Bees make a natural plastic that starts breaking down in soil within months
Solitary bees make natural plastic that breaks down in soil, offering clues for designing less persistent synthetic materials.
That sounds promising.
Solitary bees make natural plastic that breaks down in soil, offering clues for designing less persistent synthetic materials.
That sounds promising.
Birdfeeding
Nov. 12th, 2026 12:39 pmToday is cloudy, chilly, and damp. It started drizzling when I was outside.
I fed the birds. I've seen a flock of sparrows mobbing the hopper feeder.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 11/12/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 11/12/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 11/12/26 -- I started planting the 100 Muscari Mix from Costco, a bag of assorted grape hyacinths in shades of purple, blue, and white. They come in two 50-bulb bags and I'm partway through the first. I've been planting them along the front of the log garden in the house yard.
EDIT 11/12/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a flock of sparrows mobbing the hopper feeder.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 11/12/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 11/12/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 11/12/26 -- I started planting the 100 Muscari Mix from Costco, a bag of assorted grape hyacinths in shades of purple, blue, and white. They come in two 50-bulb bags and I'm partway through the first. I've been planting them along the front of the log garden in the house yard.
EDIT 11/12/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
As it is now dark, I am done for the night.
Simple fungi can recognize shapes, like circles and crosses, when looking for wood to eat
Scientists found that a brainless wood-rotting fungus can recognize shapes. It grows differently on circles versus crosses, suggesting these simple organisms can process spatial patterns.
Scientists found that a brainless wood-rotting fungus can recognize shapes. It grows differently on circles versus crosses, suggesting these simple organisms can process spatial patterns.
Scientists make the case for a specific year when human activity began transforming Earth, calling it the ‘Anthropocene epoch’
Scientists argue the Anthropocene began in 1952, separating a sharp global transformation from thousands of years of human influence.
Enh. That's way after humans had an overwhelming impact on biodiversity -- which goes back at least as far as the Holocene extinctions and probably farther. The most convincing single year is 1945 for the nuclear age, but again, that's way late. Humans have been impacting the Earth dramatically for a long time.
Scientists argue the Anthropocene began in 1952, separating a sharp global transformation from thousands of years of human influence.
Enh. That's way after humans had an overwhelming impact on biodiversity -- which goes back at least as far as the Holocene extinctions and probably farther. The most convincing single year is 1945 for the nuclear age, but again, that's way late. Humans have been impacting the Earth dramatically for a long time.
Community Thursdays
Nov. 12th, 2026 01:10 amThis year I'm doing Community Thursdays. Some of my activity will involve maintaining communities I run, and my favorites. Some will involve checking my list of subscriptions and posting in lower-traffic ones. Today I have interacted with the following communities...
* Commented on TV Tuesday: Meh in![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
tv_talk.
* Commented on Oracle Options insolottrpgs.
* Commented on Top 10 Ingredients inallaboutfood.
* Commented on TV Tuesday: Meh in
tv_talk.* Commented on Oracle Options in
solottrpgs.* Commented on Top 10 Ingredients in
allaboutfood.Recipe: "Pumpkin Stew with Pork"
Nov. 11th, 2026 08:35 pmI made this tonight.
"Pumpkin Stew with Pork"
Ingredients:
1 thumb of ginger, minced
1 clove of garlic, minced
half a sweet onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 pork cutlets
water
1 teaspoon Bragg's coconut aminos
1/4 teaspoon garam masala
about 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons garam masala
( Read more... )
"Pumpkin Stew with Pork"
Ingredients:
1 thumb of ginger, minced
1 clove of garlic, minced
half a sweet onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 pork cutlets
water
1 teaspoon Bragg's coconut aminos
1/4 teaspoon garam masala
about 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons garam masala
( Read more... )
Octopus suckers hold a surprising clue to how evolution builds new body parts
Cuttlefish and octopus arms use the leg-building genes of insects, but their suckers run on a gene from the embryo's first days.
Oh, it goes back farther than that. Look at what the gene does:
Ets1 normally works during gastrulation, the stage in which a hollow ball of embryonic cells folds inward to form the body’s layers.
That is the first step of simple multicellular life moving toward complexity. The first shapes are very basic things like strings, pancakes, blobs, or spheres; then tubes and hollow balls. Complexity requires getting the cells to do different jobs, which requires sculpting cell masses into different shapes -- the structures of a more differentiated body plan. So basically, the suckers form using a tool from the root kit for complex life. :D
Cuttlefish and octopus arms use the leg-building genes of insects, but their suckers run on a gene from the embryo's first days.
Oh, it goes back farther than that. Look at what the gene does:
Ets1 normally works during gastrulation, the stage in which a hollow ball of embryonic cells folds inward to form the body’s layers.
That is the first step of simple multicellular life moving toward complexity. The first shapes are very basic things like strings, pancakes, blobs, or spheres; then tubes and hollow balls. Complexity requires getting the cells to do different jobs, which requires sculpting cell masses into different shapes -- the structures of a more differentiated body plan. So basically, the suckers form using a tool from the root kit for complex life. :D
Last fall, I forgot a large clay pot outdoors, and it broke over the winter. A large piece of the rim broke off. I still grew things in it over summer.
Now it's fall. I turned it into a toad abode. I left the packed potting soil inside. I stuffed the top with fallen leaves. Then I set it upside-down beside the log garden in the house yard. I put the arch of the broken-off rim beside the gap to shelter the entrance. Then I raked enough leaves to cover the pot entrance and all. This will make a nice shelter for toads and other tiny wildlife over the winter. \o/
There are various ways to make a toad abode, hibernaculum, or other winter shelter for wildlife. Depending on where you live, these may attract toads, frogs, salamanders, snakes, lizards, chipmunks, hedgehogs, dormice, and other critters that need protection from harsh weather. Here are some more ideas ...
( Read more... )
Now it's fall. I turned it into a toad abode. I left the packed potting soil inside. I stuffed the top with fallen leaves. Then I set it upside-down beside the log garden in the house yard. I put the arch of the broken-off rim beside the gap to shelter the entrance. Then I raked enough leaves to cover the pot entrance and all. This will make a nice shelter for toads and other tiny wildlife over the winter. \o/
There are various ways to make a toad abode, hibernaculum, or other winter shelter for wildlife. Depending on where you live, these may attract toads, frogs, salamanders, snakes, lizards, chipmunks, hedgehogs, dormice, and other critters that need protection from harsh weather. Here are some more ideas ...
( Read more... )
Space Exploration
Nov. 11th, 2026 04:30 pmMartian Volcanic Discovery Could Be ‘Smoking Gun’ in Search for Life
The discovery centers around hydrogen chloride gas seeping out through volcanic rifts—something of a “smoking gun” that suggests Mars is not geologically dead, but merely sleeping.
These gases hint at magma, which, when coming into contact with groundwater can produce warm habitable niches for organisms beneath the Red Planet’s surface.
Plausible! :D
The discovery centers around hydrogen chloride gas seeping out through volcanic rifts—something of a “smoking gun” that suggests Mars is not geologically dead, but merely sleeping.
These gases hint at magma, which, when coming into contact with groundwater can produce warm habitable niches for organisms beneath the Red Planet’s surface.
Plausible! :D
Birdfeeding
Nov. 11th, 2026 12:59 pmToday is partly cloudy and mild.
I fed the birds. I haven't seen any; they emptied the hopper feeder.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 11/11/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 11/11/26 -- I planted the rest of the '2 Months of Flowering Crocus' that I started yesterday.
The wind is picking up. Leaves are flying off the trees, swimming through the sky like fish, and flowing over the ground. :D
EDIT 11/11/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
EDIT 11/11/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 11/11/26 -- I flipped over the trough garden for winter.
I set up a toad abode using a broken flowerpot beside the log garden in the house yard.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I haven't seen any; they emptied the hopper feeder.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 11/11/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 11/11/26 -- I planted the rest of the '2 Months of Flowering Crocus' that I started yesterday.
The wind is picking up. Leaves are flying off the trees, swimming through the sky like fish, and flowing over the ground. :D
EDIT 11/11/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I've seen a few sparrows and house finches.
EDIT 11/11/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 11/11/26 -- I flipped over the trough garden for winter.
I set up a toad abode using a broken flowerpot beside the log garden in the house yard.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Good news includes all the things which make us happy or otherwise feel good. It can be personal or public. We never know when something wonderful will happen, and when it does, most people want to share it with someone. It's disappointing when nobody is there to appreciate it. Happily, blogging allows us to share our joys and pat each other on the back.
What good news have you had recently? Are you anticipating any more? Have you found a cute picture or a video that makes you smile? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your life a little happier?
What good news have you had recently? Are you anticipating any more? Have you found a cute picture or a video that makes you smile? Is there anything your online friends could do to make your life a little happier?
Space Exploration
Nov. 10th, 2026 05:59 pmAstronomers discover hidden alien planet in James Webb images
A breakthrough in telescope imaging could reveal countless alien worlds that have been hiding in plain sight. Scientists developed a new technique that uses a digital twin of the James Webb Space Telescope to remove the overwhelming glare of stars, making faint exoplanets two to 15 times easier to detect than with conventional methods. The technology has already uncovered a previously hidden planet in existing telescope data and could reveal many more.
A breakthrough in telescope imaging could reveal countless alien worlds that have been hiding in plain sight. Scientists developed a new technique that uses a digital twin of the James Webb Space Telescope to remove the overwhelming glare of stars, making faint exoplanets two to 15 times easier to detect than with conventional methods. The technology has already uncovered a previously hidden planet in existing telescope data and could reveal many more.
Poem: "The People Who Share the Place"
Nov. 10th, 2026 05:52 pmThis poem came out of the November 3, 2026 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
gs_silva. It also fills the "danger" square in my 11-1-26 card for the Ryan Gosling Movies Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by janetmiles. It belongs to the series Schrodinger's Heroes.
( Read more... )
gs_silva. It also fills the "danger" square in my 11-1-26 card for the Ryan Gosling Movies Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by janetmiles. It belongs to the series Schrodinger's Heroes.( Read more... )
World’s Driest Desert Erupts into Record-Breaking Bloom Boom
Just a few weeks ago it was the driest place on Earth. Now it’s the most colorful.
Chile’s Atacama Desert has erupted into perhaps the greatest floral display ever recorded there, with some 200 species blooming—some in areas where flowers haven’t been seen since the before new millennium.
Most deserts have an "instant life, just add water" function. Results vary, but creating a little oasis in a dryland location can be very interesting.
Just a few weeks ago it was the driest place on Earth. Now it’s the most colorful.
Chile’s Atacama Desert has erupted into perhaps the greatest floral display ever recorded there, with some 200 species blooming—some in areas where flowers haven’t been seen since the before new millennium.
Most deserts have an "instant life, just add water" function. Results vary, but creating a little oasis in a dryland location can be very interesting.
This poem came out of the November 3, 2026 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from LJ user My_partner_doug. It also fills the "You look lonely. I can fix that." square in my 11-1-26 card for the Ryan Gosling Movies Bingo fest. This poem has been sponsored by janetmiles. It belongs to the series Polychrome Heroics.
( Read more... )
janetmiles. It belongs to the series Polychrome Heroics.( Read more... )
Birdfeeding
Nov. 10th, 2026 01:04 pmToday is sunny and mild.
I fed the birds. I've seen a small flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 11/10/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 11/10/26 -- I brought in the goddess statue from the goddess garden. Underneath the hollow statue was a large anthill. There was a peach-sized mound with multiple entrances atop a wider span of dirt crumbs. I didn't see any ants moving, so I poked the mound. Still no ants. Disappointing. I've never seen an "indoor" anthill like that before and wanted to know what kind of ants would take advantage of a ceramic shelter. Has anyone else seen ants do that? I've seen them build under things like a log, but never inside a hollow space.
EDIT 11/10/26 -- I completed a minor outdoor repair.
EDIT 11/10/26 -- I planted about half a bag of the 50 'Two Months of Flowering Crocus.'
EDIT 11/10/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a small flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 11/10/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 11/10/26 -- I brought in the goddess statue from the goddess garden. Underneath the hollow statue was a large anthill. There was a peach-sized mound with multiple entrances atop a wider span of dirt crumbs. I didn't see any ants moving, so I poked the mound. Still no ants. Disappointing. I've never seen an "indoor" anthill like that before and wanted to know what kind of ants would take advantage of a ceramic shelter. Has anyone else seen ants do that? I've seen them build under things like a log, but never inside a hollow space.
EDIT 11/10/26 -- I completed a minor outdoor repair.
EDIT 11/10/26 -- I planted about half a bag of the 50 'Two Months of Flowering Crocus.'
EDIT 11/10/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Dogs Can Sniff-Out Invasive Plant Species With High Accuracy to Curb Their Destruction
Sniffer dogs are being trained in Germany to detect potentially destructive invasive plants—alien species that are one of the main causes of biodiversity loss worldwide.
Scientists from Leipzig evaluated whether volunteer handlers and their dogs could be trained as effective detectives, and found the teams could locate invasive species in the wild with 75% accuracy.
The program is testing feasibility of citizen scientists with their trained dogs, potentially a very large pool of hunters.
Sniffer dogs are being trained in Germany to detect potentially destructive invasive plants—alien species that are one of the main causes of biodiversity loss worldwide.
Scientists from Leipzig evaluated whether volunteer handlers and their dogs could be trained as effective detectives, and found the teams could locate invasive species in the wild with 75% accuracy.
The program is testing feasibility of citizen scientists with their trained dogs, potentially a very large pool of hunters.
Birdfeeding
Nov. 9th, 2026 01:57 pmToday is sunny and mild.
I fed the birds. I've seen a very hungry flock of sparrows mobbing the hopper feeder. I suspect they are migrants, because my resident sparrows won't put up with more than 1-2 per side unless the weather is frigid. I've also seen fox squirrels, one at the hopper feeder, one running around on the ground looking for walnuts. :D
I put out water for the birds.
11/19/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
11/19/26 -- I trimmed grass in the savanna so I can plant fruit seedlings later.
11/19/26 -- I planted 2 Ginger Gold apple seedlings in the savanna.
11/19/26 -- I put topsoil around the apple seedlings and jugs over them.
11/19/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I've seen squirrels running around in the trees.
11/19/26 -- I watered the apple seedlings and mulched around them.
11/19/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a very hungry flock of sparrows mobbing the hopper feeder. I suspect they are migrants, because my resident sparrows won't put up with more than 1-2 per side unless the weather is frigid. I've also seen fox squirrels, one at the hopper feeder, one running around on the ground looking for walnuts. :D
I put out water for the birds.
11/19/26 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
11/19/26 -- I trimmed grass in the savanna so I can plant fruit seedlings later.
11/19/26 -- I planted 2 Ginger Gold apple seedlings in the savanna.
11/19/26 -- I put topsoil around the apple seedlings and jugs over them.
11/19/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
I've seen squirrels running around in the trees.
11/19/26 -- I watered the apple seedlings and mulched around them.
11/19/26 -- I did more work around the patio.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Monday Update 11-9-26
Nov. 9th, 2026 01:56 amThese are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Wildlife
Climate Change
Science
Birdfeeding
Food
Wildlife
Birdfeeding
Space Exploration
Philosophical Questions: Artificial Intelligence
Tomato Powder
Today's Adventures
Beavers
Birdfeeding
Crafts
Follow Friday 11-6-26: Poetry
Early Humans
Birdfeeding
Today's Adventures
Safety
Birdfeeding
Fandom
Community Thursdays
Science
Gardening
Food
Safety
Wildlife
Birdfeeding
Family Skills
Cuddle Party
Philosophical Questions: Transporter has 26 comments. Food has 46 comments. Philosophical Questions: Genetics has 27 comments. Philosophical Questions: Rights has 42 comments.
"Save All the Pieces" belongs to The Big One. It needs $27 to be complete. Stylet talks more about what giant ground sloths eat.
The weather has been cooler here. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a male and a female cardinal separately, and a fox squirrel. Currently blooming: sweet alyssum, marigolds, million bells, petunias, portulaca, nemesia, fan flowers, pineapple sage, firecracker plant, tomatoes, frost aster, zinnias.
Wildlife
Climate Change
Science
Birdfeeding
Food
Wildlife
Birdfeeding
Space Exploration
Philosophical Questions: Artificial Intelligence
Tomato Powder
Today's Adventures
Beavers
Birdfeeding
Crafts
Follow Friday 11-6-26: Poetry
Early Humans
Birdfeeding
Today's Adventures
Safety
Birdfeeding
Fandom
Community Thursdays
Science
Gardening
Food
Safety
Wildlife
Birdfeeding
Family Skills
Cuddle Party
Philosophical Questions: Transporter has 26 comments. Food has 46 comments. Philosophical Questions: Genetics has 27 comments. Philosophical Questions: Rights has 42 comments.
"Save All the Pieces" belongs to The Big One. It needs $27 to be complete. Stylet talks more about what giant ground sloths eat.
The weather has been cooler here. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, a male and a female cardinal separately, and a fox squirrel. Currently blooming: sweet alyssum, marigolds, million bells, petunias, portulaca, nemesia, fan flowers, pineapple sage, firecracker plant, tomatoes, frost aster, zinnias.
