Yosemite National Park

The Firefall Photograph from Glacier Point is shown in Yosemite National Park. A window of time just opened in Yosemite National Park when nature photographers wait, as if for an eclipse, until the moment when the sun and earth align to create a fleeting phenomenon. This marvel of celestial configuration happens in a flash at sunset in mid-February _ if the winter weather cooperates. On those days the setting sun illuminates one of the park's lesser-known waterfalls so precisely that it resembles molten lava as it flows over the sheer granite face of the imposing El Capitan. Merely, an optical illusion.

A youngster walks along the banks of the Merced River, in view of El Capitan (L), and Bridalveil Fall (R) in Yosemite National Park, California May 17, 2009.

Taiwan Landslide January 2012

This is the photo of the landslide immediately after it happened.


If you look at a picture of Google Earth from almost 1 year ago, you can see the outline of the land that will be sliding within the year.

Australia unearths country's largest pink diamond

A 12.76-carat pink diamond has been unearthed in an Australian mine called Argyle Mine. The stone is the the largest ever found in the country and was named the Argyle Pink Jubilee. The Argyle mine is the world's largest producer of pink diamonds and generates more than 90% of the global market supply of pink diamonds.

It has taken 26 years of Argyle production to unearth this stone, and there may never be one like this again. It will take ten days to cut and polish the diamond into a single stone. The finished stone will be offered for sale later this year and the diamond is expected to be worth at least $1.07 million US dollars.

Just for Fun - Bears in the Woods

A motion detection camera is set up in the woods. See what happens at night.


Even bears practice their dance moves when they think no one is looking.

Just for Fun - Dog Learn Physics the Hard Way

Just for Fun - Dog Plays Dead While Playing with Other Dog

Just for Fun - Owls

This is the most INCREDIBLE footage of an owl that I have ever seen.




Some cute baby screech owls - odd, but cute!

More footage of owls

Art in Earth Science - Ice Crystals

Bitter Cold Grips Europe February 2012

As temperatures in the United States seem set at 40 - 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperatures in Eastern Europe continuously drop to 10 degrees below zero. See below for some pictures of the event.

Snow lined streets

Ice covered car near the water

Frozen waterfalls

Cloud Tsunami over Panama City Beach, Florida

February 5, 2012 fog rolls up from the ocean in Florida to create some spectacular fog effects.

Cool air offshore was very nearly at the saturation point, with a temperature near 20ºC and a dew point of about 19.5ºC. The air at this temperature can only hold a certain amount of water vapor, and how much it can hold depends heavily on the temperature. If you add more water into the air, a cloud will form, but you can also get a cloud to form by cooling the air. Drop the temperature, and it can no long hold as much water vapor, so some of it will condense out and a cloud will form.