The Arctic —Once Subtropical

The Arctic —Once Subtropical An international team of scientists who have been drilling into the floor of the Arctic Ocean between Siberia and Greenland say that the area once enjoyed a subtropical climate. The Arctic Coring Expedition relied on the assistance of three icebreakers during the work and obtained sediment samples from nearly 1,300 feet [400 meters] below the seabed. Tiny fossils of marine plants and animals found in those samples indicate that ocean temperatures were once about 70 degrees Fahrenheit [20 degrees C] , instead of the current 30 degrees Fahrenheit [-1.5 degrees C] . According to Professor Jan Backman of Stockholm University, quoted by BBC News, “the early history of the Arctic Basin will be reevaluated based on the scientific results collected on this expedition.”

Garlic Ice Cream?

Garlic Ice Cream? Garlic has long been praised for its medicinal properties. Now Mariano Marcos State University in the northern Philippines has developed garlic ice cream for “healthful” reasons, reports the Philippine Star newspaper. It is hoped that the new product may benefit those suffering from ailments that garlic is said to alleviate. Among these are the common cold, fevers, high blood pressure, respiratory conditions, rheumatism, snakebite, toothache, tuberculosis, whooping cough, wounds, and even baldness. So, garlic ice cream, anyone?

World’s Oldest University?

World’s Oldest University? A team of Polish and Egyptian archaeologists have unearthed the site of the ancient university of Alexandria, Egypt. According to the Los Angeles Times, the team found 13 lecture halls —all of similar size— that altogether could have accommodated up to 5,000 students. These halls, says the newspaper, “feature rows of stepped benches running along the walls on three sides of the rooms, sometimes joining at one end to form a ‘U.’” In the middle is an elevated seat, likely for the lecturer. “It is the first time ever that such a complex of lecture halls has been uncovered on any Greco-Roman site in the whole Mediterranean area,” says archaeologist Zahi Hawass, president of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. Hawass defines it as “perhaps the oldest university in the world.”

ENVIRONMENTAL WATCH.

ENVIRONMENTAL WATCH. By Edidiong Rapheal Udoeyop. Although the earth produces clean air, nourishing food, and fresh water, humans are increasingly disrupting these natural processes. Scientists are desperately seeking solutions to reverse this trend. AUSTRALIA. Awake! report that It is estimated that as much as 120,000 cubic miles (500,000 cu km) of low-salinity water lies beneath the floor of the world’s oceans. “The sea level was [once] much lower than it is today,” says Vincent Post of Flinders University in Adelaide, so the coastline was farther out. At that time, rain would “fill up the water table in areas that are nowadays under the sea.” Scientists hope that these undersea reserves may in time help some of the over 700 million people who have limited access to clean water. SAHARA DESERT. Half the large animal species once found in the Sahara have either disappeared or are now confined to only 1 percent or less of their original range. Regional instability and widespread hunting are only partly to blame. Although the biodiversity of deserts rivals that of forests, researchers say that “the lack of scientific attention given to desert biodiversity is mirrored by a lack of financial support.” As a result, it is difficult for conservationists to monitor endangered desert ecosystems. WORLD. It has been estimated that 1 in 8 deaths in 2012 occurred as a result of air pollution. According to the World Health Organization, “air pollution is now the world’s largest single environmental health risk.” TO THINK ABOUT:Why are hardworking people with noble goals unable to stop the destruction of our environment?— Jeremiah 10:23. The result is clear, and 2 peter 3:12, Isaiah 65: 13,17 thus its only Gods kingdom under a perfect environmetalist will restore earth into a Paradise

SLEEP A PANACEA FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH.

SLEEP A PANACEA FOR OPTIMUM HEALTH. The amount of sleep needed varies from person to person. According to Awake! Magazine, Most newborns sleep for 16 to 18 hours a day, toddlers about 14 hours, and preschoolers about 11 or 12. School-age children generally need at least 10 hours of sleep, adolescents perhaps 9 or 10, and adults from 7 to 8. Getting the right amount of rest should not be considered optional. According to experts, sufficient sleep is important for: *. Growth and development in children and teenagers. *. Learning and retention of new information. *. Maintaining the right balance of hormones that impact metabolism and weight. *. Cardiovascular health. *. Disease prevention. Insufficient sleep has been linked to obesity, depression, heart disease, diabetes, and tragic accidents. Surely these give us good reason to want to get enough rest. So, what can you do if you realize that you have a problem getting enough sleep? *. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day. *. Make your bedroom quiet, dark, relaxing, and neither too warm nor too cold. *. Do not watch TV or use gadgets while in bed. *. Make your bed as comfortable as possible. *. Avoid heavy meals, caffeine, and alcohol before bedtime. *. If after applying these suggestions you still suffer from insomnia or other sleep disorders —such as excessive daytime sleepiness or gasping for breath while sleeping— you may want to consult a qualified health-care professional. Other factors for optimum health are keep yourself moving

Civil Service on the Run.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that Nigeria’s civil service has a reputation for inefficiency, low productivity and corruption. Buhari, who was represented by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, stated this on Monday in Abuja at the inauguration of capacity building programmes, tagged “Structured Mandatory Assessment-based Training Programme and Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme”, for public servants. The President said that Nigeria’s civil service was declining due to its inability to articulate a vision and develop the required capacity to implement such vision. Buhari said, “Many, who mourn the decline of the civil service today from its days as ‘primus inter pares’ in the Commonwealth to one which has earned a reputation for inefficiency, low productivity, corruption and insensitivity to the needs of the public, fall into the error of thinking that the problem is a poverty of ideas and capacity on the part of the civil service; whereas, it is the inability to clearly articulate a vision, ensure that the service develops the required capacity to articulate and implement the various components of the vision. “The citizen, regardless of station in life, must be respected by the governing authorities and treated with dignity. “Flowing from these is the imperative that our society must be governed by the rule of law, administered by a trustworthy, fearless, impartial and efficient judiciary”. He described the federal civil servants as the foot soldiers in Nigeria’s march to a great destiny, saying he believed the federal civil service would not fail Nigerians. “An army cannot afford indiscipline, inefficiency or lack of focus, especially because the hopes and aspirations of a whole society rest on your shoulders,” the President said to the civil servants. Buhari said the civil servants must see themselves as servants and facilitators of commerce and entrepreneurship and that they must design policies and remove obstacles to doing business in Nigeria. Buhari said the civil service should provide answers to questions such as “What are the strategic and financial planning initiatives important in a strong private sector led, free market economy but with a robust social protection system for the poor majority? “What are the crucial communications to make to the people in a season requiring sacrifice and perseverance on account of falling revenues or for that matter communicate the position that our anti-corruption, zero tolerance stand, is not merely a moral or ethical stand but a developmental construct that recognises that corruption if not apprehended will destroy all institutions, the economy and eventually our society?” Earlier, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi, said the objective of the programmes was to address capacity and leadership challenges in the service. He noted that the programmes were funded from the training budgets of the ministries, departments and agencies. He said Buhari, in the absence of ministers, had helped to restore the confidence of the civil service by depending on it for support in governing the country. He said the service would support the incumbent administration in its bid to bring about positive change in the country. Kifasi identified effective leadership as one of the challenges facing the civil service. He stated, “The Leadership Enhancement and Development Programme is one of the elements of the new Leadership Development Framework for the Federal Civil Service. “ LEAD-P will help to identify potential leaders at the various levels in the service, nurture developing leaders and enhance the capacity and capability of existing leaders.” “Our decision to restrict foreign training and promote home-grown capacity development is what has made SMAT-P and LEAD-P possible.” “The programmes are funded primarily from the training budgets of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies and delivered mainly by Nigerian Management Development Institutes. “This means that resources that could have been lost to foreign training institutions have been used to develop and strengthen Nigerian training institutions.’’ What your opinion ?