99 bottles of nectar on the wall

Fermented beverages are not exlusive for Homo sapiens, although we do consume it in an impressive quantity and together with weird rituals compared to other animals. Now it turns out that a treeshrew species (Ptilocercus lowii) consumes the fermented nectar (3.8 %) from a specific tree, which in turn makes the little creature have a high blood concentration of alcohol at any time. This doesn't mean that we have a jungle full of intoxicated treeshews, since the alcohol apparently leaves the threeshews uneffected from the drunk behaviour humans can boast with.

Now I'm off for five days at Wacken Open Air where I will indulge in my other main interest, which is the heavier/harder side of music. While there I will probably consume some beer and when I do, I will have the treeshrub in mind!


Source:
http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2008/07/25/0801628105.abstract?sid=4704ed9e-9f9e-4b54-9cc1-9ae8cb46e4a7

Holy pig!

An acquaintance sent me this link of a piglet with a wretched face twisted into a monkey-like appearance. It was born in a chinese village and scared the whole community. Appearently, only the son of the family seems to appriciate the little piggy (a promising child, I would say!).

I myself would like to take it home, pet it, feed it and have it as my very own for ever and ever and ever. And of course, I would try to breed of it. Wouldn't that be something...

Cthulhu's spawns has 96 arms

Image revised from http://www.pinktentacle.com/2008/07/monster-octopi-with-scores-of-extra-tentacles/

I once read the book "Maya" by the norwegian writer Jostein Garner. In one chapter, two of the book's charachters discusses how eventual intelligent lifeforms from other worlds would look like. One of the guys states that they ought to have two hands "because that is enough". In my teenage head I thought that was a good quote so I've kept it with me (of course, I've realized over the years that is not true since evolution isn't a goal-oriented force of nature...but never mind that!).

That is, I thought it was a good quote until I came across this picture of a 96-armed (!!!) octopus (found in Shima Marineland Aquarium). Since octopusses are highly intelligent, this defintitely speaks against the Maya-philosophers view on bright extraterrestrial life.

So I guess that this means that we don't know what to expect when trying to socialize with E.T. and his kin. All Lovecraft-freaks must be
thrilled.

Engrish.com

This is not really a curiosity but if you enjoy the misunderstandings language differences can give rise to, please visit engrish.com. Homo sapiens - same same but different.

Spooky flowers!

Image revised from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Monotropa_Uniflora_National_Forest_45_Oregon.JPG

The ghost flower Monotropa uniflora is a freaky organism. Its often mistaked for being some kind of fungus but it is truly a plant, although a plant that lacks chlorophyll! Instead of getting energy from sunlight, it takes carbonic compounds (i.e. sugars) from a mycelial fungi that in turn has taken advantage of a photosyntetic plant though symbiosis. This sneaky way of getting nutrients is known as mycoheterotrophy. Since the ghost flower doesn't need sunlight it can actually grow in the dark. If you don't think that is cool, you're not my friend.


Image revised from http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/eastern/DukesTrail/index.shtml

Being all white and pretty, its tempting to pick a bouquet and bring home but this is not a good idea. Due to its dependance on other organism for energy, the plant will wither away in just a few hours.



Image revised from http://www.missouriplants.com/Whitealt/Monotropa_uniflora_page.html

Sources: http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/oct2002.html http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2005/07/monotropa_unifl.php http://www.mykoweb.com/articles/Mycorrhizas_5.html

World of worms

Image revised from http://kentsimmons.uwinnipeg.ca/16cm05/16labman05/lb5pg5.htm

I've never liked worms. Actually, you can say that I have a worm-phobia without exaggerating. Since I am a person who wants to be in control of all feelings, this is not really a part of my psyche that I like. Therefore, I try to approach the world of the worms in baby steps. My goal is to be able too look at a living earthworm or leech without feeling the primitive urge to scream and act like a crazy person. But that lies in the future. For now, I'm content with myself when I'm able to read about more pretty worms without any hint of unpleasantness.

Image revised from http://members.aol.com/uwphotohi/Images/flatworm.JPG

Marine flatworms are worms that I can cope with when seen on picture. The mating ritual of some species is fairly entertaining. Being hermaphoditic, the worms produce both eggs and sperms so when getting down to buisness these species have a hard time to decide who's going to be the taker and who's going to be the giver. Therefore they engage in a funny little game called penis fencing (!). The rules is that the first worm to pierce the other one with its penis gets to be the inseminator. The "looser" has to carry the future baby worms. Helluva game I'd say. Imagine the red light district in Amsterdam if humans would mate in this way and you'd get a funny but disturbing picture.





Image revised from http://www.rossum.com/maldiv99/maldive1/images/flatworm.jpg




Image revised from http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/klimt/11/photos.htm



Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platyhelminthes

La Specola

Before I leave this earthly state (which I hope won't be in the next 200 years or so), I plan to visit some of the worlds most exquisite muséums/collections of anatomy and biology oddities. One museum that's on the top ten of my list is "La Specola", which is located in Florence. It has an astonishing collection of anatomical waxes (an art from the 17th century with educational purposes). Have a look on these models and get impressed:

Sources:
http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/museum_of_natural_history.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Specola


Images taken from:
http://scienceblogs.com/bioephemera/2008/02/wombs_waxes_and_wonder_cabinet_1.php
http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/museum_of_natural_history.html
http://english.firenze.net/turismo/cm_dettaglio.wbs?id_contenuto=4743&id_categorie=25