A Doomsday Vault

A Secure seedbank is built on the Norwegian island of Spitsbergen near the town of Longyearbyen in the remote Arctic Svalbard Archipelago. It is offically called 'The Svalbard Global Seed Vault'. The Seed Vault holds duplicate samples, or "spare" copies, of seeds held in genebanks worldwide. The Seed Vault will provide insurance against the loss of seeds in genebanks, as well as a refuge for seeds in the case of large scale regional or global crises. The island of Spitsbergen is about 1,120 kilometres (700 mi) from the North Pole.

It is called Doomsday Vault as It will be designed to withstand global catastrophes like nuclear war or natural disasters that would destroy the planet's sources of food.

The prime ministers of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland participated in a ceremonial "laying of the first stone" on 19 June 2006.

The seedbank is constructed 120 metres (390 ft) inside a sandstone mountain at Svalbard on Spitsbergen Island.[4] The bank employs a number of robust security systems. Seeds are packaged in special four-ply packets and heat sealed to exclude moisture. The facility is managed by the Nordic Genetic Resource Center, though there are no permanent staff on-site.

Spitsbergen was considered ideal due to its lack of tectonic activity and its permafrost, which will aid preservation. The location 130 metres (430 ft) above sea level will ensure that the site remains dry even if the icecaps melt.[4] Locally mined coal provides power for refrigeration units that further cool the seeds to the internationally-recommended standard −18 °C (−0 °F).[5] Even if the equipment fails, at least several weeks will elapse before the temperature rises to the −3 °C (30 °F) of the surrounding sandstone bedrock.[1]

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault opened officially on February 26, 2008.[6] Approximately 1.5 million distinct seed samples of agricultural crops are thought to exist. The variety and volume of seeds stored will depend on the number of countries participating – the facility has a capacity to conserve 4.5 million. The first seeds arrived in January 2008.[7] Five percent of the seeds in the Vault, about 18,000 samples with 500 seeds each, come from the Centre of Genetic Sources, part of Wageningen University, Netherlands.

Source: Svalbard Global Seed Vault - Wiki

The Day Niagara Falls Stopped Flowing

Credit: Beth Goldman
Copyright: Beth Goldman

There are some things that everyone takes for granted. The sun will rise in the East every day, we must pay taxes and the Niagara Falls will flow for eternity. At least, that's what we thought until the amazing events of March 29, 1848. One of North America's first tourist attractions, Niagara Falls has fascinated scientists and laymen alike for centuries.

Niagara Falls ran dry. It is due to a South-West gale blowing off of Lake Erie caused ice to jam and dam up at the mouth of the Niagara River causing the water flow over the Horseshoe Falls and American Falls to be reduced to a trickle. On the morning of March 30, 1848, the river flow returned to its normal rate.

Source: The Day Niagara Falls Stopped Flowing

Stop sleeping with LIGHTS on

KIDS who sleep with the light on could risk leukaemia, parents were warned yesterday.
Scientists have found the body needs darkness to produce a chemical that fights cancer.

Even switching the light on for the toilet, staying up late, travelling across time zones, or the light from street lamps can stop enough melatonin being made, they say.

The body needs the chemical to prevent damage to DNA and its absence stops fatty acids reaching tumours and preventing them growing. Texas University Prof Russell Reiter, who led the research, said: "Once you go to bed you should not even switch the light on for a minute.
"Your brain immediately recognises the light as day and melatonin levelsdrop."
Rates of childhood leukaemia have doubled in the past 40 years.

About 500 youngsters under 15 are diagnosed with the disease each year and around 100 die. A conference on childhood leukaemia in London yesterday heard that people were being subjected to more light at night than ever.
This suppressed the production of melatonin which normally happens between 9pm and 8am.
Past research has shown those most affected, like shift workers, had higher levels of breast cancer.

Blind people, who are not vulnerable to fluctuations of melatonin, havelower rates of cancer, it was found.
Parents are advised to use dim red or yellow bulbs if their youngsters are scared of the dark.

A Pen or A Laptop ??!!

Look closely and guess what they could be...

Are they pens with cameras? NO

Any wild guesses? No clue yet? NOT YET
Ladies and gentlemen... congratulations!You've just looked into the future...yep that's right!

You've just seen something that will replace your PC in the near future.
Here is how it works:

In the revolution of miniature computers, scientists have made great developments with bluetooth technology.....
These are the forthcoming computers you can carry in your pockets .

This 'pen type of instrument' produces both the monitor as well as the keyboard on any flat surface from where you can carry out functions you would normally do on your desktop computer.

Can anyone say .'Good-bye laptops!'

8 Tallest Statues in the World!

1. Ushiku Amida Buddha


Japan - 120 Metre

2. Huangdi Yandi


China - 103 Metre

3.Homeland-Mother


Ukraine - 102 Metre

4.Peter I


Russia - 96 Metre

5. Statue of Liberty


United States - 93 Metre

6.Homeland-Mother


Russia - 82 Metre

7. Buddha


China - 71 Metre

8. Christ the Redeemer


Negara: Brazil
Tinggi: 38 Meter

Credit to moerdani @ Kaskus

Beijing Olympic

What a coincidence again!

China clinched 51 gold, 22 silver, 28 bronze in Beijing Olympic!

What does 512228 stand for?

When does the China Sichuan earthquake happen?

5月12日2点28分

This is amazing and what is the probability for this figure to match each other so exactly!

Wedding ring and Ring finger....

Why wedding ring must be worn on ring finger, also known as fourth finger??

Follow the below steps to find out! God really create miracle (from some China's ancient book)

1. First, Show your palm, middle finger bends in (see picture)

2. Then, touch the other 4 fingers (see picture)

3. The game is about to start, 5 sets of finger BUT only 1 set cannot be separated

4. Try to open your thumb, thumb represents parents, thumb can be opened because all human will encounter illness and death. That is why our parents will leave us one day.

5. Close back your thumb, now open your index finger, index finger represents your siblings, they will have their own families, so they will leave us also one day...

6. Now close back your index finger and open your little finger (also known as 'pinky' :D). This represents children. Sooner or later your children will also leave us and start their own families.

7.Last, close your little finger, and please open your ring finger.. As what the name called it is the finger we put our wedding rings. You will be surprised because that finger cannot be opened! Ring finger represents Husband and Wife. For your life you and your partner will stick together..

So sweet, isn't it?

Beijing Olympic 2008 Chart

Below is the sports chart that are competed in Beijing Olympic 2008, enjoy :) !