Milena Moskvich – Page 2 – Hit.Media. Space young journalism

Among the Egyptian mummies replenishment
A tomb with the remains of a well-to-do family is found in Minya

Reading time 4 minutes

The Ministry of Antiquities of Egypt reports that Egyptian archaeologists discovered a tomb with 40 mummies. According to the estimates of scientists, the finds date back to the era of Ptolemy (323-30 BC).

Останки одной из найденных мумий Фото: AFP

The embalmed remains were found in four burial chambers nine meters deep. Among the mummies 12 of them are children. Excavations were carried out at the Tuna el Göbel site in Minya , 260 kilometers south of Cairo.

“They are all fairly well preserved, some are wrapped in linen and decorated with demotic handwriting (in ancient Egyptian writing),” the ministry said in a statement. Some mummies are found in clay coffins and wooden sarcophagi. Fragments of colored patches were found on the turtles, which were used as burial masks.

Археолог работает c мумией на месте археологических раскопок Фото: AFP

“This is the first archaeological discovery, announced in 2019 after the excavations, which began in November last year. The excavations are carried out thanks to the joint work of the Ministry of Antiquities and the Research Center for Archaeological Research at Minya University, ”said Khaled al-Anani at a press conference. It was attended by the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Mustafa Vaziri, Egyptian Tourism Minister Rania al-Mashat, Governor Mini Kassem Hussein, professors at Minya University, as well as diplomats from more than 10 foreign countries.

Mostafa Vaziri stated that the mummy’s identity is unknown. “We did not find names that could be written with hieroglyphs,” he said, adding that the mummies most likely belong to wealthy Egyptians.

Участок Туна Эль-Гебель в Минье Фото: AFP

Waziri also said that fragments of ceramics and pieces of ancient paper found at the excavation site helped the researchers determine the date of burial. According to Ahmed Ata, a professor of archeology at Minya University and a member of a joint mission, these tombs are about 2000 years old.

The tombs of Minya, discovered during the excavations, are part of a family grave, which probably belonged to an urban well-to-do family, the ministry added.

Archaeological excavations also found the tomb of Petosiris, the tomb of Isadora, an animal sacrifice site, a Roman cemetery, and two reliefs of King Akhenaten.

This is not the first discovery made in Minya. In 2017, as reported by The Inquisitr, a necropolis with 17 mummies was discovered in the same area. Tuna El Gebel is also known for finding mummified animals.

Milena Moskvich

By author Milena Moskvich

Incident in Paris
Picture of Banksy was stolen from the Bataclan

Reading time 4 minutes

The work of British artist Banksy, painted as a tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack in 2015, was stolen from the Bataclan music hall in Paris. The work, which depicts a young woman with a mournful face, was cut and removed from one of the emergency doors of the concert venue.

вап — Banksy’s picture is estimated to be worth millions

The police are trying to find the thieves and return the work of art, which is approximately estimated to cost millions of euros. The alarm inside the Bataclan reportedly rang around 4: 25 am. Police found a screwdriver near the scene of the painting theft. Also, law enforcement agencies found the witness who reported that had seen the white truck and three suspicious people near a crime scene.

The attack in Bataclan was the bloodiest of a series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris. In November 2015, 90 people were killed when gunmen attacked spectators during a rock concert.

После теракта парижане приносили к стенам Батаклана цветы в дань памяти погибшим — After the attack Parisians brought flowers to the walls of Bataklan in tribute to the memory of the dead

Francois Vaulin, mayor of the 11th district of Paris, said: “this silhouette was made by the artist for free. It was an altruistic gesture, a tribute to the memory of the victims of the terrorist attack and their loved ones, and I am very sad that people stole the picture, not understanding what it represents.”

The leadership of Bataclan expressed its deep indignation on Twitter that they had taken away the symbol of memory belonging to all: local residents, Parisians, citizens of the world. “The painting had significance in this particular place, so we decided to keep it there so that it would be accessible to everyone.”

Banksy’s picture appeared on one of the garages in the UK

Over the past decade, the art of Banksy has become extremely popular and in demand. One of his works, which appeared in one of the garages in the UK, was recently sold for a “six-figure amount.”

Who is Banksy

Banksy is a popular British graffiti artist. He keeps his identity a secret.

His graffiti paintings appear in public places, for example, on the walls of buildings. His work is distinguished by a special style that people can easily recognize.

In the early 1990s, he began painting trains and walls in his hometown of Bristol. In the 2000s, his work went beyond Bristol and soon became a significant phenomenon of world culture.

Earlier in January 2018 graffiti was found at the station of the monorail in Tokyo. The pattern has similarities with the well-known picture of Banksy’s “Rat-umbrella”, he also depicts a rat-parachutist with an umbrella.

Milena Moskvich

By author Milena Moskvich

British scientists sound the alarm: coffee can disappear
Arabica and other popular sorts are at risk

Reading time 4 minutes

Mankind faces a caffeine deficiency, as 60% of coffee plantations are at risk and may disappear forever. Scientists at the Royal Botanic Garden in Kew have shown that more than a half of the coffee types can be destroyed if deforestation and global warming are continuing. The problem of diseases of coffee trees will also exacerbate.

One of the most disturbing news for coffee lovers is the threat of the Arabica disappearance. Grown in Ethiopia, this species currently provides more than a half of the world’s coffee supply.

Coffee plants are demanding to the environment, and only a certain combination of temperature and precipitation allows the beans to mature, maintaining their taste and aroma. Yet farmers are increasingly complaining that changing weather conditions, as well as new types of pests and diseases, are affecting their crops.

«Given the importance of Arabica to the world community, we have to put a lot of effort into determining the amount of risk on which the further existence of coffee in the wild depends on,»- said Dr. Theddeus Woldemariam Gol, a representative of the environment and coffee forests in Addis Ababa.

The farmer checks the quality of the coffee tree

The problem of the coffee disappearance makes professionals look for ways to minimize risks. Scientists from the «World Coffee Research»organization have created several projects that, in their opinion, can save coffee trees from extinction. For example, there is a project to create a gene bank for conservation the genetic diversity of coffee. Another strategy is to create a database with information on the resistance, yield and coffee beans resistance of various varieties to pests and diseases while growing in different conditions. The third is the creation of a «tastes catalog» in which new coffees, developed by manufacturers, are being evaluated. But even on the organization’s website, experts admit that «there are serious gaps in our knowledge of how to aid coffee growers to adapt to changes».

Ethiopian children are sorting through the coffee beans on the coffee plantation

Molly Harriss Olson, an executive director of the Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand, said that she was particularly concerned about the situation of producers of coffee and the effect of warming temperatures and unpredictable weather conditions on the crop.

«Coffee supports the activity of 125 million people around the world, including the poor in developing countries», – she said, referring to the report of the International Coffee Organization. «If we don’t do anything about this in the near future, the consequences for people will be absolutely destructive».

Milena Moskvich

By author Milena Moskvich

Pochards should survive!
World’s rarest bird is being saved in Madagascar

Reading time 4 minutes

An international group of researchers released into wild artificially grown birds in the area of North Madagascar. Two dozen of Madagascan pochards should be a step towards recovery of the species believed to be extinct for 15 years. The pochard’s rescue can also be beneficial in protecting swamps of Madagascar.

Why is this species endangered?

The duck found a new home on a remote lake of Madagascar. Ph: WWT

Pochards were believed to be extinct for 15 years. But in 2006 a small flock of birds was found on one of the remote lakes of Madagascar. There were the last 25 Madagascan pochards on Earth. Their habitats were polluted, the remaining birds were found in a remote untouched swamp. Rob Shaw, the director of The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust company (WWT), explained on BBC News that these ducks tried to survive in the environment which was not suitable for them. Their shelter was too deep and cold for pochards’ vital activity. Rob Shaw underlined that other parts of Madagascar can be dangerous for these birds, because of accumulation of precipitation, pollution, thoughtless agricultural practices. This set of problems creates an unfavorable environment for Madagascan pochards.

How the species was saved

One of the key moments is raising in captivity. Ph: WWT

This painstaking work took more than a decade. An international team consisting of WWT, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, and The Peregrine Fund members saved the eggs of Madagascan pochards and raised the birds in captivity.

To protect the ducks, on Lake Sofia were installed floating enclosures. Then the team investigated Madagascar’s territory on order to find a perfect place for pochards. The team worked closely with local communities living around the lake and using its water, fish, and plants.

To protect the ducks, on Lake Sofia were installed floating enclosures. Ph: WWT

Nigel Jarrett from WWT explained: «It takes a village to raise a child, so the old African proverb goes – but in this case it has taken a village to raise a duck. We have been preparing for this moment for over a decade. Working with local communities to solve the issues which were driving this bird to extinction has been essential to giving the pochard a chance of survival.»

The team believes that the return of a bird being on verge of extinction will serve as an example of how communities can preserve wildlife even in areas with the poorest populations.

Milena Moskvich

By author Milena Moskvich

Saved Alba: freedom with the risk of life
The albino orangutan returns to the wild

Reading time 5 minutes

The infrequent orangutan albino was saved from inhabitants of one of villages in the Borneo Island last year. The other day, after successful rehabilitation, female was released back into the wild nature but the threat of animal’s life remains.

The Kalimantan Central agency of preservation the natural recourses (BKSDA) and the Borneo Orangutan Survival Fund (BOSF) saved Alba at the beginning of 2017. She was captured by inhabitants of Tanggiranga, remote village in the Indonesian part of Borneo. Alba had a stress, dehydration and suffered from parasitic worms. The animal was taken to Nyaru Menteng orangutan rehabilitation centre.

Alba was planned to be released into the wild nature in a few month, but her recovery convalescence took more time than it was expected. As an albino, she is susceptible to many diseases, she has poor eyesight and hearing, oversensitiveness to the light and predisposition to skin cancer. Alba is the only known albino orangutan in a history of this species.

According to BOSF, Alba together with Kika, other rehabilitated orangutan female (not albino), were released to Borneo national park (BBBR). Originally, BOSF planned to surround a 5 hectares of the forest area and keep Alba under constant observation, but ultimately it was decided that orangutan should move freely in its natural habitat.

«Thanks to intensive care provided by our special veterinary team and tutors of Nyaru Menteng Orangutan rehabilitation centre, Alba recovered and showed excellent skills of ascension and socialising», — noted BOSF in the statement.

Транспортировка орангутангов происходила в специальных клетках — Транспортировка орангутанов происходила в специальных клетках

After hard 16-hour travel by land and the river, which Alba and Kika spent in the cages, BOSF team arrived into the BBBR National Park. BOSF published the video showed Alba and Kika’s travel.

Currently Alba actively moves in the forest area, usually at the hight of 115 feet (35 metres). Her fast adaptation to the forest life is not surprising, as she doesn’t have the «inferiority complex» and feel herself confident in comparison with the other orangutans, said veterinarian Agus Fatoni to the Associated Press.

Albuanadela has a tracking bracelet, and she will regularly be examined by the medical team within the next six months. Environmentalists are concerned about her health, but they are even more concerned about potential poachers: Alba with her white wool and blue eyes is really vulnerable. The national park staff and nature conservation agencies organized the patrol in this area, however they recognize that opportunities for this purpose are limited.

«It’s really big adventure, but we hope that we will manage to implement this project successfully», — said BOSF executive director Dzhamartin Sikhit soon after Alba’s releasing into the wild nature.

Milena Moskvich

By author Milena Moskvich

Rescue of a rare giraffe species in Africa
Eight West African giraffes have been transferred to the Gadabedja protected area in Niger

Reading time 4 minutes

Until now, there were no giraffes from West Africa in the Gadabedji biosphere reserve in Niger. These animals still need protection. Illegal hunting, climate change and habitat loss all contributed to the decline in population size. According to the Nigerian publication, eight giraffes were moved to the reserve, this is the first such case for the West African subspecies.

In accordance with the initiative of the Nigerian authorities, eight giraffes were caught approximately 60 km south-east of the city of Niamey. There, these animals share their habitat with local communities and compete with humans for natural resources. Often, giraffes come into conflict with people who manage their pastures. Because of this, some individuals go to restless areas on the border with Mali.

Жирафов перевозили в специальных контейнерах

The animals were placed in enclosures for three weeks to prepare for the upcoming journey in special trailers. Then they were transported to a new place of residence in the central part of Niger.

According to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation (GCF), over the past 30 years, the number of giraffes has declined throughout the African continent. The West African giraffe subspecies was once common in many countries, including Nigeria, Mali, Mauritania and Senegal, but is now only preserved in Niger. In the nineties of the twentieth century, only 49 individuals remained in the wild, and in 2008 the subspecies was listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as endangered.

Западноафриканские жирафы - самый малочисленный подвид — Западноафриканские жирафы – самый малочисленный подвид

The efforts of the Niger Government in collaboration with local and international partners have led to the revival of the West African giraffe. Since 2005, conservation efforts in Niger have also intensified thanks to the Giraffe Conservation Fund (GCF) and the Sahara Foundation for Nature Conservation.

Currently, the population size has increased to 600 individuals, and last month this subspecies was reduced by the IUCN to the category of “vulnerable”. Environmentalists believe that the relocation of eight giraffes is a key step in the development of Gadabedzhi as the leading reserve in Niger. They hope that this will help revive the population of the West African giraffe.

Milena Moskvich

By author Milena Moskvich

Elephants transmit information through the ground
Researchers found out that animals use signals similar to seismic

Reading time 4 minutes

While using instruments intended to detection of earthquakes, Oxford scientists Bet Mortimer and Tarje Nissen-Meyer discovered that various kinds of elephants activities – walking, running, sniffing, grunting – сreate different seismic signals in the ground. According to the research published in Current biology magazine, in several cases these vibrations are distributing through the ground much longer than through the air enabling animals to feel each other even over long distances.

Earlier studies demonstrated that elephants capture ground fluctuations by their body. For instance, elephants were noticed running away to the uplands in the moments preceding tsunami emergence. The elephant feeling a threat began to stomp in order to avert others. The study expands the understanding of how animals can communicate. Beside, it provides new possibilities for researchers and ecologists who would like to observe animals remotely. This method can be fruitful for the save the species. «This information can be used as a strategy of remote monitoring», – Dr.Mortimer said.

An African battalion struggling with poachers

Despite the international affords to prohibit trade of elephant bones tens of thousands of african elephants are proceeding to die because of their tusks every year.

In order to hold the study scientists established devices known as geophones near the place of living of Kenia wild elephants. Like seismographs geophones convert soil fluctuations into measurable electronic signals, yet they are better to use in field work. With the help of these instruments researchers will presumably be able to pursue and defend animals.

Elephants are able to recognize hooves and fluctuations of the herd over several kilometres distance

Due to the fact that elephants live in complicated and spatially divided communities, animals use long-range communication in order to survive. The ground vibrations can be used for warning each other of danger and for partners seeking during very short period of mating. Supposing that elephants not only bring on distinct vibrations in various activities but also are able to perceive these signals from huge distances, scientists are intending to learn how to use these signals.

Vibrations created by elephants can be found and recognized on almost four miles in optimal conditions. However, any noise impact, even automobile noise, sharply decreases the ability to find and recognize these vibrations.

Milena Moskvich

By author Milena Moskvich

China continues to support coal projects
The risk of environmental consequences does not stop investors from the Middle Kingdom

Reading time 4 minutes

Environmentalists are sounding the alarm: China is funding dozens of coal projects far beyond its borders. Coal is considered the most environmentally hazardous of fossil fuels, including because of the amount of carbon dioxide that it emits during combustion (about one and a half times more than natural gas). According to the latest research of the World Meteorological Organization in 2017, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached its highest level in the last 5 million years. Last month, the UN climate expert group said that the use of coal in production should be stopped by 2050. This solution should bound the global temperature rise to a limit of 1.5 degrees.

Угольная электростанция в Китае — Coal power station in China

China-supported coal projects are being implemented in South America, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Balkans. The contracts concluded between the participants of such projects are often not completely transparent, but groups of environmental companies, including the non-governmental organization Bankwatch, try to monitor the situation. Energy Group Coordinator Ioana Chiuta says that efforts to combat the dirty air of Chinese cities have led many energy companies to limit their investments in coal-fired power plants in China and instead have targeted their technology and capital to foreign markets.

Coal smoke must be cleaned, but this is not always done

Тепловая электростанция Kostolac — Thermal power station Kostolac

In Serbia, one of the country’s main coal-fired power stations is being expanded with a loan from a Chinese bank. Works have been carried out since 2017 under the leadership of a large construction company in China. An hour east of the capital city of Belgrade, in the coal-rich valley of the Danube, construction takes place on a site known as Kostolac B3. The power plant is managed by the national Serbian electric power company EPS, which provides about 70% of the country’s electricity by burning coal, while the rest is electricity produced by hydroelectric power stations. It is expected that Chinese investment in the project will amount to 613 million US dollars. The installation of the new power unit will bring Serbia 350 MW of additional capacity. The project must be implemented in accordance with environmental standards.

However, the Serbian Center for Environment and Sustainable Development (Cekor) questions the project’s compliance with all environmental standards. After a series of relevant inspections of the project, Cekor found it impossible to ensure that EU standards for environmental pollution are in force.

Milena Moskvich

By author Milena Moskvich