The Wichita Falls – Rolling Plains Region will host its third City Nature Challenge April 28 through May 1. Participants are encouraged to go outside in the community and take photos either with a smart phone or digital camera, then upload them at iNaturalist.org or save them on the iNaturalist app.
Bluebonnets bloom along I-44 near Wichita Falls.
All observations of living things, such as wildflowers, insects, or any wild living organism, made on these days in the 10-county region around Wichita Falls will be added to the region’s project, according to a release from the organization.
The goal is to document species found in the region to help scientists who study these species learn more about where and what type of organisms are here.
A snowy egret wading in the Wichita River.
The City Nature Challenge is sponsored by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California Academy of Sciences.
Texas Yellow Star at Lake Arrowhead
For more information, go to the Rolling Plains Chapter of Texas Master Naturalist at [email protected] or visit https://www.citynaturechallenge.org/.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Join the Wichita Falls – Rolling Plains city nature photo challenge
Longtime fans of Christie Brinkley know that the bombshell model is a total nature-lover, and loves nothing more than being out at the beach near her Bridgehampton home, and is known for her “Rainbow diet.”
The star frequently shares her best tips and tricks for how she fuels herself with all of nature’s colorful fruits and vibrant veg, and she couldn’t let Earth Day go by without honoring Mother Earth.
Christie took to Instagram Saturday in honor of the special day, and shared a photo of herself at the beach.
WATCH: Christie Brinkley celebrates a fantastic beach sunset
MORE: Christie Brinkley is a swimwear goddess in stylish white bikini
The shot captures her walking along the sandy water’s edge on a beautiful, bright blue day, and she is waving her hands towards the incoming clouds above.
Capturing her from behind, she is wearing nothing but an oversized, striped green button-down shirt, making way for her ultra-tanned legs to be on full display.
MORE: Christie Brinkley turns heads with Bond girl moment in stunning bikini
“Here’s to you Mother Earth,” she wrote, adding: “Thank you for giving us everything we could ever want or need to sustain us.”
She continued: “From sustenance to extraordinary beauty and wonders!” noting: “You are the most generous planet in the whole universe.”
MORE: Christie Brinkley’s daughter Sailor looks so much like supermodel mom in stolen selfie
MORE: Christie Brinkley poses in just a shirt in stunning family portrait with daughters Sailor and Alexa
Christie then reminded fans: “I can only hope Earthlings learn to treat you as well as you treat us!” adding an Earth, recycling, and green heart emoji before the hashtags “Earth day,” “Earth month,” and: “Everyday.”
Christie promoting anti rhino and elephant poaching action at the Entabeni Rhino Orphanage in September 2013
Fans not only gushed over the photo but also reiterated her statement, with one fan aptly noting: “The Earth does not belong to us, we belong to the Earth. Respect it so.”
Others also said: “Mother Earth and all Her Earthlings are always eternally grateful to you @christiebrinkley for caring & making it a much more beautiful place,” and: “And here’s to you, Goddess Christie, for beautifying Earth in so many ways – such as your environmental activism, and your own divine beauty!” as well as: “You make everyday Earth Day!!” plus another fan added: “Wise words and a beautiful photo lovely lady.”
Read more HELLO! US stories here. Want to keep up to date with the latest stories? Sign up to our HELLO! Newsletters today.
Since its inception in 2016, the City Nature Challenge has grown from a two-city endeavor based in California to a massive event with more than 400 cities participating worldwide.
The Land of Enchantment jumped on board in 2019, with people from Bernalillo, Sandoval and Valencia counties joining in on the fun. The gist of the challenge is simple: For a four-day period – in this case from April 28 through May 1 – participants from those areas log all of their nature observations into the iNaturalist app – whether they be plants, insects, animals or even evidence of life.
“I know that the impetus for it and the interest on all of our parts is just to get people outside and get people looking at nature, animals and plants around Albuquerque – trying to get people more excited and paying closer attention to what’s around them,” said Fiana Shapiro, one of the local organizers for the event.
“What’s really cool about the Nature Challenge in general is that it is like a snapshot of what wildlife is around and is being found over that four-day period across the entire world … It’s just such a cool idea and knowing that hundreds of cities and so many countries and people around the world are doing the same thing at the same time where they live is just a really exciting thing that brings people together. It also allows, from a scientific perspective, a better look at what wildlife is active during the time that we’re looking.”
It’s recommended that participants in the City Nature Challenge upload their photos to the iNaturalist app on their phones, but they can also use the website if necessary.
Sign up for our free Daily Headlines newsletter
People are encouraged to take clear photos, use multiple angles and crop effectively. No further qualifications or skills are needed to take part. One only needs a sense of curiosity and a willingness to observe their surroundings.
“We stress that anyone and everyone can participate in this,” Shapiro said. “You don’t have to know anything about identification. If you just want to get outside and walk around your neighborhood and take photos of things and have no idea what they are, that’s totally fine.”
Once submitted, the app will suggest possible identifications based on the location and content of the photos. That alone isn’t foolproof, of course, but once a photo is categorized in say, “birds,” those with expertise in that area can provide more specific identifications of the sightings.
A significant portion of the identification happens after the four-day observation period, Shapiro says.
Participation has been rising with each successive challenge. Last year featured over 400 observers and more than 600 identifiers, and Shapiro expects to have more than 500 people uploading photos in the Albuquerque area this time around.
“I think using iNaturalist in general, and especially during the City Nature Challenge, is a great way to get yourself to focus in and really look closer and pay attention to little bugs in your yard and tracks of animals and things that you might not normally look for at all,’ Shapiro said. “I think people tend to be surprised at how many different species they can find in a very urban area or right outside their home, their workplace or wherever they are. They don’t have to go far to find a lot of wildlife. It’s just a great activity for any age.”
Adding to the challenge element is the leaderboard, which tracks the most total observations as well as the most different species found.
Those with an ambitious bent can reach the hundreds in these categories. Really, though, there is no way to “win” the challenge.
“It’s not being marketed as a competition,” Shapiro said. “It’s more seen as a collaboration between countries and cities and tons of people to just take part in this great endeavor to document wildlife and help scientists, too.”
Launched in 2014, PhotoSparks is a weekly feature from YourStory, with photographs that celebrate the spirit of creativity and innovation. In the earlier 685 posts, we featured an art festival,cartoon gallery.world music festival, telecom expo, millets fair,climate change expo,wildlife conference,startup festival,Diwali rangoli, and jazz festival.
The creative journey for artists often involves a combination of interaction, connection to social movements, and deep introspection. A willingness to experiment is key, as well as embracing the twists and turns in life’s journey.
“At times, art is a solitary activity, but it is also one that connects people to society and to nature,” Japanese artist Yohei Imamura explains, in a chat with YourStory.
“The act of placing oneself in the midst of grand nature and aiming for the top of the mountain is very similar to my creative process,” he says, describing his approach to art.
Such activities draw on body movements repeated thousands of times, expressions created throughout the years, and even subtle misalignments. This also involves mistakes and even failures.
“There are times when I go into the mountains alone to overcome my mistakes and failures. When you go deep into nature, your worries seem insignificant and you can empty your mind,” Yohei describes.
“New thoughts sprout in the refreshed mind. Those sprouts will then move forward,’ he affirms.
Depending on the size and number of layers, Yohei’s artworks range in price from $10,000 to $50,000. His works are displayed at festivals around the world.
“I am interested in the Sculpture Projects Münster in Germany,” he says. His works were also on display at the fifth edition of the recent Kochi-Muziris Biennale, from where we share a range of art exhibits in this photo essay.
The artistic journey for Jean-François Boclé from Martinique includes residencies in France as well. “Since January, I have been in a writing residency. I am working on my first book, Les Chroniques de Mamoudzou,” he says.
He also has an upcoming exhibition in May with the artists Barthélémy Toguo, William Kentridge, and Kara Walker in Nantes. He even has a solo exhibition on the question of cooking.
“At the end of June, I will be in a performance on the works of Frantz Fanon, with my nephew Julien Boclé, who is a dancer and choreographer,” Jean-François says.
See also our earlier six-part photo essay series on the fourth edition of the Biennale here, as well as coverage of the Aichi Triennale (Japan) and Bangkok Biennale (Thailand).
“I look back now and am in some way grateful that I did not go to art or design school so I could explore various creative spaces. That way, I could see if I enjoyed them without feeling compelled to stick to one lane,” recalls artist-designer Annah Chakola.
“At one chapter in my life, I spent a lot of time living a nomadic existence on the road. I participated in festivals across North America selling my jewellery,” she adds.
“One of the biggest highlights in my creative journey though was moving back to India after 25 years of being away, and starting all over again,” Annah enthuses.
She was able to get more grassroots work across India. “I now have a vast network across many paths and can create a contemporary voice with the traditional craft that has a reach all over the world,” she describes.
This also set the platform for her to be invited to create the first official shop for the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. Her future projects involve the lifestyle space, more than just fashion.
“I think inspiration lies in all the small details. I love helping people find special pieces that inspire them to be the most creative version of themselves,” Annah says.
Art today spans the physical and digital worlds, in unexpected and delightful ways – though not without its challenges as well. Digital spaces reach across narrow geographical, theological and political concerns, according to Biennale curator Shubigi Rao.
Many artists have chosen to address the growth of digital media as expressive platforms, as shown in this photo essay. Others have addressed the role of rituals as forms of expression, outdoor murals as expressive spaces, and the human impacts of conflict.
“Solidarity crosses over, solidarity in the shared ideal, whether it be free speech, free press, individual liberty, defining the true spirit of the law and jurisprudence, and the emancipation of people,” Shubigi signs off.
Now, what have you done today to pause in your busy schedule and find new avenues to apply your creativity?
(All photographs were taken by Madanmohan Rao on location at the Biennale.)
See also the YourStory pocketbook ‘Proverbs and Quotes for Entrepreneurs: A World of Inspiration for Startups,’accessible as apps for Apple and Android devices.
In a rare glimpse of her son and niece, Princess Eugenie shared some adorable photos of the royal children celebrating Earth Day.
Princess Eugenie posted the picture carousel on Instagram on Saturday, April 22, featuring August and Princess Beatrice’s daughter Sierra in awe of the planet.
“It’s World Earth Day and today is all about celebrating our planet and people doing amazing things that help protect it,” she wrote.
In the first photo, August and Sienna are pressed up against the glass admiring penguins at the London Zoo. The little ones appear to be wearing jeans, fuzzy jackets and boots in the brisk spring air in the United Kingdom.
The group then took a trip to the BBC Earth Experience, where August and Sienna appeared to marvel at the massive visual presentations showing the globe and the ocean.
“Their vision is to inspire visitors to protect the planet through this immersive experience,” Princess Eugenie wrote of the activity.
The princess then shared a couple of pictures from her trip last week cleaning oysters with the Solent Seascape Project, which she said is making an effort to restore coastal marine life.
In the final photo, a man and a young child — which could likely be her husband Jack Brooksbank and son August — are seen walking through a tree filled with pink flowers with a dog.
“Because I love them and they love nature,” Princess Eugenie said of the shot.
The princess celebrated August’s 2nd birthday in February, sharing a sweet video on Instagram and writing, “You are our world’s greatest joy. Keep dancing and smiling, my angel. Xx.”
Just weeks before, Buckingham Palace announced some big news – Princess Eugenie is expecting her second child with Brooksbank this summer.
“We’re so excited to share that there will be a new addition to our family this summer,” she wrote on social media, accompanied by a picture of August kissing her belly.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Princess Eugenie is sharing an intimate look into her family life in celebration of Earth Day.
The granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth, 33, posted a selection of photographs on Instagram Saturday to mark the annual occasion, including an adorable snapshot of son August Philip bonding with cousin Sienna Elizabeth.
In the image, August, 2, can be seen watching penguins at a zoo exhibit while standing beside Sienna, 1 — whose parents are Princess Eugenie’s sister, Princess Beatrice, and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
“It’s World Earth Day and today is all about celebrating our planet and people doing amazing things that help protect it,” Princess Eugenie began the caption of her post, before describing what each photograph shared shows.
“Photo 1: August and his cousin Sienna love going to the London Zoo. It’s part of the Zoological Society of London @zsllondonzoo a global wildlife conservation charity that helps to restore habitats and protect wildlife,” she said, detailing the first image posted. “Every time you visit you are supporting their work.”
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE‘s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
Related:Sarah Ferguson Says She’s ‘So Proud’ of Daughters Beatrice and Eugenie on U.K. Mother’s Day
In second and third images, Princess Eugenie shared snapshots of August immersing himself in the BBC Earth Experience, which is currently located in London “in a totally sustainable building dedicated to the BBC’s Natural History Unit’s footage of our earth,” per the royal.
“Their vision is to inspire visitors to protect the planet through this immersive experience,” she continued.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Follow-up images show Princess Eugenie cleaning oysters. “Who knew oysters were so cool,” she wrote, describing the photos.
Princess Eugenie added: “One oyster can clean up to 200L of water a day. @bluemarinefoundation are leading an initiative called @solentseascapeproject which is restoring coastal marine life with a collection of partners making it one of the most ambitious environmental projects in the UK!”
RELATED VIDEO: Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank Hold Hands at Royal Easter Outing Ahead of Welcoming Second Child
In the final image posted in her carousel, Princess Eugenie — who is currently pregnant and expecting her second baby with Jack Brooksbank — shared a glimpse of her son and husband underneath a blossoming tree.
“Photo 6: Because I love them and they love nature,” she wrote with the photograph.
Princess Eugenie previously announced that she is expecting in a statement released by Buckingham Palace in January.
“Princess Eugenie and Mr. Jack Brooksbank are pleased to announce they are expecting their second child this summer,” the palace said in the announcement. “The family are delighted and August is very much looking forward to being a big brother.”
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
The 32-year-old actress is soaking up nature’s scenery in her latest Instagram snap.
Sarah Hyland is enjoying some serene vacation time.
The Modern Family alum was seen taking in some gorgeous views in a social media post this week, as she posed for a scenic photo-op in front of a stunning sunset backdrop.
In the Instagram post shared on Friday, April 21, Hyland was seen posing seaside in front of a picturesque horizon, while soaking up the glorious sunset glowing views. Her silhouette was backlit by the yellow-orange sun, which appeared to be settling down on the water for the perfect artsy snapshot.
But the scenery around her wasn’t the only eye-catching part of the photo, as the 32-year-old actress was also serving a major vacation fashion moment, sporting a backless floral sundress, with one of the straps draping down her arm.
Her hair was pulled up into an effortless updo secured by a clip, while all of her little banana curls could be seen framing her face.
View the original article to see embedded media.
“Eclipse Season Energy ” she captioned the post, which garnered an abundance of complimentary messages from her followers in the comment section.
“spicy, i like it ” one of her fans quipped under the dreamy photo, while another follower was in love with her hairstyle in the pic, gushing, “Curls ” in the comments.
“absolutely beautiful ” someone else chimed in, while others called the photo “glowy,” “elegant” and “gorg.”
Even the official account for Instagram couldn’t help but fawn over the post, writing in the comments, “love a sunset moment .”
Next: Watch Sarah Hyland Channel Her Inner Avril Lavigne on ‘That’s My Jam’
I have three acres of oaks planted on my small farm and I often see two or three ladybirds together hibernating on the trees. I came across this lovely bunch of seven last week. Interesting that they nearly always use the south-facing side of the trees. Kevin McDonnell, Co Cork
Seven seven-spot ladybirds on the south-facing side of the tree. As they spend the winter in hibernation as adults, they seek out sheltered spots. Naturally, they choose the south-facing side of the tree as this must be the most suitable in your woodland. These are one of our most common and widespread native ladybird species. They will wake up and breed soon with both the adults and their subsequent larvae feeding on a wide variety of aphids, thus lessening the burden on the leaves of your oak trees.
Scarlet elf cup (Sarcoscypha austriaca) is common on buried twigs of birch and willow at this time of year and earlier. Photograph: Paddy Demery
This fungus was seen on a log in Westport House, Co Mayo. What is it? Paddy Demery, Co Wicklow
The same fungus has caught the attention of two other eagle-eyed readers as well: John Byrne while on his morning walk in Laraghbryan, Maynooth, and Cornelius Delahunty in his garden near Naas. It is the scarlet elf cup (Sarcoscypha austriaca), which is common on buried twigs of birch and willow at this time of year and earlier.
The dreaded lily beetle, which eats the leaves, stem, buds and flowers of lilies. Photograph: Danann and Ruadh Butler
This insect was found in our house this week and was gently evicted (twice). We think it might be some sort of beetle. Could you help please? Danann and Ruadh Butler, Co Dublin
It is indeed a beetle – the dreaded lily beetle, which eats the leaves, stem, buds and flowers of lilies. This invasive species was first recorded here in 2009 and has now spread through east Munster and Leinster. I hope you or your neighbours are not growing lilies in the garden.
[ Eye on Nature: What are these strange mauve-coloured mushrooms growing on my shed? ]
Perhaps this was the final resting place of Fungi. Or, perhaps not – Fungi was a male bottle-nose dolphin
During lockdown in January 2021, we came across this fish (?) on the river estuary on Lahinch beach in Co Clare. Can you identify for us? Anonymous, Co Clare
Kevin Flannery of Dingle Aquarium tells me that it is not a fish at all but a dolphin. He does not specify the species. Perhaps this was the final resting place of Fungi, who has been missing since October 2020. Or, perhaps not – Fungi was a male bottlenose dolphin.
This spider is called the White Death as it can kill creatures much larger than it. Photograph: Michael McCormack
I found this spider in my car. Wondering what type it is. Michael McCormack, Co Dublin
This is the unmistakable flower crab spider – a female – with a very plump abdomen and two front pairs of legs much larger than the other two. To catch its prey, this spider sits motionless in flowers (usually white or yellow ones) and ambushes insects that visit to feed on nectar. It can even change its colour from white to match the colour of the flower. When the hapless insect sticks in its head, the spider bites it and paralyses it with its venom. It can kill much bigger insects than itself, such as bees and butterflies. Hence its common English name – White Death.
The white-toothed shrew, first recorded here in 2008, is larger than the pygmy shrew. Photograph: Patrick Timmins
This was found just outside the back door in a housing estate. Pygmy shrew? Was it left by a cat or dropped by bird? No obvious signs of cause of death.Patrick Timmins, Co Kildare
It is certainly a shrew – the long pointy snout is the distinguishing characteristic. But, which one? The white-toothed shrew, first recorded here in 2008, is larger than the pygmy shrew, has white teeth (rather than the pygmy’s red-capped ones) and long white hairs on its tail. Having foul-tasting glands, both species are unpalatable to cats but not to birds of prey. So, I suspect it is an offering from a cat.
Please submit your nature query, observation, or photo with a location, via www.irishtimes.com/eyeonnature.
Welcome to the end of a week that has veered from the awe-inspiring (that solar eclipse) to the head-scratching (that strip-club altercation) to the borderline grotesque (see item one below). If you missed the first two events, may I suggest signing up to our Morning Mail and Afternoon Update newsletters? They’ll keep you up to speed on weekdays.
For now, may I suggest finding the new Everything But the Girl LP on your platform of choice, pressing play (or dropping the needle on the record), and diving into some reads to invigorate the old brain noodles (not to be confused with murder noodles).
1. Look at this photograph
German photographer Boris Eldagsen with the prize-winning AI-generated image he submitted, Pseudomnesia: The Electrician. Photograph: Alex Schwander/Reuters
If you somehow slept on it, Pseudomnesia: The Electrician is the photo that took out one of the prizes in the Sony world photography awards. But its creator, Boris Eldagsen, subsequently revealed the image was generated using artificial intelligence and refused to accept the gong.
Whether it was designed to provoke – as its creator suggests – or just a publicity stunt is open for debate. In the meantime, Zoe Williams picks the brain of the photographer with an ever-so-slight Australia connection.
‘Promptography’ or ‘fauxtography’? Eldagsen suggests his craft should go by the former descriptor, but I think the Guardian commenter who offered up the latter may have an early word of the year candidate on their hands.
How long will it take to read: Three minutes.
2. Is Elon Musk creating a utopian city?
The idea of living in a town populated only by colleagues is about as appealing as living in a town with just my family (apologies to all concerned – it’s not you, it’s me).
The Tesla founder, however, is following in the footsteps of Britain’s Cadbury family and big tech contemporaries Google and Meta with Snailbrook, Texas. The company town’s population currently stands at 12. But “if there is a vision for Snailbrook,” writes Steve Rose, “it has yet to emerge.”
Lessons from the past: When the residents of a Colorado coal-mining town owned by John D Rockefeller went on strike over their conditions in 1913, the conflict turned violent. The National Guard attacked the strikers’ tent city on the company’s behalf, killing at least 19 people, including a dozen children.
How long will it take to read: Five minutes.
3. The sometimes difficult path off antidepressants
Antidepressants are a critical intervention for millions of people and can be life-saving. But how well do we manage what comes next? Photograph: Tanja Ivanova/Getty Images
Antidepressants, to borrow a quote from Rick James, are a hell of a drug. About one in seven Australians take them, and countless others have come out the other side in a better place.
Kicking them isn’t always easy, though. About half of those coming off the drugs will experience withdrawal symptoms, from vomiting to insomnia. And one UK-based expert suggests Australia is in the “dark ages” when it comes to providing adequate support.
Notable quote: “I get countless emails now from people in Australia who want help coming off antidepressants,” saysDrMark Horowitz. “The fact that they’re talking to some random research fellow in London for help and not their doctors, I think speaks volumes.”
How long will it take to read: Five minutes.
skip past newsletter promotion
after newsletter promotion
4. What we can learn from watching grass grow
Stick with me here, because it turns out the abundance and diversity of grass is a magnificent evolutionary feat. You’ll have to delve into Andreas Wagner’s long read to find out exactly why it took tens of millions of years to thrive, but its story of slow-burn triumph suggests that success depends on the world into which a life form is born.
What’s the point? Wagner is fascinated by the concept of “sleeping beauties” – life forms that remained dormant before succeeding explosively. “A great number of innovations arrive before their time,” he writes, citing technologies like radar (initially ignored). “The sleeping beauties of nature can help us understand why creating may be easy, but creating successfully is beyond hard.”
How long will it take to read: Eight minutes.
5. The incredible expanding city
Melbourne’s growth has been outpacing Sydney’s for much of the past decade. Photograph: Charlie Rogers/Getty Images
Transformers fans of a certain age may remember Unicron, the robotic planet that devours other planets. Melbourne is following in the footsteps of the Orson Welles-voiced monstrosity, absorbing every stray suburb in its orbit to usurp Sydney as Australia’s most populous city.
What if the Victorian capital expanded forever? Would the airport rail link be finished by then? Anna Spargo-Ryan (only semi-seriously) ponders the imponderable.
Why should I care about this? ASR takes the topic on with a whimsical touch, but the city’s rampant, unfettered overdevelopment is never far from her incisive gaze.
How long will it take to read: Two minutes.
Further reading: The counting quirk that saw Sydney lose its title after more than a century.
Sign up
Enjoying the Five Great Reads email? Then you’ll love our weekly culture and lifestyle newsletter, Saved for Later. Sign up here to catch up on the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture, trends and tips for the weekend.
NASA’s Perseverance rover just snapped an up-close view of its Mars companion Ingenuity, revealing the robotic helicopter’s dusty blades.
Perseverance recently traveled within only 75 feet (23 meters) of Ingenuity, which flew to the Red Planet with the big rover. This is the first time in nearly two years that Perseverance has gotten this close to the helicopter, NASA officials wrote on Twitter.
Perseverance snapped some photos of Ingenuity during its close approach on Sunday (April 16), and NASA shared them on Twitter on Tuesday (April 18). The images show the helicopter’s rotors coated in Martian dust that was likely kicked up by the helicopter during takeoff, hovering and landing.
Related: 12 amazing photos from the Perseverance rover’s 1st year on Mars
Despite the dusty coating, “Ingenuity looks to be holding up well in the harsh Martian environment,” officials with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), which manages the missions of both Ingenuity and Perseverance, wrote in the Tuesday tweet.
Ingenuity is the first machine to achieve powered flight in the skies of an alien world — a lofty accomplishment, given that the thin Mars atmosphere makes it difficult to achieve enough lift. That’s why Ingenuity is equipped with enlarged, specially shaped blades that rotate about 10 times faster than what is needed to fly on Earth.
On April 13, the 4-pound (1.8 kilograms) helicopter completed its 50th flight on Mars, during which it traveled 1,057 feet (322.2 meters) in 145.7 seconds and achieved a new altitude record of 59 feet (18 m) above the Red Planet’s surface.
Wow! Perseverance rover sees Mars helicopter takeoff and mid-air maneuver
UP NEXT
The Mars helicopter’s first flight took place on April 19, 2021, only two months after it landed in Jezero Crater. The helicopter has far exceeded its originally planned technology demonstration mission of up to five flights.
Ingenuity also serves as a scout for Perseverance, which is searching for evidence of past microbial life and collecting samples for future return to Earth. The helicopter’s test of powered flight on another world could aid in future sample return missions and the ongoing search for life on Mars.
Elizabeth Howell is the co-author of “Why Am I Taller?” (ECW Press, 2022; with Canadian astronaut Dave Williams), a book about space medicine. Follow her on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/NOLZB7POKJDH5DQ4TUH3VDEJ5Y.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/SA3IBOEGHFEO3NEJ2QKTJZNB6M.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/EG2WP72WBZEIRAZPS4QIMHO4RA.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/7NTFCNKRB5BSPEACJKIPRSUNDY.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/NIMR37CJJRAL7BANFYJK5LUER4.jpg)
