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20. November 2009

Seven Gigantic Rock Figures Rising from Beneath the Urals

Bursting out of a plateau in a remote region of the Ural Mountains, like the gnarled fingers of some giant subterranean monster, the seven rock formations of Manpupuner in the Komi Republic are as veiled in mystery as they sometimes are in snowstorms. Known as the “7 strong men”, these gargantuan stone towers are considered one of the Seven Wonders of Russia, and with its air of inscrutability, Manpupuner draws visitors from across its vast country.

20. November 2009

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Divebombing Birds Catching Prey Underwater

A bird diving and swimming underwater seems like a paradox but then, our feathery friends are crafty when it comes to reaching tasty prey like fish - some birds even dive a few feet deep to catch it! Dippers, gannets, kingfishers, gulls, swans and cormorants all perform the most amazing stunts when it’s time to feed their bellies.

19. November 2009

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Did We Wipe Out the Prehistoric Hobbit Man?

A race of intelligent, diminutive hominids co-existing alongside humanity in South-East Asia? In the year 2003, a creature from mythology stepped out of the shadows and into the cold, hard light of science when an archaeological dig revealed what appeared to be a new species of hominid that matched closely with local myths of a creature known as the Ebu Gogo. An ancient 'hobbit man' had been discovered...

18. November 2009

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Life After Death: Taxidermy’s Most Macabre Creations

All artists, it can be argued, are playing god when they bring their works into the world, but while some of these creations aim to please through their beauty, others are geared to cause pain as well as pleasure, fear as much as fascination. These objects of sublime horror have been sent to haunt our dreams; take a browse through this bizarre bestiary and you’ll see what we mean.

17. November 2009

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When Small Animals Go Supersize

Super-size isn’t just the American way; it seems Nature has been dealing out enormous portions for thousands of years – and the fast food nation just got on the bandwagon. Yep, through the course of evolution, many gigantic species have come to light, quite a few of which have gone back to the black of extinction. It’s the giants among animals we normally consider small that concern us here.

17. November 2009

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Look Closer. The Devil is in the Details

A photograph is flat, isn't it? Think again when you view the following life-size photo statues. In the capable hands of Korean sculptor Osang Gwon, hundreds of photographs become a life-size copy of the original, turning reality a bit on its head. People, horses, cars and bags suddenly take on a life of their own. If you missed Osang Gwon’s recent New York exhibition, here’s a cross-section of his work.

17. November 2009

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Horse Surfing FTW!!! [PICS]

A mounted thoroughbred gallops through the shallows, while a bloke on a board getting dragged behind skids across the water’s surface, landing jumps and flips over the incoming breakers. Spectacular certainly, but as extreme action goes it all seems rather British. This is horse surfing. Just the name of this new spin on board sports is enough to raise a few eyebrows – neigh, even elicit a few WTFs – but as with anything, don’t pooh-pooh it before you’ve given it a pop.

16. November 2009

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Berlin’s 3300ft Artificial Mountain

As if Berlin wasn’t by many estimations already Europe’s most buzzing city, plans are afoot to make the German capital literally tower above the competition. An idea for a 1000-m-tall, man-made mountain branded The Berg has been put forward by zany architect Jacob Tigges. Complete with verdant alpine slopes and a winter snow-capped peak, The Berg is being billed as Berlin’s next big thing – an iconic landmark beyond belief.

16. November 2009

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2030: The Year Solar Energy Will Be Beamed Down From Space With Lasers!

Since the 1960s, space enthusiasts and international space agencies have had one dream: to collect solar power and use it on earth. What seemed utopic more than 40 years ago is about to become reality: the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency JAXA especially is hell-bent on harvesting solar energy from space by 2030. Let's take a trip up into the Earth's orbit to get a glimpse of this brave new world.

15. November 2009

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Where To Watch Tomorrow’s Leonid Meteor Showers

The famous Leonid Meteors return to Earth once again on November 16th and 17th, 2009. A spectacular meteorite display is predicted in many hot spots around the globe as at least two comet dust trails collide with the upper layers of the Earth's atmosphere. Let's doff our astronomical caps to the Leonids, among the brightest meteors you're ever likely to see lighting up the night sky.