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Science is Fungi Fridays!

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  Scientists have discovered a hidden ecosystem deep beneath Michigan and the Great Lakes. Subsurface water samples contained 689 distinct fungal species, including 13 that have never been formally described.   "We propose in the paper that we may be meaningfully underestimating the biomass and diversity of fungi on the planet because we've never incorporated the subsurface into estimates of global fungi biodiversity," says doctoral candidate, Quinn Moon. This also means subsurface carbon could be more biologically active than previously thought, with these organisms transforming the ancient material into gas. The samples also included tardigrades, rotifers, and tiny segmented worms, which suggests an underground food web. The study focused on the Antrim Shale, an organic-rich rock formation buried beneath much of the Great Lakes region.  The water itself was evaluated and determined to be from ice sheets that melted across Michigan, "last in contact with the surface...
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My Shots - Big Springs Waterfall

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  Fresh out of the mountains off Highway 49. It's noted as an outdoor bath on the map, and there is a cold pool you can hop into if you so please. A fountain had been constructed as well, by a State Highway Foreman.
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Book Club - August

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  It's not what I'm currently reading, but it's the topic that reminded me we haven't had a Book Club this month! Ian Fleming died on this day, 1964. Dr. No was written in 1958, and his first Bond book, Casino Royale , was written in 1953. The final book released, after his death, was The Man with the Golden Gun.  His publisher then released a collection of short stories that would make up later Bond movies, Octopussy and the Living Daylights. I've only read the one in photo, and it was enjoyable. ** As for what I'm actually reading, I started a book recommended by my aunt and my sister, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. I'm in the early stages, but it's setting an interesting stage. What are you reading??
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Animal Life - Remembering Jackie

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  Following an attack in the Big Bear Valley, Jackie has unfortunately succumbed to her injuries. She died yesterday after three weeks of intensive care at the Ojai Raptor Center. The medical team referred to her "packed cell volume, or PCV" having dropped to 6%, which is the percentage of blood volume made up of red blood cells.   Anemia happens often with traumatic injury, due to acute blood loss and subsequent surgeries.  There is a strong inflammatory response that suppresses the body's ability to produce new red blood cells. Jackie was hatched in Big Bear Valley back in 2012, born to Ricky and Lucy. She and Shadow started mating in 2018, and have had 6 fledglings over their years together, including this year's pair. Shadow will continue to defend the nest territory, and he may be waiting for Jackie to return...but instinct will eventually have him move on.
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Best Dressed!

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 Jennie is starting us off this week with some magazine shots. Pamela Anderson might be one of my favorites. And this dress on Monica Barbaro! To the carpets. Julia Butters Jordan Roth Hannah Waddingham Charlize Theron Geena Davis
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Science is Fun Fridays!

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 This is the cotton bollworm - an agricultural pest, but a potential hero in biodegradation. Polyesterene is a huge problem in our landfills, and scientists have found plenty of insects capable of eating the plastic, but it was unclear how they were breaking it down. Biochemists have discovered four types of fungi in the guts of cotton bollworm larvae which appear to play the part. After testing each with a film of Styrofoam over 60 days, they were especially surprised by Taloromyces, which was able to grow on the film, meaning it used it as a carbon/food source. Researchers will be seeking to learn the chemical processes involved, including which enzymes, to determine if the fungi is actually digesting the plastic or just breaking it down into smaller pieces, and what the byproducts of those reactions might be.
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Spotlight - Stevie Nicks

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  First and foremost, today is the anniversary of her first solo album, 1981. As a kid I had a single on vinyl, and I still love this song. The B side. "Kind of woman that'll haunt you," I think speaks to her own enigmatic presence. She's mystical, witchy, bohemian, ethereal.... This was the third single from the album, and is considered her "signature solo anthem." Now let's go back to 1973, when she and her then boyfriend, Lindsey Buckingham released their first album as a duo, to little success.  In 1975, they joined Fleetwood Mac - which had started in 1967, with drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, as a British blues band. The self-titled 10th album was a global pop-rock hit. Her look, her sound, and her songwriting helped transform the band. Their next record, Rumours, would become one of the best-selling albums of all time.
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