BITS ‘N’ PIECES
Narrated Abu Huraira (R.A):
Allah's Apostle (S.A.W) said, "When anyone of you stands for the prayers, Satan comes and puts him in doubts till he forgets how many Rakat he has prayed. So if this happens to anyone of you, he should perform two prostrations of Sahu while sitting.
Sahih Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 22, Number 324
Tree trunks in the Amazon are getting 3.3 per cent thicker every decade as plants absorb extra carbon dioxide, suggesting they are more resilient to global warming than once believed. A new study shows trees of all sizes across the rainforest are expanding due to rising carbon dioxide levels, which have created a more resource-rich environment.
Since the 1970s, researchers have recorded an average 3.3 per cent increase per decade in the circumference of trees at their base. Tim Baker, professor of tropical ecology at the University of Leeds, explained that while it was known the total carbon stored in Amazonian forests had risen, the new work shows that trees of every size have grown larger, reshaping the entire forest.
Earlier studies warned that the Amazon could reach a tipping point within the next century, potentially transforming into savanna. For now, however, trees are thriving, locking away massive amounts of carbon.
The study used data from 188 plots monitored between 1971 and 2015. Researchers measured the basal area of trunks, or the amount of forest floor occupied by tree bases. Different plots were tracked for varying periods, with the longest continuous monitoring lasting 30 years. Nearly 100 scientists contributed to the work.
The study found that rising carbon dioxide benefits all trees, with both large and small ones growing larger. Even the biggest trees, often vulnerable to drought or lightning, are thriving where deforestation has not occurred. Adriane Esquivel Muelbert of the University of Cambridge noted that the carbon-storing role of large trees remains strong, showing the remarkable resilience of intact forests.
None of the studied plots showed declines in basal area, but scientists caution this may change. Heat and water stress, wildfires and storms are intensifying and could slow growth. Keeping the Amazon intact remains vital to buffer against climate change.
732 – Battle of Tours: Charles Martel halted the advance of Muslim forces into Western Europe.
1845 – U.S. Naval Academy founded: established at Annapolis, Maryland.
1911 – Wuchang Uprising: sparked the Xinhai Revolution in China, leading to the fall of the Qing dynasty.
1913 – Panama Canal completed: the Gamboa Dike was demolished, joining the canal’s Atlantic and Pacific sections.
1933 – Dreft, the first household synthetic detergent, was introduced in the U.S.
1964 – Tokyo Olympics opened: first Olympics held in Asia.
1970 – Fiji gained independence from Britain.
1980 – Earthquake in Algeria: 7.3 magnitude quake struck El Asnam, killing thousands.