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Acid Rain
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Acid rain causes several environmental problems. Acidic gases are produced when fossil fuels, like coal and oil are burned in power stations, factories and in our own homes. These gases are blown in the sky, and mixed with droplets in the atmosphere creating weak solutions of nitric and sulphuric acids. When precipitation occurs these solutions fall as acid rain. Acid rain poisons fish in lakes, it damages the leaves of trees, stopping them photosynthesising. Ancient statues or buildings that contain calcium carbonate and are renowned for their architectural beauty, all show signs of corrosion. We can prevent acid rain by conserving energy. The less electricity we use in our homes, the fewer chemicals, power plants emit. Vehicles are also major fossil fuel users so we can walk, ride a bike or use public transportation. Reducing pollution and controlling emissions can help to fight acid rain for a better environment!

Sea Cucumber
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This is a picture of a sea cucumber I saw when snorkelling at Mgarr ix-Xini, Gozo. This strange looking creature intrigued me as I had never seen anything like it. It belongs to the group Echinodermata which are often found on sandy sea beds. Sea cucumbers are sausage like creatures, around 30 to 40 cm long, with bumps or spines on their leathery skin. They feed on tiny creatures, plankton and algae. They are harmless but when they feel threatened they contract and shoot out water. They can also secrete a very sticky substance which acts like glue and if it gets on your skin it’s almost impossible to remove. Sometimes, in defence, they even shoot out their internal organs and then grow them back again. Sea cucumbers are considered as a delicacy in Chinese cuisine and some even believe they are aphrodiasiacs.

Is the Solar Water Heater as efficient as they say?
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Some students interviewed 8 households which have installed a solar water heater over the past years – some even owning one for a good 10 years. The article discusses the overall idea of why the solar water heater is a good investment to the Maltese households by the people out in the street.
Read MoreThe Eco-friendly house
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Students discuss the features of the eco-friendly house and give suggestions of how in Malta we can save energy in our households for sustainable energy use therein.
Read MoreBring to light the Verdala Spire
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A dominant feature of the Verdala Retrenchment, on Margherita Hill in Cospicua, built during British times is a unique spire on top of the hall. The hall dates back to the years 1871 – 1874. The spire by HB Evans is the only Victorian spire found in Malta. The premises were restored recently. However the metal cover of the spire needs special treatment to avoid corrosion by rusting. If rain, manages to penetrate, being acidic it will rot the wood causing chemical weathering as we learnt during our geography lessons. We interviewed persons working on site. They have made several attempts to create awareness about this unique spire. They suggested that the metal cover of the spire should be given constant professional maintenance and then light it up at night. If lit up, the spire will be a focal point for it can be seen from the Upper Barakka Gardens.



