Postcards from Palau Ep4 - Nautilus encounter
How do you improve a dive in some of the world’s most pristine waters, amidst elaborate coral formations inhabited by sharks and other amazing underwater species? Throw in a lucky sighting of the rare and mysterious nautilus, a living fossil whose ancestors go back millions of years!
via Earth Touch.
Structural Colour, Soap Films, & Nanotech Security From Butterflies
Scientists are being inspired by nature to design the next generation of security devices. Arrays of nanoscale holes create beautiful reflected colours that are almost impossible to forge. This video was supported by TechNyou - check out their series on logical fallacies: http://bit.ly/WBsD31
Soon these nanoscale security devices could replace holograms. They are many times more reflective than holograms, and although the structures are smaller scale, they are lower aspect ratio and therefore easy to manufacture in bulk.
The electron wiggle simulation is from PhET, the best physics simulations ever: http://phet.colorado.edu
Special thanks to Thomas from Copenhagen who showed me around the city including the science museum where he assisted with the soap bubble demonstration.
Clint Landrock is the Chief Technology Officer for Nanotech Securities: http://www.nanosecurity.ca
Music is “Firefly in a Fairytale” by Gareth Coker
by Veritasium.
What Has Nature Ever Done For Us?
Leading environmentalist and sustainability adviser Tony Juniper argues that we must put a price on nature if we are to save it.
Chair: Jo Confino, executive editor, the Guardian and chairman and editorial director of Guardian Sustainable Business.
Listen to the podcast of the full event including audience Q&A: http://www.thersa.org/events/audio-and-past-events/2012/what-has-nature-ever-done-for-us
Our events are made possible with the support of our Fellowship. Support us by donating or applying to become a Fellow.
Donate: http://www.thersa.org/support-the-rsa
Become a Fellow: http://www.thersa.org/fellowship/apply
by the RSA.
Dolphin stampede!!!
via jtotheizzoe:
So many dolphins! This is footage of a rare “superpod” gathering of Pacific dolphins, numbering in the thousands. What a sight to behold. Needs an epic soundtrack … someone get on that.
(via io9)
Detention or Eco Club: Choosing your future - Juan Martinez
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/detention-or-eco-club-choosing-your-future-juan-martinez
Growing up surrounded by gangs in South Central Los Angeles, Juan Martinez wasn’t exposed to the great outdoors. One day in high school, he was given the life-changing choice between detention or Eco Club. He chose nature and has since devoted his life to getting kids back to the outdoors as a National Geographic Explorer and director of the Natural Leaders Network.
Talk by Juan Martinez.
by TED Education.
El Nino Activity Rises Above Noisy Background
via laboratoryequipment:
By examining a set of fossil corals that are as much as 7,000 years old, scientists have dramatically expanded the amount of information available on the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, a Pacific Ocean climate cycle that affects climate worldwide. The new information will help assess the accuracy of climate model projections for 21st century climate change in the tropical Pacific.
The new coral data show that 20th century El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) climate cycles are significantly stronger than ENSO variations captured in the fossil corals. But the data also reveal large natural variations in past ENSO strength, making it difficult to attribute the 20th century intensification of ENSO to rising carbon dioxide levels. Such large natural fluctuations in ENSO activity are also apparent in multi-century climate model simulations.
Read more: http://www.laboratoryequipment.com/videos/2013/01/el-nino-activity-rises-above-noisy-background
Why Aren’t Women Choosing Science Careers?
We here at DNews are a solid mix of guys and girls with passion for all things science. But a video published this summer by the European Commision has us and a bunch of other scientists- and science fans- stewing. Laci Green gives us her take, as only Laci can.
The Matrix Might Be Real
We know ‘The Matrix’ just a movie, but is it really? Researchers at the University of Washington say they have devised a test to tell us whether our entire universe- and even us people- are just some giant computer simulation. What could this test possibly be? Anthony plugs in and finds out.
Nature Is Smarter Than Us
Nature is pretty damn smart. In fact, many modern technologies get their ideas from nature. Trace explores the awesome field of biomimicry.
by DNews Channel.
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Theodore Roosevelt’s Conservation Influences
Theodore Roosevelt was a great lover of nature long before he became president. From boyhood throughout his adult life, Roosevelt’s enthusiasm for conservation was encouraged and shaped by several influential figures. Early on, TR’s uncle, Robert Barnwell Roosevelt inspired his nephew with his tireless struggles on behalf of conservation policy. Later, Roosevelt would meet the naturalists John Burroughs, George Bird Grinnell, and Museum ornithologist, Frank Chapman. During his presidency, Roosevelt would call upon them as trusted advisors. One of his greatest political allies in the crusade to preserve America’s natural beauty was Gifford Pinchot, the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service.
The restored Theodore Roosevelt Memorial is now open at the American Museum of Natural History. Visit amnh.org/roosevelt for more information.
by AMNH.
TEDx Milton - George Kourounis - I’m a Nature Junky
George Kourounis is the host of Angry Planet who beguiles us with tales of his exciting adventures and exotic locations he has visited.
George Kourounis is a renowned global adventurer, and host of Angry Planet. Based in Toronto, his efforts to document nature’s worst weather conditions have taken him all over the globe. Whether it’s a tornado outbreak in Kansas, a monster hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico, forest fires in British Columbia, or even an erupting volcano, he’s usually in the middle of the action with his camera rolling. His efforts have been seen around the world on the Discovery Channel, National Geographic Explorer, BBC-TV, CNN and of course, his own adventure TV program Angry Planet which has been broadcast in over 100 countries.
by TEDx Talks.
TEDx WWF - Jane Fulton-Suri: What Nature Can Teach Us About Design
As designers we’re inspired by looking at the world. Most often we take an exclusively human-centered view, but we’ll learn more if we broaden that view to include the natural world. If we’re curious and look carefully, nature will teach us to design for human needs and desires in more elegant and sustainable ways.
Jane Fulton Suri is Managing Partner and Creative Director at IDEO
#scio11 – Visual Storytelling
Visual storytelling through science/nature photography - Melody Dye and Allie Wilkinson
Photography can be a powerful tool for visual storytelling. As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. In this session, we’ll discuss strategies for crafting a compelling visual narrative that complements and enriches scientific presentation, be it in a scientific paper, talk, or blog article. We’ll also explore open access online tools that are useful for post-production and publishing.
This is a recording of a session from ScienceOnline2011, the fifth annual conference on Science and the Web. Join us for the sixth – bigger and better edition – next January at ScienceOnline2012.
The Velvet Worm
This is a video of velvet worm taken from the BBC’s Life in the Undergrowth documentary series.
via sciencecenter:
The velvet worm - one of the creepiest crawlies you’ll ever see
Check out this short video, in which David Attenborough introduces you to the obscure Onychophora worms.
Those stubby little legs are enough to give you nightmares.
Parasitoid wasp (Neoneurus vesculus) ovipositing in ants (Formica cunicularia)
via insectlove:
“Females of the parasitoid wasp Neoneurus vesculus ovipositing in workers of the ant Formica cunicularia. Recorded in slow motion video, at a rate of 300 frames per second. Madrid, August and September, 2010.
Source: Cees van Achterberg, José María Durán (2011) Oviposition behaviour of four ant parasitoids (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae, Neoneurini and Ichneumonidae, Hybrizontinae), with the description of three new European species. ZooKeys 125 : 59-106, freely available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.125.1754 .” From PensoftPublishers
Nature by Numbers
A SHORT MOVIE INSPIRED ON NUMBERS, GEOMETRY AND NATURE.
Go to etereaestudios.com if you are looking for more information: the theory behind the movie (Fibonacci, Golden Ratio, Delaunay, Voronoi…), stills and screenshots showing the work in progress. There are lots of free training materials and 3D workshops, too ;-)
via graspingfog:
Math is cool.
