Researchers have developed a technique to capture water that evaporates from the oceans.
A new technique to recover water that evaporates above the oceans
American scientists suggest
This solution to combat the lack of drinking water is threatened to increase in the coming years under the influence of climate change.
The method they developed involves collecting water that evaporates on the surface of the sea using a large vertical structure 100 meters high and 210 meters wide. The device will be placed a few kilometers from the coast. The recovered gas water will be piped to the ground where it will condense. Thus, it returned to its liquid state, but after being purified from sea salt, it could be distributed into the drinking water network after undergoing appropriate treatment.
According to the researchers, this new method, based on the natural evaporation of the ocean, is much less energy intensive than the seawater desalination methods used so far.
Simulations show that a giant seawater vapor collector could provide enough drinking water to meet the needs of about 500,000 people. The scientists claim that their technique can effectively help people living in arid and semi-arid regions, which are particularly threatened by climate change.
For young fathers, taking 2 weeks of paternity leave can reduce the risk of depression after the birth of their children.
Postpartum depression, which is experienced by approximately 2 out of 10 mothers, affects one out of every 10 fathers. Inserm researchers wanted to find out whether the fact of taking advantage of paternity leave had a positive effect on the occurrence of this pathology in fathers, comrades.
Scientists have analyzed the experience of more than 10,000 couples who had children in 2011 (at that time, the duration of paternity leave was 14 days, in 2021 it was extended to 28 days).
Results of the study:
Fathers who took two weeks of paternity leave had a 21% lower risk of postpartum depression. what rights they had.
On the other hand, contrary to what one might think, the increase in fathers staying at home to care for their babies did not lead to a decrease in the incidence of postpartum depression among mothers. Even a slight increase was observed.
The researchers put forward two hypotheses to explain this: there may be a statistical bias associated with fathers whose partners are at the highest risk of depression taking paternity leave more willingly. Another possible explanation: at that time, the duration of this two-week vacation was too short. We need to see if extending to 28 days is more beneficial for young mothers.
The mystery of glass frogs
Forget the frog who wants to be as big as an ox. The amphibians I’m talking about are completely docile. To hear and try to see them, you need to go to the tropical forests of Central and South America. They are nicknamed glass frogs because their abdomens are transparent. We can see their internal organs. More surprisingly, these frogs become more transparent when they sleep.
These small animals live at night. When the day comes, they stick under the surface of the leaves to sleep. After that, the skin of their abdomen as well as the muscle tissue is removed. So much so that the little frogs are practically invisible to their prey.
Using state-of-the-art imaging technology,
American researchers have just discovered their secret : After going to sleep, small amphibians transfer 90% of their red blood cells to their livers. Glass frogs become transparent precisely by preventing these very opaque blood cells from wandering through their tissues.
This ability raises a new question: In humans, as in most vertebrates, such displacement of red blood cells can have catastrophic consequences. It would cause harmful blood clots. How do glass frogs avoid these concerns? The answer to this question may lead to the discovery of new drugs to prevent thrombosis.
