Mystery of ‘cocktail party hearing’ solved
While at a cocktail party or large function, the brain focuses only on one voice and blots out the others. New research shows why.
Warren Buffett’s BNSF to test natural gas-powered trains
Meanwhile, increasing domestic oil production (and shipping it by rail) is expected to spur the billionaire’s profits.
The Goliath stick insect (Eurycnema goliath)
… is the second largest stick insect (after the Titan stick insect) in Australia, and though not as long, the insect has a heavier, sturdier build. The first instar of a nymph is small, brown, and ant-like, without wings, however the adult insects are green and yellow, though colors can slightly vary, are very large, and have wings. Both sexes of the Goliath stick insect are apple green with hints of gold, purple, red and yellow. Colourful patterns on the underside of the wings of Goliaths are used as a defence tactic in order to ward off predators. The females can reach lengths of up to 20 cm.
The eggs of the Goliath stick insect look like seeds, so that common ants may take them underground, allowing them to hatch in safety. Males are smaller, slimmer, and darker in color as compared to females. While both sexes have wings, only the lightweight males can fly, as the females have a large, heavy abdomen which gives them limited, if any flight.
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Guianan Cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola rupicola)
….is a unique passerine bird native to Parts of northern South America. Like its Andean cousin the male of this species has a large half-moon crest which covers its bill. These large crests are mainly used in a complex lek performance to impress females. Females lack both the crest and the coloration of the males and are instead a brown color. As their name suggests cock-of-the-rocks are usually found near rocky outcrops where they feed on fruit and small reptiles.
Phylogeny
Animalia-Chordata-Aves-Passeriformes-Contigidae-Rupicola-rupicola
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Help Us Save Endangered Species!
Right now, global conservationists are convening at CITES to discuss how to save our planet’s most endangered species – including elephants. The Wildlife Conservation Society hopes to deliver a petition to the U.S. delegation asking them to crack down on poachers and ivory traders…
but we must get 35,000 names by Sunday.
Make sure they hear from YOU!
Sign the petition today at http://bit.ly/YCQcY9.
(Photo by Julie Larsen Maher © Wildlife Conservation Society)
Most animals live in a delicate ecological balance with their natural surroundings. It’s simply the most efficient formula for survival: Take only what is needed, and waste as little of it as possible. But a few animals take “reduce, reuse, recycle” to the next level. It’s a good thing, too: Someone needs to help clean up the mess that so many humans leave behind.
I hate it when people liter
Done at Jokers Wild in Farmville, VA by Jason. I love it so much. He’s a humpback whale and his name is Neptune :)
Rare photos capture 2 comets together
Stargazers have captured stunning photos of Comet Pan-STARRS and Lemmon together in the night sky.
You’ve heard of a one-horse town, but what about a one-person town? Scattered throughout the U.S. are places with populations you can count on one hand — and sometimes one finger. Some of these places were evacuated after devastating environmental disasters, others simply saw residents move away as local businesses closed and economic opportunities faded. But each of these places has an intriguing story worth telling, and each one is home to some unique residents — or at least one.
Wow…not surpised Kansas is on here..
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