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SHARED EARTH
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Fridays 15.00 - 15.30 |
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Shared Earth is a new series from the 91Èȱ¬ Natural History Unit which celebrates the natural world and explores what we can all do to help conserve wildlife and habitats and reduce our footprint on the planet
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Winter Blues
The winter blues have been around for as long as there have been human beings. We all seem to suffer to some extent from lethargy, a craving for carbohydrates and general lack of enthusiasm in the dark, cold days of winter. But, surprisingly, it wasn't until quite recently thatÌý was taken seriously. Experiments with light boxes proved that people really do respond to an increase in light levels, particularly in the mornings. And that is good news, because natural light levels are about 100 times brighter than artificial light just after dawn and 1000 times brighter at midday, so a very good cure for the winter blues is to get outside. This may not, at first, seem that enticing on cold, dreary days, but naturalist Chris Sperring believes winter is the best time to learn our native bird song. Thrushes, blackbirds, robins are singing away and warming up nicely for the spectacle in the Spring months. A very cure for the blues is to get out, listen to the songs and bask in sunshine - however weak it may seem!
International Year of Planet Earth
2008 is the , an year long celebration of all that is earthy and rocky. The earth sciences are often viewed as the Cinderella of the natural sciences and this year wants to help people realise just how important it is we understand how the earth works and past life. Dovedale in the Peak District is a gorgeous valley made even more famous by association with Isaac Walton and fishing, but it was designated as a national Nature Reserve in large part because of its fascinating geology. A walk down Dovedale is in fact a walk along an ancient valley under the sea 350 million years ago and the rocks either side are the remains of huge mounds built up by mirco organisms. Geology defines the character of a place, its vegetation and has a great influence on the animal life. But it can also tell us about past climates and how the earth has changed through time. All this adds up to vital knowledge to help us understand what is happening today. This year is also the 150th anniversary of theÌý and they have produced a series of free, downloadable lectures and PowerPoint presentations to help schools and colleges present geology to young people. The future will require many more scientists to help all aspects of extraction of resources, finding hydrocarbons and environmental protection. The website for these lecture is below.
Radio Four's World on the Move
And as Radio 4 launches its mammoth 40 part live series World on the Move Dylan chats to one of the presenters Brett Westwood about what is coming up and what to expect over the coming year. |
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