Archive - Jun 21, 2017

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Deadly Heat Waves Threaten Third of the World
Currently, nearly a third of the world's population is exposed to lethal climate conditions for at least 20 days a year, according to findings published Monday in Nature Climate Change, a monthly peer-reviewed journal. As the planet's temperature rises, more of the world's population will be exposed to conditions that trigger deadly heat waves, the report said.

For a city like New York, which currently sees about two days per year that surpass the heat threshold, that could mean 50 deadly days per year by 2100.

The researchers analyzed more than 1,900 cases of fatalities associated with heat waves in 164 cities across 36 countries between 1980 and 2014 to define a global threshold for life-threatening conditions based on heat and humidity. Researchers found the overall risk for heat-related sickness or death has increased steadily since 1980.

The study notes well-documented heat waves, including a five-day stretch that claimed hundreds of lives in Chicago in 1995, the European heat wave in 2003 that saw tens of thousands of heat-related deaths and lethal temperatures in Moscow in 2010 that killed more than 10,000. Across Russia, the heat wave in 2010 claimed more than 50,000 lives. But the research team found that heatwaves are more common than most people think, and humidity levels combined with heat play a major role in heat-related heath risks.  read more »

June 21, 2017 - Bravo! Rescue mission accomplished! Elephant Mom and Aunt (no word exchanged!) spring into action to save calf from drowning in pool
After a baby elephant fell into a pool at a zoo in South Korea, two adult elephants came to save the day. Video from the incident shows the calf, Hope, drinking from the pool next to her mom before falling over the edge and into the water at the Seoul Grand Park Zoo.

Hope's aunt saw what was happening from the other side of the pool, and was seen lumbering over to help. The two adults rushed into the pool and worked together to lead Hope in the right direction, guiding the calf to a shallow end of the pool where it could climb out. Zoo officials said no elephants were injured.

Amazing! The in-time action, rescue mission is beautifully done without the convenience of language - no single word could be yelled out for help, or exchanged for rescue coordination.

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