Mike the Headless Chicken

Mike the Headless Chicken also recognized as Miracle Mike was a Wyandotte’s chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off during the period of April 1945 till March 1947. Although the story was believed by various to be a hoax, the bird's owner took him to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City to establish the facts of the story. On September 10, 1945, farmer Lloyd Olsen of Fruita, Colorado, United States, was eating supper with his mother-in-law and was sent out to the yard by his wife to bring back a chicken. Olsen chose a five-and-a-half-month-old cockerel named Mike. The axe missed the jugular vein, leaving one ear and most of the brain stem intact. In spite of Olsen's failed attempt to behead Mike, he was still able to balance on a perch and walk awkwardly; and even attempted to preen and crow, though he could do neither. When the bird did not die, Mr. Olsen, who was shocked, decided to continue to care permanently for Mike, feeding him a mixture of milk and water via an eyedropper; he was also fed small grains of corn. His crowing, however, comprised of a gurgling sound made in his throat. Mike also spent his time attempting to preen and peck for food with his neck.

Once the Mike popularity had been established, he started a career of touring sideshows in the company of such other creatures as a two-headed calf. He was also snapped for dozens of magazines and papers, including in Time and Life magazines. Mike was on published to the public for an admission cost of twenty five cents. At the increase of his height and fame, the chicken earned US$4,500 per month (Almost $47,500 nowadays) and was valued at a big cost of $10,000. In March 1947, at a motel in Phoenix on a stopover while traveling back from tour, Mike started choking in the middle of the night. The Olsens had unconsciously left their feeding and cleaning syringes at the sideshow the day before, and so were unable to save Mike. Olsen claimed that he had sold the bird off, resulting in stories of Mike still touring the country as late as 1949. Then other sources say that the chicken's severed trachea couldn’t properly take in adequate air to be able to breathe, and it therefore choked to death in the motel.

It was determined that the axe had missed the jugular vein and a clot had prevented Mike from bleeding to death. Although most of his head was detached, most of his brain stem and one ear were left on his body. Since basic functions breathing, heart-rate, etc., as well as most of a chicken's reflex actions are controlled by the brain stem, Mike was able to remain quite healthy. This is a good example of central motor generators allowing rudimentary homeostatic functions to be carried out in the absence of the cerebral cortex.

Eagle Mirror

Sometimes you’re simply lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time.  That is exactly what happened to photographer Ray Hennessy at Tuckahoe Wildlife Management Area in southern New Jersey.  The photographer arrived at the wildlife area just as the sun had risen and instigated the drive around the elevated road through the marsh.  He says; we saw from the moment we got there how calm it was, there was not a bit of wind moving, and the water was crystal clear, reflecting everything almost flawlessly.  

He said not long after our arrival we observed a trio of Bald Eagles fishing far out in one of the slight bodies of water.  A stunning sight to grasp but nothing to write home about photographically, they were just too far out.  But still it was too great to watch.  Almost an hour after that encounter we saw another alone eagle flying our way.  I instantly jumped out of the car and got ready.  He was slowly continued to come directly our side and for whatever reason began to circle directly in front of us, and close!  I bring into being to think but didn't want to say it out loud "make a dive!"  

As good fortune would have it that is exactly what happened next, the eagle banked right and swooped in for a grab directly in front of us and parallel to the road.  A picture-perfect swoop and grab in the calm early morning light!  These moments like these that make nature photography so worth it and also prove that no matter how much preparation or ability you may have; at times you just need a little luck.  Of course I would love a bit of sunlight on the Eagle's head but I'm still thrilled with this photo. Source: Ray Hennessy

Climbers Lit the Magnificent Matterhorn to Celebrate 150 Years of Climbing

Climbers “painted” the beautiful Matterhorn with Red Colors to celebrate the special anniversary. A group of 16 trained climbers left Red beacons along the route of the famous climb, which is one of the highest mountains in the Alps Switzerland and as nightfall came the imposing mountain came alive with color. The event was organized by clothing brand Mammuth to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first explorers to scale the epic mountain. This massive cragged rock tooth standing alone on the horizon in a sea of clouds has for decades been an electromagnet for mountaineers, and has claimed the lives of 450.  On 14 July 1865, British climber Edward Whymper reached the peak of the Matterhorn together with his rope team, but lost four climbers during the descent. Therefore 6 years later, on 22 July 1871, Englishwoman Lucy Walker became the first woman to climb the Matterhorn wearing a long flannel skirt as was suitable for a Victorian lady. Her ascent was seen as a jewel in the crown of female mountaineering.

The Mystery of Devil's Kettle Falls

If you have ever worried that we have solved all the mysteries of nature, fear not. Minnesota’s Devil’s Kettle Falls has been perplexing hikers and geologists for generations. The Devil's Kettle is a mystifying geological wonder situated inside Judge C. R. Magney State Park in Minnesota, in USA, just off the North Shore of Lake Superior. The Brule River makes its way through the park; it drops 800 feet in elevation and makes plentiful waterfalls in the process. 

One of these waterfalls is quite distinct. Approximately 2.4 km before the river empties into Lake Superior; it gets split in two by a rocky outcrop. The eastern part drops 50 feet below and continues towards Lake Superior. The western part falls 10 feet into a massive pothole, which is called the “Devil's Kettle” and disappears. No one knows where the water goes. It is thought there must be an exit point somewhere underneath Lake Superior, but it has never been located. From the last several years, investigators have dropped brightly colored dyes, ping pong balls, and many other things into the Devil's Kettle. 

Surprisingly none of them have ever been found. One philosophy is that the river flows along a subversive fault and comes out somewhere under Lake Superior. This is dubious, because for this to happen, the fault would have to be exactly oriented towards the lake, and would have to be big enough to let the flow of half the river. Even if such a fault is real, it would have probably been clogged over the years as rocks, sand, logs and other materials fell into the kettle. Besides, there is no sign of such a fault in the area. One more theory is found when millions of years ago a lava tube formed when the rocks first solidified. 

The issue with this theory is that the rock at Devil’s Kettle waterfalls is rhyolite, and lava tubes never form in rhyolite. Lava tubes form in basalt flowing down the slopes of volcanoes, and the adjacent basalt layer to Devil’s Kettle is situated much too far underground to be any kind of factor in the mystery. The existence of a big underground cave is also ruled out because underground caves form in limestone rock, and there is no limestone in the area. The mystery is compounded by the fact no floating debris suddenly appearing at one spot offshore in Lake Superior has ever been reported.

Beautiful Glowing Interactive Circular Swings Change Colors with Motion

In the coming few months, you’ll be able to see this interactive Swing Time installation on The Lawn on D in Boston offers residents and people to sit back and ease while swinging in one of 20 glowing hammocks. This beautiful temporary project was concept by Höweler + Yoon Architecture and was created as a way to "make a new type of city park" where everyone is invited to gather and play games or do exercises to be fit. Every swing is custom made in three diverse sizes from welded polypropylene. The inside of the circular structures, LED lighting responds to movement contingent on whether or not it is being used. At a standstill, the round form emits soft white lights, nonetheless then, as a sightseer swings and rocks inside of the structure, an internal micro-controller modification the lighting from white to purple to indicate motion.

Great Empathy and Courage

This mouse actually tried to save the life of his friend by biting the snake's head. Unfortunately, his friend died, and he could provide enough support. But this is really a great example of empathy and courage he has shown. In deed this fabulous effort.