S-Shaped Herkimer "Diamond" Chain This specimen is unique because... it has gemmy Smoky Quartz surrounding a clear Quartz crystal in the center and an aesthetic S-shape. Herkimer "Diamonds" are a variety of Quartz found in Herkimer, New York. These are nicknamed "Diamonds" because of their incredible brilliance and their chunky, double terminated shape that resembles a diamond. Mining for these crystals is very difficult because they are embedded in hard rock which requires lots of work to find small quantities and they are rarely found in long chains like this with excellent clarity.show more

Herkimer "Diamonds" aren’t actually diamonds—they’re double-terminated quartz crystals found... in Herkimer County, New York! Known for their incredible clarity and geometric perfection! Video: Frank J McGivern Jr thecrystalconduitshow more

This is a natural piece of kimberlite with a... rough Diamond still inside! Kimberlite is the volcanic rock that diamonds are found in and it’s rare to see in person with the Diamond still intact 📹: Grant Mobleyshow more

Rare Enhydro Quartz with over a hundred moving bubbles!... 💦🫧 Each bubble is enclosed in a tiny negative crystal cavity with fluid inside, allowing the bubble to move back and forth. Quartz grows in a hydrothermal solution, and as it forms, water can become trapped inside portions of the crystal and remain preserved for millions of years. A truly fascinating piece! #enhydro #quartz #crystals #geology #bubbles #water #rocksforthespiritshow more

There's a bacteriophage that turns bacteria into “liquid crystals.”... Specifically, Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria make Pf phages, which are rod-shaped, negatively-charged, and measure about 2 micrometers in length (roughly the length of an E. coli cell). These phages leave the cells and enter their surroundings. There, they mix with polymers, also secreted by the cells, to form a crystalline matrix. Surprisingly, this is good for the cells. Although the phages kill some of them, it also makes their biofilms stickier and able to withstand certain antibiotics. These bacteria + phages are prevalent in cystic fibrosis patients; they've formed a sort of symbiotic relationship. The Pf phages are made from thousands of repeating copies of a coat protein, called CoaB, which wraps around a single-stranded, circular DNA genome. These genes are integrated directly on the bacterial chromosome. The bacteria “turn on” these phage genes when placed in a viscous environment with low oxygen levels. This is like a trigger to start forming a biofilm. And the cells make a lot of phages; about 100 billion per milliliter. These liquid crystals form because of a physics principle called “depletion attraction.” If you just mix a bunch of loose or flexible polymers together (such as long carbon chains) they will not form a liquid crystal. But if you mix stiff rods (the phages) with loose polymers at a high enough concentration, the polymers will force the phages close together to create a material that flows like a liquid despite being ordered like a crystal. See the video below. These liquid crystal biofilms are hard to get rid of. The negatively-charged phages block many antibiotics (like aminoglycosides, which are positively-charged) from entering cells. Liquid crystals also retain water, so these biofilms can survive on drier surfaces. I first heard about this from Malmesbury’s excellent newsletter, called “Telescopic Turnip.”show more

Tonight a group of 50 Canadian Jews arrived in... Tulsa to see about living in the heartland of America. They come from all different walks of life and all different parts of Canada. Their stories of the antisemitism each have experienced is harrowing but there is a sliver of hope. This weeks Torah portion is Lech Lecha which means “Go forth”. THIS IS NOT A COINCIDENCE, THIS WAS MEANT TO BE. Each of these families has made the difficult decision that their only option is to go forth. It is not an easy decision and the process is even harder but one thing is clear… they appreciate those who are trying to help. They appreciate those who hear their calls for assistance and they dream of life in America. There is hope in their eyes at a time when they had thought all hope was gone. The Canadian government has failed them but in Tulsa they are seen, they are heard and they are valued. These (and thousands of others) are the people that Sam Brownback, Jason Rapert, National Association of Christian Lawmakers, Rick Scott and Governor Kevin Stitt are asking President Donald J. Trump to help. They need us and we shouldn’t let them down.show more

This is the type of shower that I installed... in my new Duplex in all bathrooms (4) Tenants just fall in love with them at first sight. Once you see this type of long panels in a shower you can’t go back to the usual small tiles. These long panels are quartz and they just look great and they’re cheaper than the normal small tiles. They look very luxurious and they’re cheaper than price is less than tiles at home deposit or other flooring places, floor and decor. $1500 for all the long panels plus labor… Not bad at all Great for renovations or new buildsshow more

Today I learned that Ostriches eat stones. They eat... stones because it is important for their digestive system. These omnivores eat a lot of plants, but they have no teeth. This can present a problem because plants contain complex molecules that are sometimes difficult to digest. In order to digest their food better, the ostrich will eat stones.show more

“everyone just has to do things they don’t want... to. true happiness is found in moments. those short bursts of time are what happiness is. i think it’s because of that short happiness (that) we work hard and endure it.”show more

In Japan, a Pakistani Muslim father says that they... do not allow their children to participate at all in Japanese festivals such as Christmas and Setsubun at school. They take leave on those days because these are haram. Japan gave them refuge in the country, provided a safe environment, and gave their children excellent education. And what are they giving in return? An ideology that says, “We are different and superior to them,” directly sowing the seeds of extremism and separation in the coming generation. If they do not like Japanese festivals and culture, then why are they living in Japan?show more

Another angle of these animals attacking a law abiding... homeowner in his own front yard. They do this because they know there are no consequences for criminality in New York. They’ve done this before and will do it again.show more

It is a red lipped batfish and is found... off the coast of the Galapagos Islands and Peru. You won't find them at the surface o. They are deep divers. This is because they can't really swim. They mostly walk on the ocean floor. Their modified fins act like legs (kind of).show more

This exceptional Quartz crystal is distinguished by the presence... of Black Tourmaline crystals, Khushall Fine Mineralsshow more

🚨 Grass Season 2 Airdrop Diamond - Script Users... & Real Users 😱 In Season 2, we now have the Diamond feature, and many users are seeing their Diamonds increase over time. However, the growth pattern is very different for everyone. Some users are getting small increases, while others are reporting massive jumps — 500+ Diamonds or even more. In my previous post, many people commented that they have 5K, 17K, 23K, even 25K+ Diamonds. This raises an important question — is this growth actually real, or are some users using scripts? Or could it be influenced by factors like location and network activity? As we know, higher internet activity and connections may result in more Diamonds. Now I want to hear from you 👇 How many Diamonds do you currently have? And do you think this growth is real or manipulated? #GrassSeason2 #Airdrop #Crypto #Web3 #grassseason2update #grassairdorpupdate #grassseason2airdorp #grassseason2scriptusersshow more

This is the gorgeously transparent leptocephalus larva of an... eel. These are clear enough to read a book through and their bodies are flattened, which helps make them clear.show more

Balochistan’s Daughters — Courage in Service, Strength in Spirit... True courage is not found in raising arms against your own people or becoming a pawn of those who seek to spread violence. It is found in serving your homeland, protecting its people and standing firm against terrorism. The brave women serving in Pakistan’s Frontier Corps are living proof that courage has no gender. With discipline, determination and an unshakable sense of duty, they are serving their country and becoming a powerful source of inspiration for the daughters of #Balochistan. Their service reflects the strength, dignity and resilience of Baloch women. They are showing that the daughters of Balochistan can stand at the forefront of their homeland’s defence, contribute with honour and serve #Pakistan with pride. For the daughters of Balochistan, these women are more than uniformed personnel—they are role models. They represent a future where girls can choose education, service, leadership and opportunity; where their strength is used to build, protect and uplift their communities. The daughters of Balochistan deserve a future defined by education, peace, opportunity and progress—not violence, fear or destruction. Let their courage inspire a generation. Let their service become a symbol of what Balochistan’s daughters can achieve when given the opportunity to rise. Balochistan’s daughters are strong. They are capable. They are courageous. And they have a rightful place in the service and progress of Pakistan. Empowered daughters. Fearless women. A stronger Balochistan. A stronger Pakistan.show more

Foreigners at the Sawgrass Mall in Florida are seen... with this crazy amount of bags all completely full with body sprays I verified this is very common at Sawgrass Mills mall with Victoria’s Secret Forefingers come into America and buy massive amounts of these products to resell in their home countries Sawgrass Mills is a major destination for tourists, particularly from Latin America like Brazil, Venezuela and Colombia. They come specifically for US outlet shopping They buy in massive quantities because items are much cheaper in the US. Many end up purchasing extra luggage just to haul everything home. This is a well-known “luggage phenomenon” at this mallshow more