Water, a resource
Water plays a crucial role in the survival of living organisms (animals and plants) on Earth. Where there’s water, there’s life. Even in the driest regions of our countries, even under the deserts, there is always water, even if sometimes it is too deep to be possibly used. Springs, running waters, glaciers and lakes provide animals and plants with that amount of water that is indispensable for their life cycle. Man is interested in particular in drinking water, which is becoming less and less as the population of the world increases and because of pollution. Plants have been installed, especially along the coasts of dry regions, that make seawater drinkable to make up for the shortage of drinking water on the continents. Water is important in all its forms also because it is an integral part of the earth’s landscape, because it largely contributes to its shaping, because it contributes to determine its climate. Finally, fresh as well as salty waters are inhabited by micro-organisms that decompose much of the waste produced by man. This biological cycle is also of crucial importance.
Special reports
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15 April 2014
How rich are we …. in blue gold?
Water footprint, water availability and use on a planetary scale...
8 July 2022
Who’s coming to dinner
A shark in my hamburger Summer is finally here! As usual, we have waited for it all year long and…
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13 May 2018
Small steps, great footprints
Have you ever wondered how much space is taken up by an apple or a steak?...
26 August 2022
Which is coldest, the Arctic or Antarctica?
As we face the hottest summer in years, let's try to answer this refreshing question: is it colder at the…
7 October 2021
Water grabbing
“Clear, sweet fresh water,” wrote Petrarch, by many considered a precursor of Italian literature. Before him, St. Francis dedicated two…
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17 May 2021
Lost ice
According to a study conducted by a French and Swiss research team recently published in the leading journal Nature, continental…
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15 April 2014
How rich are we …. in blue gold?
Water footprint, water availability and use on a planetary scale...
-
8 July 2022
Who’s coming to dinner
A shark in my hamburger Summer is finally here! As usual, we have waited for it all year long and…
13 May 2018
Small steps, great footprints
Have you ever wondered how much space is taken up by an apple or a steak?...
-
26 August 2022
Which is coldest, the Arctic or Antarctica?
As we face the hottest summer in years, let's try to answer this refreshing question: is it colder at the…
7 October 2021
Water grabbing
“Clear, sweet fresh water,” wrote Petrarch, by many considered a precursor of Italian literature. Before him, St. Francis dedicated two…
-
15 April 2014
How rich are we …. in blue gold?
Water footprint, water availability and use on a planetary scale...
-
8 July 2022
Who’s coming to dinner
A shark in my hamburger Summer is finally here! As usual, we have waited for it all year long and…
From the Multimedia section
Facts
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The “wave-swallowing” dragon
Wave Dragon, that swallows waves and generates electricity is a plant...
Sea in love
In Italy, the "mare in amore" phenomenon occurs very often: the part of the sea coast where this occurs is…
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13 May 2011
Water in the human body
In some organisms, water can compose up to 90% of their total weight...
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16 May 2011
The “wave-swallowing” dragon
Wave Dragon, that swallows waves and generates electricity is a plant...
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13 May 2011
The most spectacular waterfalls
The highest waterfalls in the world are located in Venezuela...
11 May 2011
Sea in love
In Italy, the "mare in amore" phenomenon occurs very often: the part of the sea coast where this occurs is…
-
13 May 2011
Water in the human body
In some organisms, water can compose up to 90% of their total weight...