[ By Delana in Art & Design, Home & Garden, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
Dilapidated buildings, overtaken by moss and time, can turn architecture into unintentional art. But there is nothing unintentional or aged about these fascinating houses. They are the inspired work of Daniele Del Nero, a Spanish artist who turns ordinary scale models of homes into ethereal works of art that look as though they have been abandoned to the elements for centuries.
Surprisingly, there is only the most delicate foundation to these artificially aged structures. Rather than the solid wooden bones of actual homes, these tiny buildings bear hollow interiors. They are made of black construction paper, carefully cut and sculpted by the artist who has a background in architecture and engineering.
The models are moistened, then dusted with flour and seeded with mold. From there, it takes surprisingly little time for the models to turn into ghostly echoes of their former selves.
The mold feeds on the layer of flour, expanding and consuming every available inch of the paper surface. It acts as a catalyst for quick and overwhelming change, transforming the simple paper houses into decrepit old structures that appear to have been abandoned for many, many years.
After planting the mold and encouraging it to grow, Del Nero places the little houses into plexiglass boxes. The mold quickly covers the paper and then dies out, leaving a spooky, dusty covering of what appears to be great age and sad neglect.
According to the artist, this series, entitled “After Effects,” is a commentary on the impermanence of our urban spaces. Although we see cities as immovable, permanent places, nature begins to reclaim them quickly and without mercy when we step aside. Although his works display this on a very small (and very stylized) scale, we have seen similar rapid aging of real-world buildings and cities as well.
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Natural Glow: Australia’s Amazing Bioluminescent Lake
[ By Delana in Animals & Habitats, History & Trivia, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
In the Australian summer of 2008/2009, a hauntingly beautiful phenomenon illuminated the Gippsland Lakes and created scenes that those present will never forget. An unusually high concentration of Noctiluca scintillans, a bioluminescent microorganism, turned the water a bright, glowing, ethereal blue. Photographer Phil Hart was there to document the amazing display.
Noctiluca scintillans – also known as “sea sparkle,” “sea fire,” “sea ghost” and any number of other delightfully romantic-sounding names – are a species of dinoflagellate that feed on algae, plankton and bacteria. In December 2008, a high concentration of blue-green algae called Synechococcus prompted a higher-than-usual population of N. scintillans in the Gippsland Lakes.
When Phil Hart embarked on his annual trek to the lakes, he and his companions discovered a blue luminescence in the water unlike anything any of them had ever seen before. N. scintillans uses its bioluminescence as a defense mechanism, lighting up when it senses a predator coming near. The ghostly glow attracts even larger predators to eat the first predator, keeping the N. scintillans safe to glow another day.
Hart and his friends used this defense mechanism to create some truly incredible photographs. Using a long exposure on his camera, Hart had his friends splash in the water to light up and spread the bioluminescent organisms around. In other photos, Hart used a fast lens and threw sand and pebbles into the water to activate the glow.
(all images via: Phil Hart)
The Melbourne-based photographer marvels at how fortunate he was to see this phenomenon. Not only is it a rare sight at this particular location; it is highly unusual to see this concentration of bioluminescent organisms anywhere in the world. The magical event was truly a breathtaking displays of nature’s unexpected beauty.
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Snow Foolin’: Completely Insane Pics of Japanese Snowfall
[ By Delana in Geography & Travel, Nature & Ecosystems, News & Politics. ]
The winter of 2010-2011 brought an epic, historic amount of snow to the East coast of the United States. Many residents of the affected areas have never seen so much snow at one time, and many cities were completely unprepared to deal with the aftermath – despite having plenty of advance notice – as evidenced by the above image of New York City. But as bad as the East coasters have it, this snow is nothing compared to the mountains of powder Japan is buried beneath.
These unaltered photographs give an idea of the type of major snow accumulation in Honshu, Japan each winter. The pictures show the main road through the Japanese Alps which is closed all winter long due to the massive amounts of snow covering it.
Every spring the road is uncovered by snowplows which are tasked with the incredible job of clearing an average of 56 feet of snow.
(all images via: Gizmodo)
The huge piles of snow would be daunting even to the most experienced cold climate dweller. Luckily for New York and the rest of the East coast, the snow here hasn’t quite accumulated to the height of a five-story building just yet. But if it does, maybe Japan can give us some pointers on dealing with the snowmageddon.
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Acoustic Botany: Nature’s Music Produced Scientifically
[ By Delana in Art & Design, Nature & Ecosystems, Science & Research. ]
Genetic engineering is a topic of heated debate in environmental circles, but it is by no means a thoroughly modern subject. Selective breeding has been used for thousands of years to give us plants and animals with the most desirable characteristics, whatever those may be at the time. London artist David Benque wants to take this selective breeding to a whole new place with his conceptual “Acoustic Botany” project.
Benque’s vision is to create a garden full of delightful nature sounds. But rather than relying on luck or chance to produce these sounds, Benque’s garden would use science. Selective breeding would allow only the most pleasant-sounding plants to breed and thrive, thus producing ever more elegant sounds from this most unusual of natural spaces.
Plants and insects in the acoustic garden are prized for the sounds they make: Singing Flowers, String Nuts, and even agrobacteria that produce harmonious gas sounds are cultivated and nurtured. Bugs are engineered to chew in rhythm and trees are grafted to produce a specific combination of sounds.
Plants grown in the acoustic garden are tested for their specific desired qualities and modulated in the lab to produce an ideal sound. As heard in the video above, the resulting sounds are both entirely organic-sounding and incredibly haunting.
Although this garden is a fictional product, there isn’t much standing in the way of making it actually happen. After all, we have been modifying fruits and vegetables almost since the beginning of agriculture to produce the most desirable-looking crops, so why not extend the practice to the most pleasant sounding plants as well?
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Crossing Over: Modular Green Wildlife Bridge Concept
[ By Delana in Animals & Habitats, Art & Design, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
We’re used to seeing projects that help humans get around (like highways and pedestrian crossings) but it is less common to see projects that help nature navigate around us. This wildlife crossing was designed by Olin Studio for West Vail Pass, Colorado as a way to help animals pass safely over the street. The design, called “Wild (X)ing,” is one entry in a design competition that aims to find a way for both wildlife and humans to travel safely in the same area.
Because a highway runs through the very large White River National Forest, it poses a very real threat to the animals that make their homes there. The green bridge concept would help wildlife in the White River National Forest cross over a busy highway while staying at a safe distance from the vehicles.
The wildlife bridge concept uses a repeating rhomboid shape because of its inherent strength and functionality as a modular component. The bridge is designed to be expandable when needed; if the highway is widened in the future the bridge can easily be widened along with it.
Each rhomboid is actually what the designers call a “habitat module,” which is a segment of habitat naturally found in the area. Six different types of habitats have been identified for inclusion in the project, ranging from xeric grassland to wet meadow to spruce and fir forest.
By combining these modules on the wildlife-friendly crossing, the designers hope to create a landscape that connects the man-made structure to the surrounding wildlife and provides a comfortable environment for fauna. If the surrounding landscape should happen to change in the future, modules can be lifted out by cranes and replaced. According to the designers, this module approach is the safest and most cost-effective way to integrate a wildlife bridge into the national park.
(all images via: designboom)
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12 Weird Animals And Unearthly Creatures
[ By Marc in Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
Gross looking creatures and creepy crawlies hold a certain fascination. It’s hard not to be interested in creatures that evolved on the same planet, but in such unusual ways. From the mundane ugly Condor to the creepiest monsters from the ocean floor, take a look at some of the world’s most unusual beasts.
(Images via boingboing, geekologie)
The last seen snub-nosed monkey was killed and later eaten, but hopefully it wasn’t the last of its kind. Villagers claim these monkeys sneeze when it begins to rain because of their unusual noses. At the current rate, these animals will be extinct within a few years, if they aren’t already.
(Images via 3limes, sonik, paraparadisezooeng)
The Shoebill is a stork-like bird with a very interesting and endearing face. Its large, mottled, bill gives it a distinctive appearance that is not so much attractive as… interesting.
(Images via boingboing, damncoolpics, coachella, djibnet, seaslugforum)
The ocean still holds many secrets, and here are a few examples. Pictured above are a species of furry crab, the aptly named sea pig, the dumbo octopus, a type of sea slug, and a colorful sea urchin. Be glad these animals are confined to the ocean, as they would not be welcome into most homes.
(Images via endlessjrny, jokewallpaper, twistedsifter)
The giant isopod is a deep sea creature found in the cold depths of the atlantic. They can grow up to 14 inches long, nearly three times the length of their normal sized relatives. Like a mix between a crab and a millipede, these terrifying creatures are a blast from the Earth’s past.
(Images via 2pat, discovery, calitreview, thedigitalbean)
The condor is well known for its large wing span (up to 10 feet) and overall size (up to 54 inches, beak to tail). The ugly mug of the California Condor is put to shame by the graceful looking face of its larger relative, the Andean Condor.
(Images via mickhartley, koreatimes, malsawmi)
The tube nosed fruit bat is cute in a very strange way. It’s named after its extremely odd protruding nose. These wacky looking creatures come in a broad variety of shapes and sizes, with new sub species being discovered to this day.
(Images via mrreid, residesi)
The Ajolote and the Armadillo have front digging claws, and a scaly, reptilian appearance in common. Both animals are very unusual in appearance and have an insatiable desire to eat bugs. These armored monsters definitely top the list of odd branches in evolution.
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Some Fine Dam Climbing: Goats Scaling Steep Vertical Wall
[ By Delana in Animals & Habitats, History & Trivia, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
And you thought going to the grocery store after work was a hassle. These brave little climbers are Alpine ibex showing off their exceptional wall-scaling skills on the 160-foot-tall Cingino Dam in Italy. They risk life and hoof to get to the dam’s salt-encrusted stones which help supplement the goats’ low-salt grazing diet.
Some of these photos have been circulating in chain emails which claim that the goats pictured are climbing the Buffalo Bill dam in Wyoming. However, while the pictures are genuine, this description is entirely inaccurate.
The ibex in the pictures are wild mountain goats that live in very steep, rocky environments. To them, climbing nearly-vertical walls of rock is an everyday activity. They have wall-scaling skills to rival Spider-man and bravery to match any human rock climber.
(all images via: Inhabitat and National Geographic)
To some people, these pictures are proof that nature will always find a way to thrive regardless of human intervention. To others, these images speak to the utter devastation of worldwide environments by man-made structures and encroaching civilization. No matter which side of the debate you are on, it is clear that these goats are making the best of their situation and using the available resources to get what they need in their diets.
After enjoying their fill of the salt and other minerals clinging to the stones of the dam, the goats are able to make their way safely back down to level land. Good thing they’re not afflicted with the fainting gene like some of their cousins, or the base of that dam would be a truly gruesome sight.
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Incredible Fainting Goats Freeze and Fall Over
(Images via: Discover Magazine and Jim Knapp)
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Sects in the City: Organic Wildlife Cities Pop up in London
[ By Delana in Animals & Habitats, Art & Design, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
It seems that a large block of new housing has opened up in the in-demand London boroughs of Chelsea and Islington, though even experienced city dwellers would have a hard time packing their belongings into these housing developments. They are tiny apartment complexes built for birds and bugs: spontaneous cities meant to promote and increase biodiversity in the urban environment.
The tiny houses were installed by London Fieldworks, an artist collective that focuses on projects that emphasize the intersection of art, science and technology. As part of UP Projects’ Secret Garden initiative, the “Spontaneous City in the Tree of Heaven” installation seeks to add some biodiversity to the areas in which the new “housing developments” are placed. The houses, which resemble cells multiplying to take over the surfaces of trees, are meant to act as shelter and nesting spots for London wildlife while emphasizing the importance of urban green spaces.
The architecture of the more than 250 bird and bug boxes echoes the Georgian townhouses, red brick towers, and 1960s social housing developments that surround them: they feature the same modular, blocky shapes and close quarters. But these wildlife developments have been designed to be temporary and to grow with their support structure, unlike many human housing developments in London.
An interesting aspect of the project is the trees on which London Fieldworks chose to build the wildlife cities. The “tree of heaven” is actually Ailanthus altissima, an ornamental tree native to China that tends to choke out surrounding vegetation. To mount a biodiversity-creating project on a biodiversity-destroying substrate may seem strange, but the artists behind London Fieldworks believe that it adds another layer to the discussion.
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Yellow Lobsters, Winged Cats, Hulking Whippets, and More!
[ By Marc in Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems, Science & Research. ]
Not every person looks alike, and the same goes for animals. Some of these animals have genetic mutations that are natural, though rare, while some are well correlated to pollution. So, while we’re used to red lobsters and 4 legged frogs, let’s explore some of the infinite variety that grace this earth.
Rare Colored Lobsters
(Images via sodahead, naturalap, bukisa, catchthegalley, goodmorninggloucester, keenobservers)
Lobster shells are typically a blend of primary colors, but the occasional one does crop up with one distinct color (or even two!). Some of these special lobsters can be as rare as 1 in 100 million (albino), or as relatively common as 1 in 2.5 million (blue). It’s unusual enough to find one of these cool looking creatures, that it often makes headlines.
Black Penguin
(Images via rainbowlens, galacticroundtable)
Antarctica’s South Georgia island may hold millions of penguins, but there’s one that truly stands out. This all black penguin is one of only a few that have ever been sighted. While it’s common for some coloration differences to appear between penguins, it’s more likely for white to appear where there is normally black, and not the other way around.
Double Muscled Whippet
(Images via canada, bettermost, ourstory)
This large whippet is named Wendy and she has something called “double muscling”, causing her to have much higher muscle mass than her lithe counterparts. Included in these photos are a few typical whippets to use as comparison. Wendy is friendly and by all accounts, happy, but if there’s ever a hulk television show starring dogs… we know who to cast.
Mutated Frogs
(Images via frogmatters, esajournals, momsrising, oneofkarma)
Frog mutations are not typically very cute, and they’re often correlated quite directly to pollution. While frogs don’t seem to mind having a few extra limbs here or there, it’s more disturbing when one knows the source of their discomfort and strange formation.
Winged Cats
(Images via geekologie, justonemorepet, weirdcorner)
Winged cats in China? Maybe. The verdict isn’t entirely in, whether these cats have actual formations behind their spine as some people claim, or if the wings are actually fur matted in such a way as to provide the appearance of wings. Whatever the cause, these winged cats are beautiful, and have definitely caught the eye of an international audience.
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Tortured Trees: Brutal Bonsai Bondage Art Series
[ By Steph in Art & Design, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
The trees writhe and twist as if in pain, the branches bent in seemingly unnatural ways. It almost seems cruel, the metal contraptions that squeeze and pull each plant resembling nothing more than torture devices. And so they are – ‘Bonsai Series’ by artist Shen Shaomin has some not-so-subtle things to say about how humans interfere with nature.
The plants are like prisoners to his work, says Shen. The Beijing artist put the live, green plants into cage-like metal structures that bind them and restrict their growth. Along with the plants, Shen displayed a collection of antique-looking metal tools used to distort the plants.
According to ArtZine China, Shen sought to “critique the notion of relentlessly constructing artificial beauty regardless of price in Chinese society.” Some of his inspiration came from the archaic Chinese tradition of ritual foot-binding, though Shen sees the mistreatment of plants as even crueler because the plants are unwilling participants and the damage is done under the pretense of enjoying nature.
Investigating the technique of bonsai, Shen was shocked to learn how practitioners cut the center of the tree trunk open to twist and scar them so they appear older, “penetrating the intestine, smashing the stomach.” The plants were hacked, burnished and scorched in such a way that reminded Shen of surgical operations carried out on humans. Bonsai forcibly changes plants into unnatural, abnormal shapes that people somehow find beautiful.
“Today what we feel and know as Nature has become something artificial, technical, and sociological. Men are fabricating an artificial world of their own according to their personal interests.”
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