Examples of Awesome, Unexpected Beauty in Nature

[joigus]

Another piece of technicolor nature:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cano-cristales

Quote

Caño Cristales ([ˈka.ɲo kɾisˈt̪ales]; English: Crystal Channel) is a Colombian river located in the Serrania de la Macarena province of Meta, and is a tributary of the Guayabero River. It was found in 1969, by a group of cattle farmers. The river is commonly called the "River of Five Colors" or the "Liquid Rainbow," and is noted for its striking colors.^[1][2] The bed of the river from the end of July through November is variously colored yellow, green, blue, black, and especially red, the last caused by Macarenia clavigera plants (family Podostemaceae) on the riverbed.^[3]

From Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caño_Cristales

[beecee]

A Vortex Aurora over Iceland
Image Credit & Copyright: Christophe Suarez

Explanation: No, the car was not in danger of being vacuumed into space by the big sky vortex. For one reason, the vortex was really an aurora, and since auroras are created by particles striking the Earth from space, they do not create a vacuum. This rapidly developing auroral display was caused by a Coronal Mass Ejection from the Sun that passed by the Earth closely enough to cause a ripple in Earth's magnetosphere. The upper red parts of the aurora occur over 250 kilometers high with its red glow created by atmospheric atomic oxygen directly energized by incoming particles. The lower green parts of the aurora occur over 100 kilometers high with its green glow created by atmospheric atomic oxygen energized indirectly by collisions with first-energized molecular nitrogen. Below 100 kilometers, there is little atomic oxygen, which is why auroras end abruptly. The concentric cylinders depict a dramatic auroral corona as seen from the side. The featured image was created from a single 3-second exposure taken in mid-March over Lake Myvatn in Iceland.

[joigus]

1 hour ago, beecee said:

A Vortex Aurora over Iceland
Image Credit & Copyright: Christophe Suarez

Explanation: No, the car was not in danger of being vacuumed into space by the big sky vortex. For one reason, the vortex was really an aurora, and since auroras are created by particles striking the Earth from space, they do not create a vacuum. This rapidly developing auroral display was caused by a Coronal Mass Ejection from the Sun that passed by the Earth closely enough to cause a ripple in Earth's magnetosphere. The upper red parts of the aurora occur over 250 kilometers high with its red glow created by atmospheric atomic oxygen directly energized by incoming particles. The lower green parts of the aurora occur over 100 kilometers high with its green glow created by atmospheric atomic oxygen energized indirectly by collisions with first-energized molecular nitrogen. Below 100 kilometers, there is little atomic oxygen, which is why auroras end abruptly. The concentric cylinders depict a dramatic auroral corona as seen from the side. The featured image was created from a single 3-second exposure taken in mid-March over Lake Myvatn in Iceland.

Nice info bites. And a majestic beauty. Thanks.

[iNow]

I also liked todays APOD. The ripples in our magnetosphere from the solar eruption made it an especially cool shot. 

[beecee]

Another APOD photo....................

Milky Way over Devils Tower
Image Credit & Copyright: MaryBeth Kiczenski

Explanation: What created Devils Tower? The origin of this extraordinary rock monolith in Wyoming, USA is still debated, with a leading hypothesis holding that it is a hardened lava plume that never reached the surface to become a volcano. In this theory, the lighter rock that once surrounded the dense volcanic neck has now eroded away, leaving the dramatic tower. Known by Native Americans by names including Bear's Lodge and Great Gray Horn, the dense rock includes the longest hexagonal columns known, some over 180-meters tall. High above, the central band of the Milky Way galaxy arches across the sky. Many notable sky objects are visible, including dark strands of the Pipe Nebula and the reddish Lagoon Nebula to the tower's right. Green grass and trees line the foreground, while clouds appear near the horizon to the tower's left. Unlike many other international landmarks, mountaineers are permitted to climb Devils Tower.

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Presumably the same Devil's Tower made famous in the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" ?

A solitary Masai giraffe is showered by light in a magnificent sun burst at Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. This image was selected out of more than 20,000 photo entries from nature photographers in 50 countries and displayed in the “Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards” exhibition on view at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History through April 20, 2015. 

[joigus]

On 4/13/2022 at 11:56 PM, beecee said:

Another APOD photo....................

Milky Way over Devils Tower
Image Credit & Copyright: MaryBeth Kiczenski

Explanation: What created Devils Tower? The origin of this extraordinary rock monolith in Wyoming, USA is still debated, with a leading hypothesis holding that it is a hardened lava plume that never reached the surface to become a volcano. In this theory, the lighter rock that once surrounded the dense volcanic neck has now eroded away, leaving the dramatic tower. Known by Native Americans by names including Bear's Lodge and Great Gray Horn, the dense rock includes the longest hexagonal columns known, some over 180-meters tall. High above, the central band of the Milky Way galaxy arches across the sky. Many notable sky objects are visible, including dark strands of the Pipe Nebula and the reddish Lagoon Nebula to the tower's right. Green grass and trees line the foreground, while clouds appear near the horizon to the tower's left. Unlike many other international landmarks, mountaineers are permitted to climb Devils Tower.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

 

Presumably the same Devil's Tower made famous in the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" ?

A solitary Masai giraffe is showered by light in a magnificent sun burst at Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. This image was selected out of more than 20,000 photo entries from nature photographers in 50 countries and displayed in the “Nature’s Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards” exhibition on view at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History through April 20, 2015. 

Awesome.

[studiot]

 

On 8/27/2020 at 1:19 PM, joigus said:

I would like to create a little room here for the wonderfully unexpected, beautiful,... (add your adjective) in Nature. Unexpected and/or beautiful could be interpreted as curious/spectacular, or similar.

 

I think the time has come to add another book to this thread.

Frank Wilczek has asked the same question.

In fact he has written a book about it  "A Beautiful Question"

Quote

 

There are many exquisite colour plates, here are a couple of samples, relating to Physics, the the ambit is very wide from sweet stalls in Barcelona to quark containment to mosque decoration.

 

[joigus]

Ah, @studiot. Thank you. Whenever I'm reminded of this thread I wonder why nobody so far --including myself-- has dedicated a post to mathematical/geometrical beauty. Now you have. Thanks again.

[iNow]

[joigus]

Fearful symmetry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ural_owl

[Genady]

Asymmetry is beautiful.

Flamingoes at mangrove forest edge:

[Externet]

Many years ago I saw this photograph.  As now you are into flamingos, symmetry and asymmetry, here it goes :

 

From --->https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/nov/23/flamingos-in-formation

[Genady]

8 hours ago, Externet said:

Many years ago I saw this photograph.  As now you are into flamingos, symmetry and asymmetry, here it goes :

 

From --->https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/nov/23/flamingos-in-formation

Lucky shot! As flamingoes move all the time, this configuration perhaps stayed only several seconds.

Here is a sequence of pictures I took, with a symmetry breaking. A couple, male (in front) and female (in back), of Magnificent Frigatebirds resting on a solar light (incidentally you and I discussed solar panels not long ago):

They are the largest birds here, with a huge 6-foot wingspan.

[joigus]

Is that spontaneous symmetry breaking?

[Genady]

3 minutes ago, joigus said:

Is that spontaneous symmetry breaking?

Sure. I was too far for them to care.  

[iNow]

A microscopic roundworm that spent the last 46,000 years in suspended animation deep in the Siberian permafrost was revived then started having babies in a laboratory dish 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2023/07/27/nematode-revived-siberian-permafrost/

[lucy brighton]

Beauty was everything that I saw in Laos. Amazingly beautiful country with some simple yet pristine landscape. An example is the brilliant Kuang Si Waterfall known for its stunning, cascading turquoise blue waters. The vivid blue color of these waterfalls is due to a combination of factors.

Mineral Content: The water in these falls comes from limestone hills and mountains. Limestone contains large amounts of calcium carbonate, a mineral which, when mixed with water, can produce bright, turquoise blue colors. This mineral is also responsible for the creation of the tiered pools found at Kuang Si Waterfall.

Deposition of Sinter: As the water flows over the limestone, it erodes the rocks, carrying small particles with it. These particles, known as sinter, are then deposited, creating natural terraces and pools. The particles can refract light in such a way as to give the water a striking blue or turquoise appearance.

Water Depth and Clarity: The depth and clarity of the water also contribute to its color. Clear water tends to absorb colors in the red part of the light spectrum and reflect colors in the blue part of the spectrum. The deeper and clearer the water, the more blue it appears.

Surrounding Vegetation: The green vegetation surrounding the water can also play a role in the color we perceive. The contrast between the blue water and green surroundings can make the water appear more blue to the human eye.

Edited July 31, 2023 by lucy brighton

[StringJunky]

Never seen these before: ice flowers in Norway.

[joigus]

8 minutes ago, StringJunky said:

Never seen these before: ice flowers in Norway.

Beautiful! Thank you.

Here's the hook-up to why this happens:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frost_flower_(sea_ice)

[TheVat]

Wolf pup.  9 inches cranial circumference.   Setting on the cuteness dial: 11.  (like Nigel Tufnel's amp, the highest setting)

 

[ahmet]

hey joigus,

do you know, when anyone mentions a beauty , then I should be recalled

beauty simply means me. absolutely. 

hahahaha     

[joigus]

On 2/13/2024 at 9:31 PM, ahmet said:

beauty simply means me. absolutely. 

Oh I get it. Is it 'beautiful', 'praised', 'commendable'? I've read different translations.

[ahmet]

On 2/15/2024 at 11:41 PM, joigus said:

Oh I get it. Is it 'beautiful', 'praised', 'commendable'? I've read different translations.

you can consider every aspect of beuty really.

so, all of them.

    

Edited February 17 by ahmet

[StringJunky]

Golden Plover chick

[Ghideon]

Unexpected that these beaches look the same at a distance, yet they are different on closer inspection:

Top: A beach in northern France covered by pebbles. All* of them are egg shaped.
Bottom: A beach in northern Sweden; all* of the stones are flat like "coins". 

Why are the stones on the Swedish beach flat? Educated guess:

Spoiler

In the middle of the beach is a small river. A short walk a bit upstreams reveals that the rock is not solid but rather made up of layers that seem to break off in thin flat slabs. 

 

*) The vast majority at least; during a short walk no family member observed any flat stone on the French beach or egg shaped stone on the Swedish beach.