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Wednesday 7 August 2013

Wednesday; silk & science;



 GENETICALLY MODIFIED SILK IS STRONGER THAN STEEL

At the University of Wyoming, scientists modified a group of silkworms to produce silk that is, weight for weight, stronger than steel. Different groups hope to benefit from the super-strength silk, including stronger sutures for the medical community, a biodegradable alternative to plastics,

 bbc.co.uk


Photo Courtesy of Indigo Moon Yarns.


Tuesday 6 August 2013

Tuesday; musica; GIANGOL - La Lüna



Arrivederci Ticino!

Giangol (Switzerland)

Giangol,  from an antique game that children played in our valleys in times gone by ( dialectal name from Val Cavargna) to a new group whose intent is to have fun and to entertain. Made up of musicians who for some time have shaken the Ticino and international folk scene presenting popular songs from Tessin, Lombardy, Piedmont, and the Venetian region in a modern and pleasurable way, without compromising the musical quality and the personalisation of their tracks.

With Davide Zoppellari ( vocals, guitar), Leo Canepa (vocals, accordion), Katia Albertoni (vocals, percussions), Stefano Fedele (violin, mandolin, hurdy-gurdy), Patrick Botticchio (djembe, cajon).??







Sunday 4 August 2013

Sunday; au·toch·tho·nous;

< Greek autóchthon  of the land itself,   the earth, land,

Ecology, one of the indigenous animals or plants of a region.


Banksia integrifolia; or simply coast Banksia;





Notice the white underside of the leaves.


© Ts Photos my garden.

Banksia integrifolia, commonly known as Coast Banksia, is a species of tree that grows along the east coast of Australia. One of the most widely distributed Banksia species, it occurs between Victoria and Central Queensland in a broad range of habitats, from coastal dunes to mountains. It is highly variable in form, but is most often encountered as a tree up to 25 metres. Leaves have dark green upper surfaces and white undersides.

It is one of the four original Banksia species collected by Sir Joseph Banks in 1770, and one of four species published in 1782 as part of Carolus Linnaeus the Younger's original description of the genus. 

A hardy and versatile garden plant, B. integrifolia is widely planted in Australian gardens. It is a popular choice for parks and streetscapes, and has been used for bush revegetation and stabilisation of dunes. Its hardiness has prompted research into its suitability for use as a rootstock in the cut flower trade.

It was known to Indigenous Australians,  the Gunai people of Gippsland called it Birrna.
Because of its wide range it would have a name in a number of other indigenous languages, but these are now lost. In 2001, a search of historical archives for recorded indigenous names of Victorian flora and fauna failed to find a single name for the species.