Category Archives: Nature

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Another one?

Belfast Zoo welcomed their latest arrival on Mother’s Day to new mum Western lowland gorilla, Kamili (above).

Zoo curator Julie Mansell sez:

“We are over the moon with Kamili’s baby. During the early weeks, the newborn clings to the mother’s stomach. Kamili is proving herself to be a fantastic mother but for that reason, she is very protective and it has been very difficult for keepers to even get a peek at the baby to determine if it is a girl or a boy.”

Well as long as it’s brought up as a Protestant/Catholic in a loving environment?

Belfast Zoo welcomes second baby gorilla!

Previously: Does He Look Like A Geoffrey?

Gorilla Days In Ireland

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Recently sold for an impressive $5000 by rock dealer (and obvious Tolkein fan) Rob Levinsky of The Arkenstone, this extraordinarily textured mineral known as Chalcedony on Chrysocolla stalactites (pocket) was originally discovered in Arizona around fifty years ago. Lavinsky sez:

Frank Valenzuela obtained this specimen from a fellow miner at the Inspiration, where he was a miner and then a shaft supervisor in the 1950s-1960s. It was collected, he recalls, in the early 1960s. It is a classic example of the quartz-covered chrysocolla stalactites from that time, but unusual in that it was preserved as a whole pocket. The piece glows when backlit, as the top surface is partially translucent and there is a small hole in back of the vug, to let light into the pocket for backlighting. The largest stalactites are 2 cm. The pocket opening is 2 inches across.

twistedsifter

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From April 1st until next Monday (April 14th) French artist Abraham Poincheval has been living inside the hollowed out carcass of a bear in the main salon of the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature in Paris.

Having kitted out the tiny enclosure with everything he needs to survive, including food, water, activities and a toilet, his goal is to test his physical limits and increase his understanding of animal nature during hibernation.

Visitors are encouraged to interact with Poincheval and there’s also a live feed.

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Behold what’s thought to be the first ever video footage of a meteorite falling to earth during its ‘dark flight’, or straight trajectory terminal velocity stage.

In the summer of 2012, Anders Helstrup  of the Oslo Parachute Club jumped from a small plane. His helmetcam records him deploying his chute and – seconds later –  a falling meteorite (travelling at about 300km/h) clearing him by just meters.

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(H/T: John Gallen)