Nice's Contemporary Art Biennale explores the city's unique relationship to the sea
The artists and organizers have spared no effort, with 11 different exhibitions linked to the event, all spread across the city. Though uncommon for a biennale, these exhibitions are not limited to contemporary art but also tell the unique story of the city's millennia-old connection to the sea. For example, did you know that the Baie des Anges (the Bay of Angels) owes its name to a strange fish − a half-ray, half-shark − that once thrived there? The angel shark (Squatina squatina) has now been decimated, notably because of trawling, and is currently listed among the 100 most endangered species worldwide. A (very small) taxidermied example can be found at the Villa Masséna at the exhibition "Nice, du rivage à la mer" ("Nice, From Shore to Sea"). If allowed to grow, the animal can exceed 2 meters in length.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sustainability Times
24-07-2025
- Sustainability Times
'They Lied About Clean Energy Again': Hydrogen Was the Climate Hero—Now Scientists Say It Could Accelerate the Apocalypse
IN A NUTSHELL 🌍 Global warming intensifies as experts warn that hydrogen, a potential clean fuel, may worsen climate change. intensifies as experts warn that hydrogen, a potential clean fuel, may worsen climate change. ⚠️ Hydrogen leaks and accidental releases could significantly impact the climate if production and transport infrastructure lead to increased emissions. 🔧 Retrofitting pipelines for hydrogen transport is challenging due to its small molecular size, which makes it prone to leakage . . 🛢️ Proper infrastructure and strict standards are essential to ensure hydrogen's benefits are not negated by potential emission increases. As global warming continues to intensify, the warnings from experts grow more urgent. The United Nations Secretary General has already metaphorically stated that we have crossed a critical threshold. Among the various solutions proposed to combat climate change, hydrogen stands out as both a promising ally and a potential adversary. While it is often touted as a clean fuel of the future, recent reports suggest that hydrogen might not be as environmentally friendly as once believed. This raises crucial questions about our reliance on hydrogen as a solution to the climate crisis. Even Hydrogen Has a Flip Side: Is It Really Good for the Planet? Hydrogen is frequently celebrated as a climate-friendly fuel, promising a future with minimal emissions. The idea is that hydrogen can be produced with low emissions, serving as a clean fuel source where its only emission would be water vapor. This makes hydrogen particularly appealing for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in hard-to-electrify sectors such as heavy industry and transportation. However, recent insights from scientists suggest that hydrogen may not be as clean as it is often portrayed. 'It's Like a Tesla You Can Live In!': LOVT Unveils Futuristic Tiny House That's Modular, Eco-Friendly, and Ready to Disrupt Everything One of the main concerns is that hydrogen leaks and accidental releases might exacerbate global warming in the short term. Although hydrogen does not directly trap heat like carbon dioxide or methane, it could still have a significant impact on the climate if the infrastructure required to produce and transport hydrogen results in increased emissions. This presents a paradox where the very solution designed to combat climate change may inadvertently contribute to it. 'These Trees Turn CO2 Into Stone': Amazed Scientists Hail Kenya's One-of-a-Kind Forest as the Ultimate Breakthrough Against Climate Change Experts' Warning: Hydrogen Will Aggravate Global Warming If We Do This Despite its reputation as a clean fuel, scientists caution that hydrogen leaks could actually accelerate global warming. Hydrogen is not inherently clean, especially when produced via methane reforming or from fossil fuels, which generate significant carbon emissions. Even when produced through electrolysis using renewable energy, any leakage of hydrogen into the atmosphere can exacerbate climate change. Hydrogen has more than 25 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 100-year period. Earth's Poles Are Drifting Because of Massive Dam Construction Projects That Are Altering the Planet's Balance and Gravity To achieve net-zero emissions, scientists estimate that leakage across the hydrogen supply chain must be kept below 3-4%. However, current studies indicate leakage rates can range from 3-20% from production to end use. As long as fossil fuels play a role in hydrogen production, any leakage undermines its climate benefits. The concern is that expanding hydrogen infrastructure, including pipelines and storage, might lead to increased leaks over time, further complicating the quest for a cleaner planet. Infrastructure Doesn't Help Either: An Added Problem for Hydrogen While hydrogen is abundant, its capture and transport present numerous challenges. Unlike natural gas and oil, which can be transported via pipelines, hydrogen's small molecular size makes it prone to leakage. This necessitates specially designed materials and infrastructure to prevent gas escape. Retrofitting natural gas pipelines for hydrogen transport risks increased leakage at joints, valves, and seals unless fully upgraded. Additionally, pipeline corrosion is a concern, as hydrogen can embrittle certain metals. New hydrogen pipelines are estimated to cost 2-3 times more than those for natural gas. Underground storage options, such as salt caverns and aquifers, can hold substantial volumes of hydrogen, but leakage remains a significant issue. Storage tanks and other hydrogen infrastructure require advanced materials to minimize losses. With so many potential points for leaks across pipes, tanks, valves, and equipment, hydrogen infrastructure poses risks that could negate its climate benefits when compared to direct electrification. Therefore, strict standards and practices are imperative to safely transition to hydrogen while avoiding increased emissions. Our current understanding of the relationship between global warming and hydrogen suggests that the situation is more complex than anticipated. The planet needs a thorough, clean, and decisive ecological transition, avoiding half measures like brown, gray, or black hydrogen. It's essential to weigh the pros and cons of hydrogen as part of our climate strategy. As we move forward, will we heed the warnings of experts, or will hydrogen become another lost opportunity in our fight against climate change? This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (29)
LeMonde
06-07-2025
- LeMonde
Nice's Contemporary Art Biennale explores the city's unique relationship to the sea
The first United Nations conference on the need to protect oceans took place in New York in 2017. The third and most recent was just held in Nice, on June 13. But for nearly 75 years, it has been common knowledge that humans' horrible habit of polluting the seas that surround and sustain them could lead to disaster. This was revealed in 1951 by The Sea Around Us, a groundbreaking book by Rachel Carson (1907-1964). A marine biologist, Carson was also the author of S ilent Spring (1962), which, for the first time, linked the rise in cancer cases to the widespread use of pesticides. For this contribution, Carson was considered a trailblazing environmentalist and is credited with the ban on DDT. These themes are at the heart of the sixth Nice Contemporary Art Biennale, organized by Jean-Jacques Aillagon and Hélène Guenin. The artists and organizers have spared no effort, with 11 different exhibitions linked to the event, all spread across the city. Though uncommon for a biennale, these exhibitions are not limited to contemporary art but also tell the unique story of the city's millennia-old connection to the sea. For example, did you know that the Baie des Anges (the Bay of Angels) owes its name to a strange fish − a half-ray, half-shark − that once thrived there? The angel shark (Squatina squatina) has now been decimated, notably because of trawling, and is currently listed among the 100 most endangered species worldwide. A (very small) taxidermied example can be found at the Villa Masséna at the exhibition "Nice, du rivage à la mer" ("Nice, From Shore to Sea"). If allowed to grow, the animal can exceed 2 meters in length.
Euronews
02-07-2025
- Euronews
Where are you most likely to live to 100 and why?
People who reach their 100th birthdays this year have seen quite a lot. Born in 1925 between two World Wars, they've witnessed the advent of everything from penicillin to TikTok. But very few people have crossed that mark. Worldwide, there are about 630,000 centenarians – people aged 100 or older – and the vast majority live in just 10 countries, according to the latest estimates from the United Nations. These 10 countries span Asia, Europe, and North America, and they run the gamut on size, economic strength, politics, healthcare quality, and social structures. One in five centenarians, or about 123,000 people, live in Japan, which also has one of the world's highest life expectancies at 88 years for women and 82 years for men. It is followed by the United States, which has about 74,000 centenarians, China (around 49,000), and India (38,000). Considering the number of centenarians relative to population size, however, the US and China drop down the list and European countries such as France, Greece, and Italy rise closer to the top. Japan remains exceptional, with 100 centenarians per 100,000 people, behind only Hong Kong, with a rate of 133. 'Japan is at the top of all lists,' Solveig Cunningham, a professor who leads health, ageing and longevity research at the Netherlands Interdisciplinary Demographic Institute, told Euronews Health. That's likely due to a combination of nutrition, exercise, and a healthy 'living environment,' Cunningham said. But the real test would be to track the health of people who immigrated to Japan decades ago, and see if they fare as well as native Japanese people as they age. What drives extreme longevity? Extreme longevity has long puzzled scientists and captivated the public, spawning countless books, TV shows, headlines, and self-help guides. One popular explanation is the theory of 'blue zones,' or geographic regions where people live remarkably long lives due to a combination of healthy diets, active lifestyles, strong social relationships, and genetics. But researchers have also raised questions about whether these 'blue zones' are real, or simply a matter of flawed data. One study made waves last year when it flagged two reasons why some countries appear to have so many centenarians: administrative errors with birth certificates, and fraud in pension and benefit systems. Cunningham said there likely are some 'data aberrations,' but they probably do not account for bigger picture trends, particularly because countries with the most centenarians also tend to have longer life expectancies overall. 'If we think these are places where people generally live longer, it's not surprising that a larger proportion will make it there,' she said. Even countries with lower life expectancies could be home to a surprising number of centenarians. 'In places where you have pretty high mortality early in life, the people who survive are outstandingly strong,' Cunningham said. It doesn't appear that there's a 'magical concoction,' she added. For now, there are still more questions than answers when it comes to extreme longevity, but demographers and health experts say the keys to ageing well are simple: regular exercise, healthy food, access to medical care, getting enough sleep, avoiding alcohol and tobacco, and managing stress. 'I don't know how much I personally would buy into [claims on the benefits of] fish oil and chocolate and a glass of wine,' Cunningham said.
