Your compass in ecological education!

Did you know that there are approximately 370,000 waste? "Space junk" is found at an altitude of between 800 and 1,000 km. They are various objects (mainly no longer functioning satellites and their parts) launched into the cosmos by humans over the decades. The gradual filling of space with waste has been taking place since 1957 - since the launch of the Sputnik 1 satellite!

Did you know that over the course of a year, each of us throws away approximately 56 glass containersAre there any items that can be recycled? Before you throw away a glass jar or bottle, for example, consider whether you might still need it. Glass packaging can be reuse for preserving, storing items and even for decoration!

Did you know that at Pacific Ocean is located in the Great Pacific Rubbish Stain, a vast "island" consisting mainly of plastic? It is estimated to range from 700,000 to as much as 1.6 million km²which is larger than the area of Poland!

Did you know that at deserts air temperature day and night can vary greatly? In some parts of the Sahara the difference is as much as 50 degrees Celsius! During the day temperatures exceed 45 degrees above zero, while at night they reach -5 degrees.

Did you know that the most a rainy place in the world is Mawsynram in India? This place was entered in the Guinness Book of Records as the most a wet place on Earth! The average annual total there is 11 872 mm. In comparison, the highest annual precipitation in Poland was 2,770 mm in the Valley of Five Polish Lakes in 2001.

Did you know that number of disasters natural associated with extreme weather conditions, such as floods, hurricanes or droughts, increases with global warming? Increasing temperatures are leading to climate destabilisation, which in turn increases the frequency and intensity of these phenomena. This is a threat that affects millions of people around the world.

Did you know that, depending on the different activities we do, we use different air volume? A person needs about 50 litres of air per minute when running, while at rest it is about 5-7 litres. Air is also consumed when burning petrol in a car. Driving a car 100 km burns as much air as the average person needs to breathe for almost a week!

Did you know that over some large cities air pollution can be so large that it can be seen from space stations? This month smog was visible on satellite images over Pakistan and India, among others, and in some places the concentration of PM2.5 pollution was more than 110 times higher than the level considered safe by the World Health Organisation!

Did you know that smog, a mixture of air pollutants, causes numerous health problemssuch as breathing difficulties, respiratory diseases and allergies? Long-term exposure to smog can lead to serious health conditions, including COPD, and increase the risk of heart disease and cancer. In cities with high levels of pollution, smog is a real health risk.

Did you know that every day in the production process of various items, we consume huge quantities of water? The production of one take-away coffee cup consumes 200 litres of waterwhile one pint of beer fetches 150 litres. A lot of water is also used by plantations of the increasingly popular avocado. Cultivating this fruit uses around 9.5 billion litres of water every day, which can be compared to the volume of 3800 Olympic swimming pools!

Did you know that we use the most water in our homes in the bathroom? To reduce water wastage when using the bathroom, we can turn off the water while brushing our teeth or shaving. We can also take short showers instead of long baths that fill the tub to the brim!

Did you know that water has an amazing ability to absorb heatWhat makes it an excellent regulator of the Earth's temperature? Thanks to this, the oceans and lakes help stabilise the climate, absorbing and releasing heat, which mitigates temperature extremes across the globe.

Did you know that soil contains three times more carbon than the atmosphere? Plants take up carbon dioxide from the air and build carbon into their tissues. When plants die their tissues are converted into soil organic matter. In this way, carbon and stored in the soil. This makes the soil the largest coal storage!

Did you know that every hour in Europe 11 hectares of soils become "sealed" under the surface of expanding cities? The process of urbanisation results in a significant impoverishment of the fertility of the soil layer, and very often its complete destruction, i.e. devastation. As a result of the 'concreting' of the earth's surface, water does not reach the soil, and natural water retention decreases!

Did you know that in one teaspoon healthy soil is home to more organisms than there are people on Earth? In this small amount of soil are hidden billions of microorganismssuch as bacteria or fungi. These microscopic creatures play a key role in maintaining the health of the soil, promoting plant growth and ensuring the balance of the ecosystem.

Did you know that there is a plant that is able to eat even a rat? New species carnivorous plant was discovered in a mountainous region of the Philippines. The plant was given the name Nepenthes attenboroughii, from the naturalist who discovered it - David Attenborough. It is a species of the pitcher plant family. The better-known genera of carnivorous plants include. flycatchers and sundews.

Did you know that engagements also take place in the penguin world? White-breasted penguins instead of rings they offer their brides pebbles! The pebble must be smooth and shiny, and the female penguin can either accept or reject the gift. This decision is extremely important because penguins become their partners for life! A donated pebble gives a start to building a nest together.

Did you know that if flea was of human height, then theoretically (we emphasise: only theoretically!) it could leap the Eiffel Tower? It is amazing how powerful these small creatures are in relation to their size. Fleas have extremely strong legs that allow them to jump up to 200 times their own length.