What is next for China when Scorched Earth in 2100

 

 

 

 

 

Beijing says it has nearly completed its controversial land reclamation project in the South China Sea The real war begins when climate change increase temperature and rise of sea levels making coastal territories uninhabitable China has announced it has almost completed work on the Spratly Islands Bejing has been involved with the project for almost the past 20 years A U.S. Naval aircraft was recently intercepted over the Spratly Islands The American pilot refused to comply with the Chinese demand  China has announced it has almost completed reclaiming land on the Spratly Islands which are the centre of a major international dispute in the South China Sea. Beijing wants to establish a maritime outpost on the islands, despite the objections of several neighbouring countries. China has claimed most of the South China Sea and recently tried of force a US Navy P-8 surveillance plane from the area. The US aircraft refused to comply with the Chinese demand claiming they were flying in international airspace. +8 China has been busy reclaiming land  in the South China sea in an effort to advance territorial claims +8 China began working the massive land reclamation project back in 1998 causing tensions with its neighbours +8 Several neighbouring countries have all announced claims on part of the Spratly Islands, pictured According to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang, the reclamation projected should be completed in the near future. He said: 'Based on our understanding from the relevant authorities, in accordance with the set work plan, the land reclamation project for China's construction on some islands and reefs on the Nansha islands will be completed soon.' The statement used the Chinese name for the Spratlys. China claims most of the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion in ship-borne trade passes every year. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei also have overlapping claims. Philippines defence ministry spokesman Peter Paul Galvez urged China to refrain from what he called selfish acts. He said: 'We reiterate that their activities if not stopped only draws the world closer to further uncertainties and untoward incidents with irreparable consequences.' +8 The Chinese have been busy building military structures on various islands and reefs across the sea Disputed islands in South China Sea seen from US spy plane +8 China has announced that some of its new structures on the Spratly Islands will be fully operational shortly U.S. officials have said the pace and scale of China's reclamation work far outstripped that of other claimants. One official has said that before January 2014, China had only reclaimed about five hectares, but this had soared to 2,000 acres (800 hectares), expanding the acreage on outposts it occupies by over four hundred times. Recent satellite images show a hive of building and other work on the new islands. Military facilities for example are under construction on Fiery Cross Reef, including a 3,000-metre (10,000-foot) runway and airborne early warning radars, which could be operational by the year-end, according to one U.S. commander. The Foreign Ministry reiterated China's stance that the islands would help with maritime search and rescue, disaster relief, environmental protection and offer navigational assistance as well as have undefined military purposes. +8 It is understood that China wants to use the new forts to justify its territorial claim over large areas of the sea +8 Approximately $5billion worth of trade uses the shipping lanes in the vicinity of the Spatly Islands, The construction was within the scope of China's sovereignty, the Foreign Ministry said, adding it would not affect freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. The Chinese statement did not say when precisely the work would end but described the work as 'lawful, reasonable, sensible'. China, which regards almost all the South China Sea as its own, has intensified its building of artificial islands and facilities including airstrips in the contested waters in recent months. The South China Sea - which is believed to be home to important oil and gas reserves - is a major shipping route for international trade. The Chinese military last month ordered a US Navy P-8 Poseidon surveillance plane to leave an area above the Spratlys. But the American aircraft ignored the demand and said it was flying in international airspace. US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said last month that while other countries had also established outposts, China had reclaimed over 2,000 acres (809 hectares) in the past 18 months - more than all other claimants combined. THE SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE OVER ARCHIPELAGO DISCOVERED BY BRITISH SAILOR CAPTAIN RICHARD SPRATLY +8 The dispute centres around hundreds of tiny shoals, reefs and islets in the South China Sea known as the Spratlys and the Paracels. Several south Asian countries stake claim to the territory, though China tries to control the largest portion of the archipelago. Beijing has claimed its right to the collection of land masses is 2,000 years old which, they say, includes the islands in Chinese history. Taiwan supports its claim, and has its own airfield on the island of Taiping. Vietnamese officials say their government has ruled over the land since the 17th century whilst the Philippines, the closest geographically, says the islands belong to them. In 1974, Chinese forces seized the Paracels from Vietnam, killing 70 troops. There were further clashes between the two countries in 1988, with 60 Vietnamese soldiers killed. In 2012 China and the Philippines were embroiled in a lengthy maritime standoff over a Scarborough Shoal. The Filipino military employed its largest warship for the dispute over the stretch of water which they call Panatag. Upon boarding a Chinese military vessel for inspection, officials claimed they found live sharks, clams and illegal reef. Later, Vietnamese border agencies refused to stamp passports asserting Chinese sovereignty over a handful of the islands and in January it was claimed China would be taken to a UN tribunal to challenge its stake.

Scorched Earth in 2100:     Nasa maps reveal how climate change will cause temperatures to soar Nasa has released 11 terabytes of data predicting temperature and rainfall It allows scientists to predict climate change for individual towns and cities A map released by Nasa shows large areas in July 2100 will exceed 45°C It looks like the world could be a much hotter place by the end of the century. New data released by Nasa scientists is revealing how temperature and rainfall patterns around the world may change by the year 2100. Using climate change predictions based on increasing levels of carbon dioxide, the data reveals what may happen to the climate in individual towns and cities. Scroll down for an interactive map +5 Nasa has released new data that show how temperature and rainfall patterns will change around the world by 2100: This annotated map, produced using the data, shows the maximum daily temperatures in July under climate scenarios that predict carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere will reach 935 parts per million Much of the data is still in raw form for now to allow scientists to run models on a daily timescale. However, a map of the world released by Nasa, which shows the predicted temperature for July 2100, provides some clues for what the world may look like. By that time, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere will have reached 935 parts per million, meaning the gas comprises nearly 0.1 per cent of the atmosphere. Earlier this year carbon dioxide levels reached 400 parts per million. If by the end of the century carbon dioxide in the atmosphere more than doubles, much of Africa, South America and India will endure average daily maximum temperatures of more than 45°C. Jerusalem, New York, Los Angeles and Mumbai could see summer temperatures reaching these levels too. London will experience temperatures in the mid 20s and Paris could see its July temperatures reaching the low 30s. To use the interactive map, type your city into the search field, and then use the slider to how temperatures will change over time Ellen Stofan, chief scientist at Nasa, said: 'Nasa is in the business of taking what we've learned about our planet from space and creating new products that help us all safeguard our future. 'With this new global dataset, people around the world have a valuable new tool to use in planning how to cope with a warming planet.' The new dataset is the latest product from Nasa's Earth Exchange (NEX), a big-data research platform within the NASA Advanced Supercomputing Centre its Ames Research Center in California. The data shows projected changes worldwide in response to rising carbon dioxide levels and can be viewed on a daily timescale for individual towns and cities. Unlike other climate prediction maps, which tend to show how global temperatures will differ from a pre-industrial average or current levels, the data gives predicted values. Nasa says the data will help scientists and planners better understand the risks facing the world due to climate change. EVEREST'S GLACIERS TO VANISH Glaciers in the Everest region of the Himalayas could be almost completely eradicated by 2100 due to greenhouse gas emissions, scientists have warned. Models show that a decrease of 99 per cent by the end of the century is likely if emissions continue to rise, and even 70 per cent is possible if emissions are reduced. The study paints a grim picture of the impact of climate change on the world's highest peak. The research was carried out by scientists from Nepal, the Netherlands and France. They studied weather patterns in the atmosphere and then created a model of conditions on Everest to determine the future impact of rising temperatures on its glaciers. Increased temperatures will not only increase the rates of snow and ice melt, but can also result in a change of precipitation from snow to rain at critical elevations, where glaciers are concentrated. Together, these act to reduce glacier growth and increase melting in the area. Hundreds of millions of people rely upon the fresh water that is provided every summer from rivers that are fed by the Himalayan glaciers. It may also allow them to better plan for climate related hazards such as drought, floods, heatwaves and losses in agricultural productivity. An earlier set of data released by Nasa in 2013 providing climate projections for the United States is already being used to calculate risks to the nation's agriculture, forests, rivers and cities. Dr Ramakrishna Nemani, Nasa's Earth Exchange project scientist, said: 'This is a fundamental dataset for climate research and assessment with a wide range of applications. 'Nasa continues to produce valuable community-based data products on the Nex platform to promote scientific collaboration, knowledge sharing, and research and development.' Nasa's new data, which totals more than 11 terabytes, integrates actual measurements from around the world with data from climate simulations. +5 Nasa has released new data that show how temperature and rainfall patterns will change around the world by 2100. +5 Maximum temperatures in North Africa, the Middle East and northern India will exceed 45°C by 2100, as can be seen in the close up of the region from the maps produced using Nasa's new climate projection data set How the Earth's land surface temperature has changed   It provides both rainfall and temperature projections at a resolution of around 15.5 miles (25km), between 1950 and 2100 across the entire globe. The map shows that much of North Africa, India and equatorial parts of South America will face summer temperatures in July that regularly exceed 45°C. Exactly how much this differs from current temperatures is not clear as Nasa has not released maps showing comparative temperatures. However, daily average high temperatures in Africa, for example, can reach 47°C in July although the daily mean temperature is around 39°C. For those with the computing power and hard drive space, the data can be downloaded here. +5 This close up of northern South America and central America shows how the region will be effected by 2100 +5 By comparison this map shows the average land surface temperatures around the world in July 2014. Much of north Africa, the Middle East and the west coast of the United States experienced temperatures of 45°C In the east, parts of Asia, including China and Bangladesh would be completely flooded, wiping out around 760 million people based on current population levels. Parts of India's coastline would also be lost and eroded inland. National Geographic said: 'If we burn all the Earth's supply of coal, oil, and gas, adding some five trillion more tonnes of carbon to the atmosphere, we'll create a very hot planet with an average temperature of perhaps 80 degrees Fahrenheit instead of the current 58'

Are all short men little Napoleons? Men really ARE the weaker sex

 

 

 

 

Are all short men little Napoleons?    It's often said smaller men tend to be chippy and aggressive. But what's the scientific evidence? The name of one of greatest military leaders lent to the Napoleon Complex Syndrome where pint-sized men overcompensate for their lack of stature with self-importance, jealousy and aggression Stalin was said to suffer from it, as did Mussolini and Attila the Hun But critics say people often too quick to link personality defects to height +3 Short-tempered: But Napoleon was 5ft 6in tall Napoleon Bonaparte’s legacy is immense. He reformed the Continental legal system, ensured that Europe, and most of the world, drives on the right and, until his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo 200 years ago this month, was one of the greatest military leaders in history. The French dictator also lent his name to something less impressive — the Napoleon Complex, the syndrome where pint-sized men overcompensate for their lack of stature with blustering self-importance, jealousy and aggression. Stalin was said to suffer from it, as did Mussolini and Attila the Hun. Some critics say it helps explain the behaviour of 5ft 5in former French president Nicolas Sarkozy. Last month, singer Art Garfunkel reignited the debate over the Napoleon Complex by accusing his erstwhile partner Paul Simon — all 5ft 3in of him — of being a sufferer. ‘I think you’re on to something,’ Garfunkel reflected, looking back on years of in-fighting and estrangement. ‘I would say so, yes.’ So is there really such a thing as a short man syndrome? And can height really influence our pesonality? The Napoleon Complex was identified in 1926 by the Austrian psychoanalyst Alfred Adler, who also came up with the notion of the inferiority complex, where sufferers demonstrate a lack of self-worth. In its classic form, personified by Captain Mainwaring in Dad’s Army (who is regularly taunted as a ‘Napoleon’ by Warden Hodges), short men overcompensate for their lack of height by being extra-assertive and chippy. The name, actually, is a bit of a misnomer. Although Napoleon is assumed to have been short, he was 5ft 6in, around average for a man in the late 18th century. The confusion arose from portraits of the dictator standing alongside unusually tall guards. The complex has divided psychologists for more than a century. Some say it describes a real phenomenon; others believe there is no evidence it exists. What is beyond doubt, is that short men have every reason to be fed-up with their lot. Study after study shows that tall people are wealthier, more successful at work, healthier and even enjoy better love lives than their smaller counterparts. A 2004 study by psychologist Timothy Judge found that tall people earn more. He calculated back then that every inch of height added $789 (£505) to someone’s annual salary every year so that, on average, a worker who was 6ft earned $5,525 (£3,535) more than someone who was 5ft 5in. When author Malcolm Gladwell polled the management of half the top U.S. companies, he found that 58 per cent of chief executives were at least 6ft tall, compared to just 14 per cent of the population. Since 1916 — the era when our politicians have appeared on cinema screens and TV — the taller U.S. presidential candidate has won 17 times; the shorter candidate just six. Other studies have shown tall men are more likely to find a long-term partner and taller teenagers have more dates. Short people are more likely to become crooks, they’re more likely to develop heart disease, they tend to be more unhappy and they don’t live as long. No wonder vertically challenged people feel they are getting short shrift. +3 In its classic form the Napoleon Complex, personified by Captain Mainwaring in Dad’s Army (pictured), short men overcompensate for their lack of height by being extra-assertive and chippy No one really knows why tall people — and particularly tall men — do so well in life. It may be partly to do with evolution. Tall men are seen by women as being healthier, fitter and stronger, looking all round the better catch. Tall people may be more confident, safe in the knowledge they will never be overlooked. That confidence may translate into better exam results, career prospects and love lives. But what evidence is there that these inequalities are matched by seething resentment and anger among short men? One study suggesting the short man complex is real came from Professor Abraham Buunk, of Holland’s University of Groningen. He interviewed 100 men and 100 women in relationships and found that men around 5ft 4in tall were more likely to suffer from jealousy than those measuring 6ft 6in. For women, the results were different: tall and short women both showed more signs of jealousy than women of average stature. But other experiments have not found compelling evidence for a Napoleon Complex. Psychologist Dr Glenn Wilson says: ‘For every nasty little Napoleon or Hitler, there’s an equally nasty Saddam Hussein or Colonel Gaddafi who is tall. It’s easy to think of case examples but scientific evidence is very limited.’ In 2007, researchers at the University of Central Lancashire found that tall men — not short ones — were quicker to lose their rag when provoked. In an unusual — and slightly silly — study, men of different heights duelled with wooden sticks. In each fight, they were battling a stooge who was told to provoke a response by deliberately rapping their opponent across the knuckles. Dr Mike Eslea, who carried out the study, showed it was the taller men who were more quick to fly off the handle. And when researchers at Southampton University compared the personality types of 48 short and 66 average height people in their late teens in 2003, they found no link between personality and height. Critics of the theory say people are often too quick to link personality defects to height. If a 5ft 10in man is bossy or angry, no one links it to their size. Yet when a 5ft 4in man displays the same characteristics, they are accused of overcompensating. And there are plenty of shorter men who are easy-going and passive. Gandhi was just 5ft 3in. +3 There are plenty of shorter men who are easy-going and passive. Gandhi (pictured in 1940) was just 5ft 3in If the evidence for Napoleon syndrome in men is weak, it’s virtually non-existent in women. Some studies have shown shorter women feel less confident — which helps explain why so many women feel the need to wear high heels to boost their self-esteem. Oxford University academic Professor Daniel Freeman tested how height affects personality in 2013. He invited 60 women to take a simulated underground train journey while wearing virtual reality glasses. The Tube trip was as realistic as possible — with noisy rumbling and swaying motion — and the carriage was populated by computer-generated people. The volunteers took two journeys — one at normal height and another with their viewpoint altered to replicate how the journey would look if they were about a head shorter. ‘It was clear that being lower made people feel less confident in themselves,’ says Prof Freeman. ‘There was an increase in feelings of inferiority. And, with this added sense of vulnerability, the participants felt more mistrustful of the people around them. This happened in a virtual-reality simulation but we know people behave in VR as they do in real life.’ The Napoleon Complex has divided psychologists for more than a century. Some say it describes a real phenomenon; others believe there is no evidence it exists  Yet revealing that a woman feels less confident when she’s shorter doesn’t mean that she also becomes more aggressive, pompous or chippy. Women are expected to be shorter in our society. In 97 per cent of UK couples, the man is on average five or six inches taller. Psychologist Dr David Lewis claims to have identified a ‘Tinker Bell Complex’, named after the feisty fairy in Peter Pan. Women who are petite are often infantilised — treated like children by men, or so the theory goes. As a result, they can develop a sense of rebellion and resentment that makes them more flamboyant and ambitious. Candidates for the Tinker Bell Complex include Lady Gaga (5ft 1in), Barbara Windsor (4ft 10in) and Lulu (5ft 1in). Unlike the Napoleon Complex, it’s not seen as a negative trait but an asset that helps them succeed. At the other end of the scale, tall women — like tall men — seem to do better at careers and earning money. But tall people don’t get it all their own way. They may have the money and the relationships. But according to a University of Aberdeen study, they are also more likely to be bitten by midges. Napoleon Bonaparte and Captain Mainwaring would be no doubt be delighted to hear it.

Men really ARE the weaker sex:     'Harmful DNA affects heart and brain health - sending them to an early grave' Defective DNA passed to men by their mothers has negative health effects Bad for their heart and brain, muscle health, energy levels and fertility Same DNA isn't harmful to women, it's 'exquisitely adapted' to their needs Scientist said: 'I call it a mother's curse. Men definitely are the weaker sex' They are known as the weaker sex, yet they regularly outlive the men in their lives. Now, scientists think they know why. They say that an accident to inheritance means that it is men, not women, who are the weaklings. Geneticist Neil Gemmell says that mothers are cursing their sons by giving them defective DNA. This DNA has subtle effects on everything from brain and heart health and muscle strength to fertility and so helps send men to an early grave. The same DNA isn’t harmful to women, in fact it is ‘exquisitely adapted’ to their needs. +2 Scientist at the University of Ontago in New Zealand say men really are the weaker sex. Professor Neil Gemmell said defective DNA passed from mothers to their sons has subtle, but negative effects on their health, meaning they have shorter life expectancy University of Otago researcher Neil Gemmell said: ‘I call it “mother’s curse”. ‘Men definitely are the weaker sex.’ Professor Gemmell’s theory, which will be more popular with one sex than the other, hinges around the DNA in mitochondria. These are the the tiny ‘batteries’ that power our body’s cells and are especially bountiful in the heart, muscle, brain and other parts the body that use up a lot of energy. Normally, both parents pass their genes to the next generation and any harmful mutations are eliminated over the generations because those who are carrying them have fewer children or die younger. However, mitochondrial DNA is only passed on by daughters. A woman passes it to her sons and her daughters – but only her daughters pass it on to the next generation. As the DNA passes down the female line, any DNA that is harmful women is eliminated. But DNA that is damaging to men remains – leaving men at a disadvantage, said the professor. This means they may be inheriting DNA that is bad for their heart, brain, muscle health and energy levels – helping explaining why men, on average, live three or four years less than women. I call it “mother’s curse”. Men definitely are the weaker sex Geneticist, professor Neil Gemmell Professor Gemmell said: ‘It is an unfortunate aspect of maternal inheritance that male offspring are effectively cursed or bestowed with sub-optimal mitochondria. ‘I think of males as being an evolutionary cul-de-sac with respect to mitochondrial DNA. So we get it, we don’t pass it on to our offspring and we just have to make the most of it.’ His theory, presented at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology’s annual conference in Lisbon, draws on a decade of research from around the world on flies, fish and numerous other animals. This includes ‘striking’ studies which showed that certain types of mitochondrial DNA caused infertility and truncated lifespans in males but had ‘utterly no effect’ on females. And studies on men have shown that those with a particular type of mitochondrial DNA have slower-swimming sperm. +2 The harmful mitochondrial DNA affects the brain, heart and muscle strength as well as fertility, Professor Gemmell said. He explained the DNA is not harmful to women, rather it's 'exquisitely adapted’ to their needs Professor Gemmell, of the University of Otago, in New Zealand said: ‘It’s an irony, or a gross evolutionary injustice, I don’t know which, that male fertility is held to ransom by a female-inherited molecule. ‘In general mitochondrial DNA will be exquisitely adapted for it role in females, while its role in males will likely be less ideal, leading to fitness consequences for males. ‘Perhaps think of mitochondrial DNA being well-tailored for females, but less than flattering for males because it wasn't cut for them.’ However, men shouldn’t be too disheartened. The professor said: ‘It’s not completely bad news for men. ‘The longevity gap is only two to five years. It’s not enormous and there are all sorts of other factors that contribute to our shorter lives, like the fact that men don’t go to the doctor and hide their problems.’ Indeed, recent research shows the longevity gap is closing – a fact blamed on the stressful lives of career women and the toll of drinking and smoking on health.

'The ultimate doomsday escape':The apocalyptic devastation of Europe

 

 

 

 

 

'The ultimate doomsday escape': California entrepreneur builds $1billion bunker for millionaires in German village in event of an apocalypse - and where survivors can live a year without leaving         Vivos Europa One shelter, in Rothenstein, Germany, was unveiled by Vivos founder, Robert Vicinio, on Friday Consists of a planned survival complex that is comparable to billionaire's mega-yacht or mansion - but much bigger Boasts swimming pools, theaters, gyms, restaurants, custom apartments, outdoor space and helicopter service But it can also apparently withstand nuclear blast, chemical agents, earthquakes, tsunamis, or another disaster Although the cost per apartment remains unclear, the property is valued at $1.1bn (its original value was $225m) Underground shelter is currently in 'turnkey operational condition'; residents are accepted based on their 'skills' It boasts a luxurious array of swimming pools, theaters, gyms, restaurants, custom apartments and its own helicopter service. But at the same time, it can apparently withstand a nuclear blast, chemical agents, earthquakes, tsunamis - and virtually any other disaster or attack. These photos show an opulent, invitation-only underground survival bunker, which is being dubbed the world's 'ultimate doomsday escape'. The five-star Vivos Europa One shelter, in the German village of Rothenstein, was unveiled by Vivos founder and CEO, Robert Vicinio, on Friday. It portrays a planned survival complex that is comparable to a billionaire's mansion or mega-yacht - but much bigger, and with 'life-saving' capabilities. Although the cost per apartment remains unclear, the property is valued at around $1.1billion - meaning it will likely be available only to the super-rich. Scroll down for video +29 Opulent: This photos shows a bedroom in the Vivos Europa One shelter, which is being dubbed the world's 'ultimate doomsday escape' +29 Dining room: The underground bunker, in the German village of Rothenstein, was unveiled by Vivos founder , Robert Vicinio, on Friday +29 Space for relaxation: It portrays a planned survival complex that is comparable to a billionaire's mega-yacht or mansion - but much bigger, and with 'life-saving' capabilities. Above, a community swimming pool inside the complex, which is valued at an estimated $1.1million +29 Secure: The survival bunker can apparently withstand a nuclear blast, chemical agents, earthquakes, tsunamis - and virtually any other disaster. Above, this photo shows a drive-thru blast-proof door at the complex, which will likely be available only to the super-rich +29 Power: The luxury shelter was originally built by the Soviets in the Cold War as a fortress for military equipment. Above, its engine room +29 Unlikely location: With its rolling heels and stunning woodland, the village of Rothenstein looks like an unlikely location for the bunker +29 Underground living: This aerial image shows the boundary of the survival bunker, which is currently in 'turnkey operational condition' Standard apartment: This photo depicts 'typical living quarters' in the shelter. It remains unclear how much each family will have to pay Each family in the complex will be provided with a private 2,500-square-foot apartment, which they can design and build to their own specifications. They may decide to add a pool, a theater or a deluxe bathroom. They will also have access to a hospital area, several restaurants and a bakery. Other common area amenities will include roadways, a wine cellar, prayer rooms, classrooms, a television station and a detention center. Families will pay a base sum for their apartment, along with their share of the costs for managing and staffing the complex, and other costs. But their expenditure could save their lives, Vivos says, as the 76-acre complex can survive a 'substantial' close-range nuclear blast or natural disaster. In addition to its 227,904 square feet of blast-proof living areas, the bunker also boasts 43,906 square feet of above-ground space, Forbes reported. Underground, it features countless tunnel chambers, each with their own security system, and numerous sets of blast-proof doors with airtight seals. It also has its own self-contained water and power generation system, as well as climate, ventilation, air filtration and communication systems.   +29 Keeping watch: Each family in the complex will be provided with a private 2,500-square-foot apartment. Above, a personnel entry door +29 Billionaires' bunker: They can design and build their apartments to their own specifications.They may decide to add a theater (pictured) +29 Time to watch a movie: on the Other common area amenities will include roadways, a wine cellar and prayer rooms. Above, a theater +29 Modern furnishings: Families will pay a base amount, along with their share of the ongoing costs for managing and staffing the complex +29 An underground pint: The bunker in Rothenstein boasts 227,904 square feet of blast-proof living areas, including this planned pub +29 Proud: Vicino (seen in the bunker) told Forbes: 'We are proud to bring this epic project forward in these increasingly dangerous times'   Made of strong material: These photos show exterior entrances to the bunker (left), and a typical tunnel inside the expensive facility Speaking to the magazine on Friday, Vicino said: 'We are proud to bring this epic project forward in these increasingly dangerous times.' Alongside its catastrophe-proof features, the bunker will include a stock of zoological species, an artifact and treasure archive and a DNA vault. In the event of a disaster, families will fly to nearby airports before lockdown. They will then be transferred to Vivos Europa One by Vivos helicopters. The company will provide protective equipment needed to brave Rothenstein - which currently sits amid rolling hills and woods - and the outer world. The shelter, which was originally built by the Soviets in the Cold War as a fortress for military gear, is currently in 'turnkey operational condition'. It is among a network of underground survival shelters - including 'economy class' bunkers - being built by Vivos, which is based in California. . +29 Above-ground space: The Rothenstein facility also boasts 43,906 square feet of above-ground space. Above, an outdoor power station +29 Railway: Vivos Europa One shelter also features its own railway and helicopter service, which picks up residents from nearby airports +29 Protected: Underground, the bunker features countless tunnel chambers, each with their own security system and blast-proof doors +29 Water treatment plant: It also has its own self-contained water and power generation system, as well as climate and ventilation systems +29 Swanky: In the event of a disaster, families will fly to nearby airports before lockdown. They will then be transferred to Vivos Europa One by Vivos helicopters. The company will provide protective equipment needed to brave the outer world. Above, another living quarters +29 Impressive: The bunker is among a network of undergroundshelters being built by Vivos, which is based in California. Above, a bar +29 Exhibit hall: Alongside its catastrophe-proof features, the bunker will include a collection of zoological species and an artifact archive The firm's first completed bunker is situated in Indiana. Prices on the company's website are listed as $35,000 for adults and $25,000 for children. All of the shelters are fully stocked with food and other resources, and are designed to operate autonomously for six months to one year, the firm says. In total, Vivos aims to accommodate 6,000 people in its bunkers. Potential families are screened - then approved or rejected - based on their skills. Vicino has previously said that he was 'inspired' by a powerful 'message' in the 1980s, telling him he needed to build a survival shelter for thousands. The businessman said he did not know where the message had come from. In a statement, Vivos told Daily Mail Online: 'We are clearly living in dangerous and changing times that the uninformed will never understand until the threats are evident. We cannot predict, but we can prepare.' +29 Ready for impact: Vivos's first completed bunker is situated in Indiana. Prices on the company's website are listed as $35,000 for adults and $25,000 for children. Above, Vivos CEO Robert Vicino stands on a blast-proof door at the new bunker in central Germany +29 Thick steel: All of the Vivos shelters are fully stocked with food, and are designed to operate autonomously for six months to one year   Locking residents in: Vicino has previously said that he was 'inspired' with a powerful 'message' in the 1980s telling him that he needed to build a survival shelter. The businessman said he did not know where the message had come from. Above, various blast doors +29 Work: The personnel entry corridor inside the shelter contains an array of white hard hats, with steel pipes running across the ceiling +29 Providing treatment: This photo depicts the hospital area at the shelter, which is in 'turnkey operational condition' and worth $1billion +29 3D view: In a statement, Vivos told Daily Mail Online: 'We are clearly living in dangerous and changing times that the uninformed will never understand until the threats are evident. We cannot predict, but we can prepare.' Above, a 3D view of the shelter in Rothenstein

The world after war:     Aerial photos reveal the apocalyptic devastation of Europe in weeks following VE Day   VE Day may have been a time of global celebration at the end of the Second World War, but it also laid bare the scale of devastation across the war zone that was Europe. These photographs from May 1945 show how the landscape of Germany was scarred with bomb craters and ruined buildings, with huge refugee camps set up across the countryside. The astonishing images are the product of the Allied 'trolley missions', attempts to catalogue the damage done by British bombers over the previous six years. Destruction: This picture of Cologne around the time of VE Day shows how most of the city was nearly flattened apart from its iconic cathedral Raid: The main bridge in the town of Remagen, which was disabled by Allied bombing missions earlier in the Second World War Attack: A unique photograph of Cologne taken from the side of a bomber during a 'trolley mission' at the end of the War Suffering: One of the areas photographed by the trolley missions was the prisoner-of-war camp in Germany Craters: The landscape around this factory came under heavy bombardment, leading to pockmarks all across it The missions were initially restricted to Allied-controlled areas, as they began before the official end of the War, but soon extended out to Eastern Europe. The B-17 and B-24 bombers which conducted the missions carried official photographers as well as RAF ground crew who had been instrumental in planning earlier bombing missions. For many of the crew it was the first time they had flown in the aircraft they had been working on for years. Target: This railyard shows how inaccurate 1940s bombing techniques were, with few missiles striking the facility itself and most landing nearby Strategic: The railroad bridge running across the centre of Cologne collapsed into the river thanks to Allied bombing attacks Flattened: The RAF's bombing raids in German were intended to flatten the country's infrastructure and demoralise its people Evocative: While most of Europe was happily celebrating VE Day, areas which were bombed out were still lamenting the destruction Rural: The scene on the outskirts of Bremen - a hint at the economic damage which would require years of rebuilding in Germany Excitement: The missions were designed as a way for RAF ground crew to see the effects of their efforts throughout the War The missions were intended to allow both pilots and ground crew to survey the work they had done and take a close look at the effect of the bombing raids which had forced Germany into submission by 1945. Thankfully for later generations, the photographers on board took their duties seriously and captured dozens of images of German cities pocked with craters. The human cost of warfare is also shown by vistas of prisoner-of-war camps made up of hundreds of tents housing those who were captured while fighting. Wasteland: Parts of Germany were left almost uninhabitable in the wake of frequent RAF raids Shells: Whole neighbourhoods were devastated and abandoned in the aftermath of the fighting Trouble: In some urban areas the RAF planes had stones thrown at them by angry German youths City: Dortmund shown after the end of the Second World War on another 'trolley mission' launched by Allied troops Damage: Part of the city of Cologne including a public park which became a bomb site and a centuries-old Prussian fort, top right Camp: Another POW area, where conditions in the damp weather could get so bad that many inmates who had survived the fighting died there instead In total, more than 30,000 people were invited on trolley missions to survey post-War Germany. While most of the expeditions went off without a hitch, some airmen reported their planes being pelted by stones by German children, while others were disciplined for 'buzzing' people on the ground. One landmark which especially stuck in the mind of the personnel who carried out the mission was Cologne Cathedral, which stood out in the middle of a ruined landscape. Striking: Many of the Allied troops were particularly moved by the sight of Cologne Cathedral, which was mostly unharmed Surveillance: A photograph of post-War Hamburg taken from an RAF plane surveying the damage Neutral: This image shows Belgium, which was officially out of the firing line but became caught up in the effects of the Second World War Industrial: Factories in the Ruhr Valley, which were targeted because of their importance to the German war effort Defence: This picture shows the Westwall, a line of anti-tank defences snaking across the border between Germany and France