Thursday, March 29th, 2007
Marine sponges can harvest silicon from seawater and use it to build spiky filaments all over their body, inspiring the development of a cheap, low-energy method of manufacturing solar cells. The current way of making solar cells is done at high temperature and very low pressure, making it an expensive and energy-intensive process. Certain sponges, ike the orange puffball sponge Tethya aurantia, naturally synthesise pristine layers of silica without benefit of high temperatures or low pressures, and at near-neutral pH. T. aurantia does this using an enzyme called silicatein to catalyse the conversion of silicic acid in seawater into its silica spikes. Structures like this are known to make photovoltaic cells more efficient, so the researchers set about developing an analogous low-energy process that produces structured layers of zinc oxide - a widely used solar cell semiconductor.
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Wednesday, March 28th, 2007
The third edition of Martin Edge's hands-on manual has had a major revision. The author demonstrates how to take stunning underwater photographs that will not only give you a personal feeling of satisfaction, but will improve your chances of achieving award winning results. Written in a clear, non-technical style and illustrated in colour throughout this book has established itself as the introductory guide to underwater photography. It has now been expanded to include seven new chapters containing new techniques and examples, more inspirational images and the very latest equipment.
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Tuesday, March 27th, 2007
Considered a delicacy, demand for coral fish has exploded in line with China's booming economy and some species such as the humphead wrasse are already endangered.
Restaurant fish tanks in Hong Kong are filled with exotic fish species gathered from all around Southeast Asia, Australia and even remote Pacific islands, such as Fiji and Vanuatu.
Biologists say reef fish are highly vulnerable to overfishing as they need 5-10 years before reaching breeding age, and the trade is difficult to manage because the fishing is mostly on a small scale, done by rural communities.
Large parts of reefs in the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia are becoming void of marine life as a result of overfishing and the use of cyanide to catch fish alive.
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Monday, March 26th, 2007
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Sunday, March 25th, 2007
A Japanese whaling ship that triggered a high-seas showdown with environmental groups and suffered a deadly fire was due back in port Friday with a catch of 508 whales, despite having to cut its annual hunt short after the accident.
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Wednesday, March 21st, 2007
Robinson Crusoe Island, Fiji, is rated by one of our readers as "one of best dives ever: saw everything from turtles to manta rays to sharks, rolling beds of blue and red coral, fab nudibranchs, leaf fish and scorpionfish...".
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