Getting hit by lightning is good for some tropical trees
(caryinstitute.org)
Getting zapped with millions of volts of electricity may not sound like a healthy activity, but for some trees, it is. A new study, published in New Phytologist, reports that some tropical tree species are not only able to tolerate lightning strikes, but benefit from them. The trees may have even evolved to act as lightning rods.
Getting zapped with millions of volts of electricity may not sound like a healthy activity, but for some trees, it is. A new study, published in New Phytologist, reports that some tropical tree species are not only able to tolerate lightning strikes, but benefit from them. The trees may have even evolved to act as lightning rods.
300-year-old Polish beech voted Tree of the Year
(bbc.co.uk)
The Heart of the Dalkowskie Hills, a breathtaking 300-year-old beech, has won Poland the European Tree of the Year award for the fourth consecutive time.
The Heart of the Dalkowskie Hills, a breathtaking 300-year-old beech, has won Poland the European Tree of the Year award for the fourth consecutive time.
Watching nature scenes can reduce pain, new study shows
(exeter.ac.uk)
A new neuroimaging study has revealed that viewing nature can help ease how people experience pain, by reducing the brain activity linked to pain perception.
A new neuroimaging study has revealed that viewing nature can help ease how people experience pain, by reducing the brain activity linked to pain perception.
The Wasp That Lays Eggs Inside Caterpillars and Turns Them into Slaves (2014)
(wired.com)
Few parasitoids are more bizarre or disturbing than the wasps of the genus Glyptapanteles, whose females inject their eggs into living caterpillars.
Few parasitoids are more bizarre or disturbing than the wasps of the genus Glyptapanteles, whose females inject their eggs into living caterpillars.
Hyperion (Tree)
(wikipedia.org)
Hyperion is a coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) in California that is the world's tallest known living tree, measured at 116.07 metres (380.8 ft) tall in 2019.[1][3]
Hyperion is a coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) in California that is the world's tallest known living tree, measured at 116.07 metres (380.8 ft) tall in 2019.[1][3]
The long flight to teach an endangered ibis species to migrate
(newyorker.com)
Our devastation of nature is so deep and vast that to reverse its effects, on any front, often entails efforts that are so painstaking and quixotic as to border on the ridiculous.
Our devastation of nature is so deep and vast that to reverse its effects, on any front, often entails efforts that are so painstaking and quixotic as to border on the ridiculous.
Hours in a Hurricane, on a Race with No Course
(nytimes.com)
Why would hundreds of people trek overnight through the wilderness with nothing but a compass? Because it’s the best feeling in the world.
Why would hundreds of people trek overnight through the wilderness with nothing but a compass? Because it’s the best feeling in the world.
Backyard Cyanide
(suziepetryk.com)
There’s a bushy tree in my backyard with these dark red fruit — the kind that makes some primal instinct scream at you across millennia, but you can’t tell if it wants you to eat them or not.
There’s a bushy tree in my backyard with these dark red fruit — the kind that makes some primal instinct scream at you across millennia, but you can’t tell if it wants you to eat them or not.
Magpies and crows are using “anti-bird spikes” to make nests (2023)
(audubon.org)
Humans have made the world less hospitable for birds in many ways. One obvious and intentional example of this can be found in towns and cities worldwide: anti-bird spikes. The pointy wires you might see attached to roofs, ledges, and light poles are meant to deter urban species like pigeons from landing, pooping, and even nesting where people don’t want them to. But in an avian act of poetic justice, a handful of European birds have struck back.
Humans have made the world less hospitable for birds in many ways. One obvious and intentional example of this can be found in towns and cities worldwide: anti-bird spikes. The pointy wires you might see attached to roofs, ledges, and light poles are meant to deter urban species like pigeons from landing, pooping, and even nesting where people don’t want them to. But in an avian act of poetic justice, a handful of European birds have struck back.
How to Build a Thousand-Year-Old Tree
(noemamag.com)
As the world faces an accelerating crisis of biodiversity loss and spiking rates of extinction, Britain’s protected natural areas are getting an explicit new assignment.
As the world faces an accelerating crisis of biodiversity loss and spiking rates of extinction, Britain’s protected natural areas are getting an explicit new assignment.
Farallon Islands live (and controllable) webcam
(calacademy.org)
Explore the fabled Farallones via the islands' only webcam.
Explore the fabled Farallones via the islands' only webcam.
A Few of the Birds I Love
(wordpress.com)
Whenever you feel that there is no joy in the world, you must go to a place with swallows. Few things are more euphoric than a swallow in flight.
Whenever you feel that there is no joy in the world, you must go to a place with swallows. Few things are more euphoric than a swallow in flight.
Drone captures narwhals using their tusks to explore, forage and play
(phys.org)
The Arctic's iconic narwhal, renowned for its long, spiral tusk, is one of nature's most fascinating creatures. Yet, few have witnessed how these elusive animals use their tusks in the wild.
The Arctic's iconic narwhal, renowned for its long, spiral tusk, is one of nature's most fascinating creatures. Yet, few have witnessed how these elusive animals use their tusks in the wild.
Flashy exotic birds can glow in the dark
(arstechnica.com)
Found in the forests of Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and Eastern Australia, birds of paradise are famous for flashy feathers and unusually shaped ornaments, which set the standard for haute couture among birds.
Found in the forests of Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, and Eastern Australia, birds of paradise are famous for flashy feathers and unusually shaped ornaments, which set the standard for haute couture among birds.
The teeming life of dead trees
(knowablemagazine.org)
Though no one may be around to hear when a tree falls in the forest, countless critters take note. Dormant fungi within the tree awaken to feast on it, joined by others that creep up from the soil. Bacteria pitch in, some sliding along strands of fungi to get deeper into the log. Termites alert their colony mates, which gather en masse to gobble up wood. Bit by bit, deadwood is decomposed, feeding new life along the way.
Though no one may be around to hear when a tree falls in the forest, countless critters take note. Dormant fungi within the tree awaken to feast on it, joined by others that creep up from the soil. Bacteria pitch in, some sliding along strands of fungi to get deeper into the log. Termites alert their colony mates, which gather en masse to gobble up wood. Bit by bit, deadwood is decomposed, feeding new life along the way.
Nature loves patterns
(fayziev.com)
As I drift through my winter vacation, detoxing from work, tech and world matters, I notice my little brother crawling toward a heat stove. With a week of rest behind me, my mind wanders into philosophical territory, and I can't help but map this moment to machine learning.
As I drift through my winter vacation, detoxing from work, tech and world matters, I notice my little brother crawling toward a heat stove. With a week of rest behind me, my mind wanders into philosophical territory, and I can't help but map this moment to machine learning.
A decade later, a decade lost (2024)
(meyerweb.com)
I woke up this morning about an hour ahead of my alarm, the sky already light, birds calling. After a few minutes, a brief patter of rain swept across the roof and moved on.
I woke up this morning about an hour ahead of my alarm, the sky already light, birds calling. After a few minutes, a brief patter of rain swept across the roof and moved on.
Signs Of Life In A Desert
(noemamag.com)
In the dry and fiery deserts of Central Asia, among the mythical sites of both the first human and the end of all days, I found evidence that life restores itself even on the bleakest edge of ecological apocalypse.
In the dry and fiery deserts of Central Asia, among the mythical sites of both the first human and the end of all days, I found evidence that life restores itself even on the bleakest edge of ecological apocalypse.
Snakeskin: It's Fashionable, and It Scares Predators Away from Bird Nests
(nytimes.com)
A museum curator with a ladder showed that birds that build cavity-style nests are able to protect their eggs with the skin shed by snakes.
A museum curator with a ladder showed that birds that build cavity-style nests are able to protect their eggs with the skin shed by snakes.
Rafael Araujo's 20 Mesmerizing Geometrical Masterpieces (2024)
(abakcus.com)
Artist Rafael Araujo expresses his love of nature through geometry, intertwining mathematical precision with the organic beauty found within the natural world.
Artist Rafael Araujo expresses his love of nature through geometry, intertwining mathematical precision with the organic beauty found within the natural world.
LA tree enthusiast shares her love for the city's canopy
(theguardian.com)
On a recent Sunday morning, 25 Angelenos gathered under a large rusty leaf fig tree for a walking tree tour in a local Culver City park that was also playing host to an outdoor tai chi class as well as a group of yogis.
On a recent Sunday morning, 25 Angelenos gathered under a large rusty leaf fig tree for a walking tree tour in a local Culver City park that was also playing host to an outdoor tai chi class as well as a group of yogis.
In search of Europe's rarest wild mushrooms
(bbc.com)
In Lithuania’s Dzūkija National Park, losing yourself amongst the pine trees while hunting for mushrooms is an occurrence so common it has its own word: "nugrybauti".
In Lithuania’s Dzūkija National Park, losing yourself amongst the pine trees while hunting for mushrooms is an occurrence so common it has its own word: "nugrybauti".
Hermit guardian of Budelli dies after three decades on paradise island
(theguardian.com)
Mauro Morandi, an Italian man nicknamed “Robinson Crusoe” by the media after living alone on a paradise island for more than three decades, has died at the age of 85.
Mauro Morandi, an Italian man nicknamed “Robinson Crusoe” by the media after living alone on a paradise island for more than three decades, has died at the age of 85.
Hermit guardian of Budelli dies after three decades on paradise island
(theguardian.com)
Mauro Morandi, an Italian man nicknamed “Robinson Crusoe” by the media after living alone on a paradise island for more than three decades, has died at the age of 85.
Mauro Morandi, an Italian man nicknamed “Robinson Crusoe” by the media after living alone on a paradise island for more than three decades, has died at the age of 85.
Orca that carried dead calf for weeks appears to be in mourning again
(nytimes.com)
Researchers say that the killer whale’s newborn calf in Puget Sound has also died and she’s unable to let go.
Researchers say that the killer whale’s newborn calf in Puget Sound has also died and she’s unable to let go.
Art Forms in Nature / Ernst Haeckel 100 Plates 300 Dpi Scans
(archive.org)
Ask the publishers to restore access to 500,000+ books.
Ask the publishers to restore access to 500,000+ books.
Brazilian velvet ant is ultrablack
(nytimes.com)
Scientists found that the dark markings on a species of fluffy wasp reflected less than 1 percent of light.
Scientists found that the dark markings on a species of fluffy wasp reflected less than 1 percent of light.
Humpback Whale Swims Up to Photographer for Close-Up Picture
(petapixel.com)
A photographer had a powerful experience with a whale who swam up close allowing her to capture a close-up photo of the humpback’s eye.
A photographer had a powerful experience with a whale who swam up close allowing her to capture a close-up photo of the humpback’s eye.
Oldest known wild bird lays egg at 74
(bbc.co.uk)
The world's oldest known wild bird has laid an egg at the approximate age of 74, US biologists say.
The world's oldest known wild bird has laid an egg at the approximate age of 74, US biologists say.