Less Snow in the Rockies

On this week's news update…

Sea Dragon

A sea dragon is unearthed…

Less Snow

Less snow in the Rockies…

Solar Giraffe

And a solar giraffe recharges Mozambique!

First up…

Sea Dragon

Paleontologists are scientists who investigate ancient life forms by studying fossils.

Paleontologists

An English woman called Mary Anning was one of the world's early paleontologists.

Mary Anning

In the 1800s she discovered the fossilized remains of what became known as a sea dragon. An ichthyosaur, or sea dragon, was a huge marine reptile that swam the seas around 180 million years ago.

Ichthyosaur

Recently, paleontologists have unearthed another ichthyosaur in the UK.

Using small chisels and brushes to carefully dig around the buried remains, the paleontologists slowly revealed their incredible discovery!

Measuring 10 meters long, the huge ichthyosaur is one of the largest fossils of its kind ever discovered. It is also one the most complete fossils of its type, with almost every bone preserved, from its tip to its tail. The paleontologists were particularly impressed by the size of the giant skull, which weighs one ton!

The fossil is currently being removed for further examinations, but its finders hope it will soon go on display so the public can view the ichthyosaur up close!

Up next…

Less Snow

The Rocky Mountains stretch across the western United States and Canada.

Rocky Mountains

During the winter, the central Rockies, in states such as Colorado, are usually covered in snow. However, this winter, the snow didn't start to fall until very late in the season.

Although this lack of snow is still uncommon, researchers predict that if the world's climate continues to warm, the Rockies could be without snow for years at a time.

If less snow falls across the Rockies, there could be a number of consequences. Snow helps many forests recover from wildfires, by protecting the soil, and allowing trees to grow back healthily. But if less snow falls, forests could find it harder to recover, and the effects of wildfires could become more damaging.

Three quarters of drinking water in the Western United States comes from snow melt, so less snow could also result in less water being available for people to drink.

Although these are serious problems, if climate change can be limited, the Rockies might still experience plenty of mountain snowfall!

And finally…

Solar Giraffe

Mozambique

Much of the country's population live in remote villages, and use cell phones to stay in touch. However, only 8% of the population have access to constant electricity, so it's often hard for people to recharge their devices.

But recently, a group of designers have taken inspiration from the country's famous giraffes to design a very eye-catching charging station: a solar giraffe!

The charging station uses energy from the sun to power ten charging outlets which locals can use to power their devices. Taking advantage of Mozambique's sunny climate, the charging station can operate all year round with minimal maintenance.

Able to charge 280 cell phones per month, the solar giraffe enables local phone users to stay in touch with friends and family: an example of how simple green technology can transform the lives of people all around the world!

That's all for this week, we'll see you next time!