HOME Biomimicry in Green Building: Nature in Sustainable Building Technologies Biomimicry, the method of using concepts from nature to solve problems, is becoming a popular trend in green building and clean tech. As stated by Janine Benyus in her 2002 book, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature, “the Biomimicry Revolution introduces an era based not on what we can extract from nature, but what we can learn from her”. Thanks to evolution and survival of the fittest, nature is extremely efficient - organisms (possibly with the exception of humans) use minimal energy to perform functions essential to their livelihood. Researchers are studying these strategies and copying them to produce more effective, energy efficient technologies for powering, heating, and cooling our buildings. 1. The Eastgate Center in Harare, Zimbabwe, a office center and shopping complex, was inspired by African termite mounds. 2. 3. Butterflies can fly in the rain because their wings have a 3D pattern that make them hydrophobic. Related Advice:
Ebola virus disease Ebola response phase 3: Achieving and sustaining a resilient zero 18 September 2015 -- The Ebola Phase 3 framework incorporates new knowledge and tools into the ongoing Ebola response and recovery work to achieve and sustain a "resilient zero". Phase 3 builds upon the rapid scale-up of treatment beds, safe and dignified burial teams, and behaviour change capacities during Phase 1; and the enhanced capacities for case finding, contract tracing, and community engagement during Phase 2. It includes new developments and breakthroughs in Ebola control, from vaccines, diagnostics and response operations to survivor counselling and care. Read about the phase 3 of the Ebola response WHO/M. Rapid response to new Ebola infection in Bombali, Sierra Leone 16 September 2015 -- WHO is helping Sierra Leone to mobilize all its experience and partners to ensure that any new cases of Ebola are investigated and transmission of the disease stopped as rapidly as possible. Read the story from Sierra Leone
Project Linus-Volunteer We are always in need of your help to assist us in fulfilling our mission. You can donate home-made blankets by becoming a “blanketeer,” give of your time at a local chapter event, or even become a Chapter Coordinator yourself. Become a “Blanketeer” Our volunteers, known as “blanketeers,” provide new, handmade, washable blankets to be given as gifts to seriously ill and traumatized children, ages 0-18. To help you get started, be sure to check our “Patterns” page. On our “Friends” page you will find mention of several businesses that provide much-needed help to Project Linus. Give of Your Time Our local chapters not only collect and distribute blankets but they also organize several blanket-making events throughout the year. Find the chapter closest to you by clicking the your state on map located on this page. Become a Chapter Coordinator As you can see from our local chapter listings on this page, organized by state, we cover many areas of the United States.
Bosco Verticale: The World's First Vertical Forest Nears Completion in Milan - NEW PHOTOS Milan is one of the most polluted cities in the world, and the Bosco Verticale project aims to mitigate some of the environmental damage that has been inflicted upon the city by urbanization. The design is made up of two high-density tower blocks with integrated photovoltaic energy systems and trees and vegetation planted on the facade. The plants help capture CO2 and dust in the air, reduce the need to mechanically heat and cool the tower’s apartments, and help mitigate the area’s urban heat island effect – particularly during the summer when temperatures can reach over 100 degrees. The two towers measure 260 feet and 367 feet tall respectively, and together they have the capacity to hold 480 big and medium size trees, 250 small size trees, 11,000 ground-cover plants and 5,000 shrubs (that’s the equivalent of 2.5 acres of forest).
Liberia: New Ebola mobile lab speeds up diagnosis and improves care One of the challenges to bring the Ebola outbreak under control in Liberia has been lack of access locally to laboratories able to provide a quick and firm diagnosis of the disease. This month the United States Navy opened a new high-tech mobile laboratory near the Island Clinic, one of the Ebola treatment units in Monrovia, Liberia, that is supported by the WHO. WHO/P. Desloovere “The first thing we do with a blood sample is inactivate the Ebola virus, making the virus non-infectious and safer for testing”, says US Navy Lieutenant Jose Garcia. As the blood sample might be contagious, this process happens in a very protective environment by using a portable biological safety hood to avoid any direct contact. Until the new lab was up and running, health workers had to wait 2 to 5 days to have a preliminary Ebola diagnosis confirmed by sending blood samples to another lab facility in Monrovia. Detecting Ebola virus Dr Patel extracting genetic material from a blood sample.
Questions and Answers on Ebola | Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever General How do I protect myself against Ebola? If you must travel to an area affected by the 2014 Ebola outbreak: Avoid contact with the blood and body fluids (such as urine, feces, saliva, sweat, urine, vomit, breast milk, semen, and vaginal fluids) of any person, particularly someone who is sick.Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids.Do not touch the body of someone who has died from Ebola.Do not have contact with the semen from a man who has recovered from Ebola (for example, avoid having oral, vaginal, or anal sex).Do not touch bats and nonhuman primates (apes and monkeys) or their blood and fluids and do not touch or eat raw meat prepared from these animals.Avoid facilities in West Africa where Ebola patients are being treated. For general information about Ebola, please use the links below: CDC has issued a Warning, Level 3 travel notice for U.S. residents to avoid nonessential travel to Guinea and Sierra Leone. Travelers