Octopuses are some of the strangest and smartest animals on Earth. They have three hearts, blue blood, and eight arms that can move independently. Their brains are so advanced that each arm can think on its own. They can solve puzzles, escape from tanks, and even use tools; something very rare in the animal kingdom.

But what really surprises scientists is their DNA. Octopuses have over 33,000 active genes; more than humans. Their genetic code is so unusual that some researchers have wondered if it came from somewhere else in the universe. One theory, called panspermia, suggests that life may have arrived on Earth through comets or meteorites. Could octopus DNA be alien?

While this idea is not proven, it shows how unique these creatures are. Their intelligence, shape-shifting skin, and strange biology make them feel like science fiction; but they’re very real. Octopuses remind us that nature still holds many secrets, and some of them are hiding deep in the ocean.

 

                                                                                                           Neil de grass Tyson 

Update: The remains of six, missing for days, were found buried today in the yard of a Riverside homeowner. Among the grisly remains were pheasant, mallard, monkey, fox, octopus, and another, too mangled for a positive ID.

Still missing but feared gone are hippo, bear, and monkey #2.

A suspect has been identified, but so far she refuses to talk.

 

On this date in history, August 28, 1859, the sky began to burn and technology across the globe started to fail in startling ways.

This was the beginning of what is now called the Carrington Event, the most powerful geomagnetic storm ever recorded.

It started with a massive solar flare, observed by an amateur English astronomer named Richard Carrington. This blast of energy from the sun was hurtling directly towards Earth.

The results were seen worldwide. The Northern and Southern Lights, normally confined to the polar regions, became visible across the planet. People saw brilliant auroras as far south as the Caribbean and Mexico.

Many who saw the lights in the sky had never witnessed such a thing and were alarmed, believing it could be a sign of the end times.

But the most dramatic effects happened to our early technology. The planet was so charged with geomagnetic current that telegraph systems went haywire.

Operators reported sparks leaping from their equipment, giving them electrical shocks. Some telegraph papers even caught fire.

In a truly stunning display of the storm's power, some operators found they could disconnect their machines from the batteries and continue sending messages using only the current from the aurora itself.

The main phase of the storm would hit on September 1st and 2nd, but it all began on this day. It served as a major wake-up call for the world's new reliance on electrical technology.

Sources: Multiple historical event indexes, scientific journals

 

The Velvet Spider: Death in a Fur Coat.

At first glance, she looks like a plush toy — soft, dark, almost cuddly. But hidden in her silk-lined fortress lies one of nature’s most secretive assassins.

This is the Velvet Spider (family Eresidae), named for her luxuriously fuzzy appearance. Found mostly in Europe and Africa, she’s not just a master weaver — she’s a sacrifice mother. After laying her eggs, the female often lets her young devour her alive, giving them the ultimate head start through matriphagy — a brutal act of love.

She’s a tunnel dweller, a patient predator, and unlike most spiders, she lives in close-knit colonies. Her venom isn’t dangerous to humans, but to insects, it’s fast and fatal.

Scientific fact: The Velvet Spider’s silk is so strong and elastic, researchers are studying it for medical sutures and bioengineering.

She may look harmless… but everything about her is evolution wrapped in elegance. Nature’s plush killer.

#WildLife #Spider #insects #Nature #Photography

 

She's a knockout! Look at her three clearly defined hearts adorning her evening attire.

 

The name Jillienne is a less common, French-inspired spelling of Jillian, which means

"youthful". Its roots come from the Latin family name Julianus, a derivative of Julius. 

Origin and meaning

Baghdad By The Bay San Francisco

 

I was speechless when I found her. This is probably the first fascinating spider I’ve ever found besides some jumpers.