Good on paper, bad in practice: from fart offsets to eco-beer, blocking the sun to Green Burning Man, here are 20 of the craziest innovations, inventions, and ideas to save the planet – most of which have fallen miserably short of the mark. In the rush to solve our numerous environmental crises, scientists have been scrambling to develop innovative technologies and creative solutions. Some of these developments have been lauded for their ingenuity and potential. But other concepts, while initially offering promise, have turned out to be impossible, dangerous, or just…ridiculous.

Global warming. Food shortages and water scarcity. Fossil fuel depletion. Deforestation and extinction. Freakish weather. Methane pollution and acid rain. Dwindling resources. It’s an understatement to say we’re facing major environmental issues as the first decade of the 21st century draws to a close. No wonder scientists are trying anything and everything. Even things that don’t work. At all.

Artificial Islands and Floating Cities

(Images via wikipedia and Reuters)

Land reclamation project turned playground for the rich and famous, artificial island projects such as Dubai’s The World have come under criticism for harming the environment and disturbing delicate ecosystems as developers claim the projects actually benefit the planet. Despite the fact that self-professed environmentalists Brad and Angelina have snapped up their own faux islet, The World is an environmental embarrassment.

Other artificial islands claiming to preserve the environment are credible, such as (where else?) the Bay Area’s Treasure Island project, China’s Dongtan, and the high-tech Lilypad – the amphibious answer to a future of rising tides. These artificial cities are carbon neutral, self-sufficient and 100% sustainable. However, a lack of scalability and prohibitive cost for at-risk regions makes projects like Lilypad a novelty, not a global solution. A more likely (and practical) solution will be to retrofit existing cities…although the Superstar is cool.

Human-Powered Floating Gyms

(Image via Inhabitat)

Human-powered floating gyms – a great way to transport yourself downriver as long as you don’t mind working out in an encased shell with a dozen other sweaty bodies. Could this be New York’s answer to the problem of traffic congestion? While scientists have been working to find a way to harness wasted energy expelled by people at gyms, the practicality of floating gyms is debatable. Would people want to work out on their way to meetings and appointments? Would the resources used to build the gyms make the energy savings even worth it? Isn’t walking or biking on existing roadways a more feasible (and inexpensive) method of transport?

The 15-Year Light Bulb

(Images via Ecoble and Fort Photo)

Everyone would love love a light bulb that lasts 1.5 decades. Think of all the energy humans would collectively save. Unfortunately, though many were excited by the, um, glow of this idea, the radioactivity of the bulb means we still need a nontoxic answer to the problem of wasted electricity.

Failed Hybrids

(Images via PureGreenCars, Motortrend and tuvie)

Hybrid concepts are hot, but not all are realistic. Like the extreme gravity car. Or even Hybrid SUVs that get worse gas mileage than most sedans and require tremendous virgin resources to produce. But then there is Ford’s failed hybrid revolution and the plight of the electric car. Though there are plenty of great hybrids on the market these days, as well as some great upcoming models and concepts, many have been dismal failures. The air car is a kick-ass concept, but time will tell if it can significant mileage with the media or consumers. And of course, there is the infamous water-powered car.

You may want to hold out hope for the 330 mpg Aptera.

Road Cells

(Image via Nicolas T)

The friction and heat generated by cars on the road adds up to a lot of wasted energy. Scientists have toyed with the idea of special absorbent cells that could harness all that energy for reuse. The only problem is a lack of feasibility: retrofitting roads with special cells is unlikely when our crumbling infrastructure is already in such a state of disrepair. And the wear-and-tear dilemma has yet to be resolved.

Biofuels

(Images via Kanko*, Teo and Thiru Murugan)

They were the next great answer to the unquenchable thirst for fuel. And then people saw the rapidly burgeoning rates of deforestation and created a global food crisis the world is still dealing with. Biofuels seemed like the magic ticket, but the number is up. Though biofuel production is still growing and politicians are still hopeful that these agricultural sources of energy can get us off fossil fuels, the management and production thus far has been a free-for-all with unintended consequences and tragic collateral damage. Biofuels may even create more carbon emissions. And as if this weren’t bad enough, biofuels apparently marginalize women.

Cow Fart Offsets

(Image via hans s)

Cows produce a lot of methane when they emit. Methane is 23 times worse than carbon dioxide. Researchers recently discovered that kangaroo flatulence is methane-free thanks to a certain unidentified bacteria. They have said that if people can infect livestock such as cows with the bacteria, humans can possibly prevent this widespread methane pollution. But it will take at least three years to isolate the bacteria, and scientists have no idea what impact the germ would have upon the health of cows. While cows do produce tremendous amounts of methane (14% of greenhouse gases total), bypassing cattle farts would do nothing to put a dent in the tremendous resources they use: water, feed, and space. Beef is one hell of an inefficient dinner. Besides, cows also produce ammonia.

Burning Man Goes Green

(Images via Marshall Astor, The WB and Mulling It Over)

The glorious dome became Earthdome and Burning Man went green. And around the world…crickets were heard. Bay Area Prada-wearing hippies and artsy types from all corners were bummed, but unfortunately, the great green statement of last year’s Burning Man went up in smoke.

Burying Pollution in the Ocean in Really Big Bags

(Image via Popular Science)

There are numerous ideas to deal with carbon dioxide that involve the ocean: planting lime, seeding iron, and least plausibly, dunking carbon-filled sacks. Some ideas may indeed be viable, but specialized sacks don’t look to be. The appeal? These large, sausage-shaped skins could be easily transported (the resources and transport required for carbon tanks has rendered that scheme a lost cause for now). But they could also be easily snagged and torn, and scientists won’t have them ready until 2020. And since humans produce 800 tons of carbon every second, people would use a bag every 11 days at the current rate. If oceans are forced to absorb carbon dioxide, though, the acidity will increase, which translates to danger for marine life. The inherent dilemma remains: people simply need to create less mess.

Block the Sun, Blow Up Volcanoes, and Other Manly Stuff

(Image source unknown)

Geo-engineering was once consider loony bin science. No more. Of particular interests to scientists right now is the potential cooling that could result if they engineered a massive volcanic explosion. When Mt. Pinatubo exploded in 1991, millions of tons of sulfur dioxide helped create a cooling effect. Unfortunately, scientists still know too little about the exact mechanisms of global warming, and intentionally creating massive weather systems or environmental catastrophes could cause more harm than good. This is talking about tinkering with a watch when people don’t know the time. It’s not off the table, but geo-engineering has a long way to go before being viable.

Eureka! Don’t Have Babies

(Images via mahalie, Corey Ann, tedsblog and bimurch)

Humans tend to look to technological innovation in hopes of saving the planet, but the simple truth is that consuming fewer resources is (or was) the best hope. And that means no more babies. Especially for Americans – they are living as if there are 5 earths instead of 1. Unlikely, however, until humans no longer feel compelled to continue the species and the Pope no longer feels compelled to keep millions in the Middle Ages with his rants against birth control. The urge to procreate and religion: good luck taking these on, environmentalists.

Really Dumb “Green” Gadgets

(Images via respective manufacturers)

From the Asus bamboo paneled laptop to the flower you can grow in a plastic case hooked up to your computer, many “green” inventions are not only silly but require the use of virgin resources to produce. Other dumb inventions to “help” the environment include the Petapotty (an indoor platform on which your dog can dump – to prevent harm to lawns because you forgot your baggy), the Go Green paper shredder (it shreds your paper into squares, because you don’t own scissors), the so-called Eco Kettle (Barbie says: measuring is hard!), the solar-powered fan hat (don’t ask), the nano-silver washing machine that eliminates the need for detergent (because silver strip mining is…eco?), and many more. There’s nothing like a good coat of greenwash to remind everyone that silly gadgets are not going to save the planet.

Sonic Curtains

(Images via moriza and gmonster25)

Biophony is an important element of environmental stability, and with the widespread problem of noise pollution harming animals and stressing humans, scientists are looking for answers. The Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain is convinced that sonic cloaks are the remedy to too much noise. Ostensibly, this will encourage people to repopulate cities, reducing suburban sprawl, but what happens if your neighbor’s apartment is on fire and you’re blissfully sleeping through the screams?

Rich people

(Images via Earthfirst and Xurbie)

Oh, rich people. They’re so cute! From pristine environmental enclaves for the superrich that turn out to be harmful to Kevin Costner wasting $40 million on useless green initiatives, to Madonna plastered on a green Vanity Faire as she spends $120 grand a year on plastic bottled water, to celebs claiming to be green while their lifestyles are anything but, rich people and green = FAIL.

Hairy Plants

(Image via Popular Science)

A researcher named Christopher Doughty of the University of California at Irvine noticed that plants in hot, arid regions are hairy – and this unique characteristic enables the plants to reflect harmful near-infrared light and drive more efficient photosynthesis. The proposed solution: a hairier, furrier landscape, coming to a backyard near you. Unfortunately, disturbing natural ecosystems by introducing alien plant species is a poor idea. And while plants could be genetically engineered to be as furry as their desert counterparts, the practicality of this green solution is questionable at best. Extra reflection could mean less water evaporation, which would actually heat the planet further.

Beaming Electricity from Space

(Image via Popular Science)

Send satellites into space, where they unfurl 1.5 mile-long solar arrays and send limitless clean energy to earth. Japan is already investing heavily in this technology. One problem: the beam could theoretically miss the receiver and fry, say, a neighborhood. Researchers are working on a solution to this potential disaster, but so far no luck.

Giant Fake Trees

(Image via Mash Down Babylon)

One passionate, if nutty, scientist named Wallace Broecker has a desperate plan to save the planet: “plant” millions of massive trees all over the globe at a cost of $600 billion a year. Fake trees, at that. The trees will be capable of sucking up carbon dioxide, thereby theoretically containing the climate change threat. Broecker is the scientist who originally coined the term “global warming”, but his scrubber tree scheme isn’t sticking.

Harnessing Tornadoes

(Images via Popular Science and tlindenbaum)

Since tornados frequently exceed 100 mph, generating 10 mega-watt hours of power, scientists are hard at work developing machines that could somehow intake and harness this power. One scientist says he knows how to trap a tornado and keep the twister going indefinitely, generating all the power we need. The commercial machine is slated for debut in about 5 years, but the dangers of such a device are serious. A tornado might grow out of control, destroying the machine and creating widespread devastation. The scientist working on the machine says such concerns are ridiculous, because all he has to due is flip a switch to slap that silly little tornado back into its place. Why, a tornado spinning out of control would be inconceivable!

Pig Pee Plates

(Images via madnzany and eco-modernist)

1 billion pigs, 90,000 tons of urine daily. With all the bacon and pork chops Americans eat, there’s a lot of porcine pee to divert. Pig urine contains urea, which is already in use in many products (it is used in de-icing formulas, among many applications). Researchers have created a bioplastic from the urine, but it is not as great as one might think. For starters, when the bioplastic breaks down in landfills, it releases methane. The inherent problems associated with meat production are not alleviated, either. What’s more, bioplastic still requires the use of some petroleum-based plastic, meaning recycling facilities are going to have a hard time getting equipped for this new hybrid of plastic. The Danish scientists are undeterred, however, envisioning pig skyscraper cities where all waste is harnessed for reuse. Production on plates begins soon.

Eco Beer

(Images via The Sun and Tim Parkinson)

Something involving wort and steam cannot be worth toasting – or can it? Engineers think that using steam to brew the wort (the mixture of starch – like barley – and water) can reduce brewing time by half while using half the energy. And this is a solution to our environmental woes? It’s like that scene in South Park when the gnomes are stealing underpants. Steal the underpants, do other stuff, profit!

Great green innovations don’t always pan out. And sometimes ideas that read like a wacky sci-fi novel turn out to be brilliant. Look for updates in future posts.

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Most plants contain some level of toxins (like alkaloids) for defense. After all, they’re plants. They can’t go anywhere. Through millennia of trial and error, both animals and human beings have figured out which plants are safe, which are lethal, and which are somewhere in between. For example, did you know that many grain-bearing plants contain a toxin known as lectins? And that the African staple, cassava, must be thoroughly boiled and soaked to separate it from its poisonous compound, cyanide? Even the humble lima bean has been bred to contain less cyanide. Cherries, potatoes, peaches and apple seeds are all toxic – eat enough of the latter, in fact, and it will prove fatal. Fortunately, artificial selection and cooking methods have all but eliminated the threat of toxins in everyday foods. But you may be surprised to find out the incredibly lethal plants often hanging around the neighborhood park – or gracing your tabletop in the form of a centerpiece.

Castor Bean

Images via UCC, My Sunshine Garden and remarc

Castor oil – for anyone unlucky enough to have been force spoon-fed this healthy yet disgusting fluid as a child, you may be surprised to learn that an ingredient in the castor bean just happens to be the deadliest plant poison on earth. Literally. Just one tiny castor bean is enough to kill an adult within a few minutes. Castor oil is made safe (but not palatable) with the removable of the lethal compound known as ricin. Amazingly, castor bean plants are grown for decorative purpose all over the place, particularly in California.

Rosary Pea

Image source unknown

As if a deadly legume weren’t bad enough, the pulses aren’t so benign, either. The rosary pea may sound sweet and downright pious, but it’s actually one of the most dangerous plants on earth. Its seeds contain a particular lectin known as abrin; if chewed and swallowed, death will follow shortly. The seeds are easily identified with their distinctive bright red jacket and single black dot (almost like a reverse Black Widow spider). Abrin, which does its damage by inactivating ribosomes, is one of the most fatal toxins on earth. After the  vomiting, fever, nausea, drooling and G.I. dysfunction but before the bizarre hyperexcitability, edema and fatally convulsive seizures, renal tubular degeneration, bladder and retinal hemorrhage and widespread internal lesions typically develop.

Monkshood

Image via About.com

Another unassuming plant – until you learn that the nickname for monkshood is actually “wolfsbane”. That’s owing to its once common use by farmers as a very effective wolf extermination tool. (Not to be left out, fowl are also fatally affected by the related hensbane.) The monkshood has the distinction of evidently being the bane of many creatures: its nicknames include womensbane and leopard’s bane, though it is also known as blue rocket and devil’s helmet. It is technically part of the aconitum genus, of which there are more than 250 species. The wolfsbane used to be a popular werewolf detection tool, by the way. (Status was determined by holding the flower near the alleged’s chin; a yellow-tinged shadow on the skin was thought to be confirmation.)

Bushman’s poison

Images via plantzafrica

The aptly-named Bushman’s poison has famously been used by the Khoisan of South Africa to poison the tips of their arrows. Though the plant produces pleasantly scented flowers and a tasty plum-like berry, the milky sap can be fatal. The leaves, however, have medicinal properties. Bushman’s poison is also known as the wintersweet.

Angel’s trumpet

Images via Direct Gardening and Wikimedia

What could be sweeter than the sound of an angel’s trumpet? Perhaps the moaning agony of a trip that won’t end. Related to petunias, tomatoes and potatoes, the angel’s trumpet (datura stramonium) is a highly effective hallucinogen, but should not be consumed for recreational purposes as it can also be lethal. According to wikipedia: “The active ingredients are atropine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine which are classified as deliriants, or anticholinergics. Due to the elevated risk of overdose in uninformed users, many hospitalizations, and some deaths, are reported from recreational use.” This common plant also goes by many other names, including jimson weed, stink weed, loco weed, and devil’s snare. One 18-year-old who was house-sitting alone for his uncle recounts how he decided to prepare some angel’s trumpet tea in curiosity and almost died (a friend burst in on him convulsing on the bathroom floor and the authorities assumed he was on an acid trip).

Water hemlock

Image via Rutgers

The poison hemlock famously drunk by Socrates is deadly, but the water hemlock is just as fatal. According to the USDA, water hemlock or poison parsnip is “the most violently toxic plant in North America”. The flowers and stems are safe, but the stalky roots contain chambers that are full of a deadly sap containing the convulsant cicutoxin. Grand mal seizures are followed by a quick death if even a tiny amount is consumed.

English Yew

Images via greenlover, c-r-alpacas, bomengids, and Britannica

The English Yew, or taxus baccata (”taxus” meaning toxin), is one of the deadliest trees on the planet. The evergreen has a majestic and lush appearance and is fairly common in forests of Europe. The yew is considered by scientists to be an odd and primitive conifer along with the monkey puzzle tree of Chile and Gingko biloba tree of Asia. The yew has a rather sad history. All parts – save for the flesh of the berries – are extremely poisonous. Because the toxin causes convulsions and paralysis, it was once used as an abortifacient. Apothecaries would dry and powder the leaves and stems and give desperate women minute amounts in the days before birth control was available. Unfortunately, death would often result. The yew has been quite popular throughout history for a number of medicinal purposes at extremely dilute levels, but it is deemed too dangerous in modern medical practice to be of use. The yew’s primary toxin is taxine, a cardiac depressant. The yew acts rapidly and there is no antidote.

Snakeroot

Images via Sonja Keohane and canalphotos

Snakeroot is most dangerous for livestock such as cattle and sheep. When cows consume the attractive fluffy white blooms and stems of the snakeroot, their milk and bones become saturated with the toxin tremetol and humans who consume these contaminated animal products will develop milk sickness (tremetol poisoning). In fact, milk sickness is what killed Abraham Lincoln’s mother, Nancy Hanks.

Strychnine tree

Images via motherherbs, BRAIN and wikipedia

Queen Cleopatra famously forced servants to commit suicide by means of a strychnine tree’s fruit seeds, which contain lethal levels of strychnine and brucine, in order to determine if it would be the best means for her own suicide. Upon seeing their agony (which included painful vomiting, facial contortions and convulsions) she opted for the apparently less horrific choice of the asp. (The asp was actually an ancient term for any number of poisonous snakes, but experts think it was probably the cobra that Cleopatra chose to end her life.)

Moonseed

Images via Missouri plants and paradisegardentx

A otherworldly name and a plant with often fatal effects. The seeds of this Eastern North American drupe (stone fruit) are extremely toxic to humans, although birds can eat them. Moonseeds first cause paralysis but are fatal in larger doses and/or if treatment is not sought immediately.

Daphne

Images via Bonnie Day and Island Net

This plant, also called the spurge laurel, is a favorite ornamental shrub in Europe. This drupe-producing evergreen with waxy, attractive foliage and gorgeously fragrant blooms is also highly toxic. Consumption of the leaves or red or yellow fruits will first cause nausea and violent vomiting, followed by internal bleeding, coma and death. The daphne plant is rich in the toxin mezerein.

Narcissus

Images via the Guardian and the flower expert

Narcissists are toxic enough when they come in human form, but the plant for which they are named, also called the daffodil, is highly poisonous. Poet’s narcissus is more toxic than daffodil, but in both cases it is the bulbs, not the flower or stems, that cause illness. One famous fatal case in Toulouse in the early 1900s occurred when the bulbs were mistaken for onions and consumed. According to Botanical.com, “Socrates called this plant the ‘Chaplet of the infernal Gods,’ because of its narcotic effects. An extract of the bulbs, when applied to open wounds, has produced staggering, numbness of the whole nervous system and paralysis of the heart.” Yet, there are medicinal properties, and some cultures even believe they can cure baldness and serve as a potent aphrodisiac. (Do not try at home.)

Oleander

Image via Bay Area Hiker

The oleander is the most deadly plant in the world. It is also tremendously popular as a decorative shrub. Just one leaf can kill an adult, and fatal poisonings have resulted from minimal exposure to the twigs, blooms and berries. The plant contains numerous toxins, including nerioside, oleandroside, saponins, and cardiac glycosides. Though native to parts of the Mediterranean and Asia, it is now widely cultivated throughout the world. Fatalities among horses and other livestock are common. Once ingested, oleander goes to work simultaneously on the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, and the digestive tract.

Rhododendron

Images via SOUL, Netstate and Kew

The toxic rhododendron, a stalky tree-like evergreen shrub with large, brilliant blooms, is famously seen throughout much of the Pacific Northwest and is the state flower of Washington. Its relative, the popular garden shrub azalea, is also poisonous. Both plants contain andromedatoxin, which can cause severe pain, lethargy, depression, vomiting and nausea, progressive paralysis, coma and eventual death. All parts are deadly.

Choke cherry

Images via Why Oh Why and BC

Chokecherry, or wild cherry, is a North American plant that is known for its large sprays of tiny white flowers. The cherries are small and not eaten. The plant’s woody stalks and leaves are full of hydrocyanic acid, which is fatal if consumed. The poison affects the respiratory system, and rapid breathing, choking and asphyxiation result.

Nightshade

Image via PBase

Also known as the devil’s cherry, black cherry, great morel and belladonna, the nightshade is toxic from tip to top. Containing atropine, a deadly alkaloid, those who ingest even a small amount of the plant will soon notice they have lost their voice. Respiratory trouble and convulsions follow. The plant is problematic because its cherries are so sweet and children are frequently attracted to the wild fruit. Strangely, horses, birds, sheep, goats and pigs seem to be immune to the effects of nightshade. Nightshade poisoning is treatable with an emetic if treatment is sought swiftly. Plutarch spoke of armies being wiped out by nightshade, and legend has it that Macbeth’s soldiers poisoned the invading Danes with wine made from the sweet fruit.

There are many, many more toxic plants, but these plants were chosen for inclusion in this post due to their their incredible characteristics.

Sources: whmentors.org, Live Science, How Stuff Works, Wikipedia

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We owe our lives to trees. Trees provide far more than furniture and fuel. Everyone finds forests to be beautiful, but not many know how hardworking forests really are. The world’s great forests help make our planet hospitable to life; they purify the air, manage nutrients, capture greenhouse gases, create soil, regulate wind and ocean currents, house two-thirds of the world’s plant and animal species, cool the globe, provide subsistence or jobs to 1.6 billion people, and even play a role in weather systems. And yet, the world’s forests are critically threatened. Though, like amazing threatened species, there are hundreds of endangered forests and other beautiful aspects of nature, the following forests are visually stunning, ecologically precious, unique and simply wondrous and you don’t have to go vegan to help them out.

Image via BBC

1. Sherwood Forest

Yes, that Sherwood Forest. What was once a thick and dark mass of trees covering 100,000 acres is now a spartan 450 acres. Intense harvesting of the forest’s massive, ancient oaks for several centuries is the cause of the deforestation of this legendary woodland. Outcrops of Sherwood’s trees exist beyond the 450 acres but are not dense enough to be considered intact forest.

Images via Blogger and Avenuevine

2. Cork Bark Forest

The odd and distinctive cork bark forest of the Mediterranean is a case where industry actually preserves this unique biome. In fact, the advent of the screw-top wine stopper is the cork bark forest’s greatest threat. As vintners switch from cork plugs to alternative wine stoppers, millions of hectares of cork forest will be cut and replanted with other more viable crops; the loss of jobs to the cork bark industry would be another side effect. Experts say we will lose cork forests in the next decade if the wine industry continues to turn to alternative corks. Cork oaks are really fascinating; they can be “shorn”, much like sheep, for many years with proper maintenance. Without market incentive, though, these forests may fall into disrepair or be cleared all together.

Image via Cherokee

3. The Christmas Tree

The unique Fraser Fir, better known as the original Christmas tree for its iconic, plump cone shape, has been struggling with a pestilent insect called the adelgid since the 1950s. (The adelgid eats the tree down to the bare wood, leaving swaths of naked branches behind.) Most of what is left of the Fraser Fir in nature can be found in the majestic Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

Image via dred.state.nh.us

4. Appalachian Hemlock Forests

Several states are home to the Appalachian Hemlock, which is threatened by the woolly adelgid. This forest is in New Hampshire.

In North America, a range of factors threatens the 155 national forests, with at least a dozen being critically endangered (some experts consider the number to be closer to 30). Forests are at risk due to the following factors: pestilence, invading species, human activity and climate change. Human activities such as mining, logging, air and groundwater pollution, noise pollution, deforestation, clear-cutting, the “island effect” and other poor silviculture methods have the greatest impact. (The “island effect” involves breaking up forests into smaller sections, as in the case of Sherwood Forest.)

Images via Praise Photography, Behavior Advisor, Berkeley

5. The Cloud Forests

Cloud forests, or montane forests, are unlike any others. Known as “nature’s water towers“, cloud forests play a unique role in evaporation and precipitation, helping to purify both water and air. Not only do these forests supply fresh water to nearby residents, they contain some of the most amazing biodiversity on earth. Most cloud forests are found in Asia and Central America, but they’re particularly threatened in Central America. In places like Guatemala, where 40% of the water comes from the cloud forest, preservation is essential. Though cloud forests are located around the world, Guatemala is emblematic of the cloud forest problem because its national symbol, the Resplendent Quetzal, is in danger of extinction as its habitat continues to be destroyed by logging, non-native species, development and climate change. (These fantastic images are from Costa Rica’s Monteverde Reserve, Guatemala, and Ecuador’s Los Cedros cloud forest.)

Image via sunnyfortuna

6. The California Old-Growth Forests

The famous redwood forests of Northern California are home to some of the largest, oldest trees on earth. In 2008, much of these old-growth areas, including stands of massive redwoods, continue to be sold to industry. If you are interested in further information, read about 10 recent sales of old-growth forest that have concerned researchers and scientists.

Images via ENS, Our Forests, Alaska Wild

7. The Tongass: the Only Coastal Temperate Rainforest

The Tongass is one of the world’s only temperate rainforests (the Hoh in Washington State is another). Many Americans have been surprised to learn that the United States is home to a tropical rainforest – and even more surprised to learn that its virgin trees are being rapidly logged for the production of goods exported to Asia. The Tongass is truly a wonder – at 17 million acres, it is the largest forest in the United States and the only coastal rainforest remaining in North America.

Images via Endangered Ecosystems, Global Forest Science, iexplore, inlandair

8. The Inland Rainforest

Did you know there’s a rainforest in the frigid inner reaches of Canada? 400 miles away from the coast of British Columbia, the Inland Rainforest is home to the unique mountain caribou. Environmental challenge: 1/3 of the caribou have been wiped out since 2001 as clear-cutting continues to affect the Inland Rainforest.

Images via runawaynow, etravelphotos

9. The Great Bear Rainforest

Covering most of the West Coast of Canada, the 15-million acre Great Bear Rainforest was once severely threatened. A landmark agreement to guarantee protection of 5 million acres of this forest was made in 2006, and efforts are being made to protect all 15 million acres. This is a welcome example of a positive development in forest conservation.

Trivia: Did you know that just 14 of the world’s countries are home to 92% of its forests?

Image via wadhi ghsoubi

10. The Daniel Boone National…Tree Farm

The Forest Service has been working to convert the historic Daniel Boone forest to a regulated tree farm. While forestry leaders have always had to balance the interests of development and industry with those of conservation activists and scientists, scientists believe the environmental costs of such an initiative would be too great. When forests are cut down, not only are working greenhouse conversion “factories” destroyed, but the harvesting process itself creates millions of tons of carbon dioxide pollution. And when monocultures of rapidly-growing tree species replace these organic, diverse forests, the ecological impact is often severe.

Images via Oregonlive, Flickr, and Siskiyou.org

11. Oregon Heritage Forests

Some of the last remaining pristine virgin forests in North America are in Oregon. Perhaps the most famous is the grand Siskiyou forest tract. Current status: the Bush Administration has faced criticism because it has supported the timber industry’s interests, both in litigation and with the Healthy Forests Initiative. The facts: 90% of these heritage forests are gone forever; of the 10% (2 million acres) remaining, the logging industry is hoping to gain greater access to 40% of what remains (800,000 acres). These heritage forests have been somewhat protected under the existing Northwest Forest Plan; logging is still permitted but the attempt is made to manage the logging in a way that is sustainable.

Oregon may be a less worrisome example than others, however. According to leading organizations, many of earth’s forests are critically threatened. A report by the United Nations found that the world loses 13 million hectares of forest every year. (That’s 36 football fields every minute, every day.) Perspective: 30% of the world is still covered in forest; but less than 8% of this land is protected.

Image via Arthur Grosset

12. South America: the Murici Reserve

South America contains most of the planet’s tropical rainforests, although tropical rainforests are found around the world. (Forests are classified as tropical, temperate, boreal, and montane; they simply follow latitude. Forests nearest the equator, then, are tropical. The one exception is the montane or “cloud” forest, which is determined by altitude.)

South America, particularly Brazil, has come to symbolize the controversy over forest management. There have actually been some encouraging success stories, such as in Bolivia, where most of the forested regions are now protected and managed sustainably. But despite public awareness of tropical rainforest deforestation in South America, and a handful of remarkable success stories, the reality remain complex. (Biofuel development has been controversial to say the least.) The infamous “slash and burn” tactic is responsible for billions of tons of carbon dioxide output, harm to indigenous peoples, and reduced biodiversity. Unemployment, economic troubles, and global demand spur the conditions. For example, in one of the most fragile forests, the Murici Reserve, locals are caught between trying to live off the land and preserve the forest. They grow seedlings in an independent attempt to replace what has been logged; but they are given little federal assistance and without tenable employment opportunities their situation is as precarious as that of the forests.

Images via 2ridetheworld, BBC, Regional Dev and Alex Keto

13. Mau Forest Complex

Mau is one of the world’s most ancient forests. It is threatened by agricultural and residential encroachment. The 400,000 acre preserve in Kenya is seriously endangered – and at present the government is trying to kick tens of thousands of squatters off of it. This is a global challenge. Poor communities struggling with unemployment, civil unrest or war, and inadequate resources are often forced to use the endangered forests to survive.

Images via Flickr, mrobbins and rimofheaven

14. The Strangest Forest on Earth

Chile is home to some of the most bizarre forestland on earth. Trees exist there that grow nowhere else. The alerce is a tree that lives over 3,000 years; the “monkey puzzle tree” has some of the quirkiest features around. Current status: the logging industry wants to convert most of this forest to tree farms; plans are in the works to increase the tree farm range from 5 million to 10 million acres over the next 12 years. In short, South America is plagued with forest management issues.

Trivia: Half of the world’s tropical rainforests are gone, accounting for 25% of the annual greenhouse gas figure.

Images via Jennifer Marohasy, borclaud

15. Down Under

Australia is home to some beautiful forests. The Blue Gum High Forest and the Sydney Turpentine Ironbark Forest are both listed as critically threatened. Together they comprise fewer than 230 hectares. The major threats to these forests are development and sheep grazing. Both forests contain some amazing and beautiful tree species.

16. Weld River Valley

In Southern Tasmania, the Weld River Valley is home to great old-growth forests that look like something out of another era. Loggers have continued to encroach upon the forest, and tensions have been high in recent years, leading to protests and incidents of violence. Political gridlock and fraud by industry have been defining characteristics of the fight to preserve the Weld River Valley. The upper region is protected but the lower virgin forest is still being logged.

Images via Astronomy Notes, cwsd and George Ledger

17. The Sierra Nevada

California’s Sierra Nevada provides 60% of the state’s drinking water and is an important carbon sink for the entire planet. Like many North American forests, it is threatened by pests, fire, development, logging, off-road vehicle use, and mining interests.

Images via Greenpeace, Environment Canada, Encyclopedia Britannica

18. North American Boreal Forest

The North American Boreal Forest is one of the grandest forests in the world. It stretches from Alaska to the Atlantic Ocean, sweeping through Canada and parts of the United States. Unfortunately, it is threatened by none other than junk mail and catalog companies. The Boreal Forest holds more carbon than any other ecosystem on earth (second only to the oceans), purifies most of the world’s air, and holds the largest stores of freshwater anywhere on earth. Yet only 8% is protected and it is logged at the rate of 2 acres a minute, 24/7. Half of the Boreal has already been destroyed as it is transformed from tree to junk mail and displaced to the landfill.

Image via University of Hawaii

19. Mauna Kea and Kilauea

Forest land around these two volcanoes is threatened by invading tree species, namely the tropical ash and the Canary Island fire tree. The slow-growing native species can’t compete, and now nearly half of this Hawaiian forest is comprised of non-native species.

Images via Flickr, daylife, Emory University, Volunteer Abroad News, Underwater

20. Papua New Guinea: Gone in 13 Years?

PNG is the subject of intense study by scientists and conservationists. A recent joint study with PNG and Australia found that the PNG rainforests may be gone in as little as 13 years. PNG is losing 1.4% of its forestland every year. Some pretty creative solutions are on the table. One idea would involve a viral internet campaign that would pay villagers to prevent forest being logged.

There are dozens of additional threatened forests around the world, from unusual micro-biomes to the taiga to Russia to Africa and beyond. This post is an introduction to the wonder of forests – and seeks to highlight how important they truly are.

Click Here for Even More Amazing Plants:

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Fractals: they’re famously found in nature and artists have created some incredible renderings as well. Fractals are purely a wonder – too irregular for Euclidean geometry; iterative and recursive and seemingly infinite. They turn up in food and germs, plants and animals, mountains and water and sky. Here are seventeen stunning examples:

1. Sea shells

Images via Sustainable San Mateo and Designer

The nautilus is one of the most famous examples of a fractal in nature. The perfect pattern is called a Fibonacci spiral.

2. Snow flake

Images via Popular Science and Daily Dose of Imagery

3. Lightning

Images via howstuffworks, moonraker and Yale

Lightning’s terrifying power is both awesome and beautiful. The fractals created by lightning are fascinatingly arbitrary and irregular.

4. Romanescu

Image via docman

A special type of broccoli, this cruciferous and tasty cousin of the cabbage is a particularly symmetrical fractal. Cook it for your favorite mathematician.

5. Fern

Images via red dirt road and travelblog

The fern is one of many flora that are fractal; it’s an especially good example.

6. Queen Anne’s Lace

Image via Chrisjfry

The delicate Queen Anne’s Lace, which is really just wild carrot, is a beautiful example of a floral fractal. Each blossom produces smaller iterative blooms. This particular image was shot from underneath to demonstrate the fractal nature of the plant.

7. Broccoli

Image via American Feast

Though not as famously geometric as its relative the Romanescu, broccoli is also a fractal.

8. Peacock

Images via National Geographic and Neatorama

Males of both the white peacock and standard peacock variety are resplendent examples of fractals in the animal kingdom. Trivia: the white peacock is not an albino.

9. Pineapple

Image via Free Wallpaper

The pineapple is an unusual fruit that is, in fact, a fractal. Though often associated with Hawaii the fruit is a native of southern Brazil.

10. Clouds

Image via daily dose of imagery and Allan Ferguson

Look outside your window – you may see a fractal cloud at any moment.

11. Crystals

Images via gdargaud, Indigo Society, ESRF and Designer

Both chemically-formed crystals and ice and frost crystals are breathtaking examples of fractals in nature.

12. Mountain ranges

Images via USGS, Clemson and Gemland

Both shorelines and mountain ranges are considered loosely fractal. These particular examples are beautiful.

13. Trees and Leaves

Images via timalbertson, Yale, enchanter, background wallpaper

From the macro view of a leaf to the span of a tree’s branches, fractals turn up frequently.

14. Shorelines

Image via Today is a good day

This stunningly complex fractal shoreline is none other than the pan handle of Florida.

15. Rivers and fjords

Images via Today is a good day and e-picworld

From the midwest of the United States to the icy fjords of Norway, fractals are often viewed by airline passengers – these particular travelers were savvy enough to snap photographs.

16. Sea urchins and sea stars

Images via jurvetson and curious animals

Sea urchins are compact, almost artistic little creatures; sea stars are more commonly referred to as starfish.

17. Stalagmites and stalactites

Images via wikimedia, Yale and Good Earth Graphics

By now you know that stalagmites shoot up from the ground while stalactites form overhead.

Amazing fractal configurations all. The links at the beginning of this post are highly recommended as they are a great start to exploring even more wondrous natural and artificial fractals.

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One day you’re feeling satisfied with the fruits of all your yard work. The next day, your lawn is a gaping pit of mud. That’s if you are lucky – it could have been your house, neighborhood or, say, local interstate. Sinkholes tend to appear suddenly, and while particular regions are famously prone to sinkholes they happen all over the world. It begins with an innocuous leak in a rusty pipe. The earth beneath your feet quietly erodes until one day…whoosh. Whole buildings have been sucked into sinkholes. Entire roads have been knocked out. Here are some of the biggest and baddest sinkholes in the world.

Images (clockwise from top left): 1, 2, Google, 3, 4

1. Qattara Depression

The vast Qattara west of Cairo, Egypt is the largest natural sinkhole in the world, measuring 80km long by 120km wide. This dangerous, sludge-filled quicksand pit is unearthly in its appearance and shocking in its size.

The 133m deep sinkhole has been used in battle and more recently scientists have attempted to develop a $360 million dollar project that would harness the Qattara for complete energy independence. The plan would require digging a ditch from the edge of Qattara to the Mediterranean and allowing the sink to slowly fill with water via a tunnel. Eventually (at least 160 years in the future) the new lake would rival Lake Eerie’s size; at that point the heat of the desert would evaporate additional water flow. They’re pretty sure it would, anyway. Egypt is home to a number of desert sinkholes. The almost incomprehensibly vast Qattara hole is 100% natural – the product of fierce winds tearing into the slimy salt beds right down to the water table. (Note: click the Google Maps link to zoom. The minty-green area is Qattara.)

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2. Berezniki

In Soviet Russia, the ground moves you. Berezniki’s sinkhole began in 1986 and just grows worse with each passing year. It’s unstoppable. Currently it’s over 200m deep, 80m long and 40m wide. In case you’re thinking “Berezniki? Who cares?” you should know that 10% of the world output of potash comes from this area, and the sinkhole is very close to destroying the mine’s sole rail line.

Images

3. Guatemala City

Residents of a Guatemala City heard strange rumblings for weeks but weren’t sure what was happening beneath them. Then, in late February 2007, a near-perfect circle of earth dropped some 30 stories almost instantly. It’s amazing how neat the hole is. Two people died and over 1,000 had to be evacuated; the sinkhole resulted from a corroded sewage system deep beneath the surface (apparently the odor coming from the hole was intolerable).

Sinkholes are caused by changing geological conditions or by a failure to maintain aging underground pipes and sewage systems, but the common factor in both is usually water. Ground underlain with carbonate bedrock – limestone for example – is most prone to sinking because the bedrock erodes with repeated exposure to water. The rock corrodes and the sediment swells with water and eventually everything reaches a critical mass point.

Images: 1, 2, 3

4. Sarisarinama

The Sarisarinama holes of Venezuela are a mysterious and beautiful natural wonder. There are several of these perfectly round basins that are each 350m in diameter and over 350m deep. Scientists aren’t sure how these stunning sink holes originated, but they are awe-inspiring nonetheless; each hole contains unique ecosystems with many distinct plant and animal species found nowhere else on earth. You can view video footage of a flight over the largest hole here.

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5. Bimmah

Making the most of one of nature’s great oddities, the residents of Bimmah, Oman turned this sinkhole into a tourist trap. (Well actually, a swim park.)

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6. Mount Gambier

Known as the city of craters, Mount Gambier (between Adelaide and Melbourne in South East Australia) has all manner of water channels, caves and caverns beneath its residential crust. Perching atop limestone, the city has both volcanic craters and naturally-occurring sinkholes that have filled with water. It’s really quite beautiful.

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7. Unidentified Unfortunate House

Steve Kluge has cataloged a impressive list of geological and disaster-related photographs; you wouldn’t want to own this unlucky Florida house. (Sinkholes are a well-known and persistent problem in Florida. It’s not just floods and hurricanes.)

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8. Agrico Gypsum Stack

Florida is plagued by sinkhole erosion, but this disaster in 1994 was one of the most devastating by far. A 15-story sinkhole tore open right beneath an 80-million-ton pile of gypsum stack (toxic industrial waste). The hazardous soup contaminated 90% of Florida’s drinking water and cleanup efforts ran into the millions of dollars. The 2 million cubic foot hole soon was nicknamed the “Journey to the Center of the Earth”, as if to indicate that it was the newest Disney World attraction.

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9. South Florida

The karst (a type of bedrock) in this urbanized Southern Florida area weakened to the point of collapse and this sizable sinkhole was the result.

Images

10. The Devil’s Sinkhole

Plunging a frightening 400 feet is the cavernous Devil’s Sinkhole in Texas. The limestone wonder has a 40′x60′ opening and there is archaeological evidence that the sinkhole was considered sacred by Native Americans. Locals are known to collect arrowheads, stalactites and other treasures from the sinkhole. Random trivia: a sinkhole may also be referred to as a swallet, cenote, or doline.

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11. Macungie

A moderate level of water actually helps to “secure” the ground beneath our feet – otherwise we wouldn’t be able to build as the ground would simply sweep away – but if the sediment becomes waterlogged a sinkhole may strike. Though nature’s ancient sinkholes are stunning, human-caused sinks are just disastrous. The Macungie sink in Pennsylvania, above, gave Florida a run for its money. (Pennsylvania’s water system is aging, so sinkholes are becoming increasingly common.)

Images: AP, other

12. Daisetta

In Daisetta, Texas just a few months ago, what started as a small 20-foot sinkhole in a residential neighborhood spread to over 900 feet within a day, consuming telephone poles, structures and vehicles as it grew. Authorities had been checking on the oil and natural gas lines as they suspected leakage. Oil field equipment nearby toppled into the pit, creating a sludge of oil and mud that came very close to destroying several homes.

Images: Don Davis, Local Pilot

13. Bowling Green

Plans for the Kentucky Trimodal Transpark were quickly abandoned when this massive 200-foot sinkhole in Bowling Green, Kentucky ripped open. Unfortunately this region is dotted with naturally-occurring, numerous underground sinks that could open at any time, making development very risky in the entire area.

With thanks to the digging done by Deputy Dog and Environmental Graffiti.

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Some of the most famous and devastating natural disasters of human history, from deadly earthquakes and catastrophic landslides to devastating and massive sinkholes.

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Like much of the futuristic green building designs and great green architecture of today, the ugly redheaded stepchildren of the animal kingdom don’t get much attention compared to the perennial endangered animal favorites like pandas, polar bears, and owls. These are the cute, majestic, and otherwise emblematic creatures of the endangered species list. But there are hundreds more animal species on our wondrous planet that are critically threatened and need both publicity and support. From bats the size of bees to poison-slinging mammals, lizards that don’t eat for a decade to seals with giant inflatable faces, here are the 25 strangest, most bizarre, unusual and important endangered species living on the “EDGE” (Evolutionarily Distinct & Globally Endangered).

Images: top left, bottom left, right

1. Solenodon

No, it’s not an ROUS.  The strange solenodon is a mammal found primarily in Cuba and Hispanola. Sure, it looks cute and manageable enough – sort of like an over-sized hedgehog. Too bad the solenodon injects rattlesnake-like venom through its teeth, the only mammal to do so. Easily annoyed, the solenodon bites at the drop of a banana leaf. Still, being both a carrion feeder and insectivore, it is a vital species in its ecosystem. It was thought to be extinct until scientists found a few still alive in 2003. It is in grave danger of extinction.

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2. Kakapo

This is not only the rarest, but the strangest parrot in the world. Imagine a rather portly nocturnal bird that never flies, preferring to hike through hilly forest for miles every night. It weighs in as the heaviest parrot in the world at 8 pounds. Imagine this and you have the very real (but virtually extinct) kakapo. A resident of New Zealand, which is home to a number of rare birds, there are only 62 kakapos remaining on earth. (Bonus fact: New Zealand is full of unusual creatures. It originally had no native land mammals, so its many unique birds evolved in unusual ways – which unfortunately has made them very vulnerable to mammals that were brought in during European colonization.)

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Images: left, middle, bottom

3. Angler Fish

Some guys just can’t catch a break. The male angler fish is 1/20th the size of the female angler fish. The huge, traumatizingly ugly spiny fish with the glowing “fishing rod” lure you saw in Finding Nemo? That’s the female. The male is that tiny little blob attached to his horrific goddess that you never noticed. He burrows in with his teeth and she “feeds” him ex-utero style until he eventually loses his eyeballs, then internal organs and finally his life. By then, she’s got his sperm so it doesn’t matter. Anglers are deep-sea fish, but that doesn’t mean they’re safe from threat. Go on, have another look at these lovely ladies of the deep:

Image: Tino Mauricio, Herp-Pix

4. Leaping Lesbian Lizards!

Officially named Cnemidophorus uniparens, these American desert lizards reproduce despite the fact that they’re all female. Interestingly, some of them simulate sexual acts (above, left) with each other just like male and female lizards, and it’s been discovered that when they do they reproduce more successfully than their abstemious sisters.

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5. The Kiwi

Everyone knows the beloved endangered kiwi is a flightless bird. As if to make up for its winged impotence, the kiwi is actually a violent, temperamental little bird. But its quirks don’t stop there. The only bird with whiskers is also distinctly dog-like in its ability to sniff out food and threats. In fact, it has the most highly developed sense of smell of any bird, lifting its “nose” (beak) into the breeze to determine its surroundings, just like a dog would. That’s probably because kiwis are also the only bird to have prominent nostrils. Contrary to popular belief, the kiwi does have wings, but they are tiny and difficult to detect under the loose, fluffy, hair-like feathers. The kiwi has many other unusual characteristics: the eggs are relatively huge, being one-fifth the bird’s weight; kiwi pairs mate for life – as long as 30 years – but tend to have feisty relationships; the females are larger and more dominant than the males. In fact, daddy kiwis incubate the young while mom hunts – for an unheard-of 80 days, no less. Did you know that kiwis are the smallest ratites on earth? Other ratites include ostrich and emu.

Images: 1, 2, 3

6. Olm

This unusual amphibian is blind, lives to 100, and goes ten years at a stretch without food. It lives in the subterranean waters of Italy, Croatia and Herzegovenia, where it skeeves out the locals with its strange, human-like skin. Its nickname, in fact, is the “human fish”. Unlike most amphibians, the olm lives in the water for its whole life. Another oddity of the olm: its neotenic (larval) gills.

Image: 1, 2

7. Bumblebee Bat

Winning the cutest. bat. ever. award is the Bumblebee bat, which at its largest measures 1 inch. These tiny mammals hover like hummingbirds and like all bats prefer caves and love feasting on insects. They can easily perch on the tip of your thumb. This tiny bat dwells in Thailand and is considered one of the 12 most endangered species. There are fewer than 200 remaining.

Image: Dani Jeski

8. Aye Aye

Sharing something in common with bats, aye ayes are the only primates of the mammal world to rely on echolocation for hunting. The aye aye is a rather unusual cousin of us humans. It lives in spherical nests with a small hole for entry and exit. It uses its long, slender middle finger to tap on trees in order to find tasty insects – and it uses this same finger to scoop them out. Perhaps it is due to its unusually-large eyes and ears that this unique, sensitive primate is believed to be a demon or a bad luck omen. A native of Madagascar, it is often killed at first notice by the island’s superstitious residents.

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9. Hooded Seal

Males of this arctic seal species have both an inflatable skull hood and nasal balloon. When aroused, angered or simply showing off, male hooded seals can inflate their sacs that are a foot or more in diameter. The nasal balloon can be inflated through one or both nostrils and is bright red. Unfortunately, due to global warming affecting the arctic environment, hooded seals are now considered by many scientists to be endangered.

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10. Echidna

The echidna is one of two egg-laying mammals in the world (the other is the famous duck-billed platypus). Though it looks a big hedgehog-like, this spiky creature is shy and non-confrontational. The echidna has a long, moist snout and an even longer tongue which it uses to feast on termites. It has no teeth, so it has to “chew” termites by crushing them between its tongue and mouth cavity. There are actually 4 species of echidna, and along with the platypus, they are the only monotremes. More on that in a moment.

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11. Monito Del Monte

The “little mountain monkey” of South America is not a monkey, but rather a marsupial, thought to have arrived from Australia long ago. It’s tiny – only about 5″ full grown. They are nocturnal and carnivorous, and famous (well, among scientists) for their unusual tail, which can store enough fat to make this little pipsqueak double in size. This allows them to go for long periods without food. Sadly, the always-prepared monito del monte is in danger of extinction.

Image: D. Houston

12. The penguin with glowing yellow eyes

The yellow-eyed penguin, also native to New Zealand, is the rarest and strangest penguin in the world. It can dive to an astounding depth of 400 feet, likes to feed 20 miles from shore, and prefers to nest in the forest rather than on the beach. Penguin families tend to keep to themselves rather than congregate as most penguins do. Because of shoreline deforestation, these unusual-looking penguins are at great risk.

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13. Duck-Billed Platypus

It’s venomous. It’s got a duck’s bill, and otter’s feet and a mammal’s body. Oh, and it lays eggs. No wonder Western naturalists were confused by the platypus when it was first introduced. The platypus, along with the echidna, is a monotreme (egg-laying mammal). It’s native to Australia and Tasmania where it was hunted to near-extinction during the 1800s for its fur, but has been protected since the turn of the 20th century. Thought officially a protected species, the platypus is at risk because of poaching. (In future posts we will explore the varying classifications of “endangered” and some of the associated controversy and disputes.)

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14. Ghost Frog

The flat-bodied ghost frog has special adaptations to allow it to inhabit rapid streams in South Africa (as well as Skeleton Gorge, likely the reason for its spooky moniker). The young have disc-like mouths to for a suction-like grip and adults have specialized disc-like toe pads to cling to rocks in the rushing water.

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15. Purple Frog

The purple frog is really purple. But its brilliant hue is not the strange thing about it. The purple frog spends much of the year living 13 feet below ground. Also called the pignose for its snubbed nose, this western Indian-dwelling frog was only discovered in 2003, in Kerala. Locals had known about the purple frog for years, but scientists were skeptical. Part of the reason purple frogs were difficult to find was simply due to the fact that they only come up for air for two weeks during monsoon season in order to mate.

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16. Dugong

The dugong is a cousin of the manatee and is closely related to the elephant. The dugong is unique in that it has a split (whale-like) tail and will “perch” underwater on its tail in order to keep its head above water. The dugong is thought to have inspired ancient myths about mermaids. The dugong is threatened by poachers who hunt the animal for its meat, oil, skin and bones. It is extremely endangered.

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17. Spring Hare

The bizarre spring hare had taxonomists scratching their heads for years. It’s been classified with jerboas (jumping rodents), squirrels and even porcupines. It’s now classified on its own, and it resembles both a kangaroo and hare. It has specialized short limbs with claws for digging as well as flexible ear flaps that can be used to seal off the ear canal to protect against the elements and debris. It’s also got a funny resting position that looks a lot like the yoga Dolphin post: it stretches its long hind legs forward and then rests its head and arms directly on the ground

18. Sumatran Rabbit

That’s not really its name; it doesn’t have one. Meet the rarest rabbit in the world, which has only been seen twice in the last century at least. Locals didn’t even know it existed. The “Sumatran rabbit” is thought to be nearly extinct. (Note: there are very few available images of this incredibly rare animal, and most are grainy at best – click here to view.)

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19. Sloth

The sloth belongs to the edentate family, which also includes anteaters, armadillos, and echidnas. Most edentates are either threatened or endangered species. There are a number of unusual facts about the sloth. All sloths have three toes, but “two-toed” sloths only have 2 claws. Sloths often hunt in packs. They can actually move quickly and will slash with their large claws – the slow-moving behavior is to avoid predators like hawks. They actually hang most of their lives. Sloths typically have over 600 species of bacteria, plants and animals living on them at any given time, and will often feed on themselves when they are hungry. (Algae is the main snack.) Famously, these unusual creatures can rotate their heads 270 degrees. Lore has it that sloths adore beer and are able to “hold their liquor” amazingly well.

20. Choose

There are so many endangered and threatened animal species in the world it is hard to just pick twenty. So, go ahead and read through lists of more and decide for yourself what the strangest is then drop back by and leave a comment with your thoughts. Who knows, maybe the semi-aquatic hairless ape should make the list.

Sources: About.com, BBC, National Geographic, Edge of Existence, Animal Info

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(Images via: Nick Outram and Moment)

Before you jump to conclusions: no, these were not created by a bored geek in Photoshop. Amazingly, these uncanny animals are actually real: they climb the Argan trees of Morocco in search of food, which is otherwise sparse in the region. Over time they have become not only able to climb trees but downright adept at the art – the traipse across trees with a sure-footedness that is hard to imagine from a hoofed animal.

(image via Lottelies)

The droppings of the goats contain the kernels of the seeds they consume which are, strangely enough, used by locals to press and grind into oil. Even more disturbingly: this oil has a number of uses including culinary (yes, people eat it) and cosmetic (yes, they also smear it on themselves). You might want to skip over the versions of these products sold by local farmers for the somewhat cleaner mass-produced varieties. For a quarter-liter bottle of this goat-digested kernel-oil you can expect to pay from 15 to 50 dollars.

Known as skilled navigators of treacherous mountain conditions, maybe it isn’t such a surprise after all to find goats making their way up the steep and narrow trunks and branches of only slightly more dangerous trees. Unfortunately, the Argan tree is slowly being over-harvested so you may have to hurry to see the real thing. Still not sure you believe the images of goats climbing trees up to heights of 30 feet? There is nothing quite like a video to convince even the most cynical skeptics:

Note that instead of the careful climbing one might expect these brave goats simply hop from one cluster of branches to another in search of food. In the middle of the video you can even see a younger goat run down the almost vertical slope of the tree before hopping lightly onto the ground below – followed shortly after by another that simply jumps from a higher set of branches to land on its feet.

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