Nature yays

[Glaurung]

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]

Spiders!

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 )

[Glaurung]

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]

I have too many emails to write already

[Jubal]

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.

[Jubal]

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

[Jubal]

Ooh Get some photos when it happens!

[Jubal]

Quolls! Eastern Quolls are now back on the AUS mainland:

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

[Caradìlis]

Cute, although I'm pretty sure that this is a slug...

[Jubal]

I think it is a snail, just its shell is at a funny angle compared to the camera. And yes, very cute indeed

[comrade_general]

I thought it was a slug at first too, but that is indeed a tiny shell.

[Caradìlis]

Okay, then I say "hello tiny snail!"...

[comrade_general]

It said "sup" but in a tiny voice.

[Jubal]

Wow, yes, that's beautiful.

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

[Glaurung]

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!