Hovering like a flying saucer in the sky, these amazing layered cloud formations are called lenticular (lentil-shaped) clouds. They form near mountain ranges, where mountains disturb the airflow and create pressure waves. Fast Facts Pressure waves form as air flows over mountains and is forced upwards. This creates waves in the same way as a …
One of nature’s most explosive combinations occurs when an erupting volcano generates an electrical storm. The reason for this lightning bolt from the blue is still not fully understood. Lightning is caused by a build up of static electric charges. Scientists are not sure what creates the charge during a volcanic eruption, but think that …
Most thunderstorms develop from updraughts of rising air, with the most violent and speedy ones called supercells. These long-lasting storms are rare but deadly – they can unleash havoc in the form of whirling tornadoes, giant hailstones, punishing winds, and flash floods. Take cover! Earth experiences about 45,000 thunderstorms a day, but only a few …
No matter how long you keep staring and guessing, these oddball objects are almost impossible to fathom. Called fulgurites, they are the remarkable and rare result of what can happen when lightning strikes planet Earth. A fulgurite is formed when a lightning bolt with a minimum temperature of 1,800°C (3,270°F) strikes sand or rock. Heat …
The incredible power of nature is seen when a violent dust storm blows up, filling the skies with inescapable banks of suffocating cloud. Tonnes of whirling sand or soil are swept along by high winds, leaving a trail of devastation behind. Dust storms are most likely to occur during droughts, when sand or soil is …
Death Valley is the USA’s hottest spot. This remote desert landscape provides a perfect backdrop for science-fiction blockbusters such as Star Wars, but something stranger than fiction happens here. Heavy rocks inexplicably move around. From magnetic fields to alien activity, theories abounded. Finally, we know the truth. Since 1948 scientific research has left no stone …
Forget the thunderous roars of a violent storm: a less dramatic storm produces the most spectacular scenes. Ice storms happen when supercooled rain freezes as it hits the ground, transforming the landscape into a frozen fairytale world. Ice storms are rare events that occur when rain falls through warm air and meets cold air near …
From small sardines to whopper whales, all kinds of marine life migrate. Humpback whales break the record for the longest mammal migration, covering 8,300 km (5,160 miles) from Pacific waters off Costa Rica all the way to Antarctica. Marine Migration Millions of sardines cause an amazing annual spectacle by swimming in one supersized shoal along South …
Assumptions about the female of the species giving birth are true of most creatures, but reproduction is all at sea for seahorses. It’s the male of this odd-looking fish species that experiences pregnancy and childbirth, to sighs of relief from female seahorses everywhere! The female seahorse makes the eggs inside her body. Male and female entwine …
At first glance, fur and feathers appear to have forged an incredible friendship in this photograph. The weasel hitches a ride on the woodpecker’s back as they soar the skies together. In reality, this picture catches on camera the ultimate airborne animal attack. In 2015 amateur photographer Martin Le-May shot this image in Hornchurch Country …
The lord of the dance on the island of Madagascar is the Verreaux’s sifaka. Fancy footwork has made this species of lemur a global sensation, but these moves have real purpose. Whirling and twirling through the forest helps them to evade predators. As dawn breaks, groups of Verreaux’s sifakas perform a dazzling dance display. They swing, …
No kidding – the goats of Tamri village in Morocco show great agility in searching for their favourite food. These nimble nibblers claw, jump, and scramble up argan trees to reach their beloved berries, setting in motion a practice that’s been around for centuries. Argan berries are a good source of income in this otherwise barren land. …
Is it a leaf? Is it tree bark? No, it’s the Satanic leaf-tailed gecko. Cleverly disguised as a rotting leaf, Madagascar’s camouflage king has red eyes, pointy horns, and a taste for night hunting: it’s nature’s most devilish deceiver. This mini-monster epitomizes survival of the fittest, having adapted gradually to become today’s extraordinary leaf impersonator. …
Devil in Disguise – the Satanic Leaf-tailed Gecko Read More »
Considered a sign of good fortune in its native Central and South America, the Callicore butterfly’s lucky numbers are 88 and 89. Emblazoned across each wing, the striking digits help this species to attract mates amidst the flora and fauna. The exact markings of the 88’89 butterfly depend on the specific subspecies. There are 12 …
When is a snake not a snake? When it’s a caterpillar! This extraordinary disguise is self-defence. The snake mimic hawkmoth caterpillar does an uncanny impression of a scary snake to avoid its forest predators. If this hawkmoth caterpillar feels threatened, it immediately takes on snake-like characteristics and behaviour. Pulling in its legs and head, the …
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