Opus

Encyclopædia of the sublime

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Ghost apples

Ghost apples are a natural phenomenon that occurs in certain conditions during the winter months in apple orchards, particularly in regions with cold climates. These peculiar apparitions resemble translucent, icy shells suspended from tree branches, resembling ghostly versions of the fruit they once were. Ghost apples are formed through a combination of freezing rain and subsequent thawing. When freezing rain coats the apples on the tree, it forms a layer of ice around the fruit. If temperatures rise suddenly after the freezing rain, the apples may thaw and decompose, leaving only the icy shell of the apple behind. As the rotten fruit falls out or is picked by harvesters, the hollow ice shell remains, giving rise to the ghostly appearance. Ghost apples typically have a delicate, ethereal appearance, with a translucent outer layer resembling ice. Inside, they are hollow, devoid of the fruit pulp and seeds that would typically fill an apple.

Emerald cockroach wasp

The Emerald Cockroach Wasp (Ampulex compressa) is a remarkable parasitoid wasp species known for its unique and sophisticated method of incapacitating cockroaches to serve as hosts for its larvae. Found in tropical regions worldwide, particularly in Asia, Africa, and the Pacific Islands, this small but extraordinary insect has garnered significant attention from scientists and enthusiasts alike for its fascinating behavior and intricate life cycle. The life cycle of the Emerald Cockroach Wasp begins when a female wasp seeks out a suitable host cockroach, typically the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana). Upon locating a target, the wasp delivers a precise sting to the cockroach's thorax, injecting venom that temporarily paralyzes its front legs. After paralyzing the cockroach, the female wasp leads it to a burrow or other secluded location, where it lays a single egg on the cockroach's abdomen. Remarkably, the venom injected by the wasp alters the behavior of the cockroach, rendering it docile and compliant. The cockroach remains alive but immobile, allowing the wasp larva to feed on its tissues without resistance. As the wasp larva develops, it consumes the internal organs of the cockroach while avoiding vital areas to keep it alive as long as possible. Once the larva completes its development, it pupates within the cockroach's body, eventually emerging as an adult wasp.

Glyptapanteles

Glyptapanteles is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Braconidae, known for their fascinating and intricate reproductive strategy. These tiny insects, typically measuring only a few millimeters in length, play a crucial role in regulating populations of various host insects in ecosystems worldwide. The life cycle of Glyptapanteles begins when adult female wasps lay their eggs inside the bodies of caterpillars, typically belonging to species in the moth family. Once the eggs hatch, the wasp larvae develop and feed on the internal tissues of the caterpillar host. What makes Glyptapanteles particularly remarkable is their manipulation of the behavior of their host caterpillars. Instead of immediately killing the caterpillar, the larvae release chemicals that alter its behavior, causing it to act as a bodyguard for the developing wasp larvae. As the larvae mature within the caterpillar's body, they induce the caterpillar to guard them against potential predators. Remarkably, the caterpillar will fiercely defend the developing wasp larvae against any threats, even sacrificing its own life in the process. Once the wasp larvae complete their development, they emerge from the caterpillar's body, often killing it in the process. The adult wasps then mate, and the females seek out new host caterpillars to continue the cycle.

Gertrude Jeannett

Gertrude Jeannette was an American playwright and film and stage actress. In 1935 she became the first woman to get a license to drive a motorcycle in New York City, and she joined her husband's motorcycle club in the early 1940s. In 1942, she took and passed the cab driver's test and became the first female cab driver in New York City. In 1949, she was present at the Peekskill Riots, when the Ku Klux Klan attempted to lynch Paul Robeson. Her husband worked as a bodyguard for Robeson, and during the riot, she and her husband rushed to the motorcycles to help get Robeson out. Using money she earned as a taxi driver, she enrolled in a speech class to help manage her stammer. The one class she could find was at the American Negro Theater in Harlem. Acting was part of the curriculum, and because of that, she studied along with notable actors such as Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis. She began writing plays in 1950, writing about strong women that "no one would be ashamed to play."

Fastnet Race

The 1979 Fastnet Race was the 28th Royal Ocean Racing Club's Fastnet Race, a yachting race held generally every two years since 1925 on a 605-mile course from Cowes direct to the Fastnet Rock and then to Plymouth via south of the Isles of Scilly. In 1979, it was the climax of the five-race Admiral's Cup competition, as it had been since 1957. A worse-than-expected storm on the third day of the race wreaked havoc on the 303 yachts that started the biennial race, resulting in 19 fatalities. Emergency services, naval forces, and civilian vessels from around the west side of the English Channel were summoned to aid what became the largest ever rescue operation in peace-time. This involved some 4,000 people, including the entire Irish Naval Service's fleet, lifeboats, commercial boats, and helicopters.

Cormorant fishing

Cormorant fishing is a traditional fishing technique in which fishermen use trained cormorants to catch fish in rivers. To control the birds, the fishermen tie a loose snare near the base of the bird's throat. The snare does not stop the bird from swallowing small fish, but prevents the bird from swallowing larger fish, which are held temporarily in their gullet. When a cormorant has caught a fish in its throat, the fisherman brings the bird back to the boat and has it regurgitate the fish.