The number of trees in the Earth's surface is reduced by about 3 trillion

How many trees on Earth? Recent research published in the journal Nature reveals that there are 3 trillion trees. It impressed a large number, even 8 times more than the previous estimation only 400 billion, but it is actually a little bit.

The new estimate includes "ground truth" density data from 400,000 forest plots. (Picture from: http://bbc.in/1iiU8iP)

In the study, scientists revealed that humans have destroyed trillions of trees in a relatively short time. Since the last ice age, or 11,000 years ago, the number of trees in our planet reduced by more than 3 trillion. The development of the industrial era most contributed to the decrease in the number of trees.

To reveal the number of trees, Thomas Crowther from Yale University and his team conducted a survey directly as well as analyzing satellite data. Satellite data derived from observations of the 400,000 forest. From these data, Crowther makes modeling for the predicted number of trees.

Their great extent means the tropical forests host the largest number of individual trees. (Picture from: http://bbc.in/1iiU8iP)

Modeling results reveal that most of the trees are in the tropics and subtropics, which amounted to 1.69 trillion. Meanwhile, the forests in the temperate and near polar store each 0.61 trillion and 0.74 trillion of trees. The forest near the poles, or boreal, has the highest density. The total number of trees are 3,040,000,000,000.

Humans are removing about 15 billion trees a year, it is estimated. (Picture from: http://bbc.in/1iiU8iP)

According to modeling as well, scientists reveal that humans have a big impact on the number of trees. Every year, people are expected to make 15 billion trees lost through logging or other. Meanwhile, the number of re-planting of trees only 5 billion per year.

Crowther as quoted by the BBC on Thursday, September 3, 2015, said the purpose of this calculation is not intended to show the good and bad environment. "We only describe the status of our forests in the figures that understandable by the public, scientists and environmental practitioners or policymakers," he said.

The highest densities, however, are found in the northern boreal forests. (Picture from: http://bbc.in/1iiU8iP)

However, looking at the number of trees is reduced, people should pay more attention to the forest. "Total loss of trees net (calculated from tree lost and replanted) is one-third per cent of the number of trees now. It is hardly insignificant," said Henry Glick, another researchers who involved in the research.

Glick said, the amount of the reduction should make people consider its role in deforestation. With the consumption of timber, forest clearing for land, reduction of trees in the future could increase and will affect carbon stocks and climate change. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | BBC]

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Toyota is ready to present the classic style sports car

Toyota Motor Corp. reportedly will introduce their new product variants. Later, the new car is predicted to be adopting the old cars design. As quoted from the Motoring, the world's largest auto manufacturer will introduce a sports car named the 'Midget'. This car will be positioned as the sister of the Toyota 86.

Radical new Toyota 'Midget' concept takes design cues from Caterham and McLaren F1. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1Qa9Wjg)

Such a design is on display in Best Car, one of the Japs automotive magazines, the model will look like the MG TC that had been introduced in 1945 or Lotus Seven produced in 1957-1972. Midget name itself was chosen to describe a lightweight three-seater four-wheeled vehicle.

As shown in the photo above, the whole car tire is very unique because it is outside the body with large fender that envelops the tire. With the wheels cross a red color, is indeed impressed sporty car. With the design, Toyota hopes to tempt young people in Japan to have a car with a unique shape but with a large force typical of a sports car.

Although the classic style, this car is expected to carry the environmentally friendly engine, or in other words, the Japanese auto manufacturer is expected to install the fuel cell technology mechanical drive in the car.

Moreover, according to their internal, the introduction of this concept car is also a long-term project to create a Japanese version of Midget speedway racing series that famous in Australia and the United States (US).

The car will be introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show this year. Midget seems to be a surprise for the event which will take place in Japan. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MOTORING.CO.AU]

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Model with a bionic arm will perform at New York Fashion Week

After Madeline Stuart, teen model with Down syndrome who successfully stepped in the New York Fashion Week (NYFW), this time turn Rebekah Marine, a 28-year-old model with disabilities who was born without a right arm.

As quoted from Mashable on Wednesday,  September 2, 2015, Rebekah will walk at the New York Fashion Week on next September 13, in the event of FTL Moda.

Rebekah Marine. (Picture from: http://on.mash.to/1Uq05pY)

For Rebekah, to become a professional model and was finally able to walk on the run way as NYFW is a struggle. When she was young, not a few people who said that he would not have a future in the world of modeling.

"For persons with disabilities, to reach the dream became a model very difficult in recent years. Agents will not even see my portfolio. But I realized, it's all about self-discovery," said Rebekah to Mashable.

Rebekah adding that most of her clients do not want to cooperate with her, simply because her arms were not perfect. But all that changed four years ago, when she decided to install an artificial hand on her right arm. It was made with the hand gesture control technology, or generally-called bionic arm.

Rebekah has now been joined by the other disabilities models, such as Madeline Stuart, a model with Down syndrome who has been pacing the FTL Moda catwalk.

"It is important to enter the model more diverse. Because nearly 1 in 5 people in the US have congenital defects. We must respect a uniqueness, not comply with the definitions or standards of beauty according to the media," said Rebekah. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MASHABLEASIA]

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The first sea monsters on Earth

The first sea monsters on Earth turns out to be a giant scorpion as big as a human. It was revealed in the publication in the BMC Evolutionary Biology journal on Monday, August 31, 2015. The giant scorpion measuring about 183 centimeters lived 460 million years ago, long before dinosaurs dominated the Earth.

An artist's rendering of the Pentecopterus decorahensis. (Picture from: http://wapo.st/1L6zUQm)

Ancient animal was first discovered by geologists of the Iowa Geological Survey. They found about 150 giant scorpion fossil fragments in the Upper Iowa River at a depth of 2 meters.

Fossilized remains of the Pentecopterus’s many limbs. (Picture from: http://wapo.st/1L6zUQm)

James Lamsdell from Yale University then came examining fossils. From the analysis, it is known that the ancient animal was a new species. This sea monster named 'Pentecopterus decorahensis' by the name of the Greek god of war, then Lamsdell said, "This is the first giant predator. I would not want to swim with him."

Lamsdell revealed, the giant scorpions was included in the family eurypterid, a sea scorpions groups that became extinct. Unlike the terrestrial scorpion living today, and the tail of P. decorahensis not sting. The section is useful for balancing the body while swimming.

However, that does not mean it was terrible scorpion. From his head, sticking a dozen active arm will move prey gripped and pulled into the mouth. "The giant scorpion obviously a very aggressive animal," said Lamsdell as quoted by the Washington Post on Tuesday, September 1, 2015. "He was a wild animal."

Actually, there is a greater scorpion contemporaries P decorahensis, but only live on the seabed by filtering nutrients, not wild. And P. decorahensis is the most ferocious animal in his day. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | WASHINGTON POST]

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Another 10 Forgotten Supercars (Part-2)

Embarking on a journey through the world of forgotten supercars is like uncovering hidden tales of ambition, innovation, and, occasionally, unfulfilled dreams. Each car carries its own unique story, often brimming with promising designs and technologies that simply didn't meet the mark needed to compete with automotive giants. While a few bold names like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani, and Koenigsegg have managed to secure their place among the elite, countless others were left behind, lost to time.

These abandoned supercar dreams offer a fascinating glimpse into what might have been, revealing the hurdles and heartbreak that so many visionary engineers and designers face. In this continuation of our exploration, we’ll look at some of the most interesting and audacious supercar projects that, despite their impressive beginnings, ultimately faded into the background of automotive history.

5. Nissan Mid-4

One of the standout examples of a supercar project that almost reached greatness is the Nissan Mid-4. This car serves as a reminder that even technical brilliance sometimes isn’t enough to secure a place in the supercar pantheon. If the Mid-4 had boasted a luxury badge, perhaps it might have succeeded. Yet, despite its powerful specs, including a 300ZX-derived twin-turbo V6 and all-wheel-drive technology, it struggled to gain traction.

1987 Nissan Mid-4. (Picture from: DisenoArt)

Initially unveiled in 1985 with production plans set for the following year, the Mid-4 was promising; but it faced multiple redesigns, with each revision failing to progress beyond the prototype phase. By 1990, Nissan envisioned the Mid-4 as an even more powerful model with a 4.5-liter V8, but an economic downturn forced Nissan to abandon the project altogether.

4. Parradine 525S

Another intriguing yet lesser-known creation was the Parradine 525S, a supercar with a quirky origin. Inspired by John Parradine's father, who famously built a robotic elephant in the late 1940s, the 525S wore its history proudly, even incorporating an elephant mascot. However, the car was anything but a gimmick; with a Ford-derived 4.6-liter V8 under the hood, enhanced by a centrifugal supercharger, it boasted an impressive 525 horsepower.

2000 Parradine 525S. (Picture from: MSN)

ver, the Parradine 525S failed to capture enough interest, remaining an obscure piece of supercar history rather than a revolutionary breakthrough.

3. Qvale Mangusta

The Qvale Mangusta tells the story of another car that began with high hopes, evolving from the De Tomaso Bigua to the Qvale Mangusta and ultimately morphing into the MG X80. The project changed hands multiple times, but all variations of the car shared the same 4.6-liter V8 engine sourced from Ford, offering a powerful 320 horsepower.

2000 Qvale Mangusta. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

Yet, the Mangusta struggled to make financial sense for any of its investors. Although it had a solid top speed of 150 mph, each iteration of the car seemed to miss its mark, and in the end, the Mangusta left behind only a faint footprint in the competitive world of high-performance vehicles.

2. Spiess TC522
Germany’s Spiess TC522 is an ambitious attempt that shines as an example of a bold yet ill-fated supercar endeavor. Known more for its industrial-grade transformers than for car manufacturing, Spiess ventured into the supercar market in 1992 with the TC522. Its specifications were impressive, boasting a 500-horsepower twin-turbo 5.7-liter V8 engine, a carbon-fiber bodyshell, and a unique cab-forward design.

1992 Spiess TC522. (Picture from: Tumblr)

Despite its promise, the TC522 faced the classic startup problem of being priced far beyond most buyers' reach. At an exorbitant £362,000, this German supercar was too costly to attract much interest, ultimately sealing its fate as a forgotten name in the high-stakes world of supercar manufacturing.

1. Vector W8

A final American contender for the forgotten supercar hall of fame is the Vector W8. Often overshadowed by the iconic Corvette and the Saleen S7, the Vector W8 made a bold statement when it debuted in the 1990s. The brainchild of designer Gerry Wiegert, the W8 combined aerospace technology with automotive design, which contributed to its sky-high price of $450,000 when it finally launched in 1991.

1990 Vector W8. (Picture from: Autozine)

Boasting a turbocharged 6-liter V8 that generated 600 horsepower, the Vector was theoretically capable of reaching 200 mph. Despite its impressive specs and futuristic design, the car’s lofty price and limited production meant only a few units were ever sold. It wasn’t long before the W8 was replaced by the even pricier WX-3 in 1992, marking the end of its brief but fascinating journey.

These stories of unrealized dreams in the supercar industry are a testament to the challenges inherent in this competitive field. From daring innovations to high-speed specifications, each of these cars was crafted with ambition and skill but fell short due to various challenges—whether economic, branding, or technological. Although they never secured lasting fame, each model tells a story of passion and creativity, leaving a legacy of what might have been. The allure of these forgotten supercars remains, reminding us that sometimes, the path to greatness lies not only in success but also in the stories of those who dared to reach for it. (Wanna see another 5 forgotten supercars.) *** [EKA [05092015] | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | DISENOART | AUTOZINE | TUMBLR | WIKIPEDIA | MSN ]

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Two new and unique species found in Bolivia

A species of bat with the longest tongue and the golden-eyed frog discovered in Madidi National Park, Bolivia. The unique species are two of the dozens of species found researchers in the expedition that began in June 2015 ago.

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), a conservation organization report, a number of researchers who are members of a scientific expedition Identitad Madidi was found two such odd animals in the first week expedition.

Bat species found are 'Anoura fistulata'. It has tongue with a length of up to 8.5 cm and used to suck the nectar of flowers. With a length of the tongue, the creature broke the record of the bat with the longest tongue in the world.

A tube-lipped nectar bat (Anoura fistulata) found in Bolivia. The bat has the longest tongue relative to its size of any mammal. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1Ue8wF0)

Bats, including a very rare species, and only the third time this specimen was found. Finally, the specimen was found a decade ago.

Other animals are also exotic, a robber frog is a brownish color with a shiny skin. Its uniqueness is in his black eyes surrounded by gold. Orange section in the thigh is a marker that makes predictable as a new species.

The newly discovered robber frog species in Bolivia's Madidi National Park. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/1Ue8wF0)

Robber frog is a frog that grows with the size of 2-4 centimeters. The population is spread out between the Andes and the Amazon. Currently, the frog recorded amounted to 23 types.

James Aparicio, a researcher from Bolivian Faunal Collection and Mauricio Ocampo of the National Natural History Museum who are found the new specimen, explaining that the tropical savannah surrounded by mountains it may store a variety of new species that never identified in detail before.

Aparicio and Ocampo along with a number of other researchers in the team on a Madidi Identitad expedition for 18 full months. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LIVESCIENCE]

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