Author Topic: Nature yays  (Read 28615 times)

Glaurung

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Re: Nature yays
« Reply #30 on: June 07, 2015, 10:35:42 PM »
This one is an academic paper - I suspect Jubal will find it interesting, while arachnophobes will not want to go anywhere near it.

It begins with these words:
In late October, 2009, the managers of the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant in Baltimore, MD sought assistance in mitigating what they described as an "extreme spider situation" in their sand filtration facility.
Effectively, they had built a spider farm (covered, warm, lots of nooks and crannies, steady supply of food), and were experiencing a good breeding year. I won't present the numbers here, in case readers run away screaming, but they are quite remarkable. One of the concluding comments is this:
On-site personnel should be reassured that the spiders are harmless and the facility's immense shroud of silk should be presented in a positive light as a record-breaking natural history wonder.

For those interested, the paper is linked from the current xkcd "What If?" article.

Jubal

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Re: Nature yays
« Reply #31 on: June 08, 2015, 11:57:06 PM »
Spiders! :D

The "what if" article has at least one flaw though - some spiders DO live on the water and some are very capable swimmers (notably the genus Dolomedes, with which I am personally very familiar :P )
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Glaurung

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Re: Nature yays
« Reply #32 on: June 09, 2015, 12:23:41 AM »
The "what if" article has at least one flaw though - some spiders DO live on the water and some are very capable swimmers
You could always let Randall Munroe know - I'm sure he'd be overjoyed to discover there are even more spider habitats...

Jubal

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Re: Nature yays
« Reply #33 on: June 11, 2015, 11:52:50 PM »
I have too many emails to write already :(
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Jubal

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Re: Nature yays
« Reply #34 on: July 27, 2015, 11:14:40 PM »
http://www.boredpanda.com/sealed-bottle-garden-david-latimer/

Bit clickbaity, but nice article on a guy who has a terrarium that has been opened about once in several decades.
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Jubal

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Re: Nature yays
« Reply #35 on: November 23, 2015, 11:46:16 AM »
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-34897767

In sadder news, a Northern White Rhino has died, leaving only three of the (functionally extinct) species remaining :(
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Jubal

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Re: Nature yays
« Reply #36 on: April 16, 2016, 10:50:48 PM »
Ooh :) Get some photos when it happens!
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Jubal

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Re: Nature yays
« Reply #37 on: July 09, 2018, 11:44:35 AM »
Quolls! Eastern Quolls are now back on the AUS mainland:



Quote
A rare species of marsupial, the eastern quoll, has been born in the wild on the Australian mainland for the first time in more than 50 years.

The native animals were once found along Australia's east coast until they were devastated by foxes and disease.

Scientists in New South Wales (NSW) reintroduced the species from Tasmania earlier this year and now three females are carrying joeys in their pouches.

The bean-sized babies will stay growing inside the pouches for three months.

Original article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-44763160
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Caradìlis

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Re: Nature yays
« Reply #38 on: July 26, 2018, 05:17:07 PM »
Cute, although I'm pretty sure that this is a slug... :)
"Those who don't beieve in magic will never find it." - Roald Dahl

Jubal

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Re: Nature yays
« Reply #39 on: July 26, 2018, 05:45:19 PM »
I think it is a snail, just its shell is at a funny angle compared to the camera. And yes, very cute indeed :)
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comrade_general

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Re: Nature yays
« Reply #40 on: July 26, 2018, 06:19:02 PM »
I thought it was a slug at first too, but that is indeed a tiny shell.

Caradìlis

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Re: Nature yays
« Reply #41 on: July 26, 2018, 06:27:41 PM »
Okay, then I say "hello tiny snail!"... :)
"Those who don't beieve in magic will never find it." - Roald Dahl

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Re: Nature yays
« Reply #42 on: July 27, 2018, 08:55:11 PM »
It said "sup" but in a tiny voice.

Jubal

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Re: Nature yays
« Reply #43 on: July 31, 2018, 07:42:50 PM »
Wow, yes, that's beautiful.

Why was I taking all the photos when I visited? You're miles better at it :P
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Glaurung

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Re: Nature yays
« Reply #44 on: July 31, 2018, 09:51:40 PM »
I just got lucky it didn't fly away from me. Also finally figured out the proper settings for my phone camera. Huehue
And this is how great photos are made: luck in catching the moment, and knowledge of how to handle the camera - plus an artist's eye for a picture. Well done: I think they're amazing!