Life Ain't Over

gifmovie:

BBC One - Life, Creatures of the Deep

(via dangerdumont)

(Source: regular-blog, via dangerdumont)

unconsumption:

6 ideas for repurposing springs

Into a rustic or industrial look? Consider using springs, from lighter-weight bed springs to more sturdy automotive types, in creative ways like these:

Individual springs enhancing a garden or tabletop. (image above, via Sjarmerende Gjenbruk)

Another tabletop idea. (via the same blog, here)

Set of springs repurposed as vertical storage. (image from Better Homes and Gardens; spotted on Pinterest here)

Springs made into lighting. (featured previously on Unconsumption here)

Truck springs fabricated into stools. (via House Beautiful)

Industrial springs made into sculptural light forms in a garden. (via Paradis Express blog)

Greenland

(via modernvelvet)

A while back I organised a BBQ for today, for the new engineering students. Everything went pretty smoothly until the BBQ started getting really hot… Went to turn the temperature down. Hang on where did the knob go? “Let’s fall off the BBQ and roll away” said the knob. Things get hotter. Can’t turn the fire down…. “Okay” says the BBQ, “I think I will catch on fire”. BBQ catches fire.
Me:
 
I kinda just stood there, and waiting for it to “burn away” which didn’t happen. Had to wait for someone in the crowd to take charge and put it out. Totally made an ass of myself. 

colorsoffauna:

Wild Triops :)

I want one as a pet :(

(via arthronpodos)

Cool! Can’t see what it’s eating though

(Source: harjotlall, via thebiomedicalblog)

Time for a New Zealand fauna post :D
I’ll try post a new one everyday until uni starts :)

The New Zealand Kea

A parrot species endemic to New Zealand’s South Island high country.

Although Kea are seen in reasonable numbers (as they scavenge for food near areas of human activity such as ski slopes, parks etc), the actual size of the population is estimated to be only around 1000 and 5000 birds. This number is also suspected to be in decline. 

In captivity they have been known to live up to 80 years or older, however in the wild the oldest known age is 20 years.

Kea’s are known to be highly investigative birds, and will rip, claw and bite anything with their immensely strong beaks. They can even work out how to open human designed containers, and it is a challenge to devise a “kea proof” one.

Campers and trampers have to learn to that unguarded tents, packs, boots etc are at risk. Natural foods include flowers, nectar, fruits and seeds, but also grubs and small invertebrates to provide energy boosts. 

Source 

Read More 

rhamphotheca:

Fossils of the World’s Tallest Penguin Discovered

by Stephanie Pappas

New Zealand was once home to the tallest penguin species ever known — a lanky bird that stood as high as 4.2 ft (1.3 m).

The penguin, dubbed Kairuku grebneffi, lived about 27 million years ago in a penguin paradise. More of New Zealand was underwater at the time, with only today’s mountaintops emerging from the sea. That made for excellent coastal nesting for a number of penguin species.

The new fossil specimens were found beginning in the 1970s, and researchers have continued to turn up bones from the animals as recently as two months ago, said study researcher and North Carolina State University paleontologist Daniel Ksepka. The find expands the known diversity of ancient New Zealand penguins, Ksepka told LiveScience…

(read more: Live Science)     (illustration by Chris Gaskin, Geology Mus., Univ. of Otago)

Yeah NZ!

Amphibious weigh-in

Zookeeper Sarah Dempsey poses for photographers with a waxy tree frog on Jan. 4 during the annual stocktake of animals at England’s London Zoo.

Waxy tree frogs hail from the savannas, shrub lands and forests of central South America, and have been known to live for up to eight years.

The zoo’s annual count takes place at the beginning of the year, giving keepers a chance to check on all 750 species of animals residing at the zoo — from stick insects and frogs to tigers and camels.

(Source: mnn.com)