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The world is full of natural wonders, from powerful medicinal to dangerously poisonous plants, stunningly fragrant and attractive to meat-smelling and disgusting and ubiquitous to threatened ones. From ugly-but-life-saving to beautiful-but-killer flowers (and everything in between) here are some of the most exotic and endangered.

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Unicorns are in the news, thanks to reports of a two-horned Asian Unicorn… wait, what? Where are the REAL unicorns – you know, the one-horned variety? These 10 amazing real unicorns show that for some animals, staying single can be something special.

Asian Unicorn

(images via: WWF, ScienceBlogs and Crytozoologie)

Environmental and zoological circles have been abuzz of late due to the capture of an exceedingly rare Saola, or “Asian Unicorn”, in the landlocked nation of Laos. Though this forest-dwelling relative of cows and cattle was known to science, a living Saola hadn’t been seen since 1999. Though the majestic two-horned ungulate shown above died shortly after being taken into captivity, studying its remains can help us learn more about the creature’s way of life and hopefully lead to ways we can protect and preserve the few that are left in the wild.

(image via: Wired)

Technically a bicorn, the Saola’s horns are situated close together and curve only slightly along their appreciable length. Even so, whomever thought to call the Saola an “Asian Unicorn” didn’t do it any favors, as you can easily imagine.

Unicorn Deer

(image via: Daily Mail UK)

A year-old buck Roe Deer sporting a single, centrally located horn has been spotted in Italy. The deer is part of a captive herd that roams the Center of Natural Sciences’ park in the Tuscan town of Prato. According to Gilberto Tozzi, the center’s director, the deer’s single horn was likely caused by genetic factors as the deer’s twin has two horns. Even so, says Tozzi, “This shows that even in past times, there could have been animals with this anomaly. It’s not like they dreamed it up.”

Unicorn Goat

(images via: Patently Absurd and Lair2000)

Historical literature is very precise when describing the appearance of unicorns, noting their white color, cloven hooves and billygoat-like beard among other characteristics. Some self-styled veterinarian/alchemists have evidently noted these clues and have taken it upon themselves to create their very own unicorns from goats. The patented procedure – which involves transplanting the paired horn buds of a very young goat to the center of the forehead alongside one another – is relatively simple and seemingly harmless. The results are spectacular, especially when combined with a little cosmetic trimming and shearing.

(image via: Splinter Group)

In 1980, photos of a Unicorn Goat were widely circulated in American newspapers. The goat was created by a pair of California naturalists named Otter G’Zell and Morning Glory, who went on to perform the bud-grafting procedure on several other goats, some of whom toured the country with the Ringling Brothers circus. Animal rights activists criticized the supposed exploitation of the goats but the USDA confirmed the creatures and their horns were real. “As far as we’re concerned, it’s a unicorn,” said Debbie Linde, a circus spokesperson. “A unicorn is an animal with one horn.”

Unicorn Cow

(images via: Jason Yanowitz, Modern Mechanix and Weird Universe)

The horn bud grafting procedure used to create Unigoats has also been used to create one-horned rams and bulls. The most widely known example of the latter is Dr. Dove’s Unicorn Bull, a day-old Ayrshire calf who went under the knife in March of 1933 at the University of Maine. “It was expected that the two horns would fuse together into one large horn solidly attached to the skull,” wrote Dr. W. F. Dove, “and located between and somewhat above the eyes, as is the horn of the unicorn.” The operation was a compete success both physically and psychologically: the one-horned bull eventually became the Alpha Male of his herd.

(image via: Metro UK)

Another “odd” cow… in the number of horns, at least, comes from China’s Hebei province. Unlike Dr. Dove’s bull, the Chinese unic, er, tricorn cow is a natural (if exceptionally uncommon) occurrence.

Accidental Unicorns

(images via: Filming Wild, Deer Diary and TrekNature)

As mentioned, the rigors of wild life can hit wildlife not just above the belt, but over the brow. Though losing a horn won’t affect an animals speed, alertness or general health, it can hinder their performance in a different event called The Mating Season – insert “horny” joke here.

Damien Hirst’s Pickled Unicorn

(images via: Derren Brown and Tate St. Ives)

British avant garde artist Damien Hirst is no stranger to controversy and his series of animals seemingly suspended in vats of formaldehyde has sparked a spectrum of reactions, some severely negative. His latest, The Child’s Dream 2008, is scheduled to be one of the main draws to this autumn’s The Dark Monarch exhibition in Cornwall.

(image via: ArtCornwall)

The Child’s Dream 2008 features a unicorn foal gazing dispiritedly out of a gold-plated tank filled with greenish preservative. The creature’s horn is plated in gold to match.

Extinct Unicorn?

(images via: Carnivora Forum, NHM and Formel Dino Home)

A unicorn on steroids? That would be Elasmotherium, a very large rhino-like creature that roamed the open steppes and grasslands of central Asia in prehistoric times. Though most paleontologists agree that Elasmotherium died out in the Middle Pleistocene era, about 125,000 years ago, anecdotal evidence and legends of various steppe tribes depict a massive, bull-like creature with thick black hair and a single, massive horn sprouting from its forehead, not the end of the snout. These legends are thought by some to be the basis of unicorn mythology.

(image via: Paleoworks)

Elasmotherium was undeniably huge; it has been described as standing up to 9 feet tall with a total body length of up to 20 feet. At over 7 tons it would have easily outweighed an elephant. And its horn? Up to 6 feet in length! Try and find a dagger blade to fit THAT.

Unicorn Fish

(images via: TripAdvisor, Pacific Worlds and Hans en Astrid)

Well, we may be straying off the unicornish path here but there ARE Unicorn Fish – 17 different species, in fact – so they rate a mention. Ranging up to a foot and a half in length, unicorn fishes span a surprising range of shapes, sizes and colors but all have to some degree at least a very prominent “horn” jutting out smack dab between the eyes.

(image via: A1 Scuba Shop)

Unicorn fish are sometimes called surgeonfish, though not because of their pointed protruding proboscis-like protuberances. Instead, these tropical piscines pack a pair of scalpel style shivs at the base of their tails that can be flicked out at any enemies they might encounter while cruising the reef.

Unicorn Beetle

(images via: Japan Guidebook, Wesley Fleming and Matthew Fang)

Also known as the Hercules Beetle or Rhinoceros Beetle, these fearsomely outfitted insects can grow to over two inches long – not bad for a bug! Size isn’t everything, of course, but don’t tell that to the Unicorn Beetle: the scary-looking horn that they’re name is derived from can reach an appreciable portion of the beetle’s total length.

(images via: Stuff.nz, Facts and Details and Fanboy.com)

Unicorn Beetles and their related species are common in Japan where schoolboys often catch and groom them for bizarre insect sumo matches. As the competitors’ horns are somewhat spiky but not particularly sharp, a splendid time is guaranteed for all! Of course, being Japan it’s easy to buy a Unicorn Beetle if the need arises – from a vending machine.

Narwhal

(images via: AMNH, Hermitage Museum and Brian Kulik)

Taking pride of place in many a medieval Cabinet Of Curiosities was a so-called “unicorn horn” – even England’s Queen Elizabeth I had one, encrusted with precious jewels. These long, straight, spiraling ivory horns were thought for centuries to be from unicorns and were worth many times their weight in gold. It wasn’t until the early 16th century that the origins of these horns were determined to be Narwhals, a type of whale dwelling in frigid Arctic waters, and what was thought to be a horn was actually a modified tusk.

(images via: MFS and Narwhal News Network)

Narwhal tusks can grow up to 10 feet long, which is quite a feat considering their bodies rarely grow to more than 15-16 feet. Biologists are not sure why these creatures have evolved these tusks (they serve no purpose in procuring food and seem too fragile to be used in fighting) or why the vast majority of male narwhals grow only one tusk.

Unicorn Human

(image via: WebEcoist)

Human Horn: not just a Futurama plot device, its an actual physical condition known as Cornu Cutaneum, or Human Cutaneous Horns. Basically they’re a patch of skin, usually located on the head or face, that begins building up layers until it has achieved the shape of a classic animal horn.

(image via: Cracked.com)

Though some people have grown multiple cutaneous horns, most grow a single horn that may grow straight or curve in the fashion of a ram’s horns. What would our primitive ancestors have thought of somebody afflicted by this condition? I think you can guess: either they were condemned as the embodiment of evil or achieved a high level of spiritual power – it all depends on how they leveraged this rare embellishment against the ingrained superstitions and prejudices of their society.

(images via: Horror Hill, Unicorn Meadow and Valdosta.edu)

That wraps up this retrospective look at multiple examples of single-hornedness, a universal unifying unicyclopaedia of unicorns, as it were. Will we ever find examples of the archetypical unicorn of myths and legends? U-never know!

Source: Ecoist

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What do you do if you want a distinctive two-family vacation home in the mountains and you just happen to own a truckload of redwood siding? You call Robert Harvey Oshatz, Architect, of course. His creative environmentally-friendly home designs bring a stunning and truly unusual touch to the ordinary home or vacation home, no matter where its foundation sits.

This particular home was designed for the aforementioned siding-owning families. Sitting in a ski resort community in Mt. Crested Butte, Colorado, the structures is affectionately know as the “snow clam” to the locals. It sits in the perfect position for avid skiers: you can ski from the door of the house to the ski lift, take the lift up, and then ski directly back to the house.

Although it’s obviously a man-made object nestled in the hills and trees of Mt. Crested Butte, the house seems to harmonize with its surroundings. The shape of the exterior calls to mind large boulders or mounds of snow. The sweeping roof echoes the famous Colorado peaks. The grand redwood exterior resonates with the surroundings in a way that synthetic siding never could. Even from the outside, the home appears light and airy, yet grounded and stable despite its precarious-looking perch. Oshatz is known for his wildly imaginative designs and his belief that architectural theories and styles simply don’t hold water. He bases his designs on the balance and harmony within each project and between the project and its surroundings.

The interior of the snow clam is no less impressive than its exterior. The three story home boasts three fireplaces, two garages and an entire story devoted to a children’s playroom.  The gentle curves of the outside are brough into the home as well, with swooping ceilings and winding staircases. There may, in fact, be no better place to spend a ski vacation than wrapped up in front of one of the cozy stone fireplaces, watching the world go by from the multitude of windows.

Source: Ecoist

Whether it’s adventure or necessity that ultimately propels us to venture beyond our shores and build new communities in the sea, we’ve got plenty of space to work with: over 70% of the Earth is covered with water. The world’s oceans can provide a dreamy setting for all manner of submerged societies, from self-sustaining utopian cities to ultra-modern inverted ‘skyscrapers’ and museums. These 12 ideas range from science fiction to theoretically achievable projects, possibly leading to the world’s first permanent aquatic abode.

These odd circles may look like messages from aliens or the humorous graffiti of penguins, but it’s actually the ephemeral snow and ice art of earth artist Jim Denevan, best known for his temporary beach masterpieces. The snow circles are somewhat of a departure from Denevan’s usual medium, but he’s no stranger to large-scale natural art. This nine-square-mile snow drawing currently holds the record as the world’s largest snow drawing; the record before that belonged to a sand drawing created in the Nevada desert by Denevan.

Jim Denevan’s art is all about impermanence. His large-scale artworks are meant to exist only for very short periods of time, after which they will be washed away by waves, wind and weather. This massive art was created on Siberia’s frozen Lake Baikal, the world’s largest lake.

Because of the constant threat of losing the entire piece to a sharp gust of wind, a team of helpers assisted in the creation of the gigantic masterpiece. Eight people in all got out onto the ice and used brooms to sweep the snow into simple, elegant circles. The work was chronicled on The Anthropologist, a site that features new artwork for Anthropologie.

The crew slept in a yurt on the ice, warming themselves by a fire in the lake bed that re-froze each morning in the brutal temperatures. The expedition was filmed by a documentary filmmaker and captured by a photographer; both of these documentation methods are necessary when creating art in a medium as temporary as ice.

The tundra warmed up, Lake Baikal thawed, and Jim Denevan’s lovely circles melted away forever. But the artist isn’t losing any sleep over his lost masterpiece; his goal is to create beautiful and inspiring pieces of art that only exist for a moment in time. His ephemeral art reminds us all to savor every day, to find beauty in even the most fleeting moment.

Source: Ecoist

Got the gold bug? Golden animals are both beautiful and rare, much like the precious metal itself. These colorful insects, arachnids, vertebrates – and even one very special lady – are linked by a common bond: the warm, golden glow that gives them the look of exquisite, living treasures.

Golden Beetles

(images via: MindCafe, BugGuide and TravelPod)

Certain types of beetles can appear so golden it’s hard to believe they haven’t somehow incorporated 24-carat gold into their gleaming shells! They haven’t – if they did, human treasure hunters would have long since driven them to extinction. Among the most golden of these “gold bugs” are the Golden Scarab Beetle and the Golden Tortoise Beetle.

(images via: Home Schooling Aspergers, Laurie and Matt and Extreme Science)

These insects get their golden appearance using some pretty sophisticated science. The Golden Tortoise Beetle can adjust the moisture content between two layers of its wing covers, resulting in varying levels or golden iridescence as seen by the human eye.

(image via: DK Images)

The Golden Scarab Beetle (Chrysina resplendens) goes even further: its chitinous cuticle reflects circularly polarized light which is “left-handed”. Sounds complicated; looks brilliant!

Golden Jumping Spiders

(images via: Johnbird30 and BugGuide)

Jumping spiders are hunters and ambush predators rather than web-weavers so one would think having a gleaming, metallic exoskeleton would not be in their best interest. Possibly these spiders’ golden appearance is something only human eyes – and not those of its prey – can appreciate.

(image via: Bug Guide)

Jumping spiders are one of the most intelligent spider species and this 1/4-inch long iridescent gold example is one of the most striking in appearance. The rose petal upon which this jewel-like arachnid has set up his or her hunting grounds makes a pleasing contrast with the shimmering iridescent gold of the spider’s exoskeleton.

Golden Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis

(images via: Micro Cosmos, Dave A. eh? and How Stuff Works)

Monarch butterflies are known for their bold orange wings bisected with black veins and contrasting white spots. Their caterpillars, often found grazing on Milkweed plants, are striped with black, white and yellow. It’s only in this majestic creature’s intermediate stage that it chooses to flash its gold: the chrysalis. Oh, uhh, the dude in the chrysalis suit? Gold, pure (comedy) gold.

(images via: Clayruth and About.com)

A Monarch butterfly chrysalis is mainly emerald or jade green in color highlighted by bright metallic gold trim – a horizontal line about 1/3 of the way down and raised golden bumps set apart symmetrically on its lower portion. About 24 hours before the butterfly emerges from the chrysalis, the surface will darken and then turn transparent. Through this process and even after the butterfly has emerged, the golden stripe and spots remain.

Golden Fish

(images via: Smile-O-Smile)

To quote the website copy describing this “truly unbelievable” golden fish, “This is an amazing creation of the Creator. Gold Fish, which was found in the sea in Taiwan was put to display in Taiwan’s Natural Museum.” Okie dokie, I have an open mind and I’m sure you do too… but then: “Scientists have found that some of the parts of this beautiful fish are of 24 carat pure gold.” That noise you heard? That was my mind snapping shut.

(image via: Rojaks)

Seems this particular goldfish, er, gold fish is an animatronic device that may have a creator; just not THE Creator. One can be sure, however, that Koi breeders are actively engaged in producing a truly believable golden ornamental carp. Such a fish might not have 24-carat gold parts but eager buyers would likely pay as if they were.

Golden Poison-Dart Frog

(images via: Jassy World and Bukisa)

There are several different species of Golden Poison Frogs including Phyllobates terribilis, said to be the world’s most poisonous vertebrate. Just how deadly are the alkaloid toxins exuded by these frogs through their skin? Just milligram of the frog’s Batrachotoxin poison is enough to kill approximately 10,000 mice, or 10 to 20 humans, or two African bull elephants – from 1/1,000th of a gram of poison! Another way of stating its toxicity is roughly 15,000 humans killed per gram. “Look but don’t touch” was never so appropriate.

(images via: The Dog Walker, Harunyahya and Know Your Meme)

Golden Poison Frogs are not metallic gold in hue; in fact they can be pale green, various shades of yellow or even bright orange. Where you WILL see metallic gold on frogs (or toads) is in their eyes – the iris’ of many types of common frogs and toads displays a rich, brassy golden tone that contrasts with a midnight black background. Quite beautiful… some might even say, hypnotic.

Gold Tegu Lizard

(images via: Offbeat Pets and Richard Seaman)

The Gold Tegu lizard is a large South American lizard that exploits a similar ecologic niche to that of monitor lizards on other continents. The Gold Tegu’s glossy skin and ornate gold over black striping combine to make it visually very appealing.

(image via: Richard Seaman)

Gold Tegu lizards are popular pets though their feisty nature and hard-to-tame aggressiveness makes them a real handful. Speaking of which, a Gold Tegu can grow rather large – up to 44″ long from tip of the nose to the end of their tails – and unlike other Tegu species they are mainly carnivorous.

Golden Snakes

(images via: Arkive, Steffen und Christina, Eco Terrarium Supply and Polyvore.com)

Several different species of snakes have been graced with the prefix “golden”, including the Golden Tree Snake and the Golden Cat Snake. Most gold-toned snakes live in desert habitats where their coloration helps them blend in with the sandy ground and dry vegetation of arid climes.

(image via: Worth1000)

Now here’s one “rattler” that one wouldn’t mind having coiled close by – it’s one way to un-constrict your finances, at least. I’d say the gilded serpent above was both real and available but then… I’d be speaking with a forked tongue.

Golden Marmoset

(images via: Is America Burning and Purple Slinky)

The Golden Marmoset, or Golden Lion Tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia), is one of the smallest monkeys and also one of the most endangered. It’s estimated only about 1,000 of these primates survive in forested areas of Brazil’s Atlantic coast while another 490 are currently kept in captivity or on protected reserves. It’s estimated that 98 percent of the Golden Marmoset’s original lush rainforest habitat has been destroyed through logging and/or agriculture.

(image via: Uglorable)

The thick, golden fur covering the Golden Marmoset makes it appear larger and heaver than it really is. In actual fact, these New World monkeys only grow up to 13.2 inches (335mm) long and can weight up to 25 ounces (about 700 grams) when fully grown.

Golden Weaver Bird

(images via: Brian Callahan)

The African Golden Weaver (Ploceus subaureus) can be found in eastern and southern Africa roughly from Kenya down to South Africa. These birds can form flocks of many thousands and their teardrop-shaped nests may hang from leaf-stripped savannah trees by the dozens.

(images via: ScienceBlogs and Vijay Barve)

Golden Weaver Birds are not considered to be threatened and indeed, one of their relatives (the Red-billed Quelea) is considered to be the world’s most abundant bird with a population of approximately 1.5 billion. All Weavers are seed-eaters, and flocks sometimes cause African farmers problems when they settle en masse to gorge themselves on mature seed crops.

Golden Bond Girl

(images via: EHV Emmetts and Probert Encyclopaedia)

Our last (but not least) golden creature is of the species Homo Sapien, commonly known as Shirley Eaton, Bond Girl. Eaton played the role of Jill Masterson in the 1964 James Bond film Goldfinger. Her claim to fame was her on-screen demise, considered by movie pundits to be one of the top ten film deaths. The crucial scene features Eaton sprawled nude on a bed, her body completely covered in gold. Betty White’s cool and all, but Shirley Eaton is one hot Golden Girl! Here’s a video clip of the notorious (for 1964) scene:

Shirley Eaton as Jill Masterson in Goldfinger (part 3), via Sakieee7

(image via: Screenrush)

The Jill Masterson character supposedly died from “skin suffocation”, a questionable proposition that incidentally was investigated in a memorable episode of the Mythbusters television series. Shirley Eaton was said to suffer no ill effects from her movie makeup though the film’s producers kept a doctor on hand while filming “just in case”. As for Mythbuster’s Adam Savage, his head to toe gold painting also left him none the worse for wear though his pride was somewhat dented.

(image via: Gary L. Todd, Ph.D.)

All that glitters isn’t always gold and what appears to be gold may or may not glitter – then again, animals are animate objects and their golden garb has value much more than that of the metal that has enticed, entranced and blinded humans from time immemorial.

Source: Ecoist

The natural world is full of surprises and hidden beauty. It’s so easy to simply walk right by countless amazing things every day without noticing just how many wonders are all around us. That’s part of the inspiration behind Hugh Turvey‘s X-ray art. He looks inside the things most of us ignore, taking an inside view of the natural world and inspiring a truly delightful sense of wonder.

Hugh Turvey is fascinated by the idea of X-ray specs: those novelty glasses often advertised in the back of comic books. The idea that one can put on an accessory and suddenly see a deeper truth appeals to Turvey and inspires his art. He likens X-ray art to the movie “The Matrix;” specifically, when Neo is suddenly able to perceive his real environment.

Although Turvey isn’t the first artist to use X-rays as art, he is one of the most well-known and respected. His art depicts familiar items in wholly unfamiliar ways. Turvey’s X-ray photos reveal hidden characteristics of ordinary things; sometimes amazing qualities can be found in the most unassuming objects.

Originally trained as a designer and art director, Turvey didn’t discover his passion for photography until he was grown. He retrained in his new craft with master photographer Gered Mankowitz and began experimenting with the X-ray art that would later become his hallmark.

These colored X-ray pictures help us get a closer look at the complex beauty of the natural world. Flowers which look so uncomplicated on the surface reveal their hidden inner structures; plants that may look plain and boring with the naked eye take on an exotic and truly wonderful quality when seen in this new way.

Source: Ecoist

When Indonesia’s Mount Tambora erupted in 1815, the world got an all too vivid glimpse at just how far-reaching the damage can be. The largest volcanic eruption in the earth’s history killed 100,000 people and caused ‘The Year Without a Summer‘, crop-killing summer snow and freezing temperatures in the United States and Europe. Today, Iceland’s Mount Eyjafjallajökull is far from the only one to worry about.There’s an unusual amount of seismic activity happening everywhere from Washington State to North Korea, with 12 deadly volcanoes nearing potential eruption.

Katla Volcano, Iceland

(image via: earth magazine)

If you thought Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull eruption was bad, you haven’t seen anything yet. Think of the Katla volcano as Eyjafjallajökull’s fiercer, angrier, more violent sister. A Katla volcano eruption would be ten times stronger and would shoot larger plumes of ash much higher in the air. Though experts feared that Katla might be set off by the eruption back in April, it hasn’t happened yet – but that doesn’t mean it won’t.

Mount Baekdu, North Korea

(image via: wikimedia commons)

Mount Baekdu is sacred to Koreans, deeply connected to their history – the legend goes that this volcanic mountain on the border between North Korea and China is the ancestral origin of their people. But it may soon be connected to a new, less positive legend; experts believe it’s going to erupt for the first time since 947 A.D. sometime between 2014 and 2015. Last time, the amount of ash created is estimated to have been 1,000 times that of the recent Iceland eruption.

Mayon Volcano, Philippines

(image via: wikimedia commons)

In December of 2009, residents of the central province in the Philippines got the warning: evacuate, because Mayon is going to blow any time now. Tens of thousands of people fled the area as Mount Mayon began to hiss steam and spew ash into the air and lava began to pour down the mountainside. Ultimately, the volcano didn’t erupt – not yet, at least. The warning level has been lowered since then, but experts say the danger is far from past, especially as volcanic earthquakes and rockfall events continue to occur.

Mount St. Helens, Washington, USA

(image via: wikimedia commons)

30 years ago, Mount St. Helens caused utter chaos in Washington State, killing dozens of people and decimating more than 200 square miles of forest. It erupted again in 2004 – much more mildly – but another eruption is just a matter of time, and there would be very little warning once it began. Scientists estimate that Mount St. Helens would send a plume of ash 30,000 feet into the sky within five minutes.

Yellowstone Volcano, Wyoming, USA

(images via: wikimedia commons)

When Iceland’s volcano erupted in April 2010, the most damage it did was to the airline industry as billions of dollars were lost to grounded flights. But, as CBS News puts it, “If the Yellowstone volcano has a major eruption, you won’t be thinking much about flying.” That’s because this gigantic little-known volcano, which lies under the surface of one of America’s most popular national parks, would level nearby towns and cover a huge portion of the central US with dozens of feet of ash if it erupted. Right now, the rock is about 5% molten, and it needs to reach 15% before an eruption – which could happen in a matter of days, but would have to be triggered by a major event about as likely as a mile-wide asteroid hitting the earth. The Yellowstone volcano is being carefully monitored by scientists, so we’ll likely know far ahead of time if this baby gets ready to blow.

Marsili Volcano, Italy

(image via: cnn.com)

As if Southern Italy didn’t have enough volcanic threats, there’s also the possibility of a nearby undersea volcano collapsing and causing a catastrophic tsunami. In that sense, the Marsili Volcano isn’t technically “about to blow” – but it could cause just as much damage. In fact, experts at the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology say that the volcano’s walls could crumble at any time, producing shock waves that could theoretically sink the whole of Southern Italy into the Mediterranean Sea.  It’s not a matter of if, but when – however, that ‘when’ may not occur for hundreds of years.

Glacier Peak, Washington, USA

(image via: herald net)

Compared to the majesty of nearby Mount Rainier and Mount Baker, Washington State’s Glacier Peak seems like a mole hill. But buy a home in Snohomish County, and you’ll be forced to sign a document acknowledging your awareness of the fact that you’ll be living within the volcano’s reach. Glacier Peak is one of 18 U.S. Volcanoes listed as “very high threat”, but it has only three siesmometers and no GPS monitoring stations. Its last major eruption was about 1800 years ago, and when it erupts again, it will be far more violent than the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.

Mount Vesuvius, Italy

(image via: wikimedia commons)

The 1 million people who live at the base of Mt. Vesuvius don’t need to be reminded of the horrors that another eruption of that infamous volcano would bring – they know all too well. Pompeii, completely annihilated in the year 79 B.C.E., is just minutes from the bustling metropolis of Naples, Italy. Yet another eruption killed 4,000 people in 1631, while a 1944 eruption took the lives of 26. Vesuvius is now considered Italy’s “biggest public safety problem”, though no one can predict when it will next awaken. Luckily, the chance of another Pompeii-sized eruption is only around 1 percent.

Ischia Volcano, Italy

(image via: wikimedia commons)

Not far from Mount Vesuvius, just a few miles away off the coast of Southern Italy, lies yet another volcano that could potentially erupt at any time – and while it’s far less known than Vesuvius, it may be even more dangerous. Ischia last erupted 700 years ago, and scientists say that it’s experiencing a build-up of magma that may be a disturbing hint at coming events.

Mount Merapi, Indonesia

(image via: wikimedia commons)

It’s a beautiful sight, towering over the surrounding flat lands with their jumbles of bright-roofed buildings. But Mount Merapi is also deadly, and capable of meting out an incredible amount of destruction. It has earned its place among the world’s most active volcanoes, with mild eruptions occurring every 2-3 years, larger ones every 10-15 years and exceptionally lethal eruptions happening every 40-60 years.  In 1930, 1400 people lost their lives and 13 villages were destroyed; in 2006, the volcano threatened to blow but seismic activity calmed down within a couple weeks.

Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of Congo

(image via: xinhuanet)

Just like its similarly volatile neighbor Nyamuragira, the volcano Nyiragongo – located in the Democratic Republic of Congo – is extremely active, having erupted at least 34 times since 1882. A major eruption in 2002 sent lava pouring into the streets of nearby towns. Another one is likely forthcoming: in June 2010, a massive plume of molten rock associated with volcanic activity was discovered heading toward the East African Rift upon which Nyiragongo sits.

Taal Volcano, Philippines

(image via: wikimedia commons)

In the Philippines, residents are on alert for a possible eruption of the Taal Volcano, which could blow for the first time since 1997. Located just 30 miles south of the densely populated capital city of Manila, Taal could cause significant upheaval in the region including fatalities. The volcano began hissing steam last year and many high-frequency volcanic earthquakes were detected in the third week of June 2010, with magma currently moving toward the surface.

In The 9 Most Extreme Places on the Planet, WebEcoist sought out the most superlative locations on the Earth in nine nifty categories. This renewed look at our exceptional planet uncovers nine more extreme locations that rate their own place in the sun… rain, wind, snow, etcetera.

Being transparent (or nearly so) doesn’t mean animals have nothing to hide. On the contrary, their lack of pigmentation can help them elude predators who literally see right through them. Transparency also allows c reatures to conserve precious r esources, a benefit anyone can see.

Transparent Sea Cucumber

(images via: Wildfilms, MBARI, WHOI and Wild Singapore)

Slow moving, soft bodied bottom dwellers for the most part, Sea Cucumbers are an ancient lineage of sea creatures who have evolved a variety of ways to survive and thrive over hundreds of millions of years of evolution. For some Sea Cucumbers, being transparent allows them to fly under the radar, as it were, of predators in search of a quick & easy kill.

(image via: Discovery)

Lightly tinted in rosy pink, Enypniastes sea cucumbers live in the pitch-black ocean depths far below the 656-ft (200m) threshold where sunlight is unable to penetrate. The species was discovered in the northern Gulf of Mexico, 1.7 miles beneath the surface – before the current sub-sea oil spill occurred. Hope the li’l guy’s OK…

Transparent Butterfly

(images via: Weirdomatic, Tom29ger and TMurray74)

Butterflies of the species Greta Oto are commonly called clearwings or glasswings. It’s not that these butterflies have evolved transparent wings, more like they have dispensed with the growth of colored scales that normally cover the wings of butterflies and moths. Wash an average butterfly (well, imagine doing so) and you’ll end up with something that looks a lot like Greta Oto.

(image via: Beatriz Laynne)

Glasswing butterflies are found from Mexico through Panama and have wingspans of 2.2 to 2.4 inches (5.6 to 6.1 cm) in width. It is thought that their mostly transparent wings make these butterflies less visible when in flight.

Transparent Goldfish

(image via: Xinhuanet)

In late 2009, researchers at Mie University in Japan created a transparent goldfish by selectively breeding pale gold fish. The end result was a fish with translucent scales and skin through which many of the creature’s internal organs can be easily seen. “As this goldfish grows bigger, you can watch its whole life,” said Yutaka Tamaru, an associate professor at Mie University. That life could go on for some time as the non-gold goldfish are expected to live up to 20 years and grow to a length of 10 inches (25cm).

(image via: LikeCool)

Though the general public will undoubtedly be clamoring for transparent goldfish to stock their home a quariums, the real reason the Mie University researchers created the transparent goldfish was to reduce, even negate, the need for dissections in school biology classrooms. This should make countless queasy students very, very happy – not to mention countless fish.

Transparent-Headed Barreleye Fish

(images via: WebEcoist)

The Pacific Barreleye (Macropinna microstoma) was first described in 1939 but specimens of this unusual deep sea fish suffered damage when raised to the surface through low-pressure shallow surface waters. In 2009, researchers at the M onterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) using remote-operated cameras were able to observe barreleyes in their element – 2,000 to 2,600 feet (600 to 800 meters) below sea level off the coast of central California. What they saw astonished them: the barreleye’s eyes rotate within a transparent, fluid-filled head shield.

(image via: GConnect)

Viewed head on, the barreleye’s face looks normal but what seem to be eyes are actually “nares” – the piscine equivalent of nostrils. The eyes are the vivid green structures located within the fish’s head, where they can be directed to look upwards while the fish remains horizontal.

Here is a video of the barreleye as first spied by MBARI’s seagoing ROV cameras:

\”Macropinna microstoma: A deep-sea fish with a transparent head and tubular eyes\”, via MBARIvideo

Transparent Cave Crayfish

(images via: Scubadiver Forums, Scuba with Ag and IderYusei)

Caves are some of the darkest places on the planet – even sophisticated light-gathering instruments are unable to register a single photon in the deepest, darkest caves. Under these conditions, creatures including fish, spiders, insects and crayfish have evolved into “troglobites”: animals so precisely adapted to living in darkness that they cannot survive outside cave environments. Under such conditions, neither eyes nor pigmentation are necessary.

(image via: John Agnew)

There are (at the latest count) 39 species of cave crayfish species in North America, some restricted to the isolated caves in which they evolved. Cave crayfish range from whitish albinos to nearly translucent in appearance. If their chitinous exoskeletons were as thin as skin they would certainly be considered to be transparent.

Transparent Squid

(images via: The Colossal Squid, NY Books and Animal Pictures Archive)

Squid of the family Cranchiidae number around 60 species and are commonly known as Glass Squids. Indeed, these robustly built but delicate looking cephalopods outwardly resemble h and blown glass bottles with the only pigmented part being the cigar-shaped liver. Glass squids come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, and include the Colossal Squid that can grow up to 9.8 feet (3m) long – not including the arms.

(image via: Scienceray)

Glass squid are near-invisible for the most part, but sometimes they want to be seen… at mating time, for instance. That’s when heretofore hidden chromophores blaze into action, bathing the squid in undulating waves of eerie bioluminescent light.

Transparent Jellyfish

(images via: National Geographic and Epedia)

Jellyfish can be found in all of the world’s oceans and, if the predictions of some scientists can be believed, are increasing in number as the oceans warm up. Jellyfish are often transparent to some degree, often appearing as thin films that serenely undulate amongst schools of fish who don’t see them… until it’s too late.

(image via: National Geographic)

Like glass squids and other deep sea marine animals, certain species of transparent jellyfish use bioluminescence to attract prey close enough for the jellyfish’s tentacles to shock them into submission. The Comb Jelly above displays pretty rainbow colors – fatal attraction indeed!

Transparent Flounder

(image via: National Geographic)

Many marine creatures employ transparent body tissues in their larval stages in order to help secrete themselves from bigger predators, and fish are no exception. The young flounder above enhances its translucence by virtue of having a flat, thin body plan.

(images via: Art.com and Moillusions)

Flat, tasty and transparent is no way to go through life, so as a young flounder grows it will turn to another way of disguising itself – camouflage. As for its pancake shape, it continues to provide an advantage by helping the flounder keep a low profile on flat, sandy seafloors (and, presumably, the floors of certain frat houses).

Transparent Salp

(images via: WHOI and Catchit)

Once dismissed as being a rather unsophisticated, primitive form of sea life, salps are now credited with being one of the most efficient carbon sequestering organisms on the planet. Scientists estimate as much as 1/3 of all human-created CO2 is being processed by salps, who constantly eat phytoplankton and expel compact fecal pellets rich in carbon that rapidly sink to the ocean floor.

(images via: Richard Herrmann and Supiri)

Salps are almost completely transparent, with only their constantly full stomachs breaking the pattern. Salps are normally solitary creatures but have been known to link together in elaborate chains as shown above.

Transparent Frog

(images via: Daily Mail UK)

In late 2007, a research team from the Institute for Amphibian Biology at Hiroshima University in Japan announced it had successfully created transparent frogs. According to Professor Masayuki Sumida of the IAB, “Transparent frogs will prove useful as laboratory animals because they make it easier and cheaper to observe the development and progress of cancer, the growth and aging of internal organs, and the effects of chemicals on organs.” All this without causing the frogs to, er, croak.

(image via: Fascinatingly)

Umm, not so fast, prof… have you seen the “glass frog” (above), native to the Venezuelan rainforest? Like the transparent frogs selectively bred in the lab from generations of pale-skinned Japanese Brown Frogs, the Glass Frog’s internal organs and eggs can be seen without too much trouble. Word to Professor Sumida: take the g rant money and run!

(image via: BugEyedMonster)

As we have seen, the vast majority of transparent creatures live in the sea – see-through butterflies, crayfish and frogs are much less common and the latter do not occur naturally. Will scientists pursue the lines of experimentation that brought about transparent goldfish and frogs to their logical conclusion? Time will tell… and some day we may end up questioning the old maxim, “beauty is only skin deep”.

Source: Ecoist

Volcanoes are in the news and not in a good way, but Iceland’s tongue-twistingly named, travel-disrupting Eyjafjallajökull volcano is just doing what volcanoes do: erupt. It’s not alone, either. Around the world at any given moment, dozens of volcanoes are smoking, shaking and stirring up their neighborhoods. Here are 10 of the most active.

Kilauea, Hawaii, USA

(images via: Plan59, SlowTrav and WillGoTo)

Kilauea Volcano on the island of Hawaii (the Big Island) is widely considered to be the most active volcano on Earth. Over the course of its most recent eruption which began in January of 1983, the volcano has expelled enough lava to pave a road around the planet three times over.

(image via: NaturalPhotos)

If not for its brilliant orange lava fountains and slow-flowing rivers of molten rock, Kilauea wouldn’t be much to look at: though the summit is 4,091 feet (1,247m) above sea level, the gently sloping shield volcano is dwarfed by neighboring 13,677 ft (4,169m) high Mauna Loa… for the present, at least.

(image via: Kilauea Adventure)

Kilauea’s name means “spewing” in the Hawaiian language; an indication that the volcano has been erupting long before England’s Captain Cook discovered the Hawaiian Islands in the late 18th century. One relic of those days are the “1790 Footprints” preserved in hardened lava from an explosive eruption of Kilauea. The footprints are said to have been left by up to 80 warriors from a dissident Hawaiian faction who died in a pyroclastic flow from Kilauea.

Etna, Italy

(images via: TripAdvisor, Discovery and Wikimedia)

Mount Etna, on the Italian island of Sicily, has been erupting more or less continuously for the past 2,000 years though its overall history stretches back approximately 300,000 years. Though somewhat less famous (or infamous) than neighboring Mount Vesuvius, Mount Etna greatly outclasses the latter peak as it rises 2.5 times its height. In addition, most of Etna’s more spectacular eruptions and associated geological events occurred in prehistory. The volcano erupted in every year from 200 through 2008 and its recent eruption occurred in April of 2010.

(images via: Wohba)

Volcanoes occasionally belch giant smoke rings into the sky, a rare and curious phenomenon that can last up to 15 minutes and range in size up to 600 feet across! Mount Etna has blown volcanic smoke rings on a number of occasions; some of those that occurred during the 2000 eruption have been documented photographically.

Nyamuragira, Democratic Republic of Congo

(images via: VolcanoDiscovery, PHSchool, WorldPOI and FreeRepublic)

Mount Nyamuragira is an active volcano located in the Virunga Mountains of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Although it has erupted more than 30 times since explorers of European origin began documenting the mountain in the 1880s, recent eruptions have caused ever greater concern as the surrounding area has become heavily populated. As well, the Virunga range is one of the last remaining sanctuaries for threatened great apes including majestic Mountain Gorillas.

(image via: My Joy Online)

Mount Nyamuragira brought in the new year with an eruption: On January 2, 2010, lava began to flow from the main crater eventually reaching a distance of 1,640 feet (500m) downslope to the south and southwest. Mount Nyamuragira often exudes a particularly thin and fast-moving type of lava that makes any necessary evacuations hurried and often disorganized affairs.

Sakurajima, Japan

(images via: Tags-Search, Geology-SDSU and The Land of Fire, Satsuma)

The Sakurajima volcano is located on what was formerly an island in southern Japan’s Kagoshima Bay. The island is now connected to the mainland via a low-lying peninsula created by lava flows during the mountain’s immense eruption of 1914. Sakurajima stands 3,665 feet (1,117m) above sea level and has been erupting more or less continuously since 1955.

(image via: Pink Tentacle)

Sakurajima is a successor volcano that exudes and erupts magma from the huge subterranean chamber beneath the Aira Caldera. This 12 mile (20 km) wide caldera was created approximately 22,000 years ago in a massive eruption that sent ash and tephra hundreds of miles in every direction. Should Sakurajima follow the same path to destruction, millions of people will find themselves at extreme risk.

Erebus, Antarctica

(images via: James Caird Society and Rutgers)

The world’s most southerly active volcano, Mount Erebus has been erupting since 1972 though the eruptions have varied greatly in intensity. The 12,448 ft (3,794m) snow-covered stratovolcano is covered with snow but harbors in its crater a red hot, long-lasting lava lake that can be seen from space.

(image via: Neatorama)

Mount Erebus regularly subjects its frigid environs to a blast of geothermal activity, resulting in ethereal ice caves and horn-like fumaroles carved out of its icy coat by scalding steam. Though considered to be in a state of eruption, Mount Erebus behaves rather calmly (as volcanoes go) and has been extensively studied by volcanologists based at nearby McMurdo Station (USA) and Scott Base (NZ).

Chaitén, Chile

(images via: UPI, Xinhuanet and FEWW)

The Chaitén volcano in southern Chile began erupting on May 2 of 2008, an event that caught scientists by surprise as the mountain’s last eruption was estimated to have occurred about 9,500 years ago. Though the mountain is still in an eruptive state, the initial stages were marked by the expulsion of voluminous ash clouds shot through by incandescent bolts of lightning.

(image via: Brisbane Times)

Within 24 hours of the eruption’s inception, a huge plume of ash had risen tens of thousands of feet into the sky, there to be blown to the southeast by upper level winds. The ash plume was photographed from orbiting satellites and can be seen above, stretching completely across the width of Argentina and far into the South Atlantic Ocean.

Anak Krakatau, Indonesia

(images via: Kaskus, Jorge Santos and Joe Meintjes Travel)

Anak Krakatau (“child of Krakatoa”) may not be especially large but note the name – it carries within it the seeds of future disaster. Though the famed 1883 explosive eruption of its parent peak (Krakatoa, east of Java) caused the deaths of roughly 36,000 people, a similar event today would be unfathomably worse due to exceptional population growth over the past century.

(image via: Mornby)

As Anak Krakatau grows larger – it’s been adding approximately 5 inches (13cm) per week to its height since 1955 – it also grows more dangerous. The volcano’s current eruptive phase began in April of 2008 and is ongoing.

(image via: Dennis Dimick)

Anak Krakatau first poked its summit above the surface of the Sunda Strait between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra in August of 1930 and by 2005 had reached a height of 985 feet (300m)… when Krakatoa exploded with the force of a 200 megaton atomic bomb in 1883 it was 2,667 ft (813m) high.

Tungurahua, Ecuador

(images via: ScienceBlogs and Essential Amazon Adventure)

Tungurahua is one of the world’s tallest volcanoes, soaring 16,480 ft (5,023 m) into the thin Andean air above the South American nation of Ecuador. Those figures will likely need to be revised… Tungurahua has been actively erupting since 1999 with major eruptions occurring in 2006 and 2008.

(image via: NASA)

As with most high volcanoes in the Andes, Tungurahua’s upper slopes are snow-covered and the summit is capped by a small glacier… well, they were until 1999 when the volcano’s eruption quickly melted them away. The greatest danger from such volcanoes is not so much the ash, lava and superheated pyroclastic flows, but flooding and mudslides sweeping into populated areas on the volcano’s lower slopes. The evacuation of 25,000 people from the hot springs resort town of Banos was mainly to safeguard them from that possibility.

Yasur, Vanuatu

(images via: RedBubble, VivaProject and TravelPod)

Mount Yasur, on Tanna Island in the South Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu, not only has been erupting for many centuries, but perks up several times per hour! Though just 1,184 feet (361m) in height, Mount Yasur is crowned by an almost perfectly circular summit crater over 1,300 feet (400m) wide.

(image via: Volcano Discovery)

Much like Hawaii’s Kilauea, Mount Yasur erupts in a very predictable manner and at a steady level of activity, allowing tourists to approach to very close distances. An example of this was seen during the broadcast of “Survivor: Vanuatu – Islands of Fire”, when players who won a reward challenge enjoyed a picnic of hotdogs and beer while Mount Yasur’s lava fountains provided a unique sound and light show.

Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland

(images via: Stromboli Online)

Last but not least, the noisy newsmaker itself – Eyjafjallajökull. The volcano’s current eruptive phase may have only just begun: its previous eruption which began in December of 1821 lasted well into 1823. Volcanologists have determined that Eyjafjallajökull also erupted in the year 1612, and before that in 920.

(images via: Stromboli Online and The Great Beyond)

Ominously, each of the three previous eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull were followed by the eruption of Katla, a much larger subglacial volcano just 15 miles (25km) away. In a BBC interview broadcast on April 20, Icelandic President Ólafur Grímsson described the current chaos caused by Eyjafjallajökull as “a small rehearsal”, and warned that “the time for Katla to erupt is coming close… we [Iceland] have prepared… it is high time for European governments and airline authorities all over the world to start planning for the eventual Katla eruption.” C’mon Ólafur, don’t sugarcoat it, give it to us straight, OK?

Just to show that Ólafur isn’t kidding, here’s a video showing what active Icelandic volcanoes like Eyjafjallajökull are all about:

Volcano Eyjafjallajoekull at Iceland, via Marcszeglat

(images via: PC WIN and Daily Mail UK)

Some wonder as to the reasons for the increasing appearances of volcanic eruptions in the news media (global warming? The End Times?), but in actuality it’s WE who are appearing more – in closer proximity to active volcanoes than ever before. Population pressure will do that and there’s nothing like an infusion of volcanic ash and minerals to boost the fertility of soil and attract opportunistic farmers. One might say, don’t blame science fiction, instead blame human friction.

Source: Ecoist