Thomlex - Nature

Dawn through the Year

bill — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 01:17:00 -0400

The picture, taken near Ajo, Arizona is a multiple exposure, each shot taken ten days apart, at 8:30 AM for a year. The sun's seasonal shift forms this figure 8, known as the analemma. Because of this effect, sundials can run ahead of clock time by as much as 16 mins 33 secs or fall behind by as much as 14 mins 6 secs.

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When I saw this picture, it reminded me of an elderly gentleman named L. Gordon Plummer. He was retired, but volunteered time to come into my sixth grade class and teach us physics once per week. He'd teach us interesting things like basic concepts in relativity and quantum mechanics, or about hyper-cubes (four-dimensional objects). He invented a sundial that is always correct, by incorporating an analemma-shaped object into the design. It's still standing (I think) in Balboa Park in San Diego. I'm sure he's passed on long ago now. He was an interesting person, one that made an impact on me.

Web Cam in Eagle's Nest

bill — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 13:59:00 -0400

Retired accountant David Carrick installed a camera in the nest of a pair of eagles while they were away on their annual migration. Last week, the eagles laid two eggs that are expected to hatch by the end of the month.

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Photography by Don Ellis

bill — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 21:04:00 -0500

Cool photographs by Don Ellis. Many subjects including nature ones, including this of a praying mantis.

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Northern Lights

bill — Thu, 23 Feb 2006 13:00:00 -0500

Beautiful pictures of the Northern Lights.

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Tim Flach Photography

bill — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 16:57:00 -0500

Cool nature pictures by Tim Flach, including this one of a frog.

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Kenneth Parker Photography

bill — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 01:35:00 -0500

Great nature pictures.

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Parasitic Wasp

bill — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 00:55:00 -0500

Parasitic Wasp. When it's ready to lay eggs, the wasp finds itself a cockroach. It stings the roach such that the roach's front legs are briefly paralyzed so the wasp can continue without struggles. The wasp then delivers a very precise sting into the roaches brain such that it's escape reflex is disabled. Now the wasp leads the cockroach by it's antenna, and the cockroach calmly follows.

The wasp walks it back to it's burrow where the cockroach patiently waits while the wasp seals the burrows entrance with pebbles. Finally, the wasp lays it's egg on the cockroaches tummy. The egg hatches and the larva chews a hole inside the living cockroach, where it grows, living on the organs. Finally, it chews a hole in the roaches back and emerges to begin the cycle again.

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Snowflake Photographs

bill — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 19:35:00 -0500

Actual pictures of snowflakes. Very cool.

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Ansel Adams

bill — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 14:53:00 -0500

The eternal Ansel Adams

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