Deformutilation

Thursday, May 23, 2013

The Eyes of the Dead - Windows to the Soul

Murder Weapons Part V

Here you can find Parts I, Part II and Part III and Part IV

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Gem quality opal is one of the most spectacular gemstones. The best opals can command prices per carat that rival the most expensive diamonds, rubies and emeralds. They are very popular gems. The internal structure of precious opal makes it diffract light; depending on the conditions in which it formed it can take on many colors. Precious opal ranges from clear through white, gray, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, magenta, rose, pink, slate, olive, brown, and black. Of these hues, the reds against black are the most rare, whereas white and greens are the most common. It varies in optical density from opaque to semi-transparent.

From fire opal to white opal - LINK

Rough opal stone mined at Coober Pedy Opal Fields - LINK

Magdalena mining district in Jalisco, Mexico - LINK

Koroit Boulder Matrix Opal - LINK

Lightning Ridge rough Opal Nobby 62 ct Gem - LINK

White Ethiopian opal - LINK

Discovered in 1989, this is one of the largest (2765 carats) and finest quality boulder opals ever mined. This opal is unique not only for its size but also for its quality---every color of the spectrum is visible which is extremely rare, even in the finest of opals. - LINK

Photo credit: Jessica Hately

Blue crust opal - LINK

Boulder opal. Photo by ozplasmic on Deviantart

1151 gr or 5755 ct One of the Largest Black Opal from Grawin - LINK

Rough opal - LINK

Display at the Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals. Photo by Ed T on Flickr

Welo opal - LINK

Opal from Wollo, Ethiopia - LINK

Opal nodule.Wolfgang E. Henkel collection - LINK

Yowah matrix opal - LINK

Monday, May 20, 2013

Cannibalism in Nature

In zoology, cannibalism is the act of one individual of a species consuming all or part of another individual of the same species as food. Cannibalism is a common interaction in the animal kingdom and has been recorded for more than 1500 species. It does not, as once believed, occur only as a result of extreme food shortages or artificial conditions, but commonly occurs under natural conditions in a variety of species. Cannibalism seems to be especially prevalent in aquatic communities, in which up to approximately 90% of the organisms engage in cannibalism at some point of the life cycle. Cannibalism is also not restricted to carnivorous species, but is commonly found in herbivores and detritivores.

Photo credit: Jesse Schwebach on Flickr

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Photo by Karen Bacon/Solent - LINK

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Photo credit: Piet Heymans/Noble/Draper - LINK

Frozen Tree Sap

During warm periods when temperatures rise above freezing, pressure develops in the tree. This pressure causes the sap to flow out of the tree through a wound/tap hole. During cooler , suction develops, drawing water into the tree. This replenishes the sap in the tree, allowing it to flow again during the next warm period.

Sap flows through a portion of the outer tree trunk called sapwood. Sapwood consists of actively growing cells that conduct water and nutrients(sap) from the roots to the branches of the tree. During the day, activity in the cells of sapwood produces carbon dioxide. This carbon dioxide is released to the intercellular spaces in the sapwood. In addition, carbon dioxide that was dissolved in the cool sap is released into the spaces between the cells. Both of these sources of carbon dioxide cause pressure to build up in the cells. A third source of pressure is called osmotic pressure, which is caused by the presence of sugar and other substances dissolved in the sap. When the tree is wounded, as when it is tapped by a maple producer, the pressure forces the sap out of the tree. At night or during other times when temperatures go below freezing, the carbon dioxide cools and therefore contracts. Some of the carbon dioxide also becomes dissolved in the cooled sap. Finally, some of the sap freezes. All three of these factors create suction in the tree. This causes water from the soil to be drawn up into the roots and travel up through the sapwood. When temperatures rise above freezing the next day, sap flow begins again.