Natural Wonder of Cherry Blossom Stones

An intriguing geological peculiarity has found in the Japanese city of Kameoka, which lies just over the western mountains of Kyoto city. It’s a small sub-hexagonal-shaped stone of very fine-grained muscovite mica hosted on a type of metamorphic rock called “Hornfels”. Interestingly when the cracked was opened, their internal cross-sections appearance just likes tiny golden-pink flowers. They’re exclusively called “cherry blossom stones”, after the revered flower of Japan and one of the most renowned icons of the country.

The science alert explains the pattern of these flower weren’t always made of mica. They began their existence as a multifaceted matrix of six prism-shaped crystal deposits of a magnesium-iron-aluminium composite called cordierite, radiating out from a solitary dumbbell-shaped crystal made from a magnesium-aluminum-silicate composite called indialite in the center. Moreover; cherry blossom stones are hosted in a matrix of hornfels, a very fine-grained, contact metamorphic rock shaped underground about 100 million years ago by the intense heat of molten lava. The sub-hexagonal formed masses of cordierite-indialite in the hornfels contain of seven individual crystals. At the center of each mass is a dumbbell-shaped indialite crystal very narrow at the center, and fairly wide at the ends. Adjacent the indialite crystal are six prism-shaped cordierite crystals. They’re widest at the center of each cherry blossom stone and narrowest at the ends.

The cordierite-indialite masses underwent a 2nd metamorphic event when they were uncovered to a type of hot water called hydrothermal fluids. These fluids altered the chemical composition of minerals inside the cherry blossom stones, producing mica to change the original cordierite-indialite inclusion. Since they have to undergo two penetrating and very specific types of metamorphosis in order to shape, cherry blossom stones are extremely rare, and found only in central Japan. Therefore; cherry blossom stones that underwent a whole replacement of their internal minerals during their geological lifetime are so subtle inside that they can without difficulty be snapped in half or crushed between one’s fingers. In order to preserve the prettiness of their subtle mica patterns, the Japanese locals coat them in a diluted solution of wood glue mixed with water to keep everything in place.

The Bird’s Nest House Perched High in a Swedish Forest

Do you want to spend a night in a giant bird’s nest, offcourse you can’t.  But now you can fulfill your dream in Swedish forest, when by you looking outside it looks like a giant bird's nest, perched high in a tree in a Swedish forest, but inside it is a luxury guest room with sufficient space for four to stay securely.  Actually the “Bird's Nest” built by architect Bertil Harström, is part of an outdoor sleeping experience called the Treehotel.

The owners, husband and wife team Kent and Britta Lindvall, offering exclusive guestrooms built in trees and the Bird's Nest is one of the most popular guest rooms. The unusual room is located in Harads, nearby the Lule River, in Sweden. From the Bird's Nest you get a fanciful view of the Lule River valley, miles of forest and the prevailing river. When you look inside, the room is consists of height of luxury facilities.

The walls are clad with wood panels and the windows nearly disappear in the exterior's network of branches. Therefore; the 180ft² rooms is sufficient for a family (Maximum 4 persons) to comfortably spread out and has separate bedrooms, bathroom, and living area. To get to the tree-house, guests can stroll through the woodland and enter the Bird's Nest via a retractable staircase. However; overnight stays, including breakfast, start from £380 and there's also a restaurant, bar, sauna and relaxation area, TV, and internet access on site.

Source: My Modernmet

“Ayam Cemani” An Amazing Chicken Which is black inside and outside.

Perhaps you may know it or not, black color is not an uncommon color in the animal world; because so many animals are black, like bears are black, gorillas are black; there’re breeds of dogs and cats that are black. But this Indonesian chicken breed recognized as “Ayam Cemani” takes black color into a completely different realm. The black color of Ayam Cemani is not limited to its special feathers and the color is all over and even on the inside. Interestingly everything of Ayam Cemani is black, like skin, beak, plume, tongue, legs, toe nails; even its meat, bones, and organs, even bone marrow is black. The chicken blood, though not black, but extremely dark colored. Ayam Cemani is so remarkable and exotic that it is referred to as the “Lamborghini of poultry”.

The word “Ayam” means “chicken” in Indonesian, and “Cemani” translates to “completely black” in Javanese. This unusual breed originated from Java in Indonesia. They were introduced in Europe in 1998 by a Dutch breeder, where they drew substantial attention between poultry enthusiasts due to its appearances and genetic makeup. Moreover; Ayam Cemani is one of the most expensive chickens in the world with a solitary bird costing up to $2,500. Ayam Cemani gets their black coloring from a generic trait recognized as “fibromelanosis”. That helps the proliferation of black pigment cells. The gene that causes fibromelanosis is a mutation that is existed in Asia about over 800 years ago. The mutation made its way to other chicken range, such as the Swedish Black Hen, or Svart Hona, which has the same fibromelanistic traits as the Ayam Cemani, and hereafter, as black as the Indonesian breed.

In Asia, Ayam Cemani is highly liked chicken because due to their meat is thought to have mystical powers. Their meat is believed to have rich in Iron, consequently helpful to females before and after childbirth. Birds are at times sacrificed during childbirth having faith in fortune will come to the laboring mother. The chicken is also sacrificed on other distinct occasions, as it is believed to be brought luck. Moreover many Asian people accept as true that eating this chicken will comfort their conscience, and their crowing brings success. The chicken lays cream colored eggs the only part of Ayam Cemani that is not black. Though, being poor sitters, they don’t roost and then the only way to hatch eggs is to incubate.

Fashionable Ducks Waddle down the Catwalk in Annual Fashion Show

You can forget now about New York Fashion Week or the Paris runway. Therefore; In Sydney, Australia, Brian Harrington, a quirky farmer, is the man behind the fashion show well-dressed ducks steal the scene at the Sydney Royal Easter Show. It’s here that the waterfowl are outfitted in stylish pink, green and yellow gowns, and even have small matching hats, too! They waddle down the catwalk at the Pied Piper Duck Show, and the gorgeous sight is considered one of the highlights of the annual event, which overall attracts an average of 900,000 visitors. 

Brian Harrington, run it for the past three decades, and works with a professional dressmaker who individually styles every duck to a theme or era. They have well covered daywear, evening attire, bridal outfits, and many more. Presently, they are showcasing costumes from the 1800’s era as well as favorites from the past. Haute couture isn’t the only waterfowl-related event that you will get at the Easter Show. Duck racing also has crowds laughing and cheering their beloved contender onto victory.

Source: My Modernmet