Cyathus is a genus of fungi in the Nidulariaceae, a family collectively known as the bird's nest fungi. They are given this name since they resemble tiny bird's nests filled with "eggs". The "eggs", or peridioles, are firmly attached to the inner surface of this fruiting body by an elastic cord of mycelia known as a funiculus. The 45 species are widely distributed throughout the world and some are found in most countries, although a few exist in only one or two locales. Cyathus stercoreus is considered endangered in a number of European countries. The internal and external surfaces of this cup may be ridged longitudinally; this is one example of a taxonomic characteristic that has traditionally served to distinguish between species. Generally considered inedible, Cyathus species are saprobic, since they obtain nutrients from decomposing organic matter. They usually grow on decaying wood or woody debris, on cow and horse dung, or directly on humus-rich soil. The life cycle of this genus allows it to reproduce both sexually, with meiosis, and asexually via spores. Phylogenetic analysis is providing new insights into the evolutionary relationships between the various species in Cyathus. (more...)
... that the Phoenician ruins (temple pictured) of the ancient city of Amrit, near Tartus in Syria, are preserved in their entirety without extensive remodeling by later generations?
... that after the Italian Navy ship Sibilia collided with Kateri i Radës in the Tragedy of Otranto, as many as 83 would-be migrants from Albania died?
1959 – On the return leg of her maiden voyage, the "unsinkable" Danish ocean linerHans Hedtoft struck an iceberg and sank with all 95 passengers and crew lost.
The Smithsonian museums are the most widely visible part of the United States' Smithsonian Institution (pictured) and consist of nineteen museums and galleries as well as the National Zoological Park. Eleven of these museums are located on the National Mall, while the remainder are located elsewhere in Washington, D.C., as well as New York City and Chantilly, Virginia. The museums have roughly 137 million objects such as works of art, natural specimens, cultural artifacts, etc., in their collections, and are visited by over 25 million people every year. The birth of the Smithsonian Institution can be traced to the acceptance of James Smithson's legacy, willed to the United States in 1826. In 1838, this legacy, which totaled more than $500,000, was delivered to the US Mint and in 1846, the Smithsonian Institution was established. The Institution grew slowly until 1964 when Sidney Dillon Ripley became secretary. Ripley managed, over a twenty year period, to expand the institution by eight museums and upped admission from 10.8 million to 30 million people a year. The newest Smithsonian museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, is slated to open in 2015. (more...)
Baalbek in Lebanon is famous for its exquisitely detailed yet monumentally scaled temple ruins of the Roman period, when, then known as Heliopolis, it was one of the largest sanctuaries in the Empire. It can be counted among the wonders of the ancient world, containing some of the largest and best preserved Roman ruins. Seen here is the Great Court of the temple complex.
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