Transit of Venus

A transit of Venus occurs when Venus is observed to move across the face of the Sun. The first transit since 1882 occurred on 8 June 2004, the second on 6 June 2012, and was intermittently visible in Sydney from beginning to end, starting at 8.16am (1st contact) and ending at 2.44pm (last contact). The next transit of Venus won’t occur until 2117.

Tightrope walker crosses Niagara Falls on 2-inch wire

Nik Wallenda put heavy wind and extreme levels of spray to one side to walk on a tightrope from one side of Niagara Falls to the other.

He is the latest in a long line of members of his family to have completed a heart-stopping manoeuvre high above the ground.

The daredevil started on the US side of the iconic waterfall and made the 1,800 ft trip to Canadian land on a two-inch wire, which was suspended more than 150 ft above the ferocious water.

Thousands of people gathered to watch him become the first person to cross the Falls in this way for more than 100 years.

It is the latest stunt in a catalogue of breathtaking challenges undertaken by the Wallenda family dating back over 200 years. Nik is the seventh generation of the Flying Wallendas.

He is only too aware of the dangers of tightrope walking, having lost two members of the family in previous accidents. He was therefore ordered to use a safety harness by sponsors ABC, who said they would stop broadcasting if he removed it.

His great-grandfather Karl Wallenda is one of those to have died, after a 1978 stunt in Puerto 

Rico went horribly wrong.

Read More-http://www.metro.co.uk/news/902270-tightrope-walker-crosses-niagara-falls-on-2-inch-wire

Bright purple crab discovered in Philippines

One of the newly discovered crab species, Insulamon palawanense, which is bright purple in color.

Four new species of crab that sport some wild colors have been discovered near the Philippine island of Palawan.

The newfound species are threatened by mining activities in the region, which is one of the world's major biodiversity hotspots, its discoverers said. About half of the species that live on Palawan are endemic, meaning they are found nowhere else.

Scientists at the Senckenberg Research Institute in Germany and De La Salle University in Manila found the four new species of Insulamon freshwater crab genus as part of their Aqua Palawana research program.

The reddish-purple crabs are the only varieties that are endemic to only one or a few islands; the sea keeps them from spreading further, as they depend on freshwater at all stages of their development. Having been completely separated from their relatives, they have developed their own separate species and genera over tens of thousands of years.

"We have proved that the only previously known type of Insulamon is restricted to the Calamian group of islands to the north of Palawan. The four newly discovered species live exclusively on the actual island of Palawan and make it a unique habitat," said study leader Hendrik Freitag of Senckenberg.

But the unique species are threatened by several mining projects that could damage or alter the crabs' habitat.

"The smaller the remaining natural habitat, the greater is the risk to endemic fauna and flora. Even minor environmental changes can lead to extinctions. It is all the more important to do research in this region and show that the biodiversity of these islands is unique and worth protecting," Freitag said in a statement.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/47158113/ns/technology_and_science-science/#.T6DLhbOh7mY

Frog relaxes, world goes wild

Frogs have a reputation for being kinetic creatures. Hoping from lily pad to lily pad, searching for flies. But sometimes, an amphibian just needs to relax.

Take this at-ease froggy, for example. She was caught on video while sitting on the edge of a deck, long legs hanging down, belly sticking out, looking like she's unwinding after a long day at the office.

The video quickly went viral and inspired some to ask if the frog was in some way fastened to the deck. After all, the frog is so eerily still. But, according to the person who posted the clip, that just isn't so.

"The frog is OK," the description read. "There is no nails, no glue, animal abuse, etc. Later, she jumped off the bench and galloped away to the water."




By Mike Krumboltz