The Expedition 32 crew onboard the International Space Station, flying an altitude of approximately 240 miles, recorded a series of images of Aurora Australis, also known as the Southern Lights, on July 15. NASA astronaut Joe Acaba, flight engineer, recorded the series of images from the Tranquility node. The Canadarm2 robot arm is in the foreground.
Eilat Coral Reef
You might assume that this watermelon here has been carved by hand, but actually is completely natural. This strange condition is known as “hollow heart”.
Hollow heart can happen due to poor pollination causing the watermelon to develop cracks internally. Cutting a watermelon, affected with hollow heart, across the body will reveal a well defined structure that may surprise those who aren’t familiar with the condition.
Hollow heart is not a disease and the internal cracking has no negative impact on the watermelon’s taste or quality, and is entirely safe to consume.
The longnose gar can weigh more than 165 Kg (364 lbs) and reach a lenght of 3 meters. It only lives in North America and can survive out of water during almost two hours.
The Lunecase (2014) by Concepter on Kickstarter
The Lunecase is the first intelligent iPhone cover. The case knows and identifies when you receive a message or a phone call before it is even displayed on the iPhone’s screen. The Lunecase will identify the type of notification, whether it would be an incoming call, or a text message. The case displays these notifications on the back of your smartphone with the help of LEDs, using the free energy that is emitted by the device, converting it from the natural iPhone’s electromagnetic energy into a usable energy to power the notification system embedded in the Lunecase.
Imagine if the whole, beautifully paved world looked like this.
These are solar panels that, if placed in the place of roadways and other paving sites (parking lots, parks, etc) can produce more renewable energy than the entire country produces.
It’s currently in the prototype stage with amazing results. Plus, they can be used in all weather situations that will also make icy roads a thing of the past. Heating elements will melt any ice and snow that sits on top. Another thing, they come with LEDs inside so that you’ll have a better view of the road as you drive. All powered by solar energy.
I Fucking Love Science posted an article about it and it’s also raising money on indiegogo, which is disgustingly far from the goal. They have some pretty sweet gifts, including bumper stickers, a necklace containing pieces of the prototypes, and an entire working prototype of the plates.
BONUS: The prototypes were made of 10% recycled plastic AND can still handle the heaviest trucks. Imagine what the final product could do.
I urge everyone to at least reblog and spread the message so that hopefully this reaches the goal at May 31st. Projects like this hit me right in the heart because of my passion for renewable energy, which is what I hope to deal with once I’m done with my Engineering degree. I would gladly work on this project if I could, but for now I’m going to settle with donating as much as I can and spreading the word as far as possible.
So, signal boost! <3
NO GLOBES. Dorothy
Spring, Tenkawa Mountain, Nara, Japan
photo via damali
The Sognefjord and Jotunheimen (2007)
‘White Tree” folie architecturale of the 21st century by Sou Fujimoto and Nicolas Laisné
The City of Montpellier has chosen Sou Fujimoto Architects, Nicolas Laisné Associés and Manal Rachdi Oxo architects’ “White Tree (L’Arbre Blanc)” as winner of the “Architectural Folie of the 21st Century” competition. Inspired by the city’s tradition of outdoor living, and the efficient properties of a tree, the mixed-use residential tower will feed off locally available natural resources as it rises 17-stories and connects the new and old districts of Montpellier.
The 17-storey mixed-use tower will accommodate residential units, office space, an art gallery, restaurant and a panoramic bar. a cross-cultural endeavor, the scheme embodies today’s montpellier, with an integration of japanese and mediterranean styles. the structure is strategically located between the city center and the newly developed districts of port marianne and odysseum, midway between the old and new districts of the town.