoes Ruapehu played Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings and although all three volcanoes are still active, this doesn't stop thrill-seekers from skiing down their slopes or hiking up to their craters. The park is ideal for walking in and, as well as the Alpine Crossing, guests can also take part in the six day round the mountain walk, where guests can spot all kinds of native flora and fauna from long and short-tailed bats to the native birds that make their home in the national park.

Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. Operating since 1946, they now offer over 250 guided group walking holidays in more than 90 different countries. On walking holidays in New Zealand with Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, you can walk the most scenic locations & landscapes at the best value prices.

Favorite Season of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:08:00 +0000

When it comes to the seasons of the year, which is your favorite? I suppose the definition of seasons really depends on where you live because they can differ from one place to another. I'm really referring to the four different seasons that we are used to in the northern parts of the United States. When you think of Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, which one stands out as your favorite time of year? I can help but think of Fall as being the best time of the year for a number of reasons.

After a long hot summer with warm temperatures and little rain in most cases, the temperatures begin to cool and the vegetation in the wild begins to undergo a change. This change is what makes the leaves on the trees change color, providing us with amazing picture opportunities because of the brilliant array of colors that the dying leaves have taken on. There couldn't be a better scene then the scene you get from rolling hills covered with trees with brightly covered leaves. The smells from the harvesting of crops, the changing colors and smells of forest vegetation, and the sounds of falling leaves and whipping winds all combine to provide the feeling of home and comfort.

Another reason that the Fall season stands out to me is because of the exciting opportunities for outdoor activity that exists during this time of year. Just about the same time when the leaves start turning color, the harvest starts to take place, is the time when the many different hunting seasons open up. This is what really gets me going in the fall and may be the main reason that I favor the Fall season so much. The small game seasons kick of the Fall hunting seasons in early September, followed by other hunting seasons such as archery deer hunting, duck, and goose hunting. All of the outdoor hunting opportunities come to be as soon as the summer comes to an end and the fall season comes into play. For many, this is a very exciting time of the year.

With the changing of the temperatures in the fall from warm to cool comes the desire to cook warm, soothing meals for your family. Another reason the fall season is so great is because all of the meals that you love to cook on cool days now sound so much better because of the changing weather outside. Meals that are made in the slow cooker seem to come to mind. Meals like roasts or chili seem to be much more appealing during this time of year.

There are also other reasons that many enjoy the fall season. With all of the beautiful colors and scenery comes the perfect picture taking opportunities for those who love the art of photography. There are numerous possibilities including natural wildlife, animals, and water pictures that can be taken and all are enhanced by the breath taking colors that are produced during this time of year.

The numerous reasons mentioned such as the brilliant colors, the wonderful smells, and the excellent outdoor opportunities are just a few reasons why I prefer the fall season over the others. It is during this time that the outdoors really comes alive, even though in reality the opposite of coming alive is occurring. Your favorite may be different which is perfectly fine. In the end it comes down to personal preference and what makes you happy.

Kerala Beaches Offer Celestial Experience

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:07:00 +0000

For those looking to break free from the monotony of daily life, Kerala beaches might be the answer. This destination is a perfect antidote to the boredom of a city life. The beaches of Kerala are famous the world over for their irresistible charm and beauty. You can either relax on the beaches or indulge in a variety of adventure sports. There is something for every kind of tourist. Kerala beaches will surely make your holidays rejuvenating and memorable.

The palm fringed beaches steeped in romantic aura offering picturesque views attract many a tourist from far and wide. These beaches offer great adventure opportunities. Plunge into skiing, angling, swimming and several other beach sports to quench your adventure thirst.

Some of the famous beaches are:

Alappuzha Beach

It is one of the most popular beaches of Kerala. Dotted with swaying palms, the beach offers an exhilarating experience to visitors. Known as the Venice of the East, the beach has a pier, which is around 140 years old. Surfing, para sailing and swimming are the water sports one can enjoy here. This beach is endowed with a network of lakes, lagoons and freshwater rivers, adding more charm to it.

Varkala Beach

Offering tranquility and pleasure in plenty, Varkala beach is for those who want to spent some quality time in a peaceful environment. It is believed that a bath in the waters of this beach rids one of his sins. Located near the beach are the mineral springs, which are believed to be blessed with medicinal properties.

Kappad Beach

Holding sheer historic importance, this beach is a famous picnic spot in Kerala. During the year 1498 Vasco da Gama, the renowned Portuguese sailor, came here. The beach also has a Devi Temple, which is around 800 years old. One can also enjoy Ayurvedic massages here as there are several centers at the beach.

Bekal Beach, Beypore Beach, Cherai Beach, Ezhimala Beach, Kappil Beach, Mararikulam Beach, Fort Kochi Beach and Somatheeram Beach are the other famous beaches of Kerala.

New Hiking Trails in Kielder

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:06:00 +0000

Have you ever seen Mars, Venus or Mercury? Sure, through a telescope, but have you seen them with your naked eye? At the Kielder Observatory, you can see all those and more. They dangle in space, inline next to the forest track that leads to the observatory. These planets rotate and rock to the whisper of the wind. You would probably find yourself very surprised to run across these celestial beings spinning in the fingers of the wind should you be on any other mountain trail, but this trail leads to Kielder. Kielder isn't like most observatories; it's not a big white dome sitting atop a rocky crag. It's more of a modern building that you wouldn't expect to house an observatory.

Further along the track, you will come across another structure that is etched into the side of a crag. If you decide to explore, you will go through a tunnel and into an area you might think to have housed a medieval dungeon. This structure is cone shaped and it contains no windows to allow the light of day entrance. At the apex, you will find a hole to which the heavens seem to press. This weird structure is named Skyspace and is the creation of California artist James Turrell.

If you are planning on taking the jaunt up to Kielder, be prepared for a long trip new trail skirts England's most remote body of water and is shrouded in some of England's densest forest. You'll want to bring some supplies with you, as you will be quite a ways out into the countryside. If you drive up by way of Bellingham to Hawkhope, your eyes will be treated to some of the most gorgeous countryside you can imagine. From dark rivulets of water stretching for miles, to the dense growth of tall stately conifers, the wind won't be the only thing that takes your breath away. The lake is bordered by Kielder Dam, which holds the dark waters at bay. The conifers march in line around the edges of the lake in an orderly fashion, testimony to the hands that planted them. Lakeside Way is constructed of stone and cinders to accommodate not only boots, but also bikes and mobility scooters. It winds around the reservoir for twenty seven miles and has been host to the footfalls of many awestruck tourists for the thirty years it has been in existence.

If you would like to digest a little art along with the landscape, you can manage that here too. The latest architectural commissions to make their way into the forest are six new shelters that are nestled into the countryside next to Lakeside way. Stell is an isolated stone sheepfold that, as you get closer, you find is actually a sitting spot that sports lacy ironwork cushions. Silvas Captalis is a giant timber head, mouth open to the forest floor. If you are brave enough to enter the mouth of this giant head, you can climb to a point inside where you can look out through the eyes of this huge forest dweller. This beautiful area has no shortage of creation to view, be it nature or by the hand of man.

Best Tree Houses in Britain

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:06:00 +0000

Tree houses have grown up. No longer are they the little five by five clap board contraptions nailed together in the big old oak tree in the backyard. Now Tree houses have even gotten big enough to house hotels, restaurants and attractions. People are getting back to nature, walking through the woods, enjoying the views of art in the woods and even going to concerts in the woods. Trees aren't just building materials anymore. People are enjoying climbing trees, planting trees, working to conserve threes and even flying through the trees on army style zip wires.

These zip wire adventures have many different levels that can take you as high as you dare go. You can zip between the trunks fairly close to the ground, or you can soar with the birds high up in the canopy. Many of these zip wires can carry you right to a tree house, where you can enjoy a multitude of things. Some tree houses can be as simple as a platform in the sky and still others can house such things as restaurants or even hotels.

The Forestry Commission has reported over a hundred million visitors a year to it forest sites in England, Scotland and Wales. There has been a definite increase in interest, forests and trees have landed back on the national recreation popularity list. Visitors to the woods go there for a number of reasons; some go for the peace and quiet, while others go for the mountain biking and high wire adventures. A full thirty percent of the forest visitors are there with their mountain bikes, ready to enjoy their rolling adventures. Fifteen percent enjoy the adventure sites where you can go zipping through the trees like Tarzan. Fifteen of these adventure sites are managed by Go Ape!, one of Britains biggest tree adventure suppliers. Another adventure company named BeWILD has also seen a large increase in visitors to their arboreal attractions, they are geared up to hit 165,000 visitors by the end of this year.

Alnwick Tree House is among the most elaborate tree houses in existence. It was built by Napper Architects of Newcastle in 2004. This massive structure is a main feature of the refurbished Alnwick Gardens and was opened to the public in 2005. This 'tree house' houses a large restaurant with an open fire. It has meeting spaces and smaller outbuildings, all above ground. This building is not entirely tree supported, in fact, it's not really tree supported at all due to its weight. This tree house is held up by a combination of a huge network of wooden braces and concrete foundations as well as two concrete towers hidden within the design. This amazing structure is even accessible by wheelchair!

How Nature Prepares for Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:48:00 +0000

Winter is nearly upon us, and there is lots of work to be done. Today my family spent the day cutting, splitting, and storing firewood to keep the house warm through the coming cold. Plants and animals in the northern hemisphere are getting ready for winter too. None match the wood splitting ability of my husband, but each excels in winter preparation in its own way.

Deciduous trees, like oak and maple, prepare differently than do their evergreen brethren. Winter to a tree is not so much a time of cold as it is a time of drought. Water frozen in the soil becomes unavailable to the plant for use in photosynthesis. Using the diminishing sunlight as a clue, these trees grow a corky barrier where the leaf meets the twig, severing the leaf from the plant. If leaves stayed attached, water could escape through the leaves, into the dry winter air, desiccating and killing the plant.

Have you noticed that some deciduous trees cut off the leaves' water supply, but allow the leaves to hang on for the winter? Leaves of young beech and oak trees do this. We are not sure why, but it could be that old, dead, dried leaves, which are not so palatable to deer and moose, stay on to cover and protect the delicious bud underneath from these big browsers. Others theorize that these trees just haven't gotten the hang of true deciduousness yet.

Throughout winter our snowy landscape will be dotted with the greens of hemlock, pine, and rhododendron. Evergreens hang onto their leaves to save energy in the spring. Without having to re-grow lost leaves when the soil water thaws, they are ready to get going right away. They may also photosynthesize in the winter if conditions permit. This strategy makes sense too.

To protect themselves, evergreen trees and bushes have modified their leaves. Hemlocks, pines and others have needles with waxy coatings and small surface areas to reduce water loss. Rhododendrons also cover their leaves with wax. Notice a rhododendron on a particularly cold winter day. The leaf will curl under to protect the pores (called stomata) on their bottom surface from the drying effects of cold air. Stomata are the doors, if you will, to the moist leaf interior.

Plants are not the only organisms to adapt to the coming cold. White-tailed deer shed their red-brown summer coat for a dull grey winter coat. The thin summer hair protects well from bugs, but the hollow winter hair traps air and provides extra insulation. It insulates so well that a bedded deer could be covered by snow and not cause the snow to melt at all.

Hares and weasels loose their brown summer coloration and change to a white coat to better blend into the winter background. Some species of weasels maintain a small black tuft at the tip of their tails to confuse would-be predators. If the predator chooses poorly, it ends up with a mouthful of hair and not the weasel.

Some animals stay active all winter searching for food, while others stockpile supplies. Grey squirrels stash large piles of acorns and red squirrels stockpile evergreen cones. Throughout the winter they will brave a trip from the protection of their nests out to visit these stores to keep their fat levels up. Chipmunks have spent the fall storing nuts and seeds in underground coffers. They will wake up periodically, make an underground trip through its maze of tunnels, and have a bite to eat.

Forecasting Winter Severity Using Signs from Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:47:00 +0000

The other day I spotted a hornet's nest hanging from the branch of a small witch hazel tree. It had been cold recently and knowing the Bald-faced hornets that built and used the nest during the summer abandon it after the first big frost, I decided it was worth collecting. As I approached, I remembered an old wives' tale that claimed you could predict the severity of the coming winter with a hornet's nest. The saying goes: if the nest is close to the ground, the winter will be dry, but if the nest is high in the trees, then snow will pile deep.

Folklore has passed down many methods of prognostication. You are probably familiar with the midwinter ritual of dragging a poor rodent from its den to see if it notices its shadow. But did you know that Alaskan Indians check the position of bears in their dens to predict the severity of their winters? Not a job I would be willing to do. According to the Kutchin Indians, bears will lie close to the den opening when the winter is to be mild, but dig deeper in if the winter is to be severe.

Now you might want to check out bear dens, but another tribe has a less risky technique. The Koyukon Indians search out hare tracks in the season's first snowfall. If the tracks are wide, that means the hares have extra hairy feet, telling of a cold and wet winter. And perhaps this is true, but has anyone ever bothered to check such wives' tales?

Well, yes indeed they have. You've perhaps seen the caterpillar known as the woolly bear. It is the larva of the Isabella tiger moth, a somewhat non-descript beige moth. Legend has it that woolly bears foretell the severity of the coming winter. If the orange/brown band around its midsection is wide, the winter will be mild; if the band is narrow, get out and split extra firewood or buy a new snow shovel, because, a harsh winter is in store.

In 1948, Charles Curran of the American Museum of Natural History began an 8-year study of the caterpillars. He dutifully collected and measured dozens of these little buggers each year. For years he found that the reddish segment accounted for about one third the body length of the caterpillar. The corresponding winters were mild, seeming to confirm the folklore.

During the eighth year's collection however, Curran found two populations of caterpillars just about 100 feet apart; one predicted a harsh winter and the other a mild one. Now either this was going to be a terribly unusual weather pattern or the myth of winter prognostication by means of caterpillar was busted. With this conflicting data Dr. Curran ended his study. Did he give up too soon?

Another more recent study by entomologists have determined that older woolly bear caterpillars tend to have wider bands than young ones. Therefore, if the previous winter ended early, caterpillars would emerge early, and would be older in the fall than if the winter had lingered. Trouble is, this tells about the previous winter, not the upcoming one.

Cagliari, Sardinia: A Mediterranean Gem

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:47:00 +0000

Cagliari is the capital city of Sardinia, which is a region of Italy. There are about 160,000 people that live directly in the city, but over half a million live in the entire metropolitan area suburbs. This city is rich in history and culture, and is one of the premier tourist destinations in Sardinia.

The oldest part of Cagliari sits on a hill and has a beautiful view of Angels Gulf. Most of the city's walls are still standing and you can find two beautiful limestone towers. These two towers, St. Pancra and The Elephant Tower, are intact and add a simple elegance to the city. This white limestone was used to build many of the buildings found in Cagliari, as well as the city walls.

In 1930, the Cathedral was restored to more of its original appearance. The Baroque exterior was transformed back to a Medieval Pisan facade. The bell tower is completely original. This Cathedral has been referred to repeatedly in literature and artistic song for the alabaster beauty from the limestone walls.

Architectural Wonders of Cagliari, Sardinia

To the people of Sardinia, the Basilica di San Saurnino is the most important monument in the entire island. The Basilica is dedicated to the memory of Santurninus of Cagliari, a martyr that was killed during Diocletian's reign. It was build during the fifth century and only the center part remains. There are crypts and a necropolis located nearby as well.

Another popular tourist attraction in Sardinia is the Roman Amphitheater. It was actually carved into the face of a hill made of limestone. Built between the first and eleventh century, the amphitheater could seat ten thousand people. Many tourists mistakenly think that this piece of Roman architecture is located in Rome.

The Sardinian Archaeological Museum is in Cagliari and is the biggest and most important representation of the Nuragic civilization. This museum has several bronze sculptures that are worth the trip to see.

Other Wonders of Cagliari, Sardinia

Cagliari has many winding, narrow streets, so transportation is somewhat tedious. However, you will find several craftsmen workshops down these scenic lanes. Tourists often flock to these workshops in search of carpentry, weaving, ceramics, and jewelry items. The skills needed to create such items have been passed down through the generations.

Nature gets makeover in forest lab

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:44:00 +0000

On this recent snowy day, his forest lab looked utterly natural - a few wind-strewn trees lying under a canopy of beech, birch, and maple. But looks were deceiving; Keeton and others had logged and carefully shaped the wooded slope, using chainsaws and other machinery to emulate what happens in woodlands over centuries.

Using Mother Nature as a blueprint, Keeton, a University of Vermont forestry specialist, has developed a technique that allows for logging while maximizing the carbon kept in the forest and out of the atmosphere, where it can trap the sun's heat and drive global warming.

The work by Keeton and others offers landowners a way both to profit from selling timber - though less than under conventional forestry practices - and contribute to the fight against global warming, at a time when keeping carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere is becoming a political, environmental, and economic priority.

"When the climate problem became more public and people began to worry about the amount of carbon we're putting into the air, their eyes began to turn to our forests," said Bob Perschel, northeast region director of the Forest Guild, an association of professional foresters. The best way to keep carbon in a forest is to leave it alone, but given the reality of logging, "the question is, what can we do in our forests to sequester more carbon?"

Interest in trees' carbon-storage abilities comes on multiple fronts. In a bill now being refined, US Representative Edward Markey, the Malden Democrat leading House efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, has proposed setting aside a portion of income from auctioning off carbon credits - licenses to cover the amount of carbon dioxide polluters release - to support practices that increase the carbon stored in forests, crops, and soil.

Break-Up - Women Confuse Attraction With Love

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:44:00 +0000

A woman will often get involved with a man who isn't going where she's going. It's obvious for everyone that he's not the right man for her, but she can't see this. Why does that happen?

Well, nature doesn't take into account our long-term happiness when it comes to relationships. It also doesn't care how much we have in common with this person we feel attracted to or if we'll get along with them in the long run. Nature only cares about the fulfillment of our biological need to replicate and it will do whatever it takes to make us blind to everything that might interfere with the achievement of its objective.

So the depth of our attraction for someone is not a guarantee for a lasting and fulfilling long-term relationship. Nature doesn't have the words long-term and happiness in its vocabulary. That's why in the first months/years of a relationship, your analytical mind won't step up and tell you what it really thinks about what you're doing. Only after a while will you receive warning signs from your mind. So you finally wake up months/years later wondering how is it possible that you got involved with that man in the first place. Or, as people like to ask, "What were you thinking?". The honest answer would be..."I wasn't."

And here's an even bigger problem: men are even less aware than women when it comes to these things. So he may say things like "I love you", only to realize a few months/years later, that you're not The One for him.

Lotus Flower as a Symbol of Modesty

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:43:00 +0000

Everything we do and every part of our behavior reflects on nature. Human behavior can be very disastrous, but at the same time it can be the most amazing thing you have ever seen. When you watch someone that doesn't care about what they do and what others think of them, your impression of that person is not a good one. That person is someone that can bring a lot of harm to others.

However, when you see someone that doesn't enjoy being watched or doesn't like standing out from the crowd, that is one person that can reserve the greatest surprises for you. Someone that hides from other people looks, someone that doesn't enjoy boasting, yet they hide great potential inside, that is someone that can change the world. This is something that you should look for.

This kind of behavior is encountered often in people all around us. This is also a type of behavior that you can find in nature, in animals and in some plants as well. One of the plants that I am talking about is the Lotus flower, one of the most beautiful plants that you can lay your eyes upon.

The Lotus flower is in many ways one of the greatest mysteries in nature. A plant usually has roots in the ground and springs up in order to be seen by everyone that goes by. Basking their petals in the beautiful sunlight or moonlight is indeed the way these creations of nature repay people that stop to enjoy them.

However the Lotus flower does not follow the same process. This is one flower that grows in mud on the bottom of shallow lakes, allowing everyone that passes it during the day to enjoy one of the greatest sights that can ever be seen on earth. On the other hand, when the moon starts showing its rays, this beautiful flower goes back into the mud from where it will rise again the next day.

Can The Science of Getting Rich Be Manipulated?

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 05:42:00 +0000

Is it a fair statement to say that we are not able to get rich because someone has snatched the opportunity from us? Is it possible for anyone to fence the way to riches so that others may not have a share of their success by walking along the same path? In other words, can the Science of Getting Rich be manipulated or coveted? Have you thought about it?

Let me ask you a question, if so, why do we see a normal person who delivered newspapers at the tender age of 14 rose to become a billionaire? (I am talking about Warren Buffet of course!)

The way should have been properly cordoned off by the rich living in the area that a newspaper delivery boy should have never trampled upon the way, don't you think so?

This proves that there is abundant opportunity for the person who is discerned enough to learn and understand the way. What keeps some away from the way is pure ignorance!

The universe has in store such abundance that everyone on earth can have more than enough of what they want and still be leftovers of supply of riches. No one is ever kept in poverty by shortness of the supply of riches, but nature has more than enough for all who live on the face of the earth.

No one can claim they are poor because nature is poor or because there is not enough to go around. Nature is indeed an inexhaustible storehouse of riches and the supply will never run short. Nature responds to the needs of mankind and it will not deprive the world of any good.

Digestive Care, Stomach Ulcers, Dyspepsia

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:41:00 +0000

Laboratory Studies
In laboratory tests the UMF antibacterial property present in UMF Manuka Honey has been found to inhibit, in vitro, the growth of the bacteria helicobacter pylori.
Helicobacter Pylori is believed to cause most stomach ulcers, dyspepsia and peptic ulcers.
The peroxide antibacterial activity of other honeys (including ordinary manuka honey) was found not to be effective against helicobacter pylori.
Studies are also showing that the good bacteria in the stomach are not affected by the UMF property.

Shirley in England beats h.pylori. Read Shirley's story.
* Click Here to Order Genuine UMF16+ Manuka Honey

Anecdotal Testimonies.
Anecdotal testimonies People from many parts of the world who have used SummerGlow UMF16+ Manuka Honey for stomach ulcers and gastric problems have reported feeling much better after having the honey.
Many also found that a very high UMF level (such as SummerGlow UMF16+) is much more effective than lower UMF levels which just meet the UMF standard or manuka honey which does not have UMF.

Shelly in USA says "Thank you for helping my husband to be healthy again." Read Shelly's testimony

How to Have SummerGlow UMF16+ Manuka Honey For Digestive Health.
*Try having a teaspoon to a tablespoon of SummerGlow UMF16+ Manuka Honey three to four times a day, ideally one hour before meals and again at bedtime.
*Try to have nothing to drink immediately after having the honey so as not to dilute the honey.
*Having the honey on bread, toast or cracker biscuit holds the honey in the stomach for as long as possible.
*Many people have experienced good results if they have the honey straight from the teaspoon.
*SummerGlow UMF16+ Manuka Honey is pure honey so it does not interfere with regular medications.
*Adjust the amount and frequency to suit your own needs. Most people have a generous amount of the honey initially, then reduce it as they feel warranted.
*A little discomfort was experienced by a few for a very short period.

Stinging Trees

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:41:00 +0000

Arguably the most painful plant in the world, the giant stinging tree grows in the rainforests of coastal Queensland and New South Wales, eastern Australia. They like to grow in areas near river courses, especially in clear or disturbed areas. They are supposed to gow to about 40 metres high, but the largest ones at Barrington Tops National Park grow to about 20 metres high, with a trunk about 0.5 metres in diameter. The bark is light in colour, and older trees, you can touch the trunk without being stung.

The leaves, however, are covered in silica - glass - spikes, and when touched causes immediate pain which can last for days. The young trees grow rapidly. They are a rainforest pioneer species. The wood is very soft and if a tree is felled it will rot away within months.

The leaves of the tree are heart shaped and usually have large gaping holes in them caused by beetles. The leaves are covered in dense hairs which the tree uses to sting it predators. Each tiny silicon hair contains neurotoxin and on touch they break off and inject the venom. Even dead leaves can sting. My wife was severely stung by a dead leaf at the bottom of a shallow pool at Dorrigo National Park. It took days for the sting to subside.

There are only male flowers or female flowers on a giant stinging tree. Giant stinging trees are easily recognised from the six other species of Australian stinging tree. For starters, they are big. The tree is easily identified by its large, heart shaped leaves, covered with dense hairs. The leaves are often full of holes; this is caused by a beetle which eats the leaves. Flowers are yellow-green, and the fruit is a small nut on an expanded fleshy stalk resembling a mulberry in colour and texture. These stalks are an important winter fruit for the Green Catbird and the Regent Bowerbird.

Stinging trees grow right along the east coast of Australia. They grow only if they get both strong sunlight, and protection from the wind. Stinging trees play an important part in the ecology of a rainforest. Many native Australian animals, birds and insects are not bothered by the sting, and happily devour the leaves and fruit. Red legged pademelons - small fat wallabies about the size of a small dog, reportedly love eating the leaves. They are certainly endemic in locations where stinging tress grow.

You need thick gloves to stop a stinging tree. Cotton or denim is not sufficient to ward off a sting. The silicon hairs penetrate your skin, and then break off. They're so tiny, that often the skin will close over the hairs. So sometimes, once you've been stung, you can't remove the stinging hairs. What's worse is that you can get stung even after the leaf is dead. My wife once stepped on an almost completely rotted leaf at the bottom of a river bed, and was severely stung by the dead leaf. There are reports that the stinging hairs can be potent for decades after the leaf has died.

Eastern Water Dragons

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:38:00 +0000

A colony of about 15 Eastern Water Dragons live in my backyard in Sydney Australia. The back yard is steep, very rocky, has a swimming pool, and is full of small caves - perfect lizard territory.

Eastern Water Dragon males can grow to about one meter long. The length is mostly tail - their bodies are fairly short and stout. They are striped in a similar way to Sydney Blue Tongue lizards, but are immediately differentiated because of their very long toes and spiky crest which starts at the head and extends down the back. The females are much smaller - often only about one third to one half the size of the males.

The males are territorial after a fashion. They'll chase each other all day, and can be quite aggressive to each other, especially during the mating season. However, at night I've often found two competing males lovingly curled up with each other in the swimming pool filter box - one of their favourite haunts.

Eastern Water Dragons are not called Water Dragons for nothing - they love water, and at the first sign of danger - such as a neighbour's cat - they will all head for the swimming pool and dive to the bottom. Other places on the internet say they can stay underwater for up to half an hour. That's not true, they can stay underwater for at least three hours, and probably a lot longer. On cool autumn mornings I have often found a lizard or two, eyes tightly closed and in a stupor at the bottom of the pool - they look like they have been there for hours, and won't come up for air until two or three hours have elapsed from the time I've found them. I think the lizards use the pool as a sort of heat sink - when the air temperature is cooler than the water, they'll stay in the pool all day. Often when cleaning the pool I'll have to remove several lizards from the filter box. They act like they are in a state of suspended animation - there's no reaction at all when you touch them, but the second their skin comes in contact with the air (as you drag them out of the filter box), they'll wake up and struggle out of your hands. They seem to be very strong.

Feeling Seasick?

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:38:00 +0000

Oceans cover most of our planet, yet we know very little about marine ecosystems and even less about their pathogens and how they might infect us. When virologist Alvin Smith was working as a veterinarian for the U.S. Navy, he found that one marine virus called Vesivirus was causing a multitude of symptoms in a very wide range of animals - and could also spread from animals to humans. More recently, along with a team of researchers from Oregon State University, Eastern Virginia Medical School and AVI BioPharma, he has been studying how prevalent Vesivirus is in the general human population.

Vesivirus can infect a broad range of species due to an adaptive trait that has developed based on its replication mechanisms. Part of a family of viruses called Calciviruses, its genetic information is coded with RNA, not DNA. RNA replication lacks the proofreading inherent in DNA replication, making it very error-prone. Every virus replicated will have one to ten mistakes in the genetic code. Thus, the children from a single parent will virtually all be unique variants.

Although Vesivirus is present in the ocean, it can easily get to the surface. Much like the spray that comes off a freshly poured glass of soda, it can become airborne by erupting in bubbles at the surface of the water. "If you think about it, the ocean is a much easier place for a virus to get around anyway," says Smith. "When the viruses are shed, they're in basically a big bag of saline, so they can move around pretty freely and don't decay nearly as rapidly as they might on land."

Smith's theory was that many people could be unknowingly infected by the virus. It does not have a specific set of symptoms and can sometimes manifest itself simply as a blister - as exemplified by two scientists a few years ago who contracted the virus, one in the lab and one by working with marine mammals in the field. "If you don't know it's there, and you don't know to test for it, then it simply doesn't exist," says Smith.

Herbal Remedies Reviewed

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:37:00 +0000

Many people are now choosing to cut out the middleman by treating their medical problems themselves with herbal supplements. The face of herbal medicine, once dominated by patchouli-scented hippies and gauzy New Age types, is changing. Soccer moms are treating their children's colds with chicken soup and echinacea and college students fuel all-night study sessions with energy drinks boasting ginkgo and ginseng. Even in your local convenience store, snacks and drinks touting herbal ingredients are slowly encroaching on traditional junk food territory.

Every year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conduct a health survey of American households and a variety of other groups may request supplemental surveys as well. In 2002, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, which studies everything from yoga to acupuncture, sponsored a supplemental survey to measure herbal and dietary supplement use.

What the Survey Said

Jae Kennedy of Washington State University used this information to provide the first detailed national portrait of herbal medicine in the U.S., which was published in Clinical Therapeutics in January 2006. He found that echinacea, ginseng, ginkgo and garlic were, in that order, the most common herbs regularly taken by Americans. Nearly one fifth of Americans (38.2 million people), regularly took at least one type of herbal or dietary supplement. This number had doubled in only three short years since the previous survey in 1999 and is likely to be even higher now.

Kennedy found that regular herbal and dietary supplement use was higher among women, middle-aged adults, and college graduates. People with multi-racial, Asian, or Native American backgrounds also reported a higher usage. Using herbs and dietary supplements seems to be part of a concerted effort to improve health: generally, herbal supplement users exercise regularly, no longer smoke cigarettes, and report being in good or excellent health.

Kennedy's findings also show that most people use herbal medicine to complement conventional medicine, not to replace it. "For some conditions like depression and chronic pain, herbs might be a less toxic, less extreme kind of solution," says Kennedy. "These kinds of conditions are tough to treat effectively with conventional drug treatment."

What's In A Breath of Fresh Air?

noreply@blogger.com (Nature Worlds) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:36:00 +0000

When ocean waves crash onto a beach, they could be doing more than entertaining beach goers. Moving water, moving air and sunlight all cause air molecules to break apart, releasing charged atoms, or ions, into the atmosphere. Some scientists claim that there is an abundance of negatively charged ions in sea air and that they could have health benefits which range from better circulation to improved moods. A lot of people have enough faith in these effects to purchase negative ion generators for their homes. But have these curative claims ever been satisfactorily verified?

Ocean air contains a high percentage of ions which a surfer will inevitably encounter in their quest to find the perfect wave. These mainly come from ions of sodium, magnesium, chloride and sulphate present in sea water.

Sodium, the main positive ion found in sea water, is also found in extra-cellular fluids in our bodies. These fluids, such as blood plasma, bathe cells and carry out important transport functions for nutrients and waste. Positive magnesium ions are also used by the body and are an ingredient of some medicines like Epsom salts, which are commonly used to treat aches and pains. Negative chloride ions also play an important physiological role in the central nervous system and in transporting protein around the body.

But do these ions actually change the way we feel? The theories advocating the medicinal properties of ions tend to focus on the effects of breathing them in. It is thought that the extra charge helps our bodies take in oxygen and thus increases oxygen flow to the brain.