Babirusa the Bizarre-looking Pig from Indonesia

The babirusa is a rare, enigmatic tusked pig found only in Sulawesi (formerly the Celebes) and nowhere else in the world. Weighing up to 100 kilograms it is found only in rain forest and is seriously endangered as a result of the loss of its habitat.
The males have extraordinary tusks which develop from their canine teeth, growing up through the skull and growing in a curve until it pierces the skull again between the eyes.

The Babirusa (Babyrousa babyrussa) is the last remaining species in the Babyrousinae family. Literally translated from the Malay language, Babirusa means “pig-deer”. Because of their odd appearance, the Babirusa has been the subject of many mystical stories and legends, including one that states that they hang from trees at night by their tusks.

The babirusa is only found on a few Indonesian islands: Sulawesi, Togian, Sulu and Burn Islands.

The babirusa is listed as Vulnerable, following increased hunting and habitat loss over the last 20 years or more. Despite protection, illegal poaching continues and only a few thousand individuals are left.

Global Warming will Wipe Out Plankton from Oceans

Plankton is the most prevalent life and food source in the ocean. Phytoplankton, which carries on photosynthesis near the ocean surface, serves as food for the zooplankton and fish.
The microscopic plants that underpin all life in the oceans are likely to be destroyed by global warming. Scientists have discovered a way that the vital plankton of the oceans can be starved of nutrients as a result of the seas getting warmer. They believe the findings have catastrophic implications for the entire marine habitat, which ultimately relies on plankton at the base of the food chain.

Plankton are microscopic animals (zooplankton) and algae (phytoplankton) that live in the ocean. They drift on currents and provide food for many ocean residents.

“A larger temperature difference between two water layers implies less mixing of chemicals between these water layers,” he said. “Global warming of the surface layers of the oceans, owing to climate change, strengthens the stratification and thereby reduces the upward mixing of nutrients.”

Scientists had believed phytoplankton, which survives best at depths of about 100 metres, is largely stable and immune from the impact of global warming. “This model prediction was rather unexpected,” Professor Huisman said.

“Reduced stability of the plankton, caused by global warming of the oceans, may result in a decline of oceanic production and reduced sequestration of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into the oceans.”

Phytoplankton therefore acts as a carbon “sink” which takes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and deposits the carbon in long-term stores that can remain undisturbed for thousands of years. If the growth of phytoplankton is interrupted by global warming, this ability to act as a buffer against global warming is also affected – leading to a much-feared positive feedback.

Source: Independent News and Media Limited

Futuristic Robots at the International Robot Exhibition

A robots design and construction is evolving in so fast steps that it is sometimes unbelievable. A good example of evolution are robots presented at the International Robot Exhibition (IREX) at Tokyo Big Sight. If you missed the last one from November 2009, the next conference is scheduled for autumn 2011.

Credit: pinktentacle.com

Best Supergirl Movie Photos

The Supergirl movie was last aired in 1984 with Helen Slater played the role of Linda Lee Danvers who is the cousin of Clark Kent. There are many stars dressed as supergirl. Lately, photos of Megan Fox become available on the net, which arise many questions of who will be the next actress playing in supergirl movie.

Inside Beautiful Surfers Waves

Any surfers like good waves but it is sometimes hard to catch the right one. Here are photos of beautiful waves and how-to to surf on waves the right way.

How to catch a wave? As you feel the wave lift you and your board, paddle as hard as you can and lean your weight forward. The natural tendency is to lean back to keep the nose from going under water, but that will only slow your momentum which in not conducive to wave-catching.