(via science)
closely related to sharks but with long, flat bodies and wing-like pectoral fins, mobula rays are ideally suited to swooping through the water - here off the gulf of california - yet seem equally at home in the air, so much so that they have earned the name “flying rays”. mobula rays can reach heights of more than two metres, remaining airborne for several seconds.
mobula rays are quite elusive and difficult to study, so biologists are not quite sure why they jump out of the water. theories vary from a means of communication, to a mating ritual (though both males and females jump), or as a way to shed themselves of parasites. they could also be jumping as a way of better corralling their pray, as seen with them swimming in a circular formation.
what is known about mobula rays is that they reach sexual maturity late and their investment in their offspring is more akin to mammals than other fishes, usually producing just a single pup after long pregnancies, all of which makes them extremely vulnerable to commercial fishing, especially as a species that likes to come together in large groups.
(via nubbsgalore)
Great Britain and Ireland by NASA Goddard Photo and Video on Flickr:
This nearly cloud-free view of Great Britain and Ireland was acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Terra satellite on March 26, 2012. Just a few days into spring, most of the land appears green, although not quite as brilliant as the summertime hues that give Ireland the nickname “the Emerald Island”.London can be seen as a gray circle situated inland on the tan-colored River Thames.Photograph: NASA/GSFC/Jeff Schmaltz/MODIS Land Rapid Response Team. Enlarged. via iamdanw. See also: British Isles under snow.
(via blech)
Interactive Thunderstorm Lighting and Sound Device For Your Home: The Cloud
Based in New York and New Zealand, versatile designer Richard Clarkson functions his studio as a laboratory for experimenting with products, lights and furniture to create innovative design pieces. The Cloud is one such creation of the designer’s which is an interactive light that aesthetically represents a cumulus cloud, and recreates the experience of a thunderstorm within the confines of your room with either a remote control or motion sensitive device. Find out how it works in the video below.
h/t: STUFF GUYS WANT
(Source: stuffguyswant, via lazing-naturalists)
Stunning Pressed Plant Life and Gold Leaf Illustrations by Helen Ahpornsiri
Hailing from East Sussex, artist and illustrator Helen Ahpornsiri has specialized in working with the fragile material that is pressed plant life. Ahpornsiri’s continuous nature-based illustrations depict the colorful beauty and life of insects, butterflies, birds, seahorses and other woodland creatures. The artist meticulously choreographs specimens of fern, algae and gold leaf to compose the silhouette of our favorite animals. Constructed from foraged plant life, each leaf is pressed for at least one month before it is dedicated positioned to create intricate designs.
Overall the organic matter pays homage to the subjects she recreates. The romantic idea draws its sole attention to the beauty of nature and its creative purpose. You can find her entire collection in her Etsy shop.
H/T: Colossal
(Source: culturenlifestyle.com, via lazing-naturalists)
Anton Stankowski, Spiel und Gleichnis / Game and Allegory, n.d. Serigraph. Via Kiefer
(Source: kiefer.de, via design-is-fine)
