5 Sept 2016

Plum Park in Kameido

Plum Park in Kameido is a woodblock print in the ukiyo-e genre by the Japanese artist Hiroshige. It was published in 1857 as the thirtieth print in the One Hundred Famous Views of Edo series and depicts Prunus mume trees in bloom. Popular prints such as Plum Park in Kameido were produced in the tens of thousands at a low individual cost. After the opening up of Japan in 1853, they found a following in Europe, where they had a significant influence on the Impressionist artists, and onPost-Impressionists such as Vincent van Gogh.

3 Sept 2016

The Great Day of His Wrath

The Great Day of His Wrath is an 1851–1853 oil painting on canvas by the English painter John Martin. It has variously been described as showing the "destruction of Babylon and the material world by natural cataclysm" (as a response to the emerging industrial scene of London), "the collapse of Edinburgh in Scotland", and a portion of the Biblical Book of Revelation. The painting is held by Tate Britain in London.

20 Aug 2016

Morpho Didius

A ventral view of Morpho didius, a Neotropical butterfly belonging to the subfamily Morphinae of familyNymphalidae. With a wingspan reaching 150 mm (5.9 in), it is one of the largest of Morpho species.

12 Aug 2016

Hughes Medal

The Hughes Medal is awarded by the Royal Society of London "in recognition of an original discovery in the physical sciences, particularly electricity and magnetism or their applications". Named after David E. Hughes, the medal is awarded with a gift of £1000. The medal was first awarded in 1902 to J. J. Thomson (pictured) "for his numerous contributions to electric science, especially in reference to the phenomena of electric discharge in gases", and has since been awarded over one hundred times. Unlike other Royal Society medals, the Hughes Medal has never been awarded to the same individual more than once. The medal has on occasion been awarded to multiple people at a time; in 1938 it was won by John Cockcroft and Ernest Walton, in 1981 byPeter Higgs and Tom Kibble, in 1982 by Drummond Matthews and Frederick Vine and in 1988 by Archibald Howie and M.J. Whelan.

3 Aug 2016

SAI KZ IV

The SAI KZ IV was a light twin-engined aircraft first built in Denmark in 1944 for use as an air ambulance. A single machine was built during the war, and was used by Folke Bernadotte while negotiating for the release of Danish prisoners in German concentration camps. It is now held by the Danmarks Flymuseum and has been restored to its original wartime configuration and markings. A second aircraft was built and flown in 1949, remaining actively operational until the mid 1960s.

22 Jul 2016

Vimy Memorial Bridge

The Vimy Memorial Bridge is a bridge in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Completed in 2014, it crosses the Rideau River, connecting Strandherd Drive in Barrhaven and Earl Armstrong Road in Riverside South. The bridge has three vehicle lanes per direction, including dedicated bus lanes and bike lanes. It is named after the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

20 Jul 2016

Pennsylvania pound

A banknote for three pence, or 1/80 of a Pennsylvania pound, the currency of colonial Pennsylvania. Created as a response to the global economic downturn caused by the 1720 collapse of the South Sea Company, the currency was worth 25% less than sterling. It was discontinued in 1793 in favor of the United States dollar. This note was signed by Thomas Wharton and printed by Benjamin Franklin and David Hall.

19 Jul 2016

Great Mosque of Central Java

The Great Mosque of Central Java is a mosque in the city of SemarangCentral Java, Indonesia. Dedicated in 2006, the mosque complex covers 10 hectares (25 acres). It can hold up to 15,000 worshipers in the mosque interior and the central courtyard. This photograph was taken from the viewing deck of the 99-metre (325 ft) tall Asmaul Husna Tower, which also houses a museum and a radio station for dakwah.

18 Jul 2016

God Speed

God Speed is a painting by British artist Edmund Leighton which was completed in 1900. It depicts an armored knight leaving for war and leaving his beloved, who ties a red sash around his arm. A griffin on the banister of the stairs is a symbol of strength and military courage. The painting was exhibited in the Royal Academy of Arts in 1900. It is now held in a private collection.

17 Jul 2016

Ty Cobb

Ty Cobb (1886–1961), shown here sliding into third base on August 16, 1924, was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder. He spent twenty-two seasons with the Detroit Tigers, including six as the team'splayer-manager, and finished his career with the Philadelphia Athletics. During this time Cobb set ninety MLB records, though his abilities were sometimes overshadowed by his surly temperament and aggressive playing style. In 1936 Cobb was made an inaugural member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, and in 1999 editors at theSporting News ranked him third on their list of "Baseball's 100 Greatest Players".