#finland

#finland

Microsoft Uses Computer Heat to Warm Up Homes in FinlandFinnish state-owned energy company Fortum has teamed up with technological supergiant Microsoft to help provide warmth to different homes in Finland.A new data center region will be built by Microsoft in Helsinki, where Fortum will harvest the heat obtained from the server cooling process. The harvested heat will be provided to different establishments, such as residential areas and businesses that are connected to its district heating system. This waste heat recycling collaborative project is the largest of its kind in the world! According to Markus Rauramo, the president and CEO of Fortum, “by tapping into waste heat from data centers, we can provide clean heat for homes, businesses and public buildings in Espoo’s and the neighboring communities’ district heating network in Finland, and reduce about 400,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. This is a significant step for a cleaner world, made possible by our joint ambition to mitigate climate change.” The data center would push the country to the forefront of digitalization and innovation and will also provide a sustainable source of heating for its residents. Now that’s a win-win! Image credit: Fortum #sustainable #heating #datacenter #districtheating #Microsoft #Fortum #Finland

Urban Daycare in Finland Build Their Own Forests to Improve Kids' Immune SystemNow, this is a great effort! An experimental study by the Natural Resources Institute Finland shows that the immune system of daycare children improved when forest undergrowth and plants were added to the yards of daycare centers.Another study has proven that repeated contact with nature-like elements five times a week diversified microbes in the organ system. This is important as a less diverse set of microbes in our body increases the risk of disorders in our immune system. Research scientist Aki Sinkkonen investigated whether adding flora to urban environments would improve kids’ immune systems. Sinkkonen was joined by virology professor Heikki Hyöty, and urban planning professor Juho Rajaniemi.After one month of repeated contact with nature, the children in the study had increased microbial diversity. In addition, there was also an increase in gammaproteobacteria, which strengthened the skin’s immune defense.Image credit: Roslund et.al / University of Helsinki #Finland #Daycare #ImprovingImmuneSystems #MicrobialDiversity #UrbanPlanning

Eurovision Winner Mr Lordi Got a COVID-19 Vaccine in Full CostumeMr. Lordi looks like he doesn't need any help fighting any virus, but here he is getting the second jab of his COVID-19 vaccination in Rovaniemi, Finland.The lead singer of the heavy metal band Lordi, who won the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, showed up in full costume. "They put a big needle in my arm, and that's exactly why I came here. This was my second vaccine dose," he said to Finnish news site Yle.Mr. Lordi, whose real name is Tomi Petteri Putaansuu, added that the coronavirus pandemic had postponed his band's tours, but he managed to put all the extra time to good use."There's also good sides to all of this. It's given us an opportunity to be creative. We've recorded seven albums [during the epidemic]," he added.Image:Jouni Porsanger#COVID19 #coronavirus #pandemic #vaccination #Lordi #MrLordi #Eurovision #FinlandRelated: We Don't Talk About Covid, No no no