volatiledesign:

Rigid outdoor chair in a translucent polycarbonate. Resembling an artificial shrub, this is the sculptural design of artist Jacopo Foggini called the Alice chair. He uses fluorescent colors to emphasize the light emanating from within in the great outdoors. Offered through EDRA.

staceythinx:

This might look like lace, but its actually lichen. Photos by  i n i m i n i .

archiemcphee:

From the Department of Awesome Natural Wonders come these amazing images of snowflakes magnified under an electron microscope at the Electron Microscopy Unit of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Beltsville, Maryland.

Visit Designboom to view more!

(via scinerds)

sosuperawesome:

Rare sightings of Moonbows. Click pictures for sources.

sciencesoup:

Transparent-Headed Fish

First described in 1939, the unusual Pacific barreleye (Macropinna microstoma) is instantly recognisable by the transparent, fluid-filled dome that curves over its head like the cockpit of a fighter jet. The two green spheres within are actually the fish’s tubular eyes, while the dark capsules in front are the fish’s olfactory organs, responsible for smell. The barreleye lives in inky depths of over 600 metres, where sunlight fades to darkness, and its eyes have adapted remarkably. They’re so sensitive that they can detect faint silhouettes of prey passing overhead, and their green pigments are thought to filter out sunlight, allowing the barreleye to focus on its preys’ bioluminescent glow. It’s long been thought that these eyes are fixed, so the fish only has a tunnel-vision view of whatever is above its head, but researchers at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute have shown that the eyes can rotate around 75 degrees, from a vertical to a horizontal position. Along with its large flat fins, this amazing vision allows the 15 cm fish maneuver precisely and capture prey with its small pointed mouth. Interestingly, the barreleye shares its deep-sea habitat with many kinds of jellies, including the siphonophore, which grows to over 10 metres and trails out thousands of stinging tentacles like drift nets to capture prey. Researchers think that one of the barreleye’s feeding methods is to carefully manoeuvre among the siphonophore’s tentacles to steal its prey, and the transparent dome shields the fish’s eyes from the stinging tentacles.

(Image Credit)

(via scinerds)

mineralia:

Amethyst from Namibia

by: Martin Gruell

staceythinx:

Flowervases by Martin Klimas

About the project:

Flawlessly arranged flower vases are shot by steel balls and captured at the moment of their destruction. When hit by the projectiles, glass vases shatter, and ceramic and stoneware vases burst into large fragments. What interests Klimas is not so much the moment of impact as the transformation is taking place in one seven-thousandth of a second. While the top half of the photograph remains poised in an absolutely harmonious still life, utter chaos has erupted below. The contrast of motionless and top speed explodes the triteness of the subject. The simultaneous presence of two distinct states and the improbable serenity of the pictures is positively spellbinding.

staceythinx:

Usually I enjoy learning about new creatures, but this time not so much. You can blame photographer Igor Siwanowicz for ending your blissful ignorance of these nightmare-inducing creepy crawlies.

staceythinx:

Glass insects available from The Evolution Store