The guest of the "Nature of Things" program is a man who has been to Antarctica 16 times . What is ice from a scientist's point of view? What are its types and how are they formed in water?
Freediving world champion Natalya Avseenko spent 15 minutes under the ice at a temperature of -2.5 degrees Celsius. Natalia spent the experiment to study the language, echolocation and behavior of belugas in the White Sea, and the ability to survive in extreme cold conditions.
In a recent discussion on CBN Radio, Marco Bravo addressed the alarming forecast that 2024 is expected to be the hottest year on record. This assertion is backed by data from the Copernicus Institute, which indicates a global temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius. Bravo emphasized the serious repercussions of climate change, arising primarily from industrialization and the resultant increase in carbon emissions due to fossil fuel consumption, deforestation, and other human activities. He outlined the implications of this temperature rise, highlighting that it leads to more extreme weather patterns, including torrential rains in some regions and droughts in others. Bravo noted that this altered climate affects critical ecological systems, such as the Amazon rainforest, whose plants play a key role in the global carbon cycle and agriculture. Additionally, he discussed the dangers of thawing permafrost in the Arctic, which could release significant amounts of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. He warned about the devastating impact of deforestation and urban expansion without proper planning, suggesting that Brazil does not need to clear more land to increase agricultural productivity. Bravo also mentioned Brazil's potential in renewable energy sources and the importance of restoring degraded land to mitigate climate change. He concluded by highlighting recent extreme weather events in Brazil as a reflection of climate change’s reality, urging the need for awareness and concrete actions to address these pressing issues.
The podcast discusses the implications of World Economic Forum risks for 2020, particularly focusing on three main themes: climate change, geopolitical fragmentation, and the challenges faced by healthcare systems. The host, Edson Nascimento, elaborates on how economic concerns have intensified as fiscal and monetary policies worldwide become increasingly constrained, leading to dissatisfaction within local populations. Climate change is highlighted as an urgent issue, with the past five years potentially being the warmest on record, resulting in extreme weather events and contributing to geopolitical tension, particularly in the Arctic, where nations compete for resources such as gas and fish due to melting ice. The podcast also addresses the digital realm, noting how emerging technologies like 5G and cryptocurrencies create military maneuvering in cyberspace. The lack of international governance increases transaction costs and complicates the regulatory landscape for digital currencies, impacting national sovereignty. Finally, the podcast underscores the stress on public health systems, revealing that many previously eradicated diseases, such as polio, persist in certain countries. The rise of vaccine hesitancy and antibiotic resistance further threatens healthcare advances made over recent decades, putting public health goals at risk. The conversation aims to bring experts to discuss these critical issues, emphasizing their relevance to our everyday lives.