RenoVous

The internet was buzzing about Betelgeuse yesterday. The giant red star makes up the shoulder of the Orion constellation, and is normally among the 10 brightest stars in the sky.  Astronomers have noticed that it started dimming in October, and is now not even in the top 20 brightest stars. Betelgeuse is a variable star, so the dimming in itself isn't that strange.  But the rate, and the amount, of change has scientists wondering - might it be heading towards supernova? Betelgeuse is approximately 8.5 million years old and is about 642 lightyears away, so we're seeing the star as it was in 1377. The star is so huge that if it replaced the Sun, it would be so long to Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, the asteroid belt, and maybe even Jupiter. When the star does explode, which isn't necessarily any time soon, it will definitely be visible from Earth for a few months. As you can see, Betelgeuse is not symmetrical.  It is believed that this bloatin...

According to Christianity, Jesus Christ was born on Christmas Day - Christmas Eve doesn't have any direct mention in the Bible, but became a celebration in itself. The date chosen (by Pope Julius I) as Jesus' birthdate was actually taken from Pagan winter solstice festivals such as Saturnalia and Yule in an effort to absorb those traditions. As one theologian said, "We hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of him who made it." Yule is celebrated from December 22-January 2.  To honor the return of the sun, the Scandinavians would burn large logs, and feast as long as the fire burned, which could take as long as 12 days. Saturnalia begins December 17 and lasts seven days.  The Romans would honor the god of agriculture with food and drink and general hedonism. Around the solstice, Romans also celebrated Juvenalia,with a feast to honor the children. Native Americans, like the Pueblos, would celebr...

Brie Larson Deepika Padukone Dakota Fanning Saoirse Ronan Naomi Ackie Daisy Ridley Sienna Miller Francesca Hayward Charlize Theron Bailee Madison Vogue

15th Annual Best Illusion of the Year Contest Hosted by the Neural Correlate Society and supported by the Museum of Mind. This year's champion: Frank Force "The underlying math equations to form this are themselves ambiguous in terms of rotation, so it is interesting how our mind is unable to deal with this and settles into a picture about what direction and axis it is rotating." Second prize: Haruaki Fukada Third prize: Ryan EB Mruczek and Gideon Paul Caplovitz (from UNR!) Another in the top 10: Kenri Kodaka  IFLScience Illusions

Throwback to 2013, when Iris collaborated with architect Phillip Beesley.  The collection is titled "Voltage." I am absolutely in love with her designs - as fashion and as art.  So today I just wanted to share some pieces. Collection Instagram

I'm kind of a last minute decorator, I just did this over the weekend.  Now I'm ready for Christmas music and other holiday celebrations.  ^_^ The cat used to be music box - I've had it most of my life. My sister made the 'Merry Christmas' when she was in elementary school. Sometimes we get a real tree - I especially like to get a permit to go cut our own.  But sometimes we just get the small fake tree out of the garage.  It does the job.  I can get our main ornaments on there - you can see Hubby's snowmobiling Santa and the one we got for Pa after he passed...

Guttera pucherani I came across this photo this morning and knew I had a topic for today - such beautiful feathers! Found in the forest and woodlands of Sub-Saharan Africa, these birds form life-long bonds with their mates.  Courtship feeding has been documented in the wild. Their namesake crest is one heck of a hairdo! The Guineafowl is considered "stable" on the  Red List . IFLScience Wikipedia

Katie Holmes Imaan Hammam Florence Pugh Kerry Washington Kim Kardashian West Jorja Smith Margot Robbie Saoirse Ronan Naomi Campbell - Diddy's 50th Birthday Lola Kirke Vogue

Deep Vascular Architecture The brain fascinates me in so many ways, it's such an amazing organ both in function and form.  I found an Instagram page called 'Neuroradiology' and I have been loving the images. Diffusion tractography Brain vessels It also introduced me to a neuroscience artist, Greg Dunn. Cerebellum and brain stem. Microetching Neuroradiology Greg Dunn

Joel Roberts Poinsett was the first United States Minister to Mexico and introduced the plant to the US in 1828. Traditionally known as Cuetlaxochitl by the Aztecs, it was cultivated as a gift from the Gods and a reminder of their sacrifice to create the universe.  Sap was used to cure fevers and the leaves were used to make dye. When the Conquistadors invaded, the plant became a Christian symbol and was used in nativity procession.  It was called "La flor de nochebuena," or Christmas Eve's flower. Today in Mexico they celebrate Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe. OMAR TORRES/AFP/Getty Images Guadalupe has long been a national symbol for Mexico.  People walk, and even crawl, from surrounding states to the basilica in Mexico City. Days of the Year Guadalupe

Otto, the Fish Out of Water. ( by Bland Hoke) He's an installation part of the Winter Light Festival - he shines on the water at night. In the park across the way there they have "Sonic Dichroic Reeds" ( by Hugh Livingston) which plays the sounds of local birds and insects. This is "Orchidelirium" ( by Alysia Crissman) - * this one is not my photo. The festival culminates this weekend with an ice carving contest and the Reno Santa Crawl! Here's a photo from when we went in 2014. And this is just a random shot of the river and the snowy mountains.  :-) Winter Light Festival Reno Santa Crawl