Chynara Madinkulova
Chynara Madinkulova is a Kyrgyz contortionist who became the face of the World Nomad Games after performing archery upside down. Balancing on her hands, she draws and releases a bow using only her feet.
Walking trees
The walking trees of Lake Baikal are pines and larches that appear to stand on long, exposed roots. Wind and water gradually remove the sand beneath them, leaving their trunks suspended above the ground. Some stand high enough for a person to pass underneath.
Pêga donkey
The Pêga donkey is a Brazilian breed distinguished by its exceptionally long ears, which curve inward toward each other. Originally developed in Minas Gerais, it is also known for its unusually smooth, four-beat gait, a quality it passes on to its mule offspring.
Loosdrecht Lakes
The Loosdrecht Lakes are a network of shallow Dutch lakes created by centuries of peat extraction. Houses now occupy the narrow strips of land left behind, arranged in long rows with water on either side. From above, each appears to have its own private canal and impossibly elongated garden.
Cholita Climbers
The Cholita Climbers are a group of Indigenous Aymara women from Bolivia who ascend some of South America’s highest mountains wearing their traditional layered skirts. Many began as cooks and porters for climbing expeditions before deciding to make the journey themselves. In 2019, they reached the summit of Aconcagua, the highest peak outside Asia.
K9 Helm CS-1
The K9 Helm CS-1 is a professional-grade tactical head and eye protection system designed specifically for military and police working dogs.
Tibetan cherry
The Tibetan cherry is an ornamental tree distinguished less by its blossoms than by its extraordinary bark. Deep mahogany in color, it peels away in horizontal strips to reveal a surface so smooth and reflective it resembles polished copper. Its appearance is most striking in winter, after the branches have lost their leaves.
Cobalt crust
Cobalt crust is a fungus that grows across dead hardwood in patches of intense, almost artificial blue. Unlike conventional mushrooms, it has no stem or cap, forming instead a velvety surface that looks as though the wood has been painted. Its color fades with age, eventually turning gray or brown.
Wat Sam Phran
Wat Sam Phran is a Buddhist temple outside Bangkok consisting of a 17-story pink tower wrapped in a giant green dragon. The dragon is hollow and doubles as a staircase.
Fur-bearing trout
The fur-bearing trout is a legendary creature found in American folklore and Icelandic folklore. According to folklore, the trout has created a thick coat of fur to maintain its body heat. Tales of furry fish date to the 17th century. The earliest known American publication dates from a 1929 Montana Wildlife magazine article by J.H. Hicken. A taxidermy furry trout produced by Ross C. Jobe is a specimen at the Royal Museum of Scotland; it is a trout with white rabbit fur "ingeniously" attached.