Pale Blue Dot
One of the most famous images ever taken from space could be considered a lousy photograph even by the least skilled amateur who wrestles with today's unthinkably complicated cameras.
That is, if it weren't a picture of our planet. From more than 4 billion miles away.
"Scientifically, it didn't teach us a single thing," Van der Woude says of the Pale Blue Dot, snapped by Voyager 1 in 1991. "But historically, it's priceless."
Reflections of sunlight inside Voyager's camera created the gold-colored beams that frame the planet, which is so faint it is barely visible. A mere pixel of information on one of the world's early digital images.
"The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors, so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds. Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light." -- Carl Sagan
Gorilla looks at her nine-week-old baby
Gorilla Kijivu looks at her nine-week-old baby gorilla Tatu at a zoo in Prague August 7, 2007. Kijivu, who stopped to take care of her baby for two days due to stomach problems, is treated with antibiotics and her health is coming back to normal.
Olympics-Weightlifting-Hungarian lifter dislocates elbow
Hungarian weightlifter Janos Baranyai dislocated his elbow while trying to snatch 148kg in the men's 77kg Olympic competition on Wednesday, a sports official said.
"He injured his elbow, it's a dislocation. He'll be alright but it's just an ugly thing," said Sam Coffa, president of the jury at the competition and first vice-president of the international weightlifting federation.
Several lifters have injured themselves over the past couple of days as the competition moves towards the higher weight classes, where athletes try to hoist up barbells weighing as much as 187kg in the clean and jerk. (Reporting by Sophie Hardach)
Little Matchbox Turtle
The endangered reptile was born in Bristol Zoo
He is small enough to creep inside a matchbox, if he ever needs more protection than his own tiny shell.
At the moment the turtle weighs half an ounce and measures 1.5in long, but will grow to around 6.5in. more
He is small enough to creep inside a matchbox, if he ever needs more protection than his own tiny shell.
At the moment the turtle weighs half an ounce and measures 1.5in long, but will grow to around 6.5in. more
Catch A Mouse Animal Trap
“No poisons! Catch multiple mice without resetting! Convenient and touch-free disposal. Place bait into your empty plastic bottle (12 oz, 16 oz, 1 and 2 liter bottles will work). Then attach bottle to Catch A Mouse plastic cheese wedge. Mice enter bottle through the device, but can’t get back out until you flip trap upside down!”
Deer adopted by pack of fox hounts
“The pack immediately accepted the lost fallow deer when they found him shivering by the Thompsons’ front gate just an hour after he had been born. Rather than being overwhelmed by the attention of such a large pack of dogs, from the Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray hunt, the confused little fawn thought he’d found his family. A surprised Mr Thompson said: ‘Now Bam Bam thinks he’s a Fox Hound because they all treat him like one of their own.”
Nigerian with 86 wives warns others not to follow his example
Nigerian Mohammed Bello Abubakar, 84, has advised other men not to follow his example and marry 86 women.
The former teacher and Muslim preacher, who lives in Niger State with his wives and at least 170 children, says he is able to cope only with the help of God.
"A man with 10 wives would collapse and die, but my own power is given by Allah. That is why I have been able to control 86 of them," he said.
He says his wives have sought him out because of his reputation as a healer.
"I don't go looking for them, they come to me. I will consider the fact that God has asked me to do it and I will just marry them."
But such claims have alienated the Islamic authorities in Nigeria, who have branded his family a cult.
The former teacher and Muslim preacher, who lives in Niger State with his wives and at least 170 children, says he is able to cope only with the help of God.
"A man with 10 wives would collapse and die, but my own power is given by Allah. That is why I have been able to control 86 of them," he said.
He says his wives have sought him out because of his reputation as a healer.
"I don't go looking for them, they come to me. I will consider the fact that God has asked me to do it and I will just marry them."
But such claims have alienated the Islamic authorities in Nigeria, who have branded his family a cult.
Luckiest Baby In The World
Baby born 8/8/08 at 8:08; 8 pounds, 8 ounces
Hailey Jo Hauer was born on the eighth day of the eighth month in 2008 at 8.08am. So it wouldn't make sense for her to weigh anything other than 8 pounds, 8 ounces.
Lindsey Hauer thought staff at Lake Region Hospital in Minnesota were joking when they told her the time of her daughter's birth.
Then she got a call from the birthing suite noting Hailey's weight. Several hospital staff members pledged to buy lottery tickets.
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