Humans Use Animals' Evolutionary Traits to Spawn Creativity

 The sharp tip of a syringe emanates the mouth of a mosquito: both are used to draw blood.

An elephant's trunk and a vacuum hose are similar in both appearance and function: to bring objects into a larger cavity.

Sailboats copy a shark's dorsal fin for stability, as well as the use of rudders to act as a tail  propel forward.

 Padded animal feet provide comfort for weight-bearing soles, the driving force behind Dr. Scholl's.

 Puffer Fish and medieval flails are both spiked  for defense.

Raccoons' black eye mask was clearly the perfect evolutionary disguise, with humans creating their own version  to conceal the identity of bandits.

Cats have retractable claws covered by a sheath, much like that of a pocket knife. 

 

Fins enable seals to swim at greater speeds and cover more distance- with flippers providing the same effect for us.

 Octopus have suction cup pads on their tentacles to grasp prey- manufactured suction cups usually grasp to help objects stay in place.

Poison Dart Frogs and traffic signals use bright colors to give warning signs to others.

Pangolins have large claws to help dig through soil. Shovels use a similar scoop method to make transferring dirt easier.

Have humans truly created these inventions deemed revolutionary, or are they simply ideas originated from  traits seen in other species? If so, then does this make technology intended by nature? Certain aspects of  technology, much like atoms, seems to be merely modified, not created.

Escape to Paradise

The vision of living in a world of paradise infiltrates every human being's mind at one time or another. How is it that we long to live amongst crystal clear waters, with lush forests and untainted skies- the very habitat humans have sought to remove themselves from since the beginning of our evolutionary line? Despite all that we do- build extensive roads, create elaborate buildings, expand farther into forests and clear for cities- it does not change that humans are still animals that can have a biological desire  to live in the wild. How is it that most people consider their dream vacation to be on some distant, beautiful, natural land, where human civilization has left less of a mark? Technology and time cannot change the very core that is embedded within every human soul: the need to be free in the natural environment we continue to destroy.

Nach Deutschland ich muss gehen

 der Obersee

der Neckarfluss

Rothenburg

Jeden Tag ich blicke auf Fotos von Deutschland und wunder was es ist wie da sein. Ich werde eine Tag nach Deutschland gehen, irgendwie, irgendwann.

Der graue Wolf

A Bio-Thriller Review: The Hot Zone

      

 Read Richard Preston's The Hot Zone if you're into learning about rare diseases. It is a non-fiction book  about the origins and incidents involving Biosafety Level 4 Agents- Viruses that are extremely  infectious, have high case-fatality rates, and have no cures. Both exhilarating and informing, The Hot Zone is one of the greatest books I have ever read. This book has made me aware of the sort of dangers that lie throughout in the world. 

The Most Venomous Fish in the World

  The Stone Fish is the most venomous fish in the world currently known.

Stonefish (Synanceia) is a genus of fish of the family Synanceiidae, whose members are venomous, dangerous, and even fatal to humans.Their name derives from the Stonefish's ability to camouflage itself with a grey and mottled color, similar to the color of a stone.They are found in the coastal regions of Indo-Pacific oceans surrounding Australia. Synanceia are primarily marine, though some species are known to live in rivers. 

Its species have potent neurotoxins secreted from glands at the base of their needle-like dorsal fin spines which stick up when disturbed or threatened. When the stonefish is disturbed, it may inject an amount of venom proportional to the amount of pressure applied to it.

It is less common for the fish to sting when it is picked up.Stonefish stings can occur on the beach, not just in the water, with Stonefish being able to stay out of the water for up to 24 hours. Most Stonefish stings occur when stepped on. They often cannot be seen easily as they look similar to rocks or coral.Swimmers may not notice them, and may inadvertently step on them, triggering a sting.

Stonefish stings can cause poisoning and lead to death if not treated. There have also been unproven reports of osteo-arthritic sufferers experiencing improved mobility and reduction in joint pain following an envenomation episode. The responsible agent has not been identified. The pain is said to be so severe that the victims of its sting want the affected limb to be amputated. After Stonefish poisoning, the amount of anti-venom given depends on the number of puncture wounds from the Stonefish spines. Keep this in mind the next time you decide to enter the Australian waters without looking where you're stepping.

Ein Blick auf Alaska

Merken Sie die Schöne von Alaska. Es ist atemraumbend und ganz anders dann ich geglaubt. Der Welt ist ein ausgedehnt Platz. Ich möchte diesen Staat in naher Zukunft besuchen. Wenn jemand nach Alaska gewesen ist, bitte erzählt mir wie es ist.

A Trip to the Cabrillo Beach Marine Aquarium

 Moon Jellyfish

 Sea Stars, Sea Anenomes, and Sea Urchins

Ocean Plant Life

Mantis Shrimp

Evolution of the Eye.

From Invertebrates

To Fish

To Amphibians

 To Reptiles in the water

and on land

 To Birds

To Mammals

To Humans.

The Grey-Crowned Crane

The Grey Crowned Crane (Balearica regulorum) is a bird in the crane family Gruidae. It occurs in dry savannah in Africa south of the Sahara, although it nests in somewhat more humid habitats.

Interesting Facts:

-This bird does not migrate.

- This species and the closely related Black Crowned Crane are the only cranes that can roost in trees, because of a long hind toe that can grasp branches. 

-This habit, amongst other things, is a reason why the relatively small Balearica cranes are believed to closely resemble the ancestral members of the Gruidae.

-It makes a honking sound quite different from the trumpeting of other crane species during its courtship display.

-The Grey Crowned Crane is the national bird of Uganda and features in the country's flag and coat of arms.

 These animals are strikingly beautiful,  Africa is so fortunate to have such an abundance of wildlife found no where else on Earth.

Close Call or Coincidence?

         The strangest thing happened yesterday. A Honey Bee flew directly into my eye and didn't sting me.

Close Call or Coincidence? 

          A Honey Bee that is away from the hive foraging for nectar or pollen will rarely sting, except when stepped on or roughly handled. Honey Bees will actively seek out and sting when they perceive the hive to be threatened, often being alerted to this by the release of attack pheromones.

Honey bees are the only Hymenoptera with a strongly barbed sting.

       A true swarm is not hostile; it has deserted its hive and has no comb or young to defend.

 Guess which gender of  Honey Bees has the ability to sting: Males or Females?

The larger drone bees, the males, do not have stingers.   The female worker bees are the only ones that can sting, and their stinger is a modified ovipositor.

     Close Call or Coincidence? My escape from a painful bee sting was neither- it  was normal for he Honey Bee to not retaliate aggressively based on the circumstances at the current time.

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

         I was drawing a Great Spotted Kiwi Bird this morning when I realized how similar their feet look like those of the Dodo Bird. Although not closely related  to Dodo Birds, a little research led me to determine that these small birds are indeed, the smallest living Ratites, a diverse group of large, flightless birds of Gondwanan origin (most of them now extinct).

        Unlike other flightless birds, the Ratites have no keel on their sternum—hence the name from the Latin ratis (for raft). Without this to anchor their wing muscles, they cannot fly even if they were to develop suitable wings.

        It was long presumed that the Kiwi Bird was closely related to the other New Zealand Ratites, the Moa. However, recent DNA studies indicate that the Ostrich is more closely related to the Moa and the Kiwi is more closely related to the Emu and the Cassowaries. This theory suggests that the ancestors of the Kiwi Bird arrived in New Zealand from elsewhere in Australasia well after the Moa.

      According to British scientists, the kiwi may be an ancient import from Australia. Researchers at Oxford University have found DNA evidence connected to Australia's Emu and the Ostrich of Africa. Upon examining DNA from the Moa, they believe that the Kiwi is more closely related to its Australian cousins.

        Take a look at these three birds' feet. They all  have three toes on each foot in a tridactyl arrangement, which is an adaptation for running (since these birds are flightless).The Ostrich has two toes on each foot, while the Dodo Bird had four, showcasing their further relation to the Kiwi Bird and other Ratites. I find it truly fascinating how such a small bird (Kiwi) could be closer in relation to Emus than Dodo Birds, who look closer in appearance to one another.

Southern (Australian) Cassowary

Great Spotted Kiwi Bird

Australian Emu and its feet

To get a closer view of the Kiwi and its behavior, watch this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYYpQVAWqRc