UPSIDE DOWN RAINBOWS…..!!!!!!
Published: 11:45AM BST 16 Sep 2008
Freak atmospheric conditions rarely seen outside the polar regions have been credited with causing the formation of an “upside down rainbow”.
Normal rainbows are made when light penetrates raindrops and re-emerges out the other side in the same direction
but the inverted types, known as circumzenithal arcs,
are caused when sunlight bounces off ice crystals high in the atmosphere, sending the light rays back up.
The “smiley faces in the sky” need extremely specific conditions not usually found above Britain.
This picture was reportedly captured on camera by astronomer Dr Jacqueline Mitton near her home in Cambridge last Sunday.
She said: “I’ve never seen anything like it before – and I’m 60.
“The conditions have to be just right: you need the right sort of ice crystals and the sky has to be clear.
“We’re not sure how big an area it was visible over, but it was certainly very impressive.”
A spokesman for the Met Office confirmed the inverted rainbows are occasionally spotted in British skies.
He said: “It is convex to the sun and is formed by refraction in suitably-oriented ice crystals and may show vivid rainbow colouring, as in this case.”
October 22, 2009
The Killarney Strawberry … Arbutus unedo
Arbutus unedo, commonly known as the Strawberry tree, is a stand out plant as despite being native to Ireland, it is not native to Britain.
Also known as the Killarney Strawberry tree, due to its fruit, it can be found growing wild mainly in counties, Sligo, Cork, and Kerry, where rocky, well-drained soils greatly encourage its growth.
If you take a trip to Kerry visit the Killarney National Park, where there quite an abundance of Arbutus unedo trees.
It is an odd tree, which to me sometimes feels like it should not grow in the wild here at all. First off, in a country where most of our natives are leafless during the winter, its leaves are evergreen but not similar to those of a conifer.
This oval foliage (3 inch long) is quite leathery and laurel-like, comprising a glossy dark green upper with a gently toothed edge.
Although the Killarney Strawberry tree can be found with a single stem, it is more common to find it sprawling with three to four reddish brown trunks enhanced by cracked bark.
Red coloured bark is something I again find unusual to Ireland.
These stems are quite slow growing, rarely exceeding 10 metres (33 ft) by 10 metres in the space of fifty years.
When you look closely at the flower of Arbutus unedo, you will understand why it is classed as a member of the heather (Ericaceae) or heath family. They resemble those of the heather, a larger version of its upside down urn type flowers in bowed clusters.
These pretty flowers coloured white with a hint of pink, give off a soft scent of honey during their blooming period from November to December, while offering a good source of nectar and pollen for bees at a time when there isn’t much else about.As if the drooping blooms were not enough, the Killarney Strawberry tree can often be found blooming and fruiting at the same time. You see, blooming time is when the mature fruits from the previous years flowers become ripe. The lazy devils take 12 months to ripen from yellow through pink to red, but what a show they produce when displayed in tandem with the self-fertile flowers.
It is debatable whether the knobbly bright red fruits are truly strawberry-like, although the wrong shape (rounded), their ripe colour and size are quite close to that of a strawberry. They are also edible, but unlike the strawberry, not very tasty, with an unusual mealy texture. However, everything in nature has a use, especially in Portugal, where the 2 cm diameter fruits are fermented to make a strong tasting wine with an aggressive kick.
October 22, 2009
Top 10 Tips for Cleansing Oily Skin
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Coping with oily skin might seem like an uphill battle, but you can wage war with a clay face mask.The field of dermatology will always be a busy one, given the simple fact that no two people seem to have exactly the same skin type. The cosmetics industry banks on this, offering skin care products for every skin type imaginable, from excessively dry to oily and everything in between.
Oily skin can strike anyone, regardless of age, ethnicity, gender or geographic location. A myriad of factors cause or exacerbate oily skin, including humidity, a poor face cleansing regimen and even exposure to cigarette smoke. Some people are genetically predisposed to oily skin, whereas many others experience a hike in oil production at certain stages in their life, such as during the teenage years. Additionally, women who are pregnant, going through menopause or taking birth control pills are especially susceptible to oily skin.
What are the effects of having oily skin? People who suffer from it might feel greasy a few hours after a shower. Women with oily complexions might find that their makeup wears off more easily, requiring them to reapply it multiple times per day. Oily skin is also a magnet for dirt and dust, which quickly accrue and clog pores. Clogged pores lead to acne, blackheads and other skin imperfections.
Think all hope is lost? HowStuffWorks has put together a list of tips for cleansing oily skin, debunking some well-known skin care myths along the way. And there is some good news for oily skin sufferers. Oil-slicked complexions tend to stand the test of time better than dry ones, resulting in a younger-looking appearance with fewer lines and wrinkles.
October 19, 2009
A new picture has emerged of the fireball meteor which zipped across the skies of the Netherlands last Tuesday evening before exploding in to the North Sea. Many people in the Netherlands witnessed a large “fireball” meteor in the sky. Observations indicate that the orbit of the meteor came from south to north. Further research is being made about the precise path of the meteor. It is not sure what damage, if any, would have been caused if the meteor had hit land. Earth is constantly being bombarded by smaller debris from comets, asteroids, and even other rocky planets in the solar system. But a fireball of this size and brightness is likely seen anywhere in the world only every 20 to 25 years.
Nuala Kennedy
October 19, 2009
Researchers have discovered a magnetic equivalent to electricity: single magnetic charges that can behave and interact like electrical ones. Visit the BBC website here to learn more.
October 19, 2009
