A  recent study reveals that hundreds of circles, squares, and other geometric shapes once hidden by forest hint at a previously unknown ancient society that flourished in the Amazon. Satellite images of the upper Amazon Basin taken since 1999 have revealed more than 200 geometric earthworks spanning a distance greater than 155 miles (250 kilometers). Now researchers estimate that nearly ten times as many such structures—of unknown purpose—may exist undetected under the Amazon’s forest cover.At least one of the sites has been dated to around A.D. 1283, although others may date as far back as A.D. 200 to 300, said study co-author Denise Schaan, an anthropologist at the Federal University of Pará in Belém, Brazil.The discovery adds to evidence that the hinterlands of the Amazon once teemed with complex societies, which were largely wiped out by diseases brought to South America by European colonists in the 15th and 16th centuries, Schaan said.Since these vanished societies had gone unrecorded, previous research had suggested that soils in the upper Amazon were too poor to support the extensive agriculture needed for such large, permanent settlements. ”We found that this picture is wrong,” Schaan said. “And there is a lot more to discover in these places.”
Wide-reaching CultureThe newfound shapes are created by a series of trenches about 36 feet (11 meters) wide and several feet deep, with adjacent banks up to 3 feet (1 meter) tall. Straight roads connect many of the earthworks.Preliminary excavations at one of the sites in 2008 revealed that some of the earthworks were surrounded by low mounds containing domestic ceramics, charcoal, grinding-stone fragments, and other evidence of habitation.But who built the structures and what functions they served remains a mystery. Ideas range from defensive buildings to ceremonial centers and homes, the study authors say.It’s also possible the structures served different purposes over time, noted William Woods, a geographer and anthropologist at the University of Kansas in Lawrence who was not involved in the research.”For example,” he said, “in Lawrence there’s a Masonic temple—it is now a bar. There was a bank—it is now a restaurant called Tellers. These things happen.”What most surprised the research team is that the earthworks appear in both the region’s floodplains and the uplands.In general, the Amazon’s fertile floodplains have been popular sites for ancient civilizations, while the sparser uplands have been thought to be largely devoid of people, the researchers say.What’s more, the earthworks in both regions are of a similar style, suggesting they were built by the same society.”In Amazonian archaeology you always have this idea that you find different peoples in different ecosystems,” study co-author Schaan said.”And so it was kind of odd to have a culture that would take advantage of different ecosystems and expand over such a large region.”
“Astounding” PopulationThe uplands sites appear to have been home to as many as 60,000 people, Schaan and her colleagues suggest in their paper, published this month in the journal Antiquity.That figure is based on estimates of the social organization and labor that would have been required to build the structures hinted at by the remaining earthworks.According to the University of Kansas’ Woods, the population estimate is reasonable, albeit rough, since so little is known about these complexes. Answers may emerge as researchers continue to excavate the newfound shapes in the coming years.But Woods is impressed by the possibility that so many people might have once lived in a region long thought uninhabited.”Traditionally, if you would have asked an anthropologist or archaeologist how many people lived [in these Amazon uplands], they’d say almost zero,” he said. ”And so this is astounding that there is 60,000 people making a go of it where there aren’t supposed to be any.”

Starfishes are among the best known echinoderms. Most starfish have a central disk with five arms, or rays spreading out like spoke on a wheel. Some types, however, have as many as twenty arms. The undersides of these arms are covered with hollow tubes called “tube feet”. These tubes are connected to an internal network of canals that runs through the starfish. The movement of water through this network allows the tube feet to act like tiny suction cups. The tube feet are used for movement and food getting. The starfish can wrap its arms around a clam, using its suction feet to hold on. The tube feet pull the clam open.

Then, a strange thing happens. The starfish’s stomach stretches out of its body through its mouth and enters the clam. It actually digests the soft body of the clam while it is inside the clamshell. The digested material is then sucked into the starfish.

A star fish can eat up to a dozen clams a day. For this reason, the crews on fishing boats try to kill any starfish they find. They used to chop up the starfish and throw the pieces back into the ocean. Unfortunately, any pieces that had part of the central disk grew into new starfish. This is now it was discovered that starfish can regenerate itself. So, to be killed, starfish have to be dried.

The writer is studying in Electrical Technology department in Mymensingh polytechnic institute

Air Pollution

Whether you know it or not, global warming affects our lives everyday. The sudden drizzling from time to time or the incredible rate at which our Igloos melt are all consequences of this earthly phenomenon. Bangladesh – irrespective of how tiny it may look in the atlas – has its fair share in the process. Over 70 million tonnes of pollution that can cause global warming shoots up in our atmosphere everyday, in which Bangladesh contributes as an emitter of carbon dioxide by burning fossil fuels.
However, our roles go beyond fuels and into the core of our very lifestyles.

Disposing in river

Although Bangladesh’s population has been increasing at a decreasing rate over the past couple of years, the baby boom plays a major role in increasing carbon content in the air. With more resources being utilized to support the rising masses, greater quantities of harmful gases pollute our environment. Dhaka, being the centre of business has a multitude of people migrating to its alleys every day. As a result, rising traffic and unplanned urban infrastructure to support this mass increases the emission of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Uncontrolled consumption of utilities such as air-conditioners and out-of-date motor vehicles where both emit substantial quantities of harmful gases are few examples of how we contribute to the cycle every minute.

In addition, lack of awareness on proper utilization of industrial chemicals and recycling of industrial waste has played an incredible share in heightening Bangladesh’s part in global warming. In a maddening pursuit of financial gains at minimum labour and production costs, business and factories in the city are often set up at residential areas, thus affecting the neighbouring localities. Moreover, factory owners – being unaware of environment protection, imposed with a lack of funds or unguided by strict laws – tend to use technologies that consume maximum resources under dangerous conditions. Lakes and rivers become saturated with industrial waste, severely affective water ecology and settlements grow around them. With living conditions as grave as such and water bodies rapidly filling up, the atmosphere gets supersaturated with further carbon content.

Crowded Dhaka

However, surprising as it may seem, Bangladesh has recently begun to realize the effects of global warming and taken up measures in pursuit of its mitigation. Being a nation run by incompetent government(s) since its inception, the people of Bangladesh have – impressively – stepped up in making their own community changes. Students from BUET (Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology) have lately improvised a cell-phone system that allows early storm signals to reach to the masses rapidly. Nowadays, cell phones are a commonly used and accessible technology and this system claims to successfully take updates from the Central Weather Office and deliver them to the people. Its small results are evident with the lower number of deaths in Cyclone Aila earlier this year in comparison to Cyclone Sidr. It is believed that because the population in vulnerable areas were warned earlier, many lives were saved (although the damages to their livelihoods have still been devastating).

Furthermore, awareness and rehabilitation programs under the civil society are prime examples of people-driven methods. A large network of student bodies  have been playing active roles in channelling financial contributions from general masses into nearly-accurate rehabilitation schemes implemented at affected areas. What the government and large NGOs have failed to do in years is now being successfully done by these small donators and community activists operating round the country.

There are things that give us hope. The devastations of climate change are unquestionable and will affect human progress through the next centuries. It is what we do as informed, conscious civilizations that may alter our futures. Bangladesh stands exemplary as a nation that has surged out of natural disasters via its people driven strategies in spite of being Mother Nature’s favourite punching bag. Fact is, we still have a long way to go where we must realize and work against climate change – for without our own initiatives, mankind will be in one big serious mess very soon.

Sabhanaz Rashid Diya

Anyone can easily identify a panda because of its large, distinctive black patches around the eyes, over the ears and across its round body. Bamboo is their staple food! But they also eat bananas, eggs, fishes, oranges etc when available. Although Pandas were living in the lowland area, hundreds of years ago, now they are living in a few mountain ranges in Sichuan, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces.

Panda has been considered one of the highly endangered species. In a report published in 2007, China has 293 Pandas in captivity and another 27 Pandas are outside the country, mainly in the zoos of Thailand, Hong-Kong and Taiwan. Panda is in extinction because it is loosing its habitat. From the ancient time, they have been a target for poaching. So lots of necessary steps have been taken to prevent Panda from extinction. Scientists are trying hard to breed more pandas artificially. But still there are some threats.

Recently a spokesperson for WWF China says that the Pandas could be extinct in 2 to 3 generations if increased development around the Pandas natural habitat is not controlled. The species program director of WWF, China says mentions that the housing and development for humans are encroaching the natural feeding and breeding grounds of wild pandas. And ultimately it will lead to the extinction of the globally protected species.
Panda’s habitat is being split up into ever smaller patches and this prevents the animals from roaming freely for mating partners.

“If the pandas cannot mate with those from other habitats, it may face extinction within two to three generations” – warns Fan Zhiyong, the director.

Although China government has set up breeding centers for Panda and many pandas have already been born in these centers, the recent news makes them worried again. The scientists urges to the government to control the development. Otherwise, they would have to loose China’s national treasure.

Writer: Zaidul Hasan