Unlike the Arctic, where many countries around the world have built their own bases to serve a number of fields both in terms of science, economy and military, for Antarctica, this is still an unofficial land. government although the countries closest to it are Argentina, South Africa and Australia. Every year, during the winter, Antarctica does not receive any sunlight for 6 months; In summer, the sun is always on the horizon. Most of the sunlight falling on Antarctica is reflected back by the white ice, 1.9km thick on average, plus the highest terrain in the world (2,800m above sea level) giving this place its climate. coldest on earth. In the middle of summer, when the sun is perpendicular to the Tropic of Cancer, the average temperature in Antarctica is -25°C. In winter, when the sun moves down the Northern Hemisphere, Antarctica is as cold as -65°C and in some places -89.2°C. A cruise ship takes visitors to Antarctica Initially, only seven countries made claims, including Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, and Great Britain, by setting up facilities in the name of scientific research. Some other countries such as India, Italy, Russia, USA, Pakistan, Ukraine… although not claiming sovereignty, they also build long-term and sustainable constructions. In 1959, after much controversy, in order to prevent military conflicts, the United States, Great Britain, the Soviet Union and nine other countries signed the Antarctic Treaty, which essentially “set aside territorial claims” and use Antarctica for peaceful purposes only. Jane Francis, head of the Antarctic Survey, UK, said: “In 1980, five more countries made claims to sovereignty and now, 54 countries are present in Antarctica with 75 research stations. That poses many problems that need to be solved, such as climate change, fishing, tourism, resource exploitation…”. The results of 50 years of observations show that temperatures in some areas of Antarctica are rising much faster than the global average. This leads to melting glaciers and consequent sea level rise. Marine biologist Damon Stanwell-Smith, who first visited Antarctica more than 25 years ago, said: “Things have changed rapidly and we can see clearly. Just six years ago, there was Areas that are not accessible by boat during the winter are now experiencing large currents, allowing tour operators to bring tourists to visit Antarctica. Still according to Damon Stanwell-Smith, from November last year to April last, despite the raging COVID-19 pandemic, 51,000 tourists set foot on Antarctica, an increase of 17% over the previous year and will continue to grow. continues to increase even though the tour price is from 1,000USD to 100,000USD per person depending on geographical distance. “In addition to the 33 ships registered with the Antarctic Treaty Secretariat, there are 20 other ships under construction, not to mention the kayaking or air-plane tours that make Antarctica an oasis,” Mr. Damon said. play uncontrollably…”. The majority of tourists to Antarctica are Chinese, second only to the US in the ranking because Beijing is investing heavily in the continent, as part of its plan to become a “polar power”. What is Antarctica when the Antarctic Treaty is no longer in place? The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was adopted in 1991. It entered into force in 1998 and is the main instrument related to the conservation and management of biodiversity in Antarctica, in which There is a ban on exploitation of natural resources. However, after 50 years, the countries that signed the Antarctic Treaty can decide to amend the fishing ban provided that at least three-quarters of the current consultations – the 29 countries of the Antarctic Treaty – agree. Notice when the 50-year period will end in 2048. Whales slaughtered at a logistics base in Antarctica However, before the Environmental Protection Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty, seal hunting in Antarctica was practiced as early as the 18th century by the British, Norwegians, Argentines and Chilean. Meanwhile, large-scale whaling in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters increased sharply in the early 20th century, mainly by Norwegian and British companies. Whaling logistics stations erected in Antarctica are implied to be part of that country’s territory because, under international law, state activity is a key element of ownership territory. It is therefore not surprising that it is expressed in many forms by all the claimants to Antarctica, from scientific research facilities to dormitories for experts, rescue stations or offices that maintain navigation, airports, logistics, harbors, lighthouses, not to mention that some governments license whaling, seals, The establishment of national parks, the issuance of postage stamps, the mapping and naming of each area, etc., are concrete examples of the race to own Antarctica. According to National Geographic, UK, an increasing number of activities are damaging Antarctica, such as legal and illegal fishing, including the molluscs it contains. is the main food for whales. Arthur Devries, a fish biologist at the University of Illinois, USA, said that since 2003 he has not found an adult toothfish in Antarctica while in 1970, he caught 500 fish for a season to study a protein in the body of fish that helps make anticoagulants. Environmentalist Huck Dulown of the University of Gundee, UK, says he has collected hundreds of meters of damaged nets left behind by fishing boats, not to mention engine oil and household waste. travel. Huck Dulown said: “There are places called ‘scientific research stations’ but maybe inside are not military bases and it is not excluded that it hid missiles with nuclear warheads as it once happened. It goes against Article 1 of the Antarctic Treaty: “Antarctica shall be used for peaceful purposes only. Any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases, the conduct of military exercises, the testing of any weapon, are prohibited. Antarctica is humanity’s last unspoiled reserve. Under the ice of this continent is an extremely large mineral resource including oil, copper, gold, titanium, uranium, rare earth …, and the surrounding seas are inhabited by many types of creatures. In addition, the glaciers in Antarctica contain 90% of the fresh water in the world, so South Africa, for example, was planning to pull an iceberg to serve the freshwater shortage in the city of Cap Town. A scientific research station in Antarctica And although Antarctica itself is a demilitarized zone, armed conflicts have arisen in a number of its vicinity, including Chile and Argentina over an island near Cape Horn, as well as claims to the South China Sea. The two countries’ overlapping territorial claims, or the war between Argentina and Great Britain over the Falkland Islands, is the gateway to Antarctica. Although the war ended long ago with the victory belonging to Britain, according to observers, it is very likely that it will flare up again. Jim Tymothy, a professor in the Department of Geopolitics, Yale University, USA, said: “The fate of the territories in Antarctica depends on the coordination of the great powers. If coordination is not achieved, the continent will share seven in the next 20 to 30 years, and that could lead to an Antarctic war, is based on these factors: The emergence of technology that allows the rapid and economical supply of fresh water from glaciers in the South China Sea. Antarctica to dry regions, rising oil prices and increasing demand for crude oil Besides, food also needs to be exploited more due to the growing global population, which requires fishing in Antarctic waters…”. At the moment, there is no such convergence of interests, but more than ever, it is likely to take shape because over 60 years, up to now, 54 countries have joined the Antarctic Treaty. including 29 European countries, 9 Asian countries, 8 South American countries, 4 in North and Central America, 3 in Oceania and 1 in Africa. Not only that, the number of consultative parties of the Treaty with bases in Antarctica is also constantly increasing: Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Korea Countries, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, UK, India, Italy, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Russia, Spain, South Africa, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA and Switzerland. The remaining 25 countries join the Antarctic Treaty as non-consulting parties but still have the right to attend relevant meetings without being included in the decision-making process. However, although “not included in the decision-making process”, these 25 countries still assert their position in Antarctica through scientific research stations, airports, ports, logistics facilities, etc. So the Antarctic race probably hasn’t stopped yet because no one is sure that in the future, no country will send people to this cold continent…

Illustration. https://tinhtexaydung.petrotimes.vn In a statement released alongside a major new report, the Paris-based organization said achieving the net zero emissions target “Net Zero” would require an “unprecedented transformation”. about how energy is produced, transported and used globally”. In a clear indication of the amount of work that needs to be done, the IEA report said existing commitments fell “far below what is needed to achieve net-zero global emissions by”. year 2050″. According to the IEA’s roadmap to achieve Net Zero by 2050, more than 400 “milestones” will need to be crossed. These include phasing out new fossil fuel sales by 2025 and ending sales of internal combustion engine cars by 2035. In addition, there should be no “investment in new fossil fuel supply projects, and no further final investment decisions for new coal plants”. Preliminary figures from the US Energy Information Administration show that: The share of natural gas and coal in utility-scale power generation in 2020 is 40.3% and 19.3%, respectively. . According to the IEA scenario, solar and wind photovoltaic will become the leading source of electricity for the planet before the end of the decade, accounting for nearly 70% of electricity production by 2050. According to the IEA’s roadmap, solar energy will become “the largest source of total energy on the planet” by the middle of this century. In contrast, fossil fuels will see their market share “fall from almost four-fifths of total energy supply today to more than one-fifth.” Employment in the clean energy sector will increase by 14 million people in the period to 2030, while the role in the oil and gas and coal sectors will decrease by about 5 million people. “Our roadmap shows the priority actions needed today to ensure that the opportunity for net zero emissions by 2050 is narrow but still attainable,” said Fatih Birol, CEO. of the IEA, said in a statement. “The scale and speed of the efforts required by this important and formidable goal, our best chance of tackling climate change and limiting global warming to 1.5 °C makes this perhaps the biggest challenge humanity has ever faced,” added Birol. Cutting anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions to Net zero by 2050 is considered critical once the 1.5°C target is reached. Later this year, the COP26 summit will take place in the Scottish city of Glasgow. This is seen as a hugely important event, with many hoping it will act as a catalyst for governments to step up their climate ambitions to achieve the goals set out in the Paris Agreement. . The reality shows how challenging the IEA’s roadmap is. As energy companies are still discovering new oil fields, while in countries like the United States fossil fuels continue to play an important role in electricity generation. https://tinhtexaydung.petrotimes.vn

Here are very common mistakes in bathing every day. Bathing for too long Bathing for too long dries out the skin, leading to rashes and itching. The appropriate bathing time is about 10 minutes. Using too much shower gel The more foam the shower gel has, the more surfactant it contains. Overusing it will deplete your skin’s natural protective oils, leading to dryness and roughness. In addition, if your skin is allergic or the product is not specifically designed for you, do not use them every day. Old and wet bath cotton Wet sponges and loofahs are often a breeding ground for bacteria and mold, so they should be changed every 4 weeks. Try using cotton bath gloves. It is also important to dry the sponge after use to avoid bacterial growth. Wipe people too dry It is not good for the skin to be too dry by scrubbing too hard. So, wipe your body with a soft towel and leave the skin slightly damp. Then, apply moisturizer to the necessary areas of the skin, making the skin smooth and healthy. The water is too hot Too much hot water will make the skin dry and flaky because it washes away all the oils present on the skin, leaving the skin defenseless. This will also increase blood flow, causing the skin to become red, inflamed, and rash. Bath water at around 35 – 40°C is perfect for healthy skin.

Cryogenic technology and the promise of bringing the dead back to life (Photo: Internet) Cryogenics, also known as cryopreservation, is the technique of freezing a dead body or body parts to protect them from decomposition. Proponents of cryogenics see it as a magical technology to bypass death and even reach immortality. They decided to freeze and preserve the body intact, hoping to wait until science developed enough to revive the dead body and cure whatever caused them to die before. . (Photo: Internet) To date, more than 350 dead people worldwide have been preserved at low temperatures at one of four facilities providing this service: two in the US (Alcor Life Extension Foundation, Arizona and Cryonics Institute, Michigan State); 1 in Russia (KrioRus company), and 1 in Portugal (also Alcor lab). About 1,000 people have signed up for the post-mortem resurrection service. In this list, there are famous figures such as Britney Spears, Simon Cowell, Larry King, Don Laughlin (a gambling business magnate in the US) or director Charles Matthau… How are cryogenics performed? Legally, deep freezing is only performed when the patient is dead. The ideal time to start a cryogenics procedure is about 2 minutes after the patient’s heart stops and no more than 15 minutes afterward. First, the body is gradually cooled with ice and injected with chemicals to reduce clotting. After the temperature drops to near 0°C, blood is drawn to be replaced with a solution intended to protect tissues and organs. (Photo: Internet) The technicians also injected the body with another solution to prevent ice crystals from forming, then continued to cool the body down to -130°C. As a final step, the body is moved to a container of liquid nitrogen. There, it will be cooled down to -196°C. Cost of cryogenics The fee that a person has to pay if they want to deep freeze the whole body at the Cryonics Institute is from about 35,000 USD (about 800 million VND). While if you do the procedure at KrioRus in Russia, it will cost you 37,600 USD (about 860 million VND). At Alcor, the cost of preserving a person is 220,000 USD (equivalent to 5 billion VND), if you want to save more, just preserve the brain for about 80,000 USD (approximately 1.8 billion VND). This cost does not include the annual maintenance fee, which means that the longer you keep it, the more money you have to spend. (Photo: Internet) chances of success Many scientists believe that the chance to revive a dead person is almost zero. Because the body’s organs, especially vital organs such as the heart, lungs, brain, and kidneys, must have been damaged when freeze. Until now, the damage that has occurred and resulted in death is irreversible. Due to the severe damage to internal organs and the brain, the law requires technical participants to be scientifically dead, which makes it almost impossible to revive a dead person. (Photo: Internet) Alcor doesn’t offer a clear technique to resurrect someone who’s been dead too long, or a technique under development in the future to bring the dead back to life. A very vague technology on Alcor’s website is described that they will use molecular nanotechnology with microscopic nano-sized robots that can replace damaged chromosomes and can restore individual cells. . It is worth mentioning that Alcor has not researched this technology, in fact they only trade in freezing and preserving the dead and no one is responsible for the patient’s promise to revive. Alcor’s main research is only on techniques to preserve the dead as best as possible. The prospect of resurrecting a frozen body has so far been quite remote and unrealistic. And many in the scientific community even consider this to be unethical.