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basic laws of physics dictate that energy is conserved and can only be changed from one form to another or into matter.

Fuel, on the other hand, is the accumulation of matter and therefore represents a store of energy.

released in the form of heat when the fuel is burned in chemical or nuclear reactions

Hong Kong has one of the highest population densities in the world—more than 6,350 persons per km2 (more than 16,400 per mi2). Roughly 98% of the population of 6,940,432 (2006 est.) are Chinese; the majority of them have their family origins in Guangdong province. There are also significant numbers of Europeans and Americans, Filipinos (mostly domestic servants), and Indians and Pakistanis. About 60,000 Hong Kong residents emigrate each year, mainly to North America or Australia. This outflow is more than counterbalanced by legal and illegal immigration from China.

The leading religious affiliations among the Chinese are Buddhism, Daoism (Taoism), and traditional sects, followed by Christianity and Islam. English and Chinese are the languages of government. The Cantonese dialect is the usual medium of communication, although Mandarin has been promoted since the reversion to Chinese sovereignty.

For example, some types of water pollution change the color of the water in a lake or stream, whereas other types are less visible, but both can be equally detrimental to the health of humans and nonhuman animals.

For example, 2,000 years ago, when the Romans smelted silver, lead was released into the environment and carried by the wind over long distances; this lead can still be detected in Scandinavian lake sediments.

Relatively few of these new compounds have been thoroughly tested for possible health or environmental effects.

Scientists made an alarming discovery in the 1980s: The average surface temperature on Earth is slowly increasing. This trend is known as global warming. It is believed to be caused by an increase in the amounts of certain gases in the atmosphere. Greenhouse Effect To understand global warming, it helps to first understand something called the greenhouse effect. A greenhouse is a glass house in which plants grow. The glass lets light in and at the same time keeps heat from getting out. This trapped heat keeps the plants warm even when it is cold outside. Likewise, Earth's atmosphere traps energy from the sun. Carbon dioxide and other gases—called greenhouse gases—in the air do this trapping. Without these gases too much heat would go back into space, and living things could not survive. However, as more greenhouse gases get into the air, they also trap more heat. This leads to global warming.

ORIGIN OF THE CELEBRATION Section: Festival The start of the New Year has been celebrated in China for more than 3,000 years. New Year was a time when the farmers gave thanks for the harvest and prayed to the gods for a good harvest in the coming year. This was the one period in the busy farming year when there was time to have a celebration and when the family could get together, relax, and be merry. Chinese New Year begins with a New Moon. The Lunar Year is calculated from the time it takes for the Moon to travel around the Earth, while the Western (Gregorian) calendar is based on the time it takes for the Earth to circle the Sun. The orbits of the Moon bear no relation to the time it takes for the Earth to go around the Sun, which is why the Chinese Lunar New Year is celebrated on a different date each year. In China the New Year was renamed the Spring Festival, in 1911, when the Western calendar was officially accepted in China. However, it is still commonly known around the world as the Chinese New Year. Chinese years are named after one of twelve animals. These have been used in the same order to name the years since the sixth century A.D. Each animal is said to have its own personality and emotions, which are present in people born within its year. ~~~~~~~~By Sarah Moyse This article is copyrighted. All rights reserved.Source: Chinese New Year (0-7613-0374-X)

RELIGIONS AND RITUALS Section: Festival Although the New Year celebration is not mainly a religious one, many Chinese will visit a temple at this time of the year to make an offering to the Buddha or to the gods in the hope of making the New Year a good one. Ancestors and gods are honored with ceremonies in the home around a family altar decorated with flowers. Incense and candles are burned at the altar. At important family banquets the ancestors may be recognized as "spiritual guests" and first offered food that is afterward eaten with the meal. The Chinese have three main systems of ideas that are important to them: Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism. Although these systems are very different, many Chinese follow some or all of the rituals associated with them just to be safe. Confucius lived in the fifth century B.C. and spoke about the value of good behavior in private life and in government. He said that politeness, honesty, courage, and loyalty were what made good people. He believed in self-development through education and thought that people gain in wisdom as they grow older. It is part of the Confucian tradition to honor parents and ancestors.

Daoism comes from the teachings of Laozi, who lived at the same time as Confucius. His book, the Dao De Jing (The Way and Its Power), describes the way (dao means "way") to live at peace with nature so as not to upset natural balances. The Way involves balance between opposite forces. They are called yin and yang. While yin is dark and female, yang is the opposite, being light and male. When yin and yang are balanced, there is perfect harmony with nature. Unlike Confucianism and Daoism, which started in China, Buddhism came from India and is based on the teachings of the Buddha -- a holy man. Buddha taught that people need to let go of earthly desires and become fully aware of what they are doing in the present. Buddhists believe that after death each soul moves on to another body, which may be animal or human. What one is chosen for in the next life depends on how good or bad the person has been in this life. The Chinese also pray to other gods, holding the view that the more gods who can look after them the better. The important ones are the Kitchen God, who watches the family in the home, the Jade Emperor, who is the most important god in heaven, the God of Wealth, who determines how wealthy people are, and the Door Gods. ~~~~~~~~By Sarah Moyse This article is copyrighted. All rights reserved.Source: Chinese New Year (0-7613-0374-X)

tree-dwelling marsupial of coastal eastern Australia. The koala is about 60 to 85 cm (24 to 33 inches) long and weighs up to 14 kg (31 pounds) in the southern part of its range (Victoria) but only about half that in subtropical Queensland to the <langlabel name

eucalyptus trees

1.3 kg (3 pounds) of leaves daily

Japan is a country marked by contrast between old and new. The country values its complex and ancient cultural tradition.

The islands of Japan form an arc that stretches about 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) from northeast to southwest.

Much of Japan's original vegetation has been replaced by farming or by plant species brought in from other countries.

price hikes continued throughout the next decade.

solar energy proved impractical for most large-scale applications.

Western countries, including France, effectively used nuclear energy as an alternative power source.

I could easily have broken my neck.

latest findings on young gymnasts: Nearly 426,000 kids ages 6 to 17 were treated for gymnastics-related injuries in U.S. emergency rooms between 1990 and 2005,

fractures and dislocations were most common among the younger set

2008 Tampa Bay (1)

electric motor that assists the engine when accelerating

powered by batteries that recharge automatically while the car is being driven.

hybrid provides lower gasoline consumption and a lower level of polluting emissions than the gas-powered car;

The health benefits of pet ownership are obvious for people who like animals, and most of us doat on friendly, clean, non-threatening animals. Dogs and cats are generally more affectionate and entertaining as pets than, say, fish or birds or ferrets, though many delight in those animals, too.

Besides that, a pet gives you something to care for and thus provides some structure for your life.