Photographers who have worked so close to volcanoes that their clothes started to burn, come within stroking distance of tigers in the wild, or dived under the sea ice freezing cold water have joined forces for an exhibition, billed as displaying images from the harshest places on Earth.
Polar bears and seals were captured on camera by a photographer who grew up in the Arctic and trained as a marine biologist. He dives under the sea ice to swim with his subjects, once offending a leopard seal by refusing the penguin she tried to feed him with. Another exhibitor has recorded not only tigers but also chimpanzees that had never before encountered human beings. The volcano enthusiasts work in fireproof suits, always at risk of becoming so transfixed by the beauty of the eruptions that they venture too close. There are invisible pockets of gas as well as flames, all of which contribute to the deadly perils of being an extreme photographer.
martes, 17 de marzo de 2015
¿El exceso de actividad nos mantiene vivos?
Hoy ha sido uno de esos días de no parar, de darte cuenta de que es la hora de comer porque te lo recuerdan tus tripas, en un desairado rugido de furia en un imperioso intento de llamar tu atención. He pasado la mañana entre microscopios, preparaciones, diagnósticos de casos patológicos...en un fascinante mundo de imágenes de afecciones patológicas. También he pasado la mañana sumergida en el no tan fascinante mundo de la microbiología, un desesperante mundo en el que nunca encuentras lo que buscas (al menos hoy, ha sido una mañana muy poco productiva en este sentido), pero de lo más entretenido. ¿Me gusta por el hecho de ser una especie de puzzle gigante al que le faltan piezas? Pues la verdad es que no tengo ni idea. Lo único que sé con total certeza es que hoy me siento más viva y animada que nunca, hago lo que me gusta y me gusta lo que hago. Hacía mucho tiempo que no me sentía tan bien, a pesar de haber tenido un día de lo más movidito. ¿Soy tan especial que no soy feliz a menos que esté al borde de un ataque de ansiedad? Bueno, no será para tanto, que luego me decís que soy una exagerada, y con toda la razón del mundo. Uno no se estresa cuando aprende a ver la belleza de las cosas, le gusten o no. Siempre hay algo que brilla con luz propia, sólo hay que aprender a distinguir la belleza de la banalidad. El buen tiempo y el calor también animan, por supuesto. No es lo mismo levantarse y ver el sol que levantarse en una oscuridad propiamente nocturna. También supone un aporte extra de energía llegar a casa cuando todavía es de día. La oscuridad nos hace letárgicos y consigue que nos olvidemos de la belleza del mundo. Aprovechemos estos días de buen tiempo para cargar nuestras energías y, sobre todo, para llenarnos de vida, pero eso no basta. Lo más importante de todo es aprender a dosificar esa vitalidad, esa energía y esa euforia para poder sacarla cuando lo que nos rodea no invita al jolgorio y la algarabía. Disfrutad del sol, y aprended a dosificar lo bueno de la vida, que nunca se sabe cuando nos puede hacer falta.
Training sports champions
What are the abilities that a professional sports person needs? To guarantee that opponents can be overcome, speed, stamina and agility are essential, not to mention outstanding natural talent. Both a rigorous and comprehensive fitness regime and a highly nutritious diet are vital for top-level performance. It is carbohydrates, rather than proteins and fat, that provide athletes with the endurance they need to compete. This means that pasta is more benefitial than eggs or meat. Such a diet enables them to move very energetically when required. Failure to follow a sensible diet can result in the inability to maintain stamina.
Regular training to increase muscular strength is also a vital part of a professional's regime, and this is tipically done by exercising with weights. Sports people are prone to injure but a quality training regime can ensure that the severity of these can be minimised.
Regular training to increase muscular strength is also a vital part of a professional's regime, and this is tipically done by exercising with weights. Sports people are prone to injure but a quality training regime can ensure that the severity of these can be minimised.
The origin of language
The truth is nodoby really knows how language first began. Did we all start talking at around at the same time because of the manner in which our brains had begun to develop?
Although there is a lack of clear evidence, people have come up with various theories about the origins of language. One recent theory is that human beings have evolved in such a way that we are programmed for language from the moment of birth. In other words, language came about as a result of an evolutionary change in our brains at some stage.
Language may well be programmed into the brain but, despite this, people still need stimulus from others around them. From studies, we know that whenever children are isolated from human contact and have not learnt to construct sentences before they are ten, it is doubtful they will ever do so. This research shows, if nothing else, that language is a social activity, not something invented in isolation.
Although there is a lack of clear evidence, people have come up with various theories about the origins of language. One recent theory is that human beings have evolved in such a way that we are programmed for language from the moment of birth. In other words, language came about as a result of an evolutionary change in our brains at some stage.
Language may well be programmed into the brain but, despite this, people still need stimulus from others around them. From studies, we know that whenever children are isolated from human contact and have not learnt to construct sentences before they are ten, it is doubtful they will ever do so. This research shows, if nothing else, that language is a social activity, not something invented in isolation.
Movie magic. Is the cinema in decline?
The expression of diametrically opposed opinions has always been a great tool in the arsenal of journalists, especially film critics. One can easily be swayed to vouch for either side, especially if there are questions of loyalty or fundamental ideological values involved. This can be seen in the very polarised stance expressed either in favour of the position that film in the 21st century as an art or entertainment form is in decline or in the hope that it has and will always keep its hold on audiences as one of the most immediate and powerful means of moulding public awareness of social and moral issues.
Yet it might only be a question of differentiation of purposes, audience needs to create different styles or film for well-defined audiences (children, teenagers, lovers of great classics from the 20s or 50s say, advocates of social realism, fans of horror, and so on), with precise budgets and therefore well-aimed marketing strategies. Perhaps the film industry has finally come of age and can deliver well-groomed 'horses' for better known 'courses', as the saying goes. There is nobody who is forcing the wrong people to go and see either a blockbuster in a multiplex cinema with an audience of popcorn-eating spotty bored teenagers for whom going to see an action movie might well be an escape from dreariness and monotony of their everyday lives as they see it. Equally, there is no authority to make people pay for a low budget thought-provoking film in an art picturehouse if that does not appeal to them. There is always choice involved, and that is what any human art form has retained as one of its fundamental values. Besides, this does not preclude that, from time-to-time, major films with a big budget cannot manage to appeal to more layers of the target audience than just one. Similarly, not all low-budget movies are valuable in terms of artistry, still, originality or novelty of ideas they build on. Each film should be appreciated in its own context, and that way modern classics can be identified and treated equally.
Film will -hopefully- always stay around and diversify in its use of new technologies or age-old techniques, its themes and genres (be they comedies, documentaries, historical dramas, or science fiction or whatever) and its use of professionals' skills and artistry.. That way audiences will always be able to exercise their vote by choosing what to go and see next at the pictures, and extreme opinion on the decline or otherwise of the greatest art form we have can be held at bay.
Yet it might only be a question of differentiation of purposes, audience needs to create different styles or film for well-defined audiences (children, teenagers, lovers of great classics from the 20s or 50s say, advocates of social realism, fans of horror, and so on), with precise budgets and therefore well-aimed marketing strategies. Perhaps the film industry has finally come of age and can deliver well-groomed 'horses' for better known 'courses', as the saying goes. There is nobody who is forcing the wrong people to go and see either a blockbuster in a multiplex cinema with an audience of popcorn-eating spotty bored teenagers for whom going to see an action movie might well be an escape from dreariness and monotony of their everyday lives as they see it. Equally, there is no authority to make people pay for a low budget thought-provoking film in an art picturehouse if that does not appeal to them. There is always choice involved, and that is what any human art form has retained as one of its fundamental values. Besides, this does not preclude that, from time-to-time, major films with a big budget cannot manage to appeal to more layers of the target audience than just one. Similarly, not all low-budget movies are valuable in terms of artistry, still, originality or novelty of ideas they build on. Each film should be appreciated in its own context, and that way modern classics can be identified and treated equally.
Film will -hopefully- always stay around and diversify in its use of new technologies or age-old techniques, its themes and genres (be they comedies, documentaries, historical dramas, or science fiction or whatever) and its use of professionals' skills and artistry.. That way audiences will always be able to exercise their vote by choosing what to go and see next at the pictures, and extreme opinion on the decline or otherwise of the greatest art form we have can be held at bay.
lunes, 16 de marzo de 2015
Fashion and Science
At first glance science and fashion could not be more dissimilar. Science is generally considered to be a pursuit that is slow-paced, serious and worthy, whereas fashion is frivolous, impulsive and often unpredictable.
But fashion owes more to science than some enthusiasts might like to admit. Fashion houses adopt new materials in order to distinguish themselves from their various competitors. One designer recently showed off a liquid that can be used to produce clothes that are seamless.
As cotton is increasingly having to compete with other crops for land, and oil-based fabrics become less acceptable, scientists are working to develop replacements for these products. Sportswear, for example, has been transformed thanks to the use of innovative materials and scientific desings, greatly improving the performance of athletes.
But fashion owes more to science than some enthusiasts might like to admit. Fashion houses adopt new materials in order to distinguish themselves from their various competitors. One designer recently showed off a liquid that can be used to produce clothes that are seamless.
As cotton is increasingly having to compete with other crops for land, and oil-based fabrics become less acceptable, scientists are working to develop replacements for these products. Sportswear, for example, has been transformed thanks to the use of innovative materials and scientific desings, greatly improving the performance of athletes.
lunes, 9 de marzo de 2015
Bienvenido sol
Las nubes se han ido y por fin hemos visto el sol, el frío se ha ido y ha dejado paso al agradable calor primaveral, distinto del agobiante y asfixiante propio del verano. Los niños por fin pueden jugar en el parque, se columpian, juegan en la hierba, los niños disfrutan y los padres tienen un respiro para dar un paseo, leer un libro a la sombra de un árbol o simplemente dejan a sus hijos hacer todo lo que no pueden hacer en casa. Por la calle se ven menos caras enfadadas, en las oficinas la gente tararea, la vida pasa de ser un ajetreo continuo y estresante a ser un dechado de pereza y relax. Pero no todo puede ser idílico, porque no sería natural. En los colegios y las universidades los alumnos empiezan a ver las orejas al lobo, estamos en marzo, lo que significa que los exámenes están a la vuelta de la esquina. No hay tiempo para descansar, relajarse, disfrutar de una tarde en el parque, de un café en una terraza, de leer un libro a la sombra de un árbol...sólo queda tiempo para subrayar apuntes, hacer resúmenes, esquematizar los conceptos más importantes. La vida pasa del letargo invernal post-navideño al estresante ajetreo previo a la Semana Santa. Mucha gente dice que la primavera se nota en el aire, y no soy nadie para contradecirlo, pero en mi caso se puede decir que es la cercanía de los exámenes y no la primavera lo que se nota en el aire. La biblioteca está llena de gente estudiando, las cafeterías están desiertas, igual que el trozo de prao que tenemos delante de nuestra facultad; ese mismo prao que a la hora de comer está lleno a más no poder. No hay tiempo que perder, pero sí que se puede disfrutar de la primavera, aunque sólo sea durante la hora de la comida. No hay nada mejor que comer al sol, disfrutando de ese ratito libre, cogiendo energías para aguantar toda la tarde en clase. A todos esos afortunados cuyas obligaciones no son tan exigentes como las de un estudiante en época de exámenes, disfrutad del sol, del calor, del aire primaveral...Buenos días, bienvenido sol.
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