2021-02-10
Nieve penitente ice formations seen on Agua Negra Pass in the Coquimbo Region of the Andes, Chile (© Art Wolfe/Danita Delimont)
阿瓜内格拉山口上的融凝冰柱，智利科金博 (© Art Wolfe/Danita Delimont)
If these frozen formations were named by more literal minds, we might know them as simply 'reverse icicles.' But the Andes, including this mountain pass rising above Chile's Atacama Desert, were mapped by poetically inclined Spanish explorers. They likened formations like these to countless kneeling figures reverently facing the sun, as a congregation of penitent parishioners kneeling at mass: hence the common name 'penitentes' for such packed-snow pinnacles.
Nieve penitente ice formations seen on Agua Negra Pass in the Coquimbo Region of the Andes, Chile (© Art Wolfe/Danita Delimont)
阿瓜内格拉山口上的融凝冰柱，智利科金博 (© Art Wolfe/Danita Delimont)
If these frozen formations were named by more literal minds, we might know them as simply 'reverse icicles.' But the Andes, including this mountain pass rising above Chile's Atacama Desert, were mapped by poetically inclined Spanish explorers. They likened formations like these to countless kneeling figures reverently facing the sun, as a congregation of penitent parishioners kneeling at mass: hence the common name 'penitentes' for such packed-snow pinnacles.
2021-02-11
Almond blossoms surround a red barn in California's Central Valley (© Jeffrey Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)
【今日除夕】（© DANNY HU）
Nestled in California's verdant Central Valley, this almond orchard is in full bloom. If we zoomed in closer, we might see billions of honey bees hard at work moving pollen from one blossom to another, doing their vital work to pollinate the trees so they can produce their valuable crop. Almond orchards are a thriving $7.6 billion business here in the valley. California produces around 80 percent of the world's almonds and growing demand means production has more than doubled in the past few years, despite threats from drought and wildfires.
Almond blossoms surround a red barn in California's Central Valley (© Jeffrey Lewis/Tandem Stills + Motion)
【今日除夕】（© DANNY HU）
Nestled in California's verdant Central Valley, this almond orchard is in full bloom. If we zoomed in closer, we might see billions of honey bees hard at work moving pollen from one blossom to another, doing their vital work to pollinate the trees so they can produce their valuable crop. Almond orchards are a thriving $7.6 billion business here in the valley. California produces around 80 percent of the world's almonds and growing demand means production has more than doubled in the past few years, despite threats from drought and wildfires.
2021-02-12
Muskox with newborn in the central Arctic coastal plain of Alaska (© Steven Kazlowski/Danita Delimont)
【新年快乐】 （ © Kilito Chan ）
Today marks the start of Chinese New Year festivities, which continue through February 26. Because the holiday goes by the lunar calendar, the date of Chinese New Year on our solar/Gregorian calendar changes each year. The Chinese New Year also comes with a turn of the zodiac, which is divided into 12 parts, with each part represented by a different animal. The zodiac system assigns a single animal and its attributes to represent each year, and 2021 is the Year of the Ox. The others are Rat, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
Muskox with newborn in the central Arctic coastal plain of Alaska (© Steven Kazlowski/Danita Delimont)
【新年快乐】 （ © Kilito Chan ）
Today marks the start of Chinese New Year festivities, which continue through February 26. Because the holiday goes by the lunar calendar, the date of Chinese New Year on our solar/Gregorian calendar changes each year. The Chinese New Year also comes with a turn of the zodiac, which is divided into 12 parts, with each part represented by a different animal. The zodiac system assigns a single animal and its attributes to represent each year, and 2021 is the Year of the Ox. The others are Rat, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.