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VIRTUAL ARCHEOLOGY
Computers are capable of recreating magical atmospheres and applied to archeology, multi media work stations may help us truly discover civilizations of the past. Soon we will be able to "move on the inside of Egyptian pyramids, walk along the paved roads of the Roman Forum, silently enter Nefertari's tomb or be a spectator in Agrippa's Greek amphitheater." Or, just like we see in the images published by Newton, we may find ourselves in pre Colombian Mexico walking along the path of Death which divided the Toltec capital in two (Mexico City, IX century).
THE MYSTERY OF BIRTH
Christmas is the celebration of Nativity, a time to celebrate the miracle and mystery of birth. Science is continuously observing birth, from the time of conception to the actual moment of giving birth and recently the magazine "Focus" published a photographic documentary realized by endoscopy . This brief documentary is a unique record of the phases of a fetus's development and an accurate summary of all that is know today about the creation of a new life and the types of surgery which may help this miracle happen!
An abstract painting
THE MATERNITY HORMONE
At first sight, the enlargement of a crystal of progesterone, the so called maternity hormone, may be confused for a colorful abstract painting. It is not, however, an artist's flight of fancy, it is the hormone the female body produces during pregnancy in order to favor the implant of the fertilized ovule in the walls of the uterus. In fact, it is also used in therapy to avoid the risk of abortion.
NOT ONLY SOAP BUBBLES
There is a whole, fascinating world that is hidden to the human eye. Only science can introduce us to discoveries such as the behavior of gas trapped in liquid; of a photographic enlargement from the latest publication of "La macchina del tempo ". A "beehive of bubbles" in the first photo, in the second the effect produced by the refraction of the light on the wall of a soap bubble. Magic that can only be envied by artistic talents.
The Madidi Park in Bolivia
PARADISE AT RISK
Madidi is a beautiful natural park. With glaciers to it's west, rain forest to the east, pampas to the north and still more forests in it's center, it is Bolivia's (and not only) green lung; an ecosystem yet to be completely explored but rich of different bio systems. Today this paradise is at risk. Bolivia is in great need of electric energy and therefore plans to build a huge dam that will submerge Madidi. The new artificial lake will cover 300.000 hectars of green, supplying electricity to the entire country as well as to parts of Brazil. The last issue of National Geographic cried out a warning to save this heaven on earth, surely there must be other places where the dam may be built without causing such damage to all.
A photographer's enterprises
THE PLANET FROM ABOVE
"Compliments to Earth. A description of the planet at the dawn of 2000". Five years of work, 2000 hours of flight, 75 countries photographed from the sky, 15.000 films, 100.000 photos selected. All this is in a book produced by Yann Artus-Bertrand which will be partially displayed in exhibitions organized and supported by UNESCO. It is remarkable initiative which has succeeded in capturing the innumerable different ways to explain the variety that characterizes our planet and that often goes unnoticed by the common
observer. In the photos to the left you can see the thrash from a plant in Kuwait, to the right a rural, agricultural landscape between the dam of Masira and Rabat. A similar work had been realized a few years ago by Folco Quilici, a famous Italian producer.
CONDEMDED ENVIRONMENT?
The conference of the Hague ended with yet another postponement of the problems it was meant to face and may therefore be called a failure. Quoting the Nobel prize winner
Rubbia, “The earth is not waiting”. They have come to no agreement on the reduction of emissions of
gas, indicated as being the major responsible for atmospheric pollution. The United States, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Canada persist in offering only possible palliatives without intervening on the consumption levels of fossil fuel. We have been warned for years that “we have only this world”, however the commitment signed in Kyoto in 1997 is being completely
disattended.
