Madagascar Reed Frog. Photo by Armin Hofen.

Madagascar Reed Frog. Photo by Armin Hofen

Bijoux-et-minerau.

bijoux-et-mineraux:

Chalcopyrite and Dolomite - Viburnym Trend District, Missouri

(Source: spiriferminerals.com, via mineralesque)

Via http://underthescopeminerals.tumblr.com/post/120424799658/bijoux-et-mineraux-chalcopyrite-
and-dolomite

http://www.spiriferminerals.com/product,10815,Chalcopyrite,-dolomite.html

Bariopharmacosiderite.

Bariopharmacosiderite

Locality:

Les Montmins Mine (Ste Barbe vein), Échassières, Ébreuil, Allier, Auvergne, France

Jean-Paul Fayard’s Photo

VIA http://underthescopeminerals.tumblr.com/post/121656679957/bariopharmacosiderite-locality-les-montmins-mine

Lower Ugab Valley, Namibia.

Lower Ugab Valley, Namibia

Yufugawa Gorge (Oita Prefecture, Japan)

Yufugawa Gorge  (Oita Prefecture, Japan)

Yufugawa is a river emerging at Mount Tsurumi that runs down to the valley floor, passing between this mountain and Mount Yufu. Over time, the river water has eroded the volcanic rock of these two volcanoes to form high gorges of fascinating beauty.

Yufugawa Gorge is 12 km long and heights between 15 and 50m. There are about 40 waterfalls and a hundred rivulets sliding on the rock to reach the river.

Photo credit: ©Yukio Sakaguchi (2012)

VIA http://libutron.tumblr.com/tagged/landscape

Bioluminescent plankton.

These photos can be viewed in a better format in my bio-luminescent portfolio located here. If you would like a print, they can be found in the After Dark gallery in my store, which is located here.

Tigmotropismo.

Thigmotropism is a movement in which a plant moves or grows in response to touch or contact stimuli. The prefix thigmo- comes from the Greek for "touch" (θιγμός). Usually thigmotropism occurs when plants grow around a surface, such as a wall, pot, or trellis. Climbing plants, such as vines, develop tendrils that coil around supporting objects. Touched cells produce auxin and transport it to untouched cells. Some untouched cells will then elongate faster so cell growth bends around the object. Some seedlings also exhibit triple response, caused by pulses ofethylene which cause the stem to thicken (grow slower and stronger) and curve to start growing horizontally.

Image ⁱ - Redvine (Brunnichia ovata) tendrils coil upon contact.

Xanthoconite

Xanthoconite is found as a rare mineral in several of the mines where Proustite is found. It generally forms in the same deposits as Proustite, and may even form together with it in a single matrix. In addition to their differences in crystal symmetry, Xanthoconite usually has a more orange color than Proustite. 

Locality: Imiter Mine, Imiter District, Djebel Saghro (Jbel Saghro), Ouarzazate Province, Souss-Massa-Draâ Region, Morocco.

Photo credit: ©Christian Rewitzer

Via http://libutron.tumblr.com/tagged/crystals

Earth’s Southern Pole.

Standing at the edge of Mount Nyiragongo, the largest lava lake on Earth.

Azurite - Malachite

Azurite - Malachite

Locality: Aprovechado mine, El Pinar De Bedar, Andalusia, Spain.

Photo credit: ©Jean-Marc Johannet

http://libutron.tumblr.com/tagged/crystals

Naturally formed spherical boulders in New Zealand.

A waterfall in Yosemite that turns rainbow when the Sun Strikes it from certain angles.

A waterfall in Yosemite that turns rainbow when the Sun Strikes it from certain angles. 

Heartburn.

http://we-are-star-stuff.tumblr.com/post/120545411997/designinbiology-heartburn-by-nature

Droplets being suspended in mid air using sound-waves.

The Earth ‘breathing’ as the seasons change.

The Earth ‘breathing’ as the seasons change. 

HOW THE WORLD WASTES FOOD [INFOGRAPHIC]

Every year, the planet loses nearly a third of its food—a staggering 1.4 billion tons. That’s according to a 2011 United Nations study that assessed food networks in 152 countries. The researchers’ results reveal where in the food-supply chain farmers, engineers, and consumers might more effectively get comestibles into mouths.

What to do about it

The planet may have to feed a global population of 10 billion people by 2050. With that milestone looming, organizations like the U.N., the Natural Resources Defense Council, and Food Tank are working on ways to make food systems more efficient.

Agriculture

Problem: Agricultural loss particularly plagues industrialized nations, where farmers often need to overproduce in order to guarantee a steady supply to grocery stores.
Solution: With better food labeling—for example, using a spoils-on date rather than a sell-by date—markets could keep their stock longer and ease demand on farmers.

Post-harvest

Problem: Food loss after harvest is a bigger problem in developing countries—where food infrastructure is often less modernized—than in industrialized ones.
Solution: Improving roads would enable unrefrigerated perishables to reach market faster, cutting down on spoilage. Investment in cold-storage facilities would also prevent losses.

Processing

Problem: Developing countries lose the most fruits and vegetables at the processing stage because it’s expensive to maintain facilities big enough to handle large seasonal influxes.
Solution: If the owners of processing facilities enter into contracts with individual farmers before they sow seeds, the timing and size of the harvest may be more predictable and manageable.

Distribution

Problem: If a supermarket rejects food once it leaves a processing plant—say, for having too many tomatoes already—the truck driver may not be able to find another buyer before the food spoils.
Solution: New mobile-phone apps, including one called Food Cowboy, help drivers locate nearby food banks that might take the shipment.

Consumption

Problem: At the last stage, consumers in industrialized countries waste five times as much food as those in developing ones. In the U.S., that means 35 million tons of food each year head to landfills and incinerators.
Solution: In the U.K., a public-awareness campaign cut household losses by 20 percent, by encouraging actions such as taking more frequent shopping trips to prevent groceries from spoiling.

_Data used to develop this graphic come from the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report ©FAO 2011 “Global Losses and Food Waste,” part of the Save Food initiative. _

THE FUTURE OF FOOD PRESERVATION

To tackle food waste, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and partner Worrell Water Technologies developed a one-square-inch packet that extends the refrigerated life of fruits and vegetables by up to five weeks. Each permeable packet contains Curoxin vapor, a proprietary disinfectant that releases slowly inside a clamshell container and envelops fresh food in an antimicrobial cloud. The effect? Water loss and fungal growth are significantly arrested, which maintains produces’ firmness, color, and taste. Currently in trials, Curoxin should be available in 2015. —MATT JANCER

http://www.popsci.com/article/science/how-world-wastes-food-infographic

Imagen.

The chemistry of stinging nettles.

Magnetic fields of planets compared.

fyeahscienceteachers:

It may look like a giant ball oozing with earthworms, but it’s actually a simulation of Jupiter’s massive and complex magnetosphere — a magnetic field that extends more than four million miles from its surface.

The Earth generates a magnetic field by the convection of molten nickel-iron alloys in its outer core. Jupiter’s outer core is also thought to be responsible for its enormous magnetic field, though it is liquid hydrogen crushed by intense pressure into a metallic form that generates the magnetism rather than iron compounds. In addition, the gas giant’s surface is buffeted by powerful winds and huge storms, like the famous Great Red Spot. Scientists believe that these surface winds interact with the metallic liquid hydrogen below to stimulate some of the secondary properties of the magnetic field. 

 Magnetic fields of planets compared:

Chemistry

Some interesting outcomes from a recent survey carried out by the RSC on the UK public’s attitudes towards chemistry & chemists. They’ve produced a graphic to sum up the major findings.

There’s more detail (and a larger image of their graphic) here: rsc.li/1ctzp8n

Broad conclusions seem to be that people are quite indifferent about chemistry, and positive about chemists (but primarily because they think they’re pharmacists, due to UK Pharmacies commonly being referred to as ‘Chemists’).

Toba Sunrise by syukaery.

Toba Sunrise by syukaery
http://libutron.tumblr.com/tagged/landscape

Why are my plants turning yellow?

Sampleite

Sampleite

Locality:

Engaño Feliz Mine, Las Pintadas district, Tierra Amarilla, Copiapó Province, Atacama Region, ChileRosette cluster of sampleite crystals on matrix.

Geological Setting:

Oxidized zones of copper deposits in arid climates; in caves derived from copper sulfides in cave walls and phosphorus from bat guano; miarolytic cavities in granite; in pegmatites.

Copyright © 2015, Bruce J Kelley  http://underthescopeminerals.tumblr.com/post/121739290963/sampleite-locality-engano-feliz-mine-las

Wicked Erythrite from Morocco.

Wicked Erythrite from Morocco by Spirifer Minerals ////// #whyiloveminerals

www.spiriferminerals.com

www.mineraliety.com

Target beetle - Ischnocodia annulus

Target beetle - Ischnocodia annulus

Aptly named Target Beetle, Ischnocodia annulus (Coleoptera - Chrysomelidae) is a species of tortoise beetle easily recognizable by its concentric black lines on the body on a shiny golden background that resemble a target mark. The edges of these amazing beetles are semitransparent with radiant golden or yellowish hues.

This is a neotropical species known from Mexico, Central and South America, and also found in the Caribbean islands.

References: [1] - [2]

Photo credit: ©eniobranco1970 | Locality: Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil