Faceless fish among weird sea creatures found
Melbourne: A ‘faceless’ fish and other bizarre and wonderful creatures, many of them new species, have been discovered during a world-first exploration of a deep-sea abyss off Australia, scientists said on Wednesday.
The crew onboard the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)’s Investigator vessel are surveying marine reserves from northern Tasmania to central Queensland during a month-long journey.
Scientists are towing small nets and an underwater camera deep inside the eastern abyss, which reaches depths up to four kilometres.
Di Bray from Museums Victoria in Australia said the finds had so far ranged from curious to bizarre.
“We have seen some awesome stuff. On the video camera we saw a kind of chimaera that whizzed by – that is very, very rare in Australian waters,” she said.
However, the crew caught a very unusual “faceless fish” off Jervis Bay last weekend at a depth of 4,000 metres, ‘ABC News’ reported.
“That is kind of the highlight so far for us. Apparently, it has got eyes way under the surface but really you can not see any eyes,” Bray said.
This is the first time the eastern abyss has been surveyed, providing an opportunity for scientists to collect baseline data about its biodiversity.
Chief scientist on board the Investigator, Tim O’Hara said that the search area was the most unexplored environment on the Earth. “It is an unusual life. Down there it is crushing pressures, there is no light and it is really cold, we are recording temperatures of about one degree Celsius,” said O’Hara.
The data from the voyage could be used to measure the impact of climate change in decades to come, researchers said. (PTI)
Indonesian rainbow village is internet sensation
Semarang: An Indonesian hamlet dubbed “the rainbow village” after being given a makeover in a kaleidoscope of colours is attracting hordes of visitors and has become an internet sensation.
The collection of about 200 modest homes on a hillside above a river used to be a typical, low-income Indonesian neighbourhood that was filthy and gloomy.
But residents of the Wonosari community in Semarang decided an extreme makeover was needed, and received money from the local government and several companies to carry out the project.
The houses were re-painted in a dizzying array of colours during a month-long overhaul which cost about USD 200,000, and the polluted river nearby was also cleaned up.
The local mayor opened the newly decorated hamlet on Java island to the public in mid-April and the community quickly became a local landmark known as “the rainbow village”.
The buildings — many of which are decorated with art such as pictures of angels’ wings and whales — can be seen for miles around, climbing up the hillside like a gigantic staircase.
Domestic and foreign visitors have been flocking to the village to snap pictures, which have been rapidly spreading on Instagram and Facebook.
“This is very special, extremely creative,” Maya Susanti, an Indonesian visitor who came to the village with her friends told AFP.
“The village used to look plain but now there are so many good spots for taking pictures.”
Community leader Yosep Tri Prawoko added: “Every single alleyway has become a favourite spot for a photoshoot, it’s great.”
Villagers are enjoying the tourism boom sparked by the makeover.
Surani, a local flower seller who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said local people were feeling the benefits: “I hope our livelihoods keep on getting better.”
The makeover and flow of visitors has also encouraged residents to keep the community clean, and rubbish bins have been put up around the hamlet. (AFP)
