Ants vs. Crab

Posted by Ali S. in Animal, Video Clips on October 23, 2009 at 1:20 pm


[YouTube - Link]

Ants are such amazing creatures! Able to work together to create vast underground empires and take down almost any animal of any size…even humans! So, what happens when a creature such as the crab ends up getting the ants attention? In a Goliath vs. David (x100 or so) situation a crab thinks its protective armor is a deterrent preventing the ants from killing it, guess again. I can’t imagine what it must feel like having something start eating you from the inside out. O_O

From the BBC show “Ant Attack”.

 
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The Mutated Insects of Chernobyl

Posted by John Farrier in Arts & Crafts, Science & Tech on October 13, 2009 at 11:23 am


Image: Cornelia Hesse-Honegger

Since 1967, scientific illustrator Cornelia Hesse-Honegger has visited 25 nuclear sites, including that of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, documenting the mutated insects resulting from radioactive contamination. In an interview about her work, Hesse-Honegger said:

I never thought really about myself as being an artist. I just made what I thought was necessary. I thought that these laboratory flies are the prototypes of our understanding of nature, in the sense that we can do anything to nature—we the humans dictate in the end how nature should look like. It was for me the prototype of a future nature, man-made.

The professor who first gave me the mutated flies was convinced, however, that the radiation from Chernobyl had no impact on nature. This is what brought up the question of “low-level radiation.” Nobody was interested in doing research; this is why I thought I had to make these paintings to show the scientists that it would be important to start research in fallout areas.

Link via Fast Company | Interview with the Artist

 
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The 5 Most Hated Creatures on the Planet (Don't Deserve It)

Posted by Miss Cellania in Animal on June 26, 2009 at 12:48 pm


Cockroaches, wasps, rats, mosquitoes, and E. coli bacteria. All horrible creatures, right? Maybe not so much. Cracked spells out how each of these things benefits us and the planet we live on. It might not make you feel good about them, but maybe you will understand them a little bit better. Link -via Gorilla Mask

 
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Insecta Fantasia

Posted by Miss Cellania in Arts & Crafts on June 10, 2009 at 1:41 pm


Insecta Fantasia is an art installation at the Newark Museum in New Jersey, which includes the restored historic Ballentine House.

It is fitting location for artist Jennifer Angus to show her work. Nestled within the Ballentine House, Angus has taken two rooms, the former rooms of the two Ballentine children, and covered them in insects. From a distance it looks like wallpaper, but upon closer inspection, the walls have been covered in thousands of precisely pinned bugs. Giant pink grasshoppers, perfect replicas of leaves and iridescent jewel beetles all swarm the walls in orderly geometric patterns.

Curious Expeditions visited the exhibit, and interviewed the taxidermy-inspired artist. Link

 
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The Astonishing Eggs of Alien Nation

Posted by Queuebot in Animal, Pictures on June 8, 2009 at 7:18 pm

They do not look as if they belong in this solar system, let alone on planet Earth. This collection of photos reveal the strange beauty of insect eggs (though that may well be a matter of taste). Close up they are quite out of this world:

Where is John Hurt when you need him? If he could perhaps just lean over these eggs he might get a nasty surprise but we would perhaps have a chance of identifying these eggs. Although the species is unknown this is a good starting point on our journey through insect eggs. At once a little scary but fascinating, it is difficult to believe that these will hatch in to something probably harmless to us. Fortunately, the eggs measure millimeters rather than meters so don’t have nightmares!

Link

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by taliesyn30.

 
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Pancake Caterpillar

Posted by jstruan in Arts & Crafts, Food & Drinks on February 9, 2009 at 2:39 pm

pancake

Caterpillar pancakes made by Heidi Kenney, who was inspired by these pancakes. Don’t miss Heidi’s adorable plush creations.

Previously: Pancake art.

 
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Violent Death in the Insect World: Stunning Photography

Posted by Queuebot in Animal, Pictures on February 8, 2009 at 6:10 pm

Some amazing photography enables us to get up close as various insects meet their demise.  Includes various acts of dismemberment (including one in mid air) which are not for the faint hearted!

Death in the domain of the insects can be swift and cruel but retains a magnificence and beauty that is somehow at odds with the brutality of what is happening. Take a look at this collection of awesome photographs and see whether or not you agree – but beware! This is not for the squeamish!

Link – via webphemera

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by taliesyn30.

 
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Nature's Architects

Posted by Miss Cellania in Animal, Architecture on January 6, 2009 at 11:18 am


People aren’t the only ones who build things. In fact, some animals are better at it than we are! Beavers, moles, birds, many insects, and spiders are natural builders with amazing structures you’ll see at WebEcoist. The homes pictured were all built by termites, who erect the largest structures relative to their size of any animal. Link -via Unique Daily

 
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