A sheep in Somerset, England, where temperatures are set to fall as low -9C, giving many parts of the UK their coldest nights in weeks.
A roadside barber shaves a man in Jammu, India
A chilly morning in Jammu, India, did not stop this man from getting his shave from a roadside barber. A girl warms herself near a hot water geyser in Sapareva Banya, Bulgaria, south of the capital, Sofia.
Calgary, Alberta
Lorne Thompson sent this picture of Grey Partridge trying to keep warm in his backyard in Calgary, Alberta.
Prince Edward Island
Steve Joicey of Prince Edward Island, off the coast of Nova Scotia, sent this picture of his Christmas wreath, looking a lot more festive for all the extra snow.
Montreal
Zornitsa Staneva captured this festive scene in Prince Arthur Street near the intersection with St-Laurent boulevard in Montreal, Quebec.
It’s the beginning of another year, when who knows what’s going to happen, what adventures we’ll have and what ground-breaking news will hit the headlines. It’s the perfect time to reminisce over events of the previous year and ponder new discoveries. At Environmental Graffiti because we’re besotted with the natural world it was good to see National Geographic’s list of their most read stories of the year include seven best animal finds of 2008. We thought we’d share them with you in case you missed them. Elbowed Alien-like Squid Caught on Film
There was great excitement in November 2008 when a remote control submersible was investigating a deep oil-drilling site and captured the image of a long-armed and ‘elbowed’ Magnapinna squid. One had never been caught on camera before in their natural habitat.
Vampire Moth has Fruity Past
Researchers reported in October that a previously unknown population of vampire moths in Siberia could have evolved from solely fruit eating species. Vampire moths have hook-and-barb-lined tongues, which they tunnel into their prey to feed on blood. Researchers say there is only slight variations in wing pattern compared to a common species of moth found in central and southern Europe called Calyptra thalictri that eats only fruit.
Italian Wall Lizards Evolving at Lightening Speed
Not exactly an animal find but a new discovery nonetheless. In April 2008, researchers studying Italian wall lizards that had been introduced to a small island off the coast of Croatia have evolved in ways that would normally take millions of years in just a few decades. Records dating from 1971 show that the tiny lizards have developed a completely new gut structure, larger heads, and a harder bite.
Worms Go Supersize in the UK
A new breed of ‘superworms’ that feed on lead, zinc, arsenic, and copper were found at disused mining sites in England and Wales. It’s thought that the newly evolved worms and their toxic eating habits could help cleanse polluted industrial lands as their excretions produce different versions of the metals, which allows plants to grow. Scientists believe their ability to tolerate extremely high metal concentrations has affected their evolution.
Dog-size Deer Rediscovered in Sumatra
In October last year a tiny dog-sized deer was catapulted into the limelight when anti-poaching conservationists released a photograph of the animal caught in a trap in Sumatra. The Sumatran muntjac had not been photographed since 1930 so had almost completely been forgotten about by science. The mountain-dwelling deer is now on the global Red List of Threatened Species, so doubtful it will be neglected again.
Half-ton Colossal Squid Reveals Secrets of the Deep
In 2007, a 30 ft-long (10 m) squid was caught on a fishing line in Antarctic waters. The colossal squid was taken to New Zealand where an autopsy was performed on the half-ton female last August. The dissection revealed the squid was “a ‘giant gelatinous blob’, would have been sluggish and highly vulnerable to predators”, and was carrying partially developed eggs. Scientists believe she may have been feeding from the fishermen’s nets rather than hunting naturally because of her condition.
The same squid was found to have eyes the size of soccer balls – the biggest recorded – which were rimmed with light-emitting organs thought to play a role in cloaking the animal from prey.
Gizmo the Gremlin Hiding Out in Sulawesi
Many people may be familiar with this animal as it’s been likened to a cute’n’cuddly Gremlin (before the water). A group of three pygmy tarsiers were discovered on an expedition in Indonesia last summer. The tiny 57 gram (2 oz) carnivorous primates were last seen alive in the 1920s, so were thought to be extinct. Logging in the forested mountain slopes of Lore Lindu National Park, Sulawesi has destroyed much of their natural habitat and population. Lead researcher Sharon Gursky-Doyen, who found the primates, is hoping the find will inspire the Indonesian government to do more about protecting their native species.
Animations can be fun, creative and timeless. There are hundreds of creative animators out there who create creative and unique short films and flash games, for people to enjoy. There must be at least one animation that you could watch over and over again, right? If you’re bored, or just want to waste some time, try the following eleven animations.
1. Icon War 2. Singing Horses 3. Man in the Dark 4. Human Music 5. Karma 6. Pass the Ball 7. BioMotion Lab 8. Crazy Rabbit 9. Stripes 10. Kenyaaa! 11. Tiny Grow
Darwin claimed the appendix was useful for digestion during our early plant-eating years; it's dwindled down to little since we started eating more digestible foods.
No. 3 - Wisdom Teeth
Back in the day, when we ate mammoth meat off the bone and didn't floss afterward, our teeth tended to fall out. Therefore, when those reserve molars, aka "wisdom teeth," came in they were welcomed. Nowadays, fluoride and dental plans have just made them a huge pain.
No. 4 - Erector Pili
When were hairier (see No. 9), the erector pili made the hairs stand on end when we needed to appear bigger and scarier. Now, it just gives us goose bumps.
No। 5 - Coccyx
More useful as a game-winning Scrabble word than part of the anatomy, the coccyx, or tailbone, is several fused vertebrae left over from the olden days when we had tails.
No. 6 - Tonsils
Also prone to swelling and infection. If you have them by your 30s, it's almost an accomplishment.
No. 7 - Adenoids
Adenoids trap bacteria, but they're also prone to swelling and infection. Just ask any 7-year-old. Luckily, our adenoids shrink with age and are often removed, along with ...
No. 8 - Sinuses
Doctors don't really know much about sinuses, only that we have a lot of them. Possibilities for their function range from insulating our eyes to changing the pitch and tone of our voice.
No. 9 - Body Hair
You may not know it, but you have a third eyelid. Pull open the two more noticeable eyelids and take a look - it's located right in the corner by the tear duct. The third eyelid is left over from what's known as a "nictitating membrane," which is still present in animals like chickens, lizards and sharks.
No. 10 - Plica semilunaris (third eyelid)
You may not know it, but you have a third eyelid. Pull open the two more noticeable eyelids and take a look - it's located right in the corner by the tear duct. The third eyelid is left over from what's known as a "nictitating membrane," which is still present in animals like chickens, lizards and sharks.
If hobbits lived in the sky, this is probably where they would live – in wooden forest cocoons! Ideal for meditation, relaxation or a quick forest getaway, Free Spirit Spheres in Vancouver Island, Canada has capitalized on our need to burrow – among the tree tops. The wooden or fibreglass spheres are suspended between the trees and can be rented for the night or bought for home use. They not only look amazing but are also fairly luxurious inside. The idea for the spheres was born from inventor Tom Chudleigh’s need for a permanent space to meditate. He was also searching for a concept that would allow people to move into the forest without having to take it down first by chopping trees to make room for houses. Free Spirit Spheres have been in the news on and off since June 2005, when Chudleigh had two wooden prototypes ready and set up. Since then, he has added fibreglass spheres and individual frames, windows, stairs, etc. to his product list for anyone who wants to build their own sphere.
Half finished sphere
If the sphere’s interiors seem familiar, that’s no coincidence as Chudleigh borrowed heavily from sailboat construction and rigging practice. Each sphere starts with a wooden framework and strips of wood that get attached to the frame to form the walls, which are then sanded down. The door and the windows are cut out next. Then, work on the interiors starts: wiring, insulation, laying the wooden floor, making the cabinets, the bed and seating area. Spheres are either made from local and lightweight woods like cedar and spruce or cast in a fibreglass mould. Once assembled, the spheres have to be taken to their final destination or a shipping dock, which is usually done by car. They look quite big even on a pick-up truck; though the smaller sphere fits quite well, the bigger sphere seems to dwarf the truck.
Interior of the bigger sphere with small kitchen
Spirit spheres come in two sizes: 9 feet or 2.7 m (called Eve) and 10 ½ feet or 3.2 m (called Eryn) in diameter and weigh around 500 kg. The smaller sphere sleeps one person comfortably and includes a seating area, counter and cabinets. The bigger prototype sleeps three; two on a double bed (with storage drawers underneath) and one on a loft bed. It also has a seating area and a galley with a small refrigerator, sink and microwave.
Raising a sphere is done with a system of ropes and tackles and quite a bit of tree climbing. Spheres are attached by three almost vertical ropes to three separate trees, reducing movement of the sphere while allowing free movement of the trees. It takes a team of three workers a day to raise a sphere and then several more to attach the stairs and the suspension bridge. The whole setup can be dismantled and apparently vanishes without a trace.
Spheres are insulated and come with a heater, allowing them to stay comfortable for temperatures down to –20 degrees Celsius. Imagine lying on the loft bed and watching the night sky through the sky light while being swayed by a gentle breeze – cosy indeed. What greater luxury than undisturbed sleep and dreams that are bound to be excellent. And no need to go anywhere. Well, at least not until nature calls…
But then, a few steps lead down to the composting outhouse. Afterwards, all one has to worry about is whether to go back into the cosy cocoon or to take a stroll in the forest. Those inspired to own a sphere might want to go for a shell (from $6,300) or a do-it-yourself kit ($35,000) as readymade spheres do not come cheap – they start from $45,000 for a fibreglass or $150,000 for a wooden one. Or renting one for $125 and up per night for anyone making a trip to Vancouver Island might be a better alternative.
A girl warms herself near a hot water geyser in Sapareva Banya, Bulgaria, south of the capital, Sofia.
Prince Edward Island
