Environment

It is a privilege for young  aspiring scientist early in the 21st century armed with the opportunities that didn’t exist any time in the past.. Never again will there be a better time to use the power of knowing to ensure the enduring future of human kind. The greatest era of exploration has just begun and our children can be a part of it.

Autumn has officially begin and as we see the leaves start changing colours everywhere we tend to think the colours are there for our enjoyment, and they certainly do serve that purpose but the colours are doing something for the plant, or they wouldn’t be there.

According to a recent survey South Africa is the world’s 11th worst offender when it comes to releasing plastic wastes into the sea. Even ahead of heavyweight polluter India! Among the top offenders are: ear buds, bottle lids, plastic straws, individual sweet wrappers and expanded polystyrene food packaging.

Whale Fall: A gift from above

 A single dead whale can nourish a specialized ecosystem that lasts for decades. Species similar to those at whale falls may have depended on dead marine reptiles for millions of years

The red tide currently visible in Walker Bay are harmful to mussels and filter organisms such as red bait and oysters  but it does not pose any danger to people swimming in the ocean. It’s a non-toxic species, but if the concentration becomes too high, it could cause fish mortalities through bloom decay and anoxia.

Members of the public are asked to call the department’s Red Tide Information answering service on (021) 434 4457 to get updates on the tide’s status.

Peter Benchley, whose 1974 novel "Jaws" turned shark attacks into a national obsession and who later used what he called his "fish story" to help promote oceanic conservation.Mr. Benchley, who even found himself enduring the wrath of Jacques Cousteau, said repeatedly in later years that he regretted making the great white shark into a villain.

Scientists think rising temperatures and increased exposure to ultraviolet, or UV, light brought on by climate change may be behind chemical changes in the bark of cork oaks.