image of the day

Sombrero galaxy, also known as M104, is one of the largest galaxies in the Virgo cluster, about 28 million light years from Earth. The Chandra X-ray image (in blue) shows hot gas in the galaxy and point sources that are a mixture of objects within the Sombrero, as well as quasars in the background. The Chandra observations show that diffuse X-ray emission extends over 60,000 light years from the center of the Sombrero. (The galaxy itself spans 50,000 light years across.) Scientists think this extended X-ray glow may be the result of a wind from the galaxy, primarily being driven by…
Conservationists have welcomed the Russian government's decision to strengthen laws protecting the Amur leopard, Panthera pardus orientalis, the world's most endangered big cat, from extinction. Fines for poaching will be increased to 100 times the nation's annual minimum wage. [much larger image] Image: BBC News. As long as you send images to me (and I hope it will be for forever), I shall continue to share them with my readership. My purpose for posting these images is to remind all of us of the grandeur of the natural world and that there is a world out there that is populated by…
Neoloboquadrina pachyderma, an amoeba Foraminifera that eats plankton in oceans' surface waters. The image was taken by a team that measured how much carbon sank below 500 meters in two regions of the Pacific Ocean. Writing in Science, they reported "striking differences" that could affect sequestration calculations. [much larger image] Image: BBC News. As long as you send images to me (and I hope it will be for forever), I shall continue to share them with my readership. My purpose for posting these images is to remind all of us of the grandeur of the natural world and that there is a…
The photographer writes about the hike where he took this picture. [much larger image] Image: Dave Munger, fellow scibling. As long as you send images to me (and I hope it will be for forever), I shall continue to share them with my readership. My purpose for posting these images is to remind all of us of the grandeur of the natural world and that there is a world out there that is populated by millions of unique species. We are a part of this world whether we like it or not: we have a choice to either preserve these species or to destroy them in search of short-term monetary gains. But if…
I am a great admirer of nudibranchs, having worked with them for a little while as a graduate student, but this is the first one that has appeared on this blog. Does anyone know the species? The photographer writes; It's a nudibranch with a nice purple sea urchin in the background. I don't know what sort, but I saw two of them yesterday at Port Noarlunga (Australia). This one was about 120mm long. It was in about 2m of water at low tide on the limestone reef. [much larger image] Image: Stephen Kittel, stephenk at internode dot on dot net. As long as you send images to me (and I hope it…
Old Wives Enoplosus armatus. The photographer writes; A very common fish in South Australia. They can be found in small schools or individually. Yesterday (25 April, actually), there were a number of pairs sitting quietly along the bottom edge of the Port Noarlunga reef. This pair were sheltering under an old ship's anchor located on a SCUBA diver's trail. There were several other pairs just out in the open above the sandy floor. This pair was at about 4-5m depth at low tide. I was only snorkelling but I was able to dive down a number of times to get several shots. The fish didn't swim away…
Newly described species, Goodman's mouse lemur, Microcebus lehilahytsara. is is a new species of Lemur that they've identified in Madagascar. They named it after Steve Goodman. The scientists say; Lehilahytsara means "good man" in Malagasy. The German primatologists chose this name to honor Steve Goodman, scientist with The Field Museum in Chicago and WWF in Madagascar. "Goodman's field research in all remote parts of Madagascar has contributed enormously to our knowledge about the diversity of Madagascar's unique and threatened fauna and flora," Kappeler says. "It is truly an honor to have…
Can you image how much patience is required to photograph ants? Formica aserva Northern Sierra Nevada, California, USA Formica aserva, a slave-raiding ant. Photographer: Alexander Wild, 2003. As long as you send images to me (and I hope it will be for forever), I shall continue to share them with my readership. My purpose for posting these images is to remind all of us of the grandeur of the natural world and that there is a world out there that is populated by millions of unique species. We are a part of this world whether we like it or not: we have a choice to either preserve these…
Can you image how much patience is required to photograph ants? Formica incerta Gannett Hill, Ontario Co., New York, USA Photographer: Alexander Wild, 2003. As long as you send images to me (and I hope it will be for forever), I shall continue to share them with my readership. My purpose for posting these images is to remind all of us of the grandeur of the natural world and that there is a world out there that is populated by millions of unique species. We are a part of this world whether we like it or not: we have a choice to either preserve these species or to destroy them in search of…
Can you image how much patience is required to photograph ants? Rhytidoponera metallica -- Greenhead ant Victoria, Australia. Portrait of a metallic green ant. Photographer: Alexander Wild, 2005. As long as you send images to me (and I hope it will be for forever), I shall continue to share them with my readership. My purpose for posting these images is to remind all of us of the grandeur of the natural world and that there is a world out there that is populated by millions of unique species. We are a part of this world whether we like it or not: we have a choice to either preserve these…
Can you image how much patience is required to photograph ants? Neivamyrmex opacithorax -- Army Ant Queen Arizona, USA A worker army ant (top left) carries a queen army ant in the same style as army ants carry brood and prey items, slung under the body and dragged across the substrate. Notice the difference in size among the workers, and between the workers and the queen. Photographer: Alexander Wild, 2005. As long as you send images to me (and I hope it will be for forever), I shall continue to share them with my readership. My purpose for posting these images is to remind all of us of…
Can you image how much patience is required to photograph ants? Eciton burchelli -- army ant Captive colony at the California Academy of Sciences (from Trinidad) Army ants on the run. Photographer: Alexander Wild, 2004. As long as you send images to me (and I hope it will be for forever), I shall continue to share them with my readership. My purpose for posting these images is to remind all of us of the grandeur of the natural world and that there is a world out there that is populated by millions of unique species. We are a part of this world whether we like it or not: we have a choice…
Can you image how much patience is required to photograph ants? Eciton sp. Male wing venation, inverted color. Photographer: Alexander Wild, 2003. As long as you send images to me (and I hope it will be for forever), I shall continue to share them with my readership. My purpose for posting these images is to remind all of us of the grandeur of the natural world and that there is a world out there that is populated by millions of unique species. We are a part of this world whether we like it or not: we have a choice to either preserve these species or to destroy them in search of short-…
Can you image how much patience is required to photograph ants? Linepithema humile -- The Argentine ant Northern California, USA A foraging trail of Argentine ants. Photographer: Alexander Wild, 2005. As long as you send images to me (and I hope it will be for forever), I shall continue to share them with my readership. My purpose for posting these images is to remind all of us of the grandeur of the natural world and that there is a world out there that is populated by millions of unique species. We are a part of this world whether we like it or not: we have a choice to either preserve…
Can you image how much patience is required to photograph ants? Sphinctomyrmex froggatti Victoria, Australia. The distinct constrictions of the abdomen are diagnostic for Sphinctomyrmex ants. Photographer: Alexander Wild, 2006. As long as you send images to me (and I hope it will be for forever), I shall continue to share them with my readership. My purpose for posting these images is to remind all of us of the grandeur of the natural world and that there is a world out there that is populated by millions of unique species. We are a part of this world whether we like it or not: we have a…
Can you image how much patience is required to photograph ants? Portrait of a Mystrium ant, her mandibles held open. Photographer: Alexander Wild, 2006. As long as you send images to me (and I hope it will be for forever), I shall continue to share them with my readership. My purpose for posting these images is to remind all of us of the grandeur of the natural world and that there is a world out there that is populated by millions of unique species. We are a part of this world whether we like it or not: we have a choice to either preserve these species or to destroy them in search of…
Can you image how much patience is required to photograph ants? Amblyopone australis Victoria, Australia. Photographer: Alexander Wild, 2005. As long as you send images to me (and I hope it will be for forever), I shall continue to share them with my readership. My purpose for posting these images is to remind all of us of the grandeur of the natural world and that there is a world out there that is populated by millions of unique species. We are a part of this world whether we like it or not: we have a choice to either preserve these species or to destroy them in search of short-term…
Zen With Lichens. Image:Martin Richard. . tags: lichen, nature
Grunion spawning (California). The photographer writes; Here's a fresh fish foto -- this is from last week's run, the first (official) of the season. It was a great run. More pictures from last week's run. Image: Carl Manaster. As long as you send images to me (and I hope it will be for forever), I shall continue to share them with my readership. My purpose for posting these images is to remind all of us of the grandeur of the natural world and that there is a world out there that is populated by millions of unique species. We are a part of this world whether we like it or not: we have a…
Gulf Fritillaries, Agraulis vanillae, mating in Houston. The butterflies were swarming the garden at the W. 11th St. Park. Image: Biosparite, 2006. As long as you send images to me (and I hope it will be for forever), I shall continue to share them with my readership. My purpose for posting these images is to remind all of us of the grandeur of the natural world and that there is a world out there that is populated by millions of unique species. We are a part of this world whether we like it or not: we have a choice to either preserve these species or to destroy them in search of short-…