Poison hemlock - Conium maculatum
So I’m supposed to be learning my California flora, and the best way of doing so is to collect plants while in the field and then ID them in the lab. Today, I picked some poison hemlock thinking it was Queen Anne’s Lace (both are very similar and related to carrots!). I pulled the whole thing up (got most of the carrot-like tap root, even), pulled off everything but the bigger stalk, folded it all up to fit in the sample bag. Basically, I got this plant all over my hands. I then proceeded to eat my burrito, as it was lunch time, without washing my hands (no sinks in the field). A couple hours later, back in the lab, my boss (who was helping me with IDs) sees it and immediately starts freaking out and looking up minimum toxicity (which is actually a lot higher than what I may have consumed). Everyone in the lab eventually gathers over, and one of the older profs said if I was in trouble, I would have felt it by then. Basically, it was pretty hilarious.
BTW, hemlock is most easily distinguished from QAL by the purple spots all over the stem. So look out, you guys.
This American Laugh
I’m at the library right now. I’m going to get kicked out. I’m dying. Omg.
Flying Jewels: Each insect corresponds to the mineral (and vice versa). Seen in the Terra mineralia, Freiberg, Germany. Photos by Stefan on Flickr.
Ok, now I totally love this!
Spades - Part one of four. Been working on this side project for some time now while trying to improve my art by developing new techniques. To create this piece, I used mechanical pencils, wood-less graphite shavings, lamb skin, smudge sticks, and gum eraser.
I first sketch the outline and work in some details using 4H and HB mechanical pencils and a variety of graphite pencils. I then strategically apply graphite shavings over the sketch and use lambskin to produce a smooth appearance. (I use different gradients of graphite to do each part). Then I go over the art again with mechanical pencils and smudge sticks to get in the details. During the entire process, I go over with gum eraser to clear away the excess graphite and accentuate the lit areas. (I also used this technique on the last portrait I shared). Finally, the contrast\color alteration, background, saturation, diffuse glow and burn effect is all applied digitally.
To get the appearance that is seen over the temporal bone, I added graphite shavings to a pad, dipped the smudge stick in and made circular motions. Basically, painting the graphite onto the paper. The circular motions allow for some dark areas and light areas creating that bone contour appearance. Then I go back over with mechanical pencil to create little pockets or foramen. Once scanned and blacks are saturated digitally, the gloss from the graphite disappears, and you are left with the appearance of bone.
Wow.
(Source: drfrankscali.com, via scientificillustration)
Owls confirmed to be the creepiest birds ever. LOOK AT THE FUCKING THINGS. If you fail to notice the one on the left fucking SWALLOWING a rat, then you have the dude singing some satanic chant or something next to him, and then you have those two other fucking psychos synchronized to make you feel creeped the fuck out with their soulless dance of FUCKING DOOM.
hahahahahaha omg this gif. Best gif ever seriously can’t stop laughing.
(Source: tubaeric, via flyingsockies)
alexandstein: Alex Draws Tardigrades :3
More tablet/drawing practice. Here is Sir Tardigradinton, a rather dapper Panarthropod, whom of which you will never find complaining about room conditions, whether it be -100°C, or saturated with cosmic rays!
Mmmmmmnyes, quite!
(Source: awrrex-stein)
Saw this two giant Leopard slugs hanging from my balcony copulating, and yeah, this neon-blue things are they sexual organs. Most disgusting thing i’ve ever seen. - Imgur
what
(via momoduh)
