Masdar City, La Città del Futuro? Si può prescindere dalla storicità, dal vissuto: costruire la città e poi insediarla?

 

Masdar City Welcome Site and Video

 Masdar City is an emerging global clean-technology cluster located in what aims to be one of the world’s most sustainable urban development powered by renewable energy. This special economic zone   located about 17km from downtown Abu Dhabi will eventually be home to companies, researchers, and academics from across the globe, creating an international hub for companies and organisations focused on renewable energy and clean technologies.

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London: Light Up Light Up

London’s ‘mile of style’ will be brightening our lives just that little bit more after today, as Regent Street turns on it’s Christmas lights! 
The theme this year is ‘Narnia’ – just in time for the films 3D release in the UK. The event, which is normally attended by flocks of people in their thousands, will be hosted by Jamie Theakston while X Factor winner Joe McEldry will be singing live.

Get there before 5pm to beat the crowds!

(Written by Karen Donnelly)

Foo Fighters - Virginia Moon

Why leaves change colour? Perchè le foglie cambiano colore?

Ogni anno riscopriamo la bellezza dei colori autunnali.
 Il mix di rossi, viola, arancio e giallo, il risultato di un processo chimico che avviene sugli alberi allorchè la stagione passa dall'estate all'inverno.
In primavera e d'estate le foglie hanno la funzione di accumulo dove viene prodotto la maggior parte del nutrimento necessario alla crescita dell'albero. Il processo del nutrimento avviene nella foglia e in particolare nelle numerose cellule che contengono clorofilla, che da alla foglia il colore verde. Lo straordinario processo chimico assorbe dalla luce solare l'energia che viene usata per trasformare il diossido di carbonio e l'acqua in carboidrati, quali lo zucchero e l'amido. Oltre al pigmento verde ci sono anche quello giallo e quello arancio, come il carotene che danno ad esempio il colore arancio alle carote.
Per gran parte dell'anno questi pigmenti sono nascosti dalla grande quantità di clorofilla.



La diminuzione della clorofilla.


In autunno a causa della diminuzione della luce solare e della temperatura, le foglie fermano il processo del nutrimento. La clorofilla diminuisce, il colore verde sparisce e l'arancio e il giallo hanno il sopravvento e danno alle foglie lo splendido colore autunnale...



Every autumn we revel in the beauty of the fall colors. The mixture of red, purple, orange and yellow is the result of chemical processes that take place in the tree as the seasons change from summer to winter.

During the spring and summer the leaves have served as factories where most of the foods necessary for the tree's growth are manufactured. This food-making process takes place in the leaf in numerous cells containing chlorophyll, which gives the leaf its green color. This extraordinary chemical absorbs from sunlight the energy that is used in transforming carbon dioxide and water to carbohydrates, such as sugars and starch.
Along with the green pigment are yellow to orange pigments, carotenes and xanthophyll pigments which, for example, give the orange color to a carrot. Most of the year these colors are masked by great amounts of green coloring.

Chlorophyll Breaks Down

But in the fall, because of changes in the length of daylight and changes in temperature, the leaves stop their food-making process. The chlorophyll breaks down, the green color disappears, and the yellow to orange colors become visible and give the leaves part of their fall splendor.
At the same time, other chemical changes may occur, which form additional colors through the development of red anthocyanin pigments. Some mixtures give rise to the reddish and purplish fall colors of trees such as dogwoods and sumacs, while others give the sugar maple its brilliant orange.
The autumn foliage of some trees shows only yellow colors. Others, like many oaks, display mostly browns. All these colors are due to the mixing of varying amounts of the chlorophyll residue and other pigments in the leaf during the fall season.


Other Changes Take Place
As the fall colors appear, other changes are taking place. At the point where the stem of the leaf is attached to the tree, a special layer of cells develops and gradually severs the tissues that support the leaf. At the same time, the tree seals the cut, so that when the leaf is finally blown off by the wind or falls from its own weight, it leaves behind a leaf scar.

Most of the broad-leaved trees in the North shed their leaves in the fall. However, the dead brown leaves of the oaks and a few other species may stay on the tree until growth starts again in the spring. In the South, where the winters are mild, some of the broad-leaved trees are evergreen; that is, the leaves stay on the trees during winter and keep their green color.
Only Some Trees Lose Leaves
Most of the conifers -- pines, spruces, firs, hemlocks, cedars, etc. -- are evergreen in both the North and South. The needle- or scale-like leaves remain green or greenish the year round, and individual leaves may stay on for two to four years or more.
Weather Affects Color Intensity
Temperature, light, and water supply have an influence on the degree and the duration of fall color. Low temperatures above freezing will favor anthocyanin formation, producing bright reds in maples. However, early frost will weaken the brilliant red color. Rainy and/or overcast days tend to increase the intensity of fall colors. The best time to enjoy the autumn color would be on a clear, dry and cool (not freezing) day.

Enjoy the color; it only occurs for a brief period each fall.
http://www.weather.com/