Shortly after federal authorities took down a national college admissions scam in March, officials at USC launched their own investigation with emails to dozens of students.
They did not mince words: The school wanted to know whether the 33 students had lied on their applications to USC. Some of the students understood what was happening because their parents had been charged in the federal case. Others were in the dark.
The reason for the emails would soon become clear to them all. They had been linked to William “Rick” Singer, the confessed leader of the admissions con, and they now faced expulsion, depending on what university investigators discovered.
Username: Tumake_Chai Published on 2020-07-03 15:30:24 ID NUMBER: 2230
1. High water consumption
Cultivating an avocado plantation, usually in tropical climates, requires a considerable amount of water. One kilogram of avocado requires 0.75 tons of water. When comparing this water consumption to other fruits like bananas, it is about seven times more than they need.
A study measured water consumption rates of avocados, bananas, and pineapples and found that a kilogram of avocado requires 40 times more water than a kilogram of pineapple1. Other studies conducted in regions used for avocado plantations show that they experience water scarcity due to the excessive amount of water used to farm avocados.
Avocado trees cannot be grown on a large commercial scale without irrigation. Fortunately, irrigation reduces the necessary water intake by 20%.
Despite the attempts at regulating the amount of water consumed by avocado fruits, its impact on the surrounding environment is undeniable. It is a leading cause of water scarcity in some regions.
2. Deforestation
The increase in the demand for avocados globally led to massive avocado production. Farmers require large portions of land to produce enough for the increased global markets for avocados. However, these demands cause damage to the environment.
Avocado producers contribute to deforestation while trying to acquire more land space for avocado farming. They often burn forests and cut down trees to make space for more avocado trees. A report by Global Forest Watch states that 98% of deforestation in Mexico occurs because of agricultural expansions.
The report also shows the number of tree covers lost to fire. In 2021, Mexico lost about 340Kha of land to fire outbreaks. This record is relatively normal given that about 3.8Mha of land was lost to fire eruptions in 2011. Also, over 40,000 deforestation alert reports were recorded in Mexico between the 26th of July 2022 and the 2nd of August 2022.
In return for cutting down forest trees, we experience intense climate change. Also, avocado cultivation can't atone for the loss of the other trees cut down because the avocado tree absorbs minimal amounts of carbon.
3. Monoculture
Monoculture is the practice of farming one crop repeatedly. Avocado production is a monoculture crop that harms the soil by striping the earth of its nutrients. It also reduces the organic matter in the soil and can cause soil erosion.
To combat the loss of soil nutrients, farmers use synthetic fertilizers to produce crops. The herbicides used to maintain the health of avocado trees cause long-term damage to the soil. It also puts pollinators at risk of extinction, like the Monarch butterfly in Mexico.
Avocado monoculture also alters the microbial landscape of the soil, leading to poor crop growth. Heavy industrialization causes avocado monoculture crops and plantations to leave a heavy trail of carbon and water footprints in the environment.
4. High carbon footprint
This refers to the greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans and other activities. Avocado is a heavily imported crop to the US, producing a significant carbon footprint during transportation.
Research by It's Fresh! found in 2017 that two avocados emit 846g of Co2. A Mexican avocado makes a long polluting journey to parts of the world where it is consumed, traveling over 5000 miles to reach the UK. These significant food miles all add to the negative impact of avocados on the environment.
In the long run, C02 emissions exacerbate global warming and climate change. The heightened demand for avocados will only damage the environment more.
5. Non-biodegradable packaging
Producers use non-biodegradable packaging to protect avocados during transportation. Non-biodegradable packaging includes plastic bags and boxes lined with plastic. These materials are not recyclable, increasing the state of plastic pollution in the area.
6. Socio-Economic Problems
The global demand for avocado fruit hurts the local food security of major producing countries.
Another Hawaiian cultivar. Also a late season in Hawaii. I hope it will be late here as well. There is more information on this cultivar. It was develop by the University of Hawaii. You can read the release document for the University of Hawaai. A Sharwil seedling of better quality. Has a lot of attributes. Good quality, small seed and heavy bearer. Who can ask for more. Lets hope it likes it here. More good information, in another document from the University of Hawaii, reporting over 20% oil. Probably growing in the higher elevations of Hawaii. Well we'll grow it at 10 ft elevation to see what it does.
From the PlantitHawaii.com:
"A cultivar developed by the UH, considered by many to be superior to the Sharwil. Has a long and heavy bearing season (January-April, or longer). Medium size, pear-shaped fruit with a small seed, high oil content, and a rough green-gold skin. Type A.
Well that is the period February-April I'm looking for. I have a small tree and I'm pushing it to get bud wood to top work a tree at my highest elevation 11 ft.
October 8, 2013: My little Green Gold tree is small and the branches are thin. Reminds me of a Malama. I'm sure I will get bud wood to top work a tree in a couple of months.
December 26, 2013: A tree has been top worked.
February 14, 2014: Most grafts are growing well. Looks good. Now we only need to wait about 24-30 months.
February 26, 2015: The tree is doing well. has enough canopy to flower and set fruit. Seems a few weeks away from flowering. Good sign for an expected late variety.
March 22, 2015: Seems like the tree decided to grow more vegetation and there are just a couple of flowers. Is typical, we'll see lots of flowers next year.
January 16, 2017: The tree did set some fruit. Not a lot of it, I was disappointed. The fruit ranges between 11-16 oz I did get to taste if a couple of times so far. It has a hard skin so you need to open two days or so before you think is ready, or insert a thin knife to see if it is soft. It is really good, my wife loved it (and she is hard to please) Better than a store bought Hass by far. Great quality at this time of the year. Small seed. I don't think they get past the end of this month as I saw some on the ground.
Now the reality. Did not produced a lot of fruit. Some trees have a juvenile period It may need another year, Did get some disease, as the pictures show. Will probably do better in an isolated back yard. One to watch because of the quality.
July 11, 2017: This tree set more fruit than last year but on the low side. For a Homeowner sufficient, specially if the flavor continues or improves with the size of the tree. So far fruit is clean and growing well. See today's pictures,
There are almost 20 nutrients in a 7-ounce avocado. It contains an astounding amount of healthy fats and carbohydrates that help stabilize your blood sugar levels. It further improves the general health of your immune system and skin.
Some of the nutrients include:
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
Niacin B3
Fiber
Protein
Carbs
Fat
Calories
Potassium
Magnesium
Potassium
Folate
Riboflavin
Ocean acidification results from a chemical reaction caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Many human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, various land uses, and manufacturing practices, release tons of C02 into the atmosphere. These carbon emissions don’t stay in the atmosphere.
Plants and the oceans absorb carbon dioxide. The world’s oceans absorb 30% of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, causing an increase in ocean acidity. An increase in the ocean’s pH directly impacts excess carbon pollution from burning fossil fuels. The ocean absorbs one-third of the carbon released from burning fossil fuels.
The pH scale is from 0 to 14; anything over 7 is alkaline, and anything below 7 is acidic. More hydrogen ions lead to higher acidity and a lower pH. As seawater absorbs carbon dioxide, it forms carbonic acid (H2CO3). Carbonic acid (H2CO3) is a weak acid that separates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions, increasing its acidity.
Before the industrial revolution began, seawater's pH was 8.2. In the 21st century, it dropped by 0.1 pH units to 8.1. Scientists predict surface ocean waters will become more acidic by 21002, falling to 7.8. 7.8 makes the ocean 150 times more acidic.
Human activities that produce carbon dioxide cause ocean acidification. Some examples are deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, and burning fossil fuels.
Deforestation is one of the significant causes of carbon dioxides in the atmosphere. We cut down trees and clear forest areas to make room for buildings, agricultural land use, construction, and manufacturing purposes, leading to the absence of trees and greenery to soak carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Most of the farmlands on earth used to be part of a great expanse of forests. China lost most of its forested areas in the past 4000 years, while we cut down most of the trees in North America from the 1600s to the 1870s for construction, timber, and agriculture. We are destroying most of the remaining tropical rainforests to construct roads connecting inaccessible regions.
Forests and other green ecosystems play a unique role in preventing the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere. They sequester carbon, meaning they are like a sponge, soaking carbon from the air. Trees absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, preventing the environment from overheating.
Deforestation strips the environment of forests’ sequestering benefits. As we cut and burn down trees, we release the carbon stored in the tree while increasing the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Deforestation produces 4.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually. The increase causes a chain reaction, creating more acidic waters1.
Fewer trees are in the environment to absorb the carbon dioxide released into the air. So, it accumulates in the air, leading to ocean acidification and increasing its impact on ocean life.
Fossil fuels are nonrenewable energy sources used to generate electricity, heating, and transportation over the past two decades. The extraction and use of fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas contribute to the carbon dioxide in the air.
We use these fuels to produce energy in various manufacturing companies, to produce electricity, and to power big engines. We also use them to cook and provide heat when it's cold. We also use them to power transport systems like buses, cars, airplanes, and ships.
Burning crude oil, coal, and natural gas produces enormous amounts of carbon dioxide in the air, making it the most significant contributor to global warming. In 2022, 81% of the United States' energy comes from coal, natural gas, and crude oil, so you can imagine the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere daily.
Fossil fuels contribute the most CO2 to the air. In 2023, the fossil fuel industry released 36.8 billion tons of carbon, with the United States being the world’s second carbon emitter after China4.
Ocean acidification harms marine species in various ecosystems. It harms many marine species that rely on carbonate-based shells and those with high sensitivity to acid. Acidification also affects the complex food webs in the ocean. For instance, other marine species high on the food web feed on the ones with high sensitivity.
Calcifying organisms are marine animals that use calcium carbonate to build their shells and skeletons. These marine species include coral reefs, plankton, oysters, etc. Ocean acidification breaks existing shells and skeletons and makes creating a new one challenging because of the ocean's limited calcium carbonate.
Their shells become weak and vulnerable to damage from external factors, which weakens their recovery rates. For example, sea urchins help protect coral reefs from algae. However, they can't in acidic coastal areas because their weak protective shells make them more vulnerable to predators.
It also disrupts the food web because calcifying organisms prey on other animals. Some fish species are vulnerable to ocean acidification. Fish eggs and larvae might find it challenging to grow, develop, and survive in acidic oceans. An example is the clownfish larvae, which showed a reduced sense of smell in acidic marine environments, leading to risky swimming behaviors.
Palm oil is an incredibly efficient crop, producing more oil per land area than any other equivalent vegetable oil crop. Globally, palm oil supplies 40% of the world’s vegetable oil demand on just under 6% of the land used to produce all vegetable oils. To get the same amount of alternative oils like soybean, coconut, or sunflower oil you would need anything between 4 and 10 times more land, which would just shift the problem to other parts of the world and threaten other habitats, species and communities. Furthermore, there are millions of smallholder farmers who depend on producing palm oil for their livelihoods. Boycotting palm oil is not the answer. Instead, we need to demand more action to tackle the issues and go further and faster.
The RSPO is the global standard for the sustainable production of palm oil. When palm oil is produced in adherence to RSPO standards, growers help to protect the environment and the local communities who depend on the crop for their livelihoods, so that palm oil can continue to play a key role in food security, economic development, and food supply chains. We should continue to use RSPO certified sustainable palm oil in products, as replacing it would result in more deforestation and natural habitat conversion. RSPO certified products that use palm oil from ‘Segregated’ or ‘Identity Preserved’ supply chains offer the greatest assurance of sustainable palm oil.
Along with other organisations, WWF plays an active role in influencing and shaping the RSPO standard to make sure it puts in place more safeguards for people and the planet. In November 2018, the RSPO standard was strengthened and it now represents an essential tool that can help companies achieve their commitments to palm oil that is free of deforestation, conversion of other natural habitats like peatlands, and the exploitation of people.
Early dome structures include dome-shaped huts made from reeds, saplings, and red clay. The Innuit people in the Arctic also built igloos from ice blocks. Like cob houses, these structures were present in ancient times, specifically in the Middle East, India, and the Mediterranean.
However, older humans didn’t refer to them as geodesic domes because the term was formed in the modern century, the 1920s. Natural space and domes were typical in the Roman Pantheon.
Romans built large-scale masonry hemispheres that required heavy wall supports. This concept also extended to Byzantine Architecture, the Constantinople building style. Byzantine builders developed a method to raise geodesic domes on piers, allowing lighting and communication from four directions.
They used inverted triangular masses of stones curved vertically and horizontally. The structure's highest point rested on four piers, and the joined sides formed arches over the openings of the four faces of the cube. The bases of the structure also met in a circle, forming the foundation of the dome.
A prominent dome building in Greece is the Pantheon. It is a large dome supported by walls of cylindrical columns. The Pantheon unites Roman and Greek architectural styles. It has an opening at the top of the structure that serves as the primary light source. The oculus also reduces the dome's weight on the foundation.
Dome architecture went out of style from the 12th to the 16th century because of Gothic architecture. However, it regained its popularity during the Baroque and Renaissance periods. Furthermore, humans reimagined dome architecture in the 20th century by inventing geodesic dome homes.
1. High water consumption
Cultivating an avocado plantation, usually in tropical climates, requires a considerable amount of water. One kilogram of avocado requires 0.75 tons of water. When comparing this water consumption to other fruits like bananas, it is about seven times more than they need.
A study measured water consumption rates of avocados, bananas, and pineapples and found that a kilogram of avocado requires 40 times more water than a kilogram of pineapple1. Other studies conducted in regions used for avocado plantations show that they experience water scarcity due to the excessive amount of water used to farm avocados.
Avocado trees cannot be grown on a large commercial scale without irrigation. Fortunately, irrigation reduces the necessary water intake by 20%.
Despite the attempts at regulating the amount of water consumed by avocado fruits, its impact on the surrounding environment is undeniable. It is a leading cause of water scarcity in some regions.
2. Deforestation
The increase in the demand for avocados globally led to massive avocado production. Farmers require large portions of land to produce enough for the increased global markets for avocados. However, these demands cause damage to the environment.
Avocado producers contribute to deforestation while trying to acquire more land space for avocado farming. They often burn forests and cut down trees to make space for more avocado trees. A report by Global Forest Watch states that 98% of deforestation in Mexico occurs because of agricultural expansions.
The report also shows the number of tree covers lost to fire. In 2021, Mexico lost about 340Kha of land to fire outbreaks. This record is relatively normal given that about 3.8Mha of land was lost to fire eruptions in 2011. Also, over 40,000 deforestation alert reports were recorded in Mexico between the 26th of July 2022 and the 2nd of August 2022.
In return for cutting down forest trees, we experience intense climate change. Also, avocado cultivation can't atone for the loss of the other trees cut down because the avocado tree absorbs minimal amounts of carbon.
3. Monoculture
Monoculture is the practice of farming one crop repeatedly. Avocado production is a monoculture crop that harms the soil by striping the earth of its nutrients. It also reduces the organic matter in the soil and can cause soil erosion.
To combat the loss of soil nutrients, farmers use synthetic fertilizers to produce crops. The herbicides used to maintain the health of avocado trees cause long-term damage to the soil. It also puts pollinators at risk of extinction, like the Monarch butterfly in Mexico.
Avocado monoculture also alters the microbial landscape of the soil, leading to poor crop growth. Heavy industrialization causes avocado monoculture crops and plantations to leave a heavy trail of carbon and water footprints in the environment.
4. High carbon footprint
This refers to the greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans and other activities. Avocado is a heavily imported crop to the US, producing a significant carbon footprint during transportation.
Research by It's Fresh! found in 2017 that two avocados emit 846g of Co2. A Mexican avocado makes a long polluting journey to parts of the world where it is consumed, traveling over 5000 miles to reach the UK. These significant food miles all add to the negative impact of avocados on the environment.
In the long run, C02 emissions exacerbate global warming and climate change. The heightened demand for avocados will only damage the environment more.
5. Non-biodegradable packaging
Producers use non-biodegradable packaging to protect avocados during transportation. Non-biodegradable packaging includes plastic bags and boxes lined with plastic. These materials are not recyclable, increasing the state of plastic pollution in the area.
6. Socio-Economic Problems
The global demand for avocado fruit hurts the local food security of major producing countries.
Another Hawaiian cultivar. Also a late season in Hawaii. I hope it will be late here as well. There is more information on this cultivar. It was develop by the University of Hawaii. You can read the release document for the University of Hawaai. A Sharwil seedling of better quality. Has a lot of attributes. Good quality, small seed and heavy bearer. Who can ask for more. Lets hope it likes it here. More good information, in another document from the University of Hawaii, reporting over 20% oil. Probably growing in the higher elevations of Hawaii. Well we'll grow it at 10 ft elevation to see what it does.
From the PlantitHawaii.com:
"A cultivar developed by the UH, considered by many to be superior to the Sharwil. Has a long and heavy bearing season (January-April, or longer). Medium size, pear-shaped fruit with a small seed, high oil content, and a rough green-gold skin. Type A.
Well that is the period February-April I'm looking for. I have a small tree and I'm pushing it to get bud wood to top work a tree at my highest elevation 11 ft.
October 8, 2013: My little Green Gold tree is small and the branches are thin. Reminds me of a Malama. I'm sure I will get bud wood to top work a tree in a couple of months.
December 26, 2013: A tree has been top worked.
February 14, 2014: Most grafts are growing well. Looks good. Now we only need to wait about 24-30 months.
February 26, 2015: The tree is doing well. has enough canopy to flower and set fruit. Seems a few weeks away from flowering. Good sign for an expected late variety.
March 22, 2015: Seems like the tree decided to grow more vegetation and there are just a couple of flowers. Is typical, we'll see lots of flowers next year.
January 16, 2017: The tree did set some fruit. Not a lot of it, I was disappointed. The fruit ranges between 11-16 oz I did get to taste if a couple of times so far. It has a hard skin so you need to open two days or so before you think is ready, or insert a thin knife to see if it is soft. It is really good, my wife loved it (and she is hard to please) Better than a store bought Hass by far. Great quality at this time of the year. Small seed. I don't think they get past the end of this month as I saw some on the ground.
Now the reality. Did not produced a lot of fruit. Some trees have a juvenile period It may need another year, Did get some disease, as the pictures show. Will probably do better in an isolated back yard. One to watch because of the quality.
July 11, 2017: This tree set more fruit than last year but on the low side. For a Homeowner sufficient, specially if the flavor continues or improves with the size of the tree. So far fruit is clean and growing well. See today's pictures,
There are almost 20 nutrients in a 7-ounce avocado. It contains an astounding amount of healthy fats and carbohydrates that help stabilize your blood sugar levels. It further improves the general health of your immune system and skin.
Some of the nutrients include:
Vitamin C
Vitamin E
Vitamin K
Niacin B3
Fiber
Protein
Carbs
Fat
Calories
Potassium
Magnesium
Potassium
Folate
Riboflavin
Ocean acidification results from a chemical reaction caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Many human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, various land uses, and manufacturing practices, release tons of C02 into the atmosphere. These carbon emissions don’t stay in the atmosphere.
Plants and the oceans absorb carbon dioxide. The world’s oceans absorb 30% of the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, causing an increase in ocean acidity. An increase in the ocean’s pH directly impacts excess carbon pollution from burning fossil fuels. The ocean absorbs one-third of the carbon released from burning fossil fuels.
The pH scale is from 0 to 14; anything over 7 is alkaline, and anything below 7 is acidic. More hydrogen ions lead to higher acidity and a lower pH. As seawater absorbs carbon dioxide, it forms carbonic acid (H2CO3). Carbonic acid (H2CO3) is a weak acid that separates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions, increasing its acidity.
Before the industrial revolution began, seawater's pH was 8.2. In the 21st century, it dropped by 0.1 pH units to 8.1. Scientists predict surface ocean waters will become more acidic by 21002, falling to 7.8. 7.8 makes the ocean 150 times more acidic.
Human activities that produce carbon dioxide cause ocean acidification. Some examples are deforestation, unsustainable agricultural practices, and burning fossil fuels.
Deforestation is one of the significant causes of carbon dioxides in the atmosphere. We cut down trees and clear forest areas to make room for buildings, agricultural land use, construction, and manufacturing purposes, leading to the absence of trees and greenery to soak carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Most of the farmlands on earth used to be part of a great expanse of forests. China lost most of its forested areas in the past 4000 years, while we cut down most of the trees in North America from the 1600s to the 1870s for construction, timber, and agriculture. We are destroying most of the remaining tropical rainforests to construct roads connecting inaccessible regions.
Forests and other green ecosystems play a unique role in preventing the accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere. They sequester carbon, meaning they are like a sponge, soaking carbon from the air. Trees absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, preventing the environment from overheating.
Deforestation strips the environment of forests’ sequestering benefits. As we cut and burn down trees, we release the carbon stored in the tree while increasing the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. Deforestation produces 4.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide annually. The increase causes a chain reaction, creating more acidic waters1.
Fewer trees are in the environment to absorb the carbon dioxide released into the air. So, it accumulates in the air, leading to ocean acidification and increasing its impact on ocean life.
Fossil fuels are nonrenewable energy sources used to generate electricity, heating, and transportation over the past two decades. The extraction and use of fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas contribute to the carbon dioxide in the air.
We use these fuels to produce energy in various manufacturing companies, to produce electricity, and to power big engines. We also use them to cook and provide heat when it's cold. We also use them to power transport systems like buses, cars, airplanes, and ships.
Burning crude oil, coal, and natural gas produces enormous amounts of carbon dioxide in the air, making it the most significant contributor to global warming. In 2022, 81% of the United States' energy comes from coal, natural gas, and crude oil, so you can imagine the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere daily.
Fossil fuels contribute the most CO2 to the air. In 2023, the fossil fuel industry released 36.8 billion tons of carbon, with the United States being the world’s second carbon emitter after China4.
Ocean acidification harms marine species in various ecosystems. It harms many marine species that rely on carbonate-based shells and those with high sensitivity to acid. Acidification also affects the complex food webs in the ocean. For instance, other marine species high on the food web feed on the ones with high sensitivity.
Calcifying organisms are marine animals that use calcium carbonate to build their shells and skeletons. These marine species include coral reefs, plankton, oysters, etc. Ocean acidification breaks existing shells and skeletons and makes creating a new one challenging because of the ocean's limited calcium carbonate.
Their shells become weak and vulnerable to damage from external factors, which weakens their recovery rates. For example, sea urchins help protect coral reefs from algae. However, they can't in acidic coastal areas because their weak protective shells make them more vulnerable to predators.
It also disrupts the food web because calcifying organisms prey on other animals. Some fish species are vulnerable to ocean acidification. Fish eggs and larvae might find it challenging to grow, develop, and survive in acidic oceans. An example is the clownfish larvae, which showed a reduced sense of smell in acidic marine environments, leading to risky swimming behaviors.
Palm oil is an incredibly efficient crop, producing more oil per land area than any other equivalent vegetable oil crop. Globally, palm oil supplies 40% of the world’s vegetable oil demand on just under 6% of the land used to produce all vegetable oils. To get the same amount of alternative oils like soybean, coconut, or sunflower oil you would need anything between 4 and 10 times more land, which would just shift the problem to other parts of the world and threaten other habitats, species and communities. Furthermore, there are millions of smallholder farmers who depend on producing palm oil for their livelihoods. Boycotting palm oil is not the answer. Instead, we need to demand more action to tackle the issues and go further and faster.
The RSPO is the global standard for the sustainable production of palm oil. When palm oil is produced in adherence to RSPO standards, growers help to protect the environment and the local communities who depend on the crop for their livelihoods, so that palm oil can continue to play a key role in food security, economic development, and food supply chains. We should continue to use RSPO certified sustainable palm oil in products, as replacing it would result in more deforestation and natural habitat conversion. RSPO certified products that use palm oil from ‘Segregated’ or ‘Identity Preserved’ supply chains offer the greatest assurance of sustainable palm oil.
Along with other organisations, WWF plays an active role in influencing and shaping the RSPO standard to make sure it puts in place more safeguards for people and the planet. In November 2018, the RSPO standard was strengthened and it now represents an essential tool that can help companies achieve their commitments to palm oil that is free of deforestation, conversion of other natural habitats like peatlands, and the exploitation of people.
Early dome structures include dome-shaped huts made from reeds, saplings, and red clay. The Innuit people in the Arctic also built igloos from ice blocks. Like cob houses, these structures were present in ancient times, specifically in the Middle East, India, and the Mediterranean.
However, older humans didn’t refer to them as geodesic domes because the term was formed in the modern century, the 1920s. Natural space and domes were typical in the Roman Pantheon.
Romans built large-scale masonry hemispheres that required heavy wall supports. This concept also extended to Byzantine Architecture, the Constantinople building style. Byzantine builders developed a method to raise geodesic domes on piers, allowing lighting and communication from four directions.
They used inverted triangular masses of stones curved vertically and horizontally. The structure's highest point rested on four piers, and the joined sides formed arches over the openings of the four faces of the cube. The bases of the structure also met in a circle, forming the foundation of the dome.
A prominent dome building in Greece is the Pantheon. It is a large dome supported by walls of cylindrical columns. The Pantheon unites Roman and Greek architectural styles. It has an opening at the top of the structure that serves as the primary light source. The oculus also reduces the dome's weight on the foundation.
Dome architecture went out of style from the 12th to the 16th century because of Gothic architecture. However, it regained its popularity during the Baroque and Renaissance periods. Furthermore, humans reimagined dome architecture in the 20th century by inventing geodesic dome homes.
