Feb 01 Reblogged
This is the velella (Velella Velella), a small free floating hydrozoan. It’s currently the only known species in the genus.
They’re also known as sea-rafts or by-the-wind-sailors, for the obvious reason that it uses the the “sail” you can see in this image for locomotion. Because of this, they are often found washed up on beaches.
Dec 27 Reblogged
Tomas Saraceno - Poetic Cosmos of the Breath (2007)
Poetic Cosmos was an experimental solar dome launched at dawn on September 22, 2007, in Gunpowder Park, Essex. Saraceno’s utopian vision for cities that float in the air—transforming and joining together like clouds—led him to create a series of experimental structures such as balloons or inflatable modular platforms that could be inhabited and exploit natural energies.
I almost can’t stand how beautiful this is.
(Source: likeafieldmouse)
Jun 25 Reblogged
SeaOrbiter to begin construction this October.
The SeaOrbiter is part submarine, part research vessel and has been in the planning stages for 12 years. Now construction of the US$43 million vessel is scheduled to begin in October, and could be on the seas by late 2013.
The vessel will be 58 metres high, with 50% of it underwater, allowing scientists constant access to underwater study.
Designed to drift with ocean currents, the vessel will generate the majority of its power for life-support systems and propulsion to avoid other ships and storms from renewable energy, including solar, wind and wave power, Fuchs says. A side project is underway in conjunction with EADS, the European defense and space systems conglomerate, to develop a biofuel as the ship’s main power source.
