The 2.5-acre addition, which is part of Houston Zoo’s centennial master plan, was initially scheduled to open this year.
Due to supply chain issues and world-wide shortage of essential construction materials including acrylic viewing panels, “Galápagos Islands” is now expected to debut in early 2023.
“We’re disappointed that the project has been delayed, but we know we’re not alone in experiencing supply chain problems,” said Lee Ehmke, Houston Zoo President and CEO, via statement.
“Our commitment to conservation in the Galápagos Islands, our animal residents, and our guests here in Houston remain unwavering.
A short delay in our exhibit opening will not deter us from our mission of connecting communities to animals, inspiring action to save wildlife.”
Immersion and conservation are top of mind for architects and engineers designing “Galápagos Islands,” crown jewel of the zoo’s “Keeping Our World Wild” in celebration of its 100-year anniversary.
The six-year, multi-phase project features a series of transformative exhibits, public amenity upgrades and enhanced public spaces.
Upon completion, “Galápagos Islands” becomes the first showcase of its kind to capture the archipelagos’ distinct landscapes, oceanic habitats and species.
More than 97-percent of reptiles and land mammals living on the Islands — which straddle the equator some 500 miles of the coast of Ecuador — are endemic, meaning they’re found nowhere else on Earth.
Also in the works is a split-level, wave-sculpted sea cave to house Sally Lightfoot crabs.
Nearby, an underwater, 40-ft. long acrylic tunnel leads to One Ocean Gallery where sea turtles, sharks, rays and fish will take shelter inside a 190,000-gallon aquarium.
Giant tortoises and two Caribbean Blue Iguanas will be next-door neighbors; a viewing pond connects their future homes.
A renewable energy solar and storage microgrid is under development across Santa Cruz and the neighbouring Baltra islands.
The microgrid will comprise a 14.8MWp solar photovoltaic solar farm on a former military air base on Baltra Island and two battery energy systems with a total discharge capacity of 40.9MWh on Baltra and Santa Cruz Islands, interconnected with a 44km sub-transmission line.
Dispatch of the energy generation assets will be via a microgrid controller.
The project was launched under the name ‘Conolophus’ by the Ecuador founded solar platform developer Gransolar in 2018.
Total Eren joined the initiative in 2020, when it was renamed the E-Quator Energy project and was awarded to the two companies by the Ecuador government.
The Galapagos is a natural world heritage site with abundant wildlife, in particular the giant tortoises, marine and land iguanas and many species of birds, with strict controls on the number and frequency of visitors to the various islands and once there to the access thereon.
Despite the drive for sustainability, still 85% of the electricity consumption is based on fossil fuels.
When the E-Quator Energy project comes online, then 70% of the electricity will come from renewable resources.
“We are very pleased to partner with Gransolar to develop this innovative project in Ecuador. This project is unique as it does bring a comprehensive green energy solution that can be duplicated in all islands of the globe,” says Fabienne Demol, Executive VP and Global Head of Business Development of Total Eren.
Daniel Hidalgo, President of Gransolar adds that it is a great example of a collective effort across the public and private sectors.
“Ecuador is a unique place, one that has a comparative advantage due to its geographic location on the equator.”
Santa Cruz is one of the main islands in the Galapagos for visitors and is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station, the base for the islands’ scientific research.
Baltra is a smaller island and has one of the two airports serving the Galapagos.
The US air force established a base there the second world war, which was later passed on to the Ecuadorian government.
Gransolar and Total Eren will finance and construct the microgrid, on which they have a 25-year operation concession, although they haven’t indicated when it is due to be completed.
Haldor Topsøe, a Danish technology provider, has secured a €45 million ($51.1 million) loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to conduct research and development of green hydrogen solutions.
The loan will be issued through the European Fund for Strategic Investments to support Haldor Topsøe’s strategy of developing new technologies to decarbonise a wide range of energy-intensive industries.
The loan will help the Danish firm to drive carbon emission reduction technologies and will utlimately support an increase in the use of renewable energy, according to the statement.
Haldor Topsøe’s research and development efforts will enable the production of greener chemicals and renewable fuels such as green ammonia, biofuels, and electrified methanol.
Roeland Baan, the CEO of Haldor Topsøe said: “Transitioning society towards clean energy solutions is vital in the battle against climate change. This funding will support our research into innovative hydrogen technologies that will ultimately enable our customers to produce low-carbon products for society.”
Christian Kettel Thomsen, vice president of the EIB added: “The development of innovative products requires sizeable and sustained investment, and I am glad that we can once again support Haldor Topsøe’s R&D investments.
“Supporting this type of cutting-edge research by a European company is of strategic importance in terms of safeguarding technology and know-how, but it obviously also benefits economic growth and employment.
Haldor Topsøe’s research and development tackles key challenges of our times by protecting our climate and the environment, which is fully in line with the EIB’s climate action objectives.”
Valdis Dombrovskis, European Commission’s executive vice president responsible for an economy that Works for People, said: “We need businesses and their innovation potential to deliver on the European Green Deal and our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. This example is a great contribution to these efforts.”
Global renewables asset manager Exus has announced the completion of a 7.7MWp solar PV plant and its connection to the Portuguese main grid.
The 7.7MWp Fonte Figueira solar PV plant is located in southern Portugal, one of the highest irradiation regions in Europe.
Portugal has set a target to expand its solar portfolio to 9.9GW by 2030 to decarbonise its energy sector and the Fonte Figueira solar plant moves the country a step towards the goal.
The government plans to add 1GW of solar capacity per annum to the grid.
The Fonte Figueira plant was planned and developed to ensure the system’s optimal efficiency to maximise power output, according to the statement.
The project falls under efforts by Exus to expand its renewable energy business and is one of five the company has developed in the past four years.
The system increases Exus’ solar capacity to 200MW.
The project is one of the first in Portugal to adapt to Portugal’s new regulations on renewable energy and grid connection, according to Exus.
Carlos Tello Garcia, the COO of Exus Management Partners said, “Connecting another solar PV plant is a significant step in bringing 200MW of renewable power to the Portuguese grid.
Despite the challenges put forward by recent regulatory changes in grid connections, we were able to find solutions to advise our project partners of a suitable strategy that would enable project timelines to remain on track and on budget.
“In developing a subsidy-free pipeline at a time of significant solar power growth in the Portuguese market, we have an opportunity to demonstrate how to develop and build with the lowest LCoE.
We look forward to developing future partnerships and connecting the remaining projects to the pipeline in due course.”
UK-based clean power multinational National Energy has partnered with software firm Power Factors for the supply and use of its digital platform to manage and monitor renewable energy assets.
National Energy has set a target to expand its 91MW renewables portfolio to 2GW in the next five years.
Leveraging Power Factors’ Greenbyte platform will enable National Energy to optimise the performance of its wind and solar assets, as well as their maintenance, according to the statement.
Assets operation data acquired from Greenbyte will be combined with regional weather conditions data to forecast production and demand.
Greenbyte will also provide a single point of access for all critical data for National Energy’s international team, enabling benchmarking and optimisation of technical performance, regardless of technology type and geography.
This oversight capability will be instrumental in supporting commercial decision-making and risk management as the portfolio grows.
National Energy expects the project with Power Factors to help the firm improve its return on investments, enhance energy savings for communities the company serves, as well as drive the achievement of sustainability goals across Europe and North America.
The deal between the two companies follows a successful trial of Greenbyte on three wind farms and one solar PV plant owned by National Energy in Greece.
Jimmy Hansson, COO at National Energy said: “Building portfolio scale and lasting impact is a fundamental part of our goal to deliver environmental, social, and financial returns as we become a key player in the global renewable energy sector.
Following the naming of ultra-low-cost solar in the country’s latest low emissions technology statement that is aimed to help accelerate the energy transition, Australia has announced funding to support research and development of the technology.
The AUS$40 million (US$28.7 million) funding will be issued through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to help the government achieve its solar energy deployment goals in a cost-effective manner.
The funding will support the research and development of solar cells, modules and innovation projects that can drive down the upfront and ongoing costs of utility-scale solar PV.
ARENA will target projects that align with the agency’s Solar 30 30 30 objective of increasing the efficiency of solar modules by 30% and ensuring the cost declines to 30 cents per installed watt at utility-scale by 2030.
The funding is also expected to help the Australian federal government to achieve its goal of reducing the costs of solar to AUS$15/MWh, a third of today’s cost, and of scaling up green hydrogen production as well as reducing its costs for a decarbonised economy according to the statement.
Increasing the deployment of solar energy is also expected to help Australia to achieve its 2050 net-zero emissions target.
Darren Miller, CEO of ARENA said the funding will help Australia remain at the forefront of solar energy technology development.
The Gombe State Government says it will expand the production of complementary food, noting that 22,000 malnourished children across the 11 Local Government Areas of the state are expected to benefit.
The Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Aisha Maigari, disclosed this during the opening of introductory training on intellectual property and technology transfer operations at Gombe State University.
The training was organised by the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion, in collaboration with the state government.
She said Governor Muhammadu Yahaya had approved the extension, adding that each local government would produce the foods for at least 2,000 children.
“We have registered with NAFDAC. It has passed all the stages. We are now waiting for the NAFDAC number,” she added.
According to the commissioner, as soon as the registration number from NAFDAC is obtained, the product becomes an intellectual property of the Gombe State government to be consumed in the state and subsequently be produced in large quantities for export to other states and countries to treat malnutrition.
Maigari also said the state government would create a data bank of innovators and inventors across the state to support them with grants to invent and commercialise their products.
With over 7,000 different cultivars available worldwide, it’s no surprise that apples are the most widely consumed fruit globally.
From sweet red varieties, like Red Delicious, Fuji or Gala, to tangy green ones, like Granny Smith there sure is an apple for everyone.
They’re commonly used in recipes, like pies, cookies, muffins, jam, salads, oatmeal, or smoothies. They also make a great snack on their own or wedged and smeared with nut butter.
In addition to their culinary versatility and numerous colors and flavors to choose from, apples are an exceptionally healthy fruit with many research-backed benefits. Below are some of these benefits.
Nutritious
Apples are considered nutrient-dense fruits, meaning they provide a lot of nutrients per serving. The current Dietary Guidelines recommend 2 cups of fruit daily for a 2,000-calorie diet, emphasizing whole fruits, like apples.
One medium 7-ounce (200-grams) apple offers the following nutrients: Calories: 104, Carbs: 28 grams, Fiber: 5 grams, Vitamin C: 10% of the Daily Value (DV), Copper: 6% of the DV, Potassium: 5% of the DV, Vitamin K: 4% of the DV.
The same serving also provides 2–5% of the DV for vitamins E, B1, and B6.
Vitamin E serves as a fat-soluble antioxidant, vitamin B1 also known as thiamine is needed for growth and development, and vitamin B6 is essential for protein metabolism.
Apples are also a rich source of polyphenols, an important group of antioxidants. Antioxidants are compounds that protect your cells from free radicals — harmful molecules that contribute to the development of chronic conditions, like heart disease and cancer.
To get the most out of apples, leave the skin on, as it contains half of the fiber and most of the polyphenols.
May support weight loss
Apples are high in fiber and water, two qualities that make them filling.
An increasing feeling of fullness works as a weight-loss strategy, as it helps manage your appetite. This, in turn, might lead you to reduce your energy intake.
In one study, eating whole apples increased feelings of fullness for up to 4 hours longer than consuming equal amounts of apple purée or juice. This happened, because whole apples reduce gastric emptying — the rate at which your stomach empties its contents.
Research also suggests apple intake may significantly reduce Body Mass Index (BMI), a weight-related risk factor for heart disease.
Interestingly, apple polyphenols may also have anti-obesity effects.
May promote gut health
Apples contain pectin, a type of fiber that acts as a prebiotic. This means it feeds your gut microbiota, which is the good bacteria in your gut.
Being involved in many functions related to both health and disease, your gut microbiota plays an essential role in your overall well-being. A healthy gut is often key for better health.
Since dietary fiber cannot be digested, pectin reaches your colon intact, promoting the growth of good bacteria. It especially improves the ratio of Bacteriodetes to Firmicutes, the two main types of bacteria in your.
New research suggests that, by beneficially altering your gut microbiota, apples may help protect against chronic diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Might help prevent cancer
Antioxidants in apples may offer beneficial effects against certain types of cancers, including lung, breast, and digestive tract cancers.
Test-tube studies suggest that these effects may be attributed to apple polyphenols keeping cancerous cells from multiplying.
What’s more, one study in women reported that higher apple intakes were linked to a lower risk of cancer death. Apples’ fiber content may also contribute to their cancer-fighting properties.
For example, another test-tube study found that apple pectin fiber could inhibit the growth of cancerous cells and even trigger their death.
However, further research in humans is needed to better understand the possible link between apples and cancer prevention — for example, to identify adequate amounts and eating timing.
Could help fight Asthma
Antioxidant-rich apples may help protect your lungs from oxidative damage.
An excess of harmful molecules called free radicals can cause oxidative damage. This may lead to inflammatory and allergenic responses in your body.
Apple skin is rich in the antioxidant quercetin, which can help regulate your immune system and reduce inflammation. Theoretically, this could make apples effective against late phases of bronchial asthma responses.
Supporting this, test-tube and animal studies suggest quercetin may be a suitable treatment for allergic inflammatory diseases like asthma and sinusitis.
Similarly, other compounds found in apples, including ones called proanthocyanidins, may reduce or prevent allergic asthma airway inflammation.
Takeaway
Apples are an incredibly nutritious fruit that offers multiple health benefits.
They’re rich in fiber and antioxidants. Eating them is linked to a lower risk of many chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Apples may also promote weight loss and improve gut and brain health.
Even though more research is still needed to better understand how apples affect human health, you can’t go wrong with this tasty, versatile, and easily accessible fruit.
Can art that does not physically exist still be exhibited in a museum? Apparently so. A new museum in Seattle, opening this month, is billed as the first art museum and gallery to only exhibit blockchain art. “Digital art pushes the boundaries of physical space without the limitations of mediums and materials,” say Jennifer Wong and Peter Hamilton, the co-founders of the museum, in a statement.
The Seattle NFT Museum is set to open on 14 January in the city’s Belltown district and is positioning itself as the first of its kind—and one capable of embracing what might be a revolutionary new era in art history. Wong and Hamilton hope the museum—the partial result of a partnership with Samsung, which has provided more than 30 custom-designed screens—will put Seattle on the map as “a hub for blockchain innovation and a space to serve the NFT community”, which, thus far, has been treated with suspicion by the traditional art world.
It will be interesting to see how the NFT community responds. NFTs are generational; they are the technology and generation of video games and internet culture, making little distinction between the real and the virtual.
The proposed museum is an amalgam of the two. In many respects, it will mirror an established institutional format. There will be a curatorial focus on how the art is presented, with carefully framed exhibitions, a defined programme and distinct seasons. The works are also relevant to and reflective of the wider Seattle community, with a strong focus on local artists. Works will be visible through QR codes, providing visitors with “various online portals while in the museum, opening up the possibility of artists with additional ways of interacting with the work”. Each installation is linked to the token’s metadata and to content relating to the artist’s story.
The museum’s founders have little experience in the traditional art world but come from a technology background. Wong is the head of sustainability at Convoy, a digital freight startup, while Hamilton is an angel investor who founded TUNE, a mobile marketing company. “We’re not experts,” Wong says. “We’re here to learn as much as anyone. That is why we are counting on the feedback and support of NFT enthusiasts to continue growing the vision.”
Hamilton and Wong have partnered with the NFT collector Aaron Bird, who will initially lend the museum works from his collection.
1526 Charles V and Francis I sign the Treaty of Madrid, forcing Francis to give up claims to Burgundy, Italy and Flanders.
1641 United East Indian Company conquers city of Malacca, 7,000 killed
1724 Spanish King Philip V abdicates throne.
1761 Third Battle of Panipat: In one of the largest battles of the century, the mostly Muslim Afghani Durrani Empire defeats the mostly Hindu Maratha Empire in Northern India. An estimated 60,000–70,000 were killed in the fighting and about 40,000 Maratha prisoners massacred afterwards.
1784 US Congress of the Confederation ratifies the Treaty of Paris, signed September 3, 1783, ending the Revolutionary War, and forwards it to Great Britain.
2011 Tunisian president Ben Ali, flees to Saudi Arabia after popular protests known as the Jasmine Revolution.
HISTORICAL EVENTS TODAY
TODAY IN FILM & TV
1952 “Today Show” premieres with Dave Garroway & Jack Lescoulie on NBC-TV.
TODAY IN MUSIC
1900 Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Tosca” premieres in Rome.
TODAY IN SPORT
1898 Australian cricketer Joe Darling hits the 1st six in Tests (out of the ground).
DO YOU KNOW THIS FACT ABOUT TODAY? DID YOU KNOW?
1794 Dr Jessee Bennet of Edom, Virginia, performs 1st successful Cesarean section operation in the US on his wife.
WOULD YOU BELIEVE THIS FACT ABOUT TODAY? WOULD YOU BELIEVE?
1943 World War II: Franklin D. Roosevelt travels from Miami to Morocco to meet with Winston Churchill, becoming the first American president to travel overseas by airplane.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
