Great sunset. The sun is still quite high in the sky and the sea looks like a golden silk sheet.
Golden sunset
Month: June 2009
Beautiful, dangerous frog
Frogs are some of the most colourful animals, and this dendrobates frog is certainly full of colour.
But it also contains a dangerous poison. Why are beauty and danger so often close friends?
Mexico map
In one of my classes today we looked at a map of Mexico. As usual the copy was not so clear so here is a much clearer version in colour.
Translucent glass frog
A new discovery in the forests of Central America is this see-thru (or see-into) animal which has been nicknamed the glass frog.
If our bodies were like this it would save a fortune on medical bills.
Bora Bora, view from above
A new improved image of this photo can be found here
Bora Bora island in French Polynesia in the South Pacific must be one of the most beautiful islands in the world.
You can see a further view from above here.
I was lucky enough to go there once, and I asked an American guy who had lived there for more than 20 years if he ever thought the views looked boring. He said, “No”.
Baby Pangolin
Many animals have a special name for their baby or young, for example a baby dog is a puppy.
But I know of no such name for this animal so I guess I should just say baby pangolin.
A pangolin mainly eats ants, and is often to be found in trees. It is in an animal group of its own, and it’s nearest ‘relatives’ are anteaters and armadillos.
Israel map
In one of my classes today we looked at some of the issues in Israel and particularly in Gaza. The map which I gave each student wasn’t very clear, so here is the digital version, and if you put your cursor over the map and click you can get an even bigger map.
Jellyfish plant
We all know that a jellyfish is not really a fish, it belongs to a group called Cnidaria, which also contains such animals as coral and sea anemones.
But now I find that a jellyfish is also a plant!
Asia or Europe?
Yesterday the Japan football team qualified for the World Cup finals in South Africa in 2010. Japan became the first country to qualify, when they beat Uzbekistan 1-0 in Tashkent, in an Asian qualifying game. I do not want to say anything about the referee, except that he was disgraceful, congratulations to Japan.
At the same time England were also playing a European World Cup qualifying game. This game was against Kazakhstan (the ninth largest country in the world) in the city of Almaty, and England won 4-0.
Can you see the cities of Almaty and Tashkent on this map?
So where is Asia, and where is Europe? What is happening at Fifa?
And soon Japan will play their last Asian qualifying game in Australia!
Galapagos and Ecuador maps
In one of my classes we looked at the damage being done by tourism to the Galapagos Islands. These islands are part of the country of Ecuador.
The Galapagos tourists bring a great deal of money to Ecuador, which is not a very rich country, but the unique animals and plants in the Galapagos are in danger.
Asperatus clouds
There are many different kind of cloud, but there are only three main groups, cirrus, stratus and cumulus.
This picture shows you the three types with one extra, a kind of cumulus cloud known as cumulo-nimbus.
Recently some scientists have said that the cloud in the top picture cannot be described by the three types, and it should have its own name.
They have called it asperatus, which is from Latin, meaning ‘to make rough’. And it sure looks rough! I wouldn’t like to be walking around without an umbrella under these clouds.
And if you want to see another picture of asperatus cloud here you are:
And there is another here.
Log tree
It’s a very clever piece of art isn’t it?
But I prefer the real one, standing up, with leaves.
thiNK TWice 