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Clarins Ireland is supporting a two-year research project on bees at Maynooth University department of biology.

The research is centered around improving the survival rates of honey bees and is the perfect fir for Clarins as nature has always been a primary source of inspiration for them. 

The Clarins Group believe in beauty that respects the planet and it has been an integral part of core brand values since Jacques Courtin first developed his iconic treatment oils back in 1954.
The research at the university will be conducted by Rachel Ward under the supervision of Professor Kevin Kavanagh and Dr. Mary Coffey. 

So what will it be researching?

The project will examine the immune response of winter bees, which can live for up to six months but may be susceptible to infection.

The project will also analyse the effect of different treatments on the immune system of bees and identify the optimum time for treatment to ensure the survival of hives through the winter.

Eoghan O’Sullivan, General Manager, Clarins Ireland said, ''As a company, Clarins Group uses over 250 plants and flowers in the formulation of our products. Honey bee’s and their role in our natural environment, now more than ever, is vital.''

He continued, ''It is important that we understand how to improve Irish bee health and survival rates through the winter period. The importance of this study will allow other countries and beekeeping communities to analyse, interpret and improve the survival rates of the over-wintering bee.''

Insects are responsible for pollinating a wide range of food crops which account for approximately 35% of our food intake with a global value of $135 billion.

As well as producing honey, Honey bees are important pollinators and their populations are also under threat.

Beekeepers face many problems in maintaining populations of honey bees in Ireland and can lose up to 25% of their hives each year due to disease or adverse weather conditions.

The results of this project will greatly assist Irish beekeepers in maintaining bee populations and the findings will also have direct benefits for beekeepers in other European countries.

Best of luck to the project and well done to Clarins for getting involved with such a fantastic initiative.

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Is there anything Sir David Attenborough can't achieve? Probs not. He's an absolute legend and undisputed king of nature, as well as possessing one of the greatest narratorial voices of ALL TIME.

He's lending his voice to Netflix for their forthcoming natural history show (seems off-brand for them?) but now he'll be back on the BBC screens with a huge new programme.

The TV show will focus on the environmental forces reshaping our world, and is entitled One Planet, Seven Worlds. We can't wait for this.

One Planet, Seven Worlds will focus on an individual continent per episode, and uses cutting-edge technology to explore the characteristics of how the animals are affected by their habitat.

He is also appearing in Green Planet, which will look at the world from the plants' point of view in the global ecosystem.

Attenborough recently spoke to Prince William about today's environment, emphasising the fact that we are less in touch with nature than ever.

"We are one coherent ecosystem- it's not just a question of beauty or interest or wonder, it's the essential ingredient. The essential part of human life is a healthy planet," he said.

He urged politicians and business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos to focus their attention on climate change, before it's too late; “the Garden of Eden is no more”.

Blue Planet II and Plastics Watch have both achieved massive success, so the new BBC One shows are hoping to spotlight the environment in the form of protection.

Three-quarters of a BILLION people worldwide watched Blue Planet I, which is mind-blowing. Some people see his new Netflix affiliation as a blow to the BBC, as streaming services take over.

He has worked with the BBC for over 60 years, so he most likely isn't ditching them.

The Netflix show is due out this April, while the BBC show will hopefully air in the autumn. Get yourselves and your metal straws ready, it's time to save the WORLD, people.

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Finding the perfect getaway can be a challenging business; you want to feel at ease, relaxed and replenished, but where can you find a spot with the perfect amount of privacy mingled with life-changing views?

Well, this tree hotel in the northern Swedish forests offers rooms perched among the pines with an awesome aesthetic landscape to boot.

It's essentially something straight out of a dream, with different room types like the Bird's Nest, The Cabin and the UFO (legit a flying saucer).

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Each of the seven available rooms are all modern variations of tree houses designed by Scandinavian architects, which allow you to bond with nature in the lap of luxury. 

The Tree Hotel is so private and remote that you have to fly all the way from Stockholm to the Lulea Airport, and then the hotel organises for a car to collect you, or for a train journey.  

You can totally disconnect and enjoy the natural lifestyle, as well as possessing that crucial WiFi in case you need to post an emergency Instagram of your incredible surroundings. Oh. it also has HEATED FLOORS and towers.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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There's also a gorgeous restaurant on the property which makes sure to serve only local ingredients. Daytime activities include dog sled tours, ice fishing and photography walks.

You might need to tap into your savings to afford this one, however. Prices range from about €113 to €680 per night, depending on the time of year and type of room.

Maybe add it to the bucket list, or find a sugar daddy to help you out (joking…joking…)

Absolute boujee-ness goals.

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There are few women out there who don't struggle with body image in some shape or form.

Between airbrushed models and #spon posts, we are constantly bombarded with unrealistic beauty expectations, which can in turn give us a skewed perception of our own self-image.

While we might look to certain influencers for inspiration or guidance, it's almost impossible not to compare ourselves to them in the process.

It's a vicious cycling of motivation vs self-loathing, and given that most of us are consuming an unholy amount of media on a daily basis, it's no surprise that a digital detox could do wonders for our self-confidence.

New research conducted at the Anglia Ruskin University has found that green space can work wonders when it comes to promoting a positive body image – and you don't even need to step outside.

In three studies, students at the university were shown photographs of both natural and built-up environments – the results of which showed that the exposure to the great outdoors, be that through reality or the viewing of an image, was of huge benefit to a person's self-image.

A fourth study involved members of the public walking in both environments around Hamstead Health and Primrose Hill – which also found that those walking in the natural environment displayed “significantly higher body appreciation.”

The research, published in the journal Body Image, claims that exposure to natural environments promotes respect for the body as well as a rejection of rigid ideas around appearance.

“There are several reasons why exposure to nature could be having this effect on positive body image,” says Viren Swami, Professor of Social Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University and lead author of the study.

“It might be that it distances people, physically and mentally, from appearance-focused situations that are one of the causes of negative body image.”

“Access to nature may also mean that individuals spend more time outdoors engaging in activities that focus attention on the body’s functionality rather than aesthetics.”

So, if you're feeling down about your appearance, ditch the phone and set a date with Mother Nature. 

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Sometimes the hustle and bustle of living in a major city can get us down. 

Luckily, if you're a Dublin resident, there are plenty of natural areas and parks to enjoy a stroll in – which a new paper has found greatly improves mental health. 

Urban Mind: Using Smartphone Technologies to Investigate the impact of Nature on Mental Wellbeing in Real Time found that people derive a subconscious mood boost from taking in nature. 

The researchers actually found that getting outside can have mood lifting benefits for hours after.

'The results showed significant immediate and time lagged associations with mental wellbeing for several natural features: trees, the sky and birdsong.'

'These associations were still evident several hours after exposure to trees, the sky and birdsong had taken place, indicating time-lasting benefits.'

So, getting out and about to your nearest park or walking trail could leave you reaping the benefits hours after you've hung up your coat on your return. 

'These findings suggest that short-term exposure to nature has a measurable beneficial impact on mental wellbeing,' said Dr Andrea Mechelli, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London. 

'It suggests that nature could be especially beneficial to those individuals who are at risk of poor mental health.'

So, seeing as it's International Day of Happiness, maybe taking a friend for a walk could be a good way to spread good vibes. 

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Hold on to your hats, ladies; you are about to read the most important piece of news this year…

Image result for the sorting hat

Recently, two Mumbai-based scientists discovered a new species of spider, and it looks EXACTLY like the bloody Sorting Hat. 

Image result for Eriovixia gryffindori

The spider has been named Eriovixia Gryffindori after one of the Hogwarts founders, Godric Gryffindor (naturally).

Image result for Eriovixia gryffindori

“When we first saw the spider, our collective thoughts were, ‘It looks just like the Sorting Hat, from the films!’ Being on the same wavelength, we decided to name the spider, after Godric Gryffindor,” one of the scientists said to BuzzFeed.

Image result for sorting hat

Even the amazing JK Rowling was chuffed with new discovery, and even sent out a tweet:

The spider even made its way to Queen J.K. Rowling, who seemed mighty pleased with the little buggo.

Well now, there you have it.

Groundbreaking stuff. 

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Since 2004 the X Factor has been a household name, with Saturday and Sunday nights usually consisting of the popular show and a take-away.

However, the BBC has confirmed that Sir David Attenborough’s BBC one show, Planet Earth II is now more popular.

In fact, the first episode had 12.26 million viewers.

Talking about the show's incredible ratings, Sir David Attenborough told the Radio Times that it "pleases him enormously".

"I'm told that we are attracting a larger than normal number of younger viewers and apparently the music of Hans Zimmer in particular is striking a chord."

The series shows high definition shots of animals in their natural habitats, and with David's famed soft-toned voice, it is no surprise that it is beating X Factor for ratings.

Our faith in humanity is restored!

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Academics at a conference on sustainable urban living have said today that the new plans for College Green in Dublin are "old-fashioned" and need more "nature."

Dublin City Council's plans for College Green were heavily criticised by planners and scholars at an EU-supported conference, and contributors said that redeveloping the city with hard concrete and stone surfaces was "old-fashioned thinking."

The council plans include making the area in front on Trinity College a pedestrian plaza, will will stretch down all the way to the House of Parliament.

This means that no mode of transport, including buses and taxis, will be allowed to cross the area.

According to the Irish Times, Dr Collier, who attended the conference said the "grey" space was "old-fashioned thinking which dates from the 1970s when we thought modern cities would be all concrete and steel”. 

When Dr. Collier was asked if he was calling for a “greener” design, he said, “we are demanding it."

We love the irony of all this… College green.

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These places have some of the highest recorded temperatures ever recorded on earth – even the most avid sun-soaker wouldn’t risk tanning in these areas!

1.Death Valley, California
Located in the Mojave Desert, Death Valley is currently considered the hottest place in the world with records that reached 56.7 °C . It is both the lowest and driest area on earth. Strangely, though it is the hottest place on earth during the day, at night temperatures fall below freezing.

2. Dallol, Ethiopia
Once a mining town, this is now considered one of the most remote places on earth with an average annual temperature of 35°C.

3. Timbuktu, Mali
With a highest recorded temperature of 48°C, this area is located on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert and is considered one of the hottest places on earth.

4. ‘Aziziya, Libya
Until 2012, this area had the highest recorded temperature on earth at  57.8 °C, recorded in 1922. However, due to controversies and issues regarding that reading it was withdrawn as of 2012.

5. Dasht-e Lut, Iran
This area has the hottest land surface temperature which can climb to 70.7 °C though the air temperature is less than this.

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This is beautiful and kind of makes us want to go hiking. Kind of.

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