Images Dated 23rd December 2004

Crown-of-thorns starfish skeleton, X-ray

Crown-of-thorns starfish skeleton. Coloured X-ray of the crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci). This starfish lives on coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. It has between 12 and 19 arms, covered in long spines on the upper surface. These spines contain glands that release poison into the skin of an attacker. Its mouth is on its lower side and it feeds on the polyps that build coral. The increase in numbers of this starfish poses a serious threat to coral reefs

© D. ROBERTS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Zucker rocket, 1933

Zucker rocket in 1933. Gerhard Zucker (1908-1985) was a German who worked in the field of rocket mail. His rockets were essentially hollow hulls with motors, of the sort used in fireworks attached, and almost all exploded on, or prior to, take-off. However he managed to sell a large number of stamps for mail to be used in his rocket. In July 1934 he attempted to fly a rocket between the town of Harris in Scotland and the Isle of Scarp. The attempt failed and he was deported to Germany, where he was forbidden from further rocket experiments. In 1964 though, he resumed his work and an accident resulted in the death of a student. He died in 1985

© DETLEV VAN RAVENSWAAY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Java Sparrow - front view, captive, wild in Java, Bali and introduced into the tropic

BB-755
Java Sparrow - front view, captive
Bedfordshire UK
Padda oryzivora
Found wild in Java, Bali and introduced into the tropics
Brian Bevan
Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

© Brian Bevan/ardea.com

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