Antony van der Ent

The Raja Ampat in Indonesia, the global centre of marine biodiversity, once again captured international attention. But for the wrong reasons this time. instagram.com/reel/DW420KND-…

¡Una planta carnívora no parece el sitio adecuado para encontrar refugio, pero este murciélago duerme dentro de sus hojas sin problemas!🌱 🦇 #Illustraciencia1 ift.tt/8pZPHLx

<SPECIAL FEATURE> #UltramaficEcology2025 #OpenAccess X-ray Fluorescence Microscopy Computed Tomography Reveals Internal Distribution of Selenium in Hyperaccumulator Plant Seeds Mirko Salinitro et al, @EntAntony doi.org/10.1111/1440-1… plant defense/ μXRF/ XFM-CT

The zinc hyperaccumulator Alpine Penny-cress (Noccaea caerulescens) grow abundantly on the old mine wastes at Plombières and La Calamine/Kelmis (Belgium). This is the model species for studying the molecular genetics of metal hyperaccumulation.

This weekend visiting the former zinc mines near La Calamine/Kelmis (Belgium) with beautiful "Zinc Violets" (Viola lutea subsp. calaminaria). It is not a hyperaccumulator plant, but it is highly tolerant to growing on soils with extremely high zinc-lead-cadmium concentrations.

🟥 ⛏️ Deep beneath the Earth's surface, a vibrant chemical dance unfolds within the oxidation zones of copper ore deposits to create the stunning Malachite and Chrysocolla stalactites we admire today. 🎞 @rocksforthe 🔁 ❤️ - Greatly Appreciated This geological process begins when oxygenated rainwater infiltrates the ground and reacts with primary copper sulfide minerals, dissolving the copper into a rich, acidic solution. As this mineral-heavy fluid percolates through limestone or silica-rich rock, it undergoes a fundamental transformation. When the solution encounters carbonate-rich environments, it precipitates as the deep green copper carbonate known as Malachite. Simultaneously, if the fluid interacts with dissolved silica, it forms the electric blue copper silicate called Chrysocolla. ​The unique stalactitic morphology occurs over millennia as these copper-laden waters drip from the ceilings of underground cavities or fractures. Each drop leaves behind a microscopic layer of mineral matter, gradually building downward-pointing columns that often feature mesmerizing concentric banding and velvety botryoidal textures. This intimate structural coexistence happens because both minerals are secondary products of the same weathering process, frequently intergrowing to produce a striking contrast of forest greens and sky blues. Unlike typical cave stalactites made of calcite, these specimens represent a concentrated intersection of metallurgy and hydrology, capturing the precise moment where moving water and ancient metal ores fused into architectural art. ​#Mineralogy Mindat.org.

🟥 ⛏️ Fluorite crystals inspired the word fluorescence because they glow vividly under ultraviolet light, yet this calcium fluoride mineral forms deep underground. 🎞 @mooneyfinemineral 🔁 ❤️ - Greatly Appreciated Fluorine-rich hydrothermal fluids cool and precipitate with calcium in veins. It commonly lines hydrothermal deposits alongside galena and sphalerite. It is found in a variety of colors, from deep purple and lilac to golden yellow, green, blue, pink, and even colorless, brown, red, or black due to impurity ions and irradiation. Recognize by its perfect octahedral cleavage that splits easily in four directions. Active since Paleozoic times in districts such as the Mississippi Valley. It unveils ancient fluid pathways through the crust and yields fluorine vital for metallurgy and optics. #Fluorite mindat.org

The repopulation of Krakatoa in decades after the eruption is a textbook staple, illustrating central concepts in the Theory of Island Biogeography. slideserve.com/ling/chapter-2…

As another part of the plant is attacked by pests a fresh leaf is flooded with calcium to protect it youtu.be/5HtD7x8RXPQ?si…

The periodic table of elements scaled to show the actual abundance of the elements on Earth by Prof. Wm. F. Sheehan in 1976.

Today is World Homeopathy Day. In its honor, let’s remember that time The Amazing James Randi overdosed on homeopathy and lived to tell about it.

April 10, 1815, the VEI 7 eruption of Mount Tambora on the island of Sumbawa in Indonesia was the largest eruption reported in the last 1.000 years ...

Sudah ada web khusus anggrek di Semenanjung Kepala Burung, Papua. Dilengkapi halaman deskripsi lebih dari 600 spesies dengan foto dan/atau ilustrasi, kunci identifikasi interaktif, peta, glosarium, dan bantuan identifikasi dengan AI. Keren bat dah🤩👍 birdsheadorchid.id/homepage.html

This April, @NMNH is celebrating spring in the Capital with a deep-dive on forensic ornithology, a playful take on shell collecting and an opportunity to mount your own botanical specimens. bit.ly/4c5D6RK

♻️🆓: Pollinator shift ensures reproductive success in a camouflaged alpine plant doi.org/10.1093/aob/mc… #PlantScience

Silene, a versatile model system: from sex and genome evolution to ecology and speciation nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/np…

🎉🆕📰🎉: The mechanism and application of the selenium hyperaccumulator Cardamine hupingshanensis: status and challenges doi.org/10.1093/aob/mc… #PlantScience

🆕 Our #LatestIssue is online now! 📚 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/14698137/2… Highlights include: 🌱 Fascinating single cell red algae 🌱 Epigenetic regulation of mycorrhizal symbioses 🌱 Diversity affects microclimate temperature & humidity

“Magic mushrooms” make psilocybin. Tropical plants make the ingredients of the psychoactive ayahuasca. And toads secrete the mind-altering bufotenin. Now, the tobacco plant makes them all. Thanks to some genetic tinkering, researchers have engineered a close relative of the crop traditionally known for its use in cigarettes to manufacture a wide variety of psychedelics. Learn more: scim.ag/4bSYxa1 @NewsfromScience

Atmospheric dust gives plants nutrients through their leaves 🍃 📖 nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/np… 🧵1/3