Creative Edge

Leonardo Da Vinci, despite his lack of formal education, became one of the most renowned polymaths in history. Born in 1452 in Vinci, Italy, he received little formal schooling and instead learned through observation and experimentation. His curiosity and keen observational skills led him to study a wide range of subjects, from anatomy and engineering to art and botany. Da Vinci's self-taught knowledge of Latin and mathematics, which he began studying in his 40s, allowed him to delve deeper into scientific inquiries. However, his unconventional approach and lack of classical education meant that traditional scholars often dismissed his methods and findings. Despite this skepticism, Da Vinci's contributions to science and art were groundbreaking. His detailed anatomical drawings, based on dissections he performed himself, provided insights that were centuries ahead of their time. His notebooks, filled with sketches and observations, reveal a mind constantly seeking to understa...

Solen (also called Rendalssolen, Soln, and Rendalssoln) is a mountain in Rendalen Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. The mountain lies about 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of the village of Bergset. The lake Solensjoen lies just east of the mountain. The mountain has three peaks: Nordre Solen, which has an elevation of 1,695 metres (5,561 ft) with a prominence of 253 metres (830 ft) Midtre Solen, which has an elevation of 1,755 metres (5,758 ft) with a prominence of 1,090 metres (3,580 ft) Sore Solen, which has an elevation of 1,688 metres (5,538 ft) with a prominence of 441 metres (1,447 ft) The three peaks and their saddles make the mountain distinct and visible from a long distance. An old pilgrimage route from Sweden via Trysil to Nidaros Cathedral passes through the southern gorge. The Solen landscape conservation area was est...

The Atlas moth is one of the largest lepidopterans, with a wingspan measuring up to 24 cm (9.4 in) and a wing surface area of about 160 cm2 (≈25 in2). It is only surpassed in wingspan by the white witch (Thysania agrippina) and Attacus caesar, and in wing surface area by the Hercules moth (Coscinocera hercules). As in most silk moths, females are noticeably larger and heavier than males, while males have broader antennae. Eggs Atlas moths lay a number of spherical eggs, 2.5 mm (0.098 in) in diameter, on the undersides of the leaves of food plants. Larva After approximately two weeks, dusty-green caterpillars hatch and feed on their egg-shell, and then the foliage of citrus, cinnamon, guava, and evergreen trees. The caterpillars can grow to 11.5 cm (4.5 in) in length and 2.5 cm (0.98 in) in thickness. They have white, waxy, fleshy spines along their backs, which become more prominent at...

Temporal range: Holocene – Recent At the Parque das Aves in the Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil Conservation status Scientific classification Domain: Eukaryota Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Accipitriformes Family: Accipitridae Subfamily: Harpiinae Genus: Harpia Vieillot, 1816 Species: H. harpyja   Binomial name Harpia harpyja (Linnaeus, 1758) The harpy eagle is rare throughout its range, which extends from Mexico to Brazil (throughout its territory) and Argentina (only the north). (note: map distribution in Trinidad and Tobago and ABC islands is erroneous) The harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) is a large neotropical species of eagle. It is also called the American harpy eagle to distinguish it from the Papuan eagle, which is sometimes known as the New Guinea harpy eagle or Papuan harpy eagle. It is the largest bird of prey...