WHAT IF OTHER PLANETS WERE AS CLOSE TO US
AS OUR OWN MOON?Illustrator and author Ron Miller sought to answer the question visually. And - visually - it would be stunning. But …
These visualizations show only what it would look like in the instant before the gravity of those planets caused Earth (and us) some major tectonic difficulty. At least major tectonic difficulty.
All visualizations by Ron Miller @ Black Cat Studios
MARS Diameter 6,792 km | 4,220 miles
VENUS Diameter 12,104 km | 7,521 miles
NEPTUNE Diameter 49,244 km | 30,599 miles
[ via TwistedSifter who got it via io9.com ]
(via scinerds)
The nematodes are traditionally regarded as the phylum Nematoida or Nemathelminthes. As such, they would be the most diverse phylum of pseudocoelomates, and one of the most diverse of all animal phyla, but discussion is in progress to determine whether the phylum is to be split or not.
Nematode species are very difficult to distinguish; over 28,000 have been described, of which over 16,000 are parasitic. The total number of nematode species has been estimated to be about 1 million. Unlike cnidarians and flatworms, nematodes have tubular digestive systems with openings at both ends.
Nematodes have successfully adapted to nearly every ecosystem from marine to fresh water, to soils, and from the polar regions to the tropics, as well as the highest to the lowest of elevations. They are ubiquitous in freshwater, marine, and terrestrial environments, where they often outnumber other animals in both individual and species counts, and are found in locations as diverse as mountains, deserts, oceanic trenches. They are found in every part of the earth’s lithosphere. They represent, for example, 90% of all life forms on the ocean floor. Their numerical dominance, often exceeding more than a million individuals per square meter and accounting for about 80% of all individual animals on earth, their diversity in lifestyles, and their presence at various trophic levels point at an important role in many ecosystems. Their many parasitic forms include pathogens in most plants and animals (including humans). Some nematodes can undergo cryptobiosis.
80% of the ocean floor??
(via somuchscience)
The Glowing Spider-Worms of New Zealand
For over one hundred years, millions of tourists have flocked to the ancient limestone Waitomo Caves on New Zealand’s North Island, where a stunning species of fungus gnat called Arachnocampa luminosa live.
Unique to New Zealand and Australia, they are found in caves, grottoes, and other sheltered places. Arachnocampa means ‘spider-worm,’ as the gnat is known for the way their larvae hang strong vertical silk threads from their underground habitats. Since the larvae are luminescent, the thousands of tiny threads light up cave ceilings like a starry sky.
(via scinerds)
i-sold-my-soul-for-the-tardis:
What if oxygen is poisonous and it just takes 75-100 years to kill us?
My science teacher said he thinks that’s true actually
Yeah this is actually pretty much exactly what is going on. It’s why anti-oxidants are such a big deal. Bonus fact: oxygen oxidizes stuff in your cells or, in other words, it’s not toxic, just setting you on firevery very slowly.i don’t like this head canon
OH MY GOD
Brock Lefferts
Afghan children play near a refugee camp in Peshawar (Pakistan) June 20, 2011.
More than 3.6 million Afghan refugees have returned to their home country from there during the past decade, while 1.7 million stayed due to long term armed conflict.
(via findpeacefromwithin)
(Source: oldchum, via poetryandstones)
“A friend took this pic in Arizona USA. The meteorologists don’t have a name for it.
Seems to be high energy to be in a Rainbow and a tornado! ”(source: Council of World Elders)
Oh my
go home bifrost you are drunk
