odditiesoflife:

Grand Prismatic Spring

Located in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, the Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest natural hot spring found in the US. The spring has a scalding temperature of 160 °F (70 °C), a total depth of 160 feet and a diameter of 300 feet. The vivid, rainbow colors in the spring are the result of pigmented bacteria in the microbial mats that grow around the edges of the mineral-rich water.

kingressentiment:

ah yes

morehiddlestonforyou:

#that shirt #with those shoes

oceanportal:

Sea butterflies, a group of swimming sea snails, are canaries in the coal mine for the ocean.

Delicately beautiful and highly sensitive to the changing oceans, these tiny creatures—most smaller than a pinky nail!—present a unique way to gauge climate. One-quarter of the carbon dioxide we release into the atmosphere dissolves into the ocean, which makes the water more acidic and makes it more difficult for these animals to build their own shells.

Scientists at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History are studying them to learn how ocean acidification will affect a wide array of ocean animals. Read our article at Smithsonian Magazine about the animals and scientists studying them—with stunning photos.

All photos © Karen Osborn (Smithsonian biologist)

I never miss a chance to reblog pictures of the Rough-scaled Bush Viper (Atheris hisida) from the forests of western Africa. Look at that adorable and highly venomous face