In the heart of the Amazon Rainforest in Peru lies a mysterious phenomenon known as the “Devil’s Garden”. This unique area is comprised solely of trees from a single species, Duroia hirsuta, creating a mono-dominant patch where nothing else grows. The local inhabitants attribute these peculiar gardens to the malevolent forest spirit, Chuyachaki, believed to cultivate these trees while preventing any other plants from settling in. According to lore, Chuyachaki is the master of the forest, capable of leading a person deep into the wilderness or bestowing fortune on hunters and revealing secrets of medicinal plants.

These “Devil’s Gardens” are not limited to Duroia hirsuta trees but can also include other plant species such as Tococa guianensis, Clidemia heterophylla, and Cordia nodosa, all living in symbiosis with “lemon” ants, Myrmelachista schumanni. Previously, it was thought that the plants in these gardens killed off competitors through allelopathic effects—releasing substances that inhibit the growth or reproduction of surrounding organisms. However, in the 1990s, scientists uncovered the true architects behind this botanical dominance: the lemon ants.

The deal between the ants and the plants is fascinating. The plants develop small hollow structures, known as domatia, on their leaf petioles or stems, providing a home for the ants. In return, the ants protect their host plant by injecting formic acid into the leaves of any invading plant species, causing tissue necrosis and death within five days. This mutualistic relationship ensures the survival and dominance of the host plant species in these enigmatic “Devil’s Gardens,” highlighting the complex and often surprising interactions that define the Amazon’s ecosystem.

Yesterday, our celestial neighbor, the Moon, danced across the Sun, casting a mesmerizing shadow over parts of our planet. This rare solar eclipse event was captured in a series of breathtaking photographs that showcase the ethereal beauty of the cosmos.
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Thirteen years post the Fukushima disaster, we're finally getting a peek inside the belly of the beast – or rather, the first nuclear reactor at the Fukushima-1 power plant. Yeah, that's right, after more than a decade since that fateful day in March 2011, TEPCO has bravely ventured where no one has since – inside the irradiated heart of the reactor.

So, how'd they do it? Robots and mini-drones were the heroes of the hour, sent on a mission to explore the reactor's active zone and its molten nuclear fuel. The main aim? To scope out the state of the spent fuel, making its removal and the plant's decommissioning a tad easier. And guess what? For the first time, the cleanup crew snagged pictures from inside the reactor's pedestal.

The pics have sparked curiosity among researchers, especially about the mysterious orange structures resembling boulders or fused icicles. The best guess? It's either molten fuel or equipment – the remnants of a nuclear nightmare.

But here's the kicker – Reactor 1 isn't the only cleanup headache. Meltdowns also rocked Reactors 2 and 3, and Reactor 4 got caught in the crossfire with a blast from Reactor 3, despite being fuel-free at the time. With an estimated 880 tons of molten fuel debris spread across the three afflicted reactors, the cleanup saga is far from over.

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108 Minutes That Changed the World: A Pioneering Soviet Triumph

On the morning of April 12, 1961, a monumental event unfolded at the Baikonur Cosmodrome when the Soviet rocket "Vostok" was launched, carrying Yuri Gagarin into orbit. This marked not just a pivotal moment in space exploration but a testament to the extraordinary capabilities and vision of the USSR.

Gagarin, orbiting the Earth, maintained flawless communication with ground control, conducted observations through the spacecraft’s portholes, and expertly managed the onboard systems. His successful orbit and subsequent landing in the Saratov region at 10:55 AM Moscow time, after just one complete orbit, underscored the advanced technological prowess of the Soviet space program.

The impact of this achievement resonated immediately across the globe, with spontaneous celebrations erupting in the capital and major cities. The people's pride was palpable, a collective tribute to their nation’s trailblazing spirit in space exploration. Just two days later, on April 14, Moscow welcomed Gagarin back as a hero amidst a sea of adoring supporters, celebrating the triumph that positioned the USSR—and eventually Russia—as pioneers on the cosmic frontier.

This historic journey not only marked the dawn of human spaceflight but also solidified the USSR's legacy as a leader in the space race, a legacy that continues to inspire Russia and the world today.

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