University of Florida’s scientist Subrata Roy has created a UFO that is not unidentifiable. His UFO is a “wingless electromagnetic air vehicle,” (aka WEAV) that is a saucer-shaped craft and is similar to the movie The Hunt For Red October’s submarine that was powered by a magnetohydrodynamic drive instead of propellers or moving parts.

Magnetohydrodynamics is the study of electrically conducting fluids (e.g. plasma, salt water or liquid metals). So The Hunt’s sub had a series of electrodes that ionized and then pushed the water out, silently propelling the submarine forward. In the case of the WEAV’s sub, it uses thin ceramic plates placed on the top, bottom and sides that steer the craft. The electrodes convert the air to plasma by ionizing it and then an electrical current is passed through the plasma pushing around the surrounding air creating momentum. Did you get all that?  Either way, “If this works and we are able to fly it, this will be a quantum shift in how we see flying objects,” said Roy.

Sorry to break all of the UFO fan’s hearts, but the craft does need air to function and thus cannot fly to another planet to pick up neighboring aliens for a drink at the local pub. Nonetheless, this craft is certainly gaining attention from NASA, the US Air Force and UFO theorists.

The WEAV is set to fly for the first time in roughly 4 months.

Sources: 1, 2, 3

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Kudos goes out to my sis for this little gem.

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With the help of 30 international labs, research biologist Linda Holland has solved the sequence of the amphioxus genome (aka lancelet). Although it’s not a well-known marine animal, the worm-like creature has stolen the scientific spotlight since it is the closest invertebrate relative to vertebrates, despite the genetic split from vertebrates over 520 million years ago. As a result, the creature’s genetic code is bringing up some interesting discussions on the origins of life.

The lancelet remains very similar to its ancestor in Cambrian times as it has evolved very slowly allowing scientists to use it as a starting point to compare it to the vertebrate evolution. Specifically, they are able to study how invertebrates have recycled genes.

A human gene has roughly 25% more genomes than the lancelet because during evolution humans have duplicated genes for different functions. The neural crest cells, for example, help the development of cell pigmentation, collagen, skull and spine cartilage in humans. But here’s the catch: the lancelet has a brain and a spine and makes them the same way as vertebrates do but the lancelet has no neural crest cells. In other words, invertebrates have managed to use “old genes” to create new functions equivalent in sophistication to our own.

Therefore human and amphioxus genomes are more similar in nature than we know, they started with different genetic ingredients.

HOW COOL IS THAT?

Sources: 1, 2, 3

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Just like my Dad is the backbone of my family, this weedy sea dragon found at the Georgia Aquarium is literally the carrier of 70 eggs on his tail. Scientists don’t know what turns these lil’fellas on (unlike their recent discovery of the UV rays triggering a sexy response for Chinese Jumping Spiders) as such this is a rare occasion for the species as it is the 3rd of it’s kind to become a Daddy in captivity.

During mating the female lays the eggs via a long tube to her mate’s tail where a patch of skin provides the eggs with oxygen. New eggs are a light pink colour and as they ripen over the course of 8 weeks they turn dark purple at which point Daddy flaps his tail to assist in the hatching process. This type of reproduction is very rare as the sea dragon is 1 of 3 species where the male carries the babies to full term – the other being seahorses and pipefish.

He is expected to give birth in July and the survival rate for captive sea dragons is about 60% thus far. Fingers crossed that the Aquarium can up that survival rate as the sea dragon is a threatened species due to pollution and low rate of survival for its infants.

The love of a father is one of nature’s greatest masterpieces.

-Anonymous

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I am thrilled to present to you an image that will excite the child in you and a picture that reignited the ‘little girl who could talk to the wind’ in me…

This 1-year old Roe deer - nicknamed Unicorn - is found in a nature preserve in Prato, Italy and is literally a dream come true. He was born in a research facility and has a twin brother who was born with two horns which has lead scientists to believe that Unicorn’s single horn is a lovely genetic flaw. Even more baffling is the horn that is smack dab in between Unicorn’s ears; the single-horned “defects” are often sitting on one side or another. The position of the horn is being speculated as a possible early trauma during fawn-hood.

In the past it was believed that the narwhal contributed to the myth…but could a deer with this anomaly be the the possible origin behind the legend of the Unicorn? “It’s very likely” says Gilberto Tozzi, director of the Center of Natural Sciences in Prato.

Ok, so maybe I photoshopped the image colour a LITTLE bit..but isn’t it fun to believe?

Click here to see the original image.

Source: 1

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Check out his presentation to a live audience: The Dutch Oven…

Here is another live Jamie Oliver show on the topic: The Truth About Chickens.

Amazing how the audience reacts disturbed by it, as if the chicken-killing industry is something new to them - it’s hard to look away when they are killed in front of you. Beyond that, his matter-of-fact demonstration educates the public on how to make better purchasing choices and is sure to convert a few more people to vegetarians.

P.S. I’m normally not a celebrity-pusher but when they do something like this, I have to fluff their feathers and give them the attention they deserve. Bravo Jamie!!!!

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This story was just too good to NOT post. I have no doubt the tourist must have been in horrendous pain and agony; I was stung on the toe by a hornet a week ago - right between two toes, in that super sensitive spot - and that sucked. But thinking about getting a “curtain” (female equivalent to a penis) bit by a snake is just flat out TORTURE. Poor guy!!!!

A ROADSIDE toilet stop ended in pain, embarrassment and almost death for a tourist when a highly venomous snake bit the end of his penis.

The deadly brown snake slithered between his legs and lunged at his manhood as he crouched on a roadside near Laura, 300km northwest of Cairns, about a month ago.

Details of the incident only came to light yesterday after they were confirmed by a paramedic.

“It certainly had a swipe at him,” an ambulance spokesman said yesterday.”But it didn’t envenomate him. As it came through it must have got a bit of a shock.”

The snake beat a hasty retreat, leaving its victim with a scratch, vomiting and abdomen pain. Emergency workers raced to the scene to treat the man.The wound was wrapped in plastic in case poison had penetrated the skin but medical staff gave the man the all-clear after conducting tests.

He was taken to Cooktown Hospital where he spent a night recovering. The ambulance spokesman described him as “lucky”, given his near encounter with one of Australia’s most poisonous snakes.

“I think he was a bit shocked and embarrassed,” he said

He’s going to be more embarrassed now that the story has gone viral online. Anyone know his name?

The snake he was bitten by is called the common brown snake or elapid snake but is also known as being one of the world’s deadliest snakes. Being an opportunistic feeder, the snake will consume almost any vertebrate animal, including frogs, lizards, snakes, birds rodents and male genitalia.

Source: Cairns

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Click here to see the final cut.

Special thanks to Julie over at The Pet Blog for the find.

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Everything in the natural world is connected and the indicator of our successes and failures is apparent in the fragile balance of ecosystems. Ultimately, an ecosystem is “a community of living and non-living things that work together in harmony and balance” and if it becomes corrupt, frogs are the first to effectively communicate the ailments of the system to us.

The brainiest biological minds say that the frog is one of the most important species within that system and as a result they act as a pulse-check, a reminder and indicator of how we are doing and are now a symbol for our declining eco-system and failing environment.  As is typical in our culture, they are also becoming a branding tool for eco-companies with an environmental-friendly goal e.g. Frog File, Big Frog Mountain, Frog Pond Hemp.

People, our frogs are in trouble and toad licking has nothing to do with it. According to Amphibian Ark, frogs face the largest mass extinction since the dinosaurs - roughly 500 species are in trouble - and we have the power to determine their fate.

How can you help?

Glad you asked. After today you will have TWO WHOLE DAYS (expires May 31st) to bid for the rights to name the Osornophryne Genus frog from Ecuador being auctioned off by Amphibian Ark in association with Jeff Corwin. Just imagine, written in scientific journals all over the world and carved into history will be “YourNameHere Frog.” HOW COOL IS THAT? If I were Google, I would jump on that opportunity, pay 20K (chump change to them) and name this frog “Google’s Frog.”

CLICK HERE TO PLACE A BID.  (As of this moment, it is currently at $5,500.00)

I would personally hate to see one of the more fascinating creatures on this earth disappear…I mean, what other animal carries a nursery on their back for hundreds of young, or is completely clear exposing it’s organs?

I’ll let you know the winner once it is announced.

Spread the word!

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