Articles
RED streamlines camera range
RED Digital Cinema has announced a streamlined range and pricing structure for its camera range. Rather than offer different brains with varying capabilities, the company will now offer one DSMC2 brain with a range of different sensors. The DSMC2 brain is the Weapon specification and will (currently) be offered with Monster, Helium and Gemini sensors.
Hundreds of large dolphin pods are reported in the Chesapeake Bay
Dolphin sightings in the Chesapeake Bay have been on the rise in the past few years, increasing from a sighting here and there to sightings of large pods daily. Dolphins were once regular inhabitants of the bay, but steadily decreased as pollution increased in the 20th century. Now that the water is cleaner than years past, submerged aquatic vegetation has rebounded, and fisheries are recovering, it has become the inviting space it once was for dolphin. Researchers have set up a website to track dolphin sightings. Through the website data they receive, it is estimated that there are thousands of dolphins residing in the bay during the warmer months.
Video: Threshers by Howard and Michelle Hall
Howard and Michelle Hall have posted a silky smooth montage of pelagic thresher sharks (Alopias pelagicus) filmed at Malapascua Island, Philippines. The footage was shot in 8K resolution with a RED 8K Digital Cinema camera.
Deep-sea coral garden estimated at 1,000 years old
During the recent NOAA expedition aboard the Okeanos, the scientific team discovered a hidden coral bed of bamboo coral 7,500 feet beneath the surface. The 23-day expedition was aboard the only federally funded vessel devoted entirely to oceanic research. NOAA estimates that the coral structures are up to 1,000 years old.
New housing for the Canon EOS 7D released by Ikelite
Ikelite has released an updated version of their housing for the Canon EOS 7D, the 200DL. The housing is manufactured from Ikelite’s new ABS-PC which is stronger than it’s clear counterpart. The shutter and AF-ON lever have both been ergonomically improved as well as an updated Dry Lock (DL) port system that accommodates pro lenses. The housing is priced at $1,695 US MSRP and available now.
Sharks prefer jazz music
In a newly published study, scientists have shown that shark may prefer the regular beat of jazz music over classical music. Experts have long hypothesized that sharks associated the noise of a boat’s engine with food after many years of being fed. In this study, scientists trained port jackson sharks to follow music played at one end of a fish tank for a food reward. The results of the study illustrate a lot about what sharks are capable of.
Invasive rats have been successfully eradicated from Antarctic Island
A successful invasive species eradication program has rid South Georgia island in the Antarctic of rats. The efforts of the Scottish charity, South Georgia Heritage Trust, began in 2010 and just wrapped up after waiting two years after the last application of rodenticide. There are no trees on the island and the introduced rats were devouring species of birds that nest on the ground and are found nowhere else in the world. Rats were first introduced to South Georgia by sealers and whalers in the early 19th century.
Pregnant humpback whales surge near Antarctica
Scientists have seen a significant upswing in the number of pregnant female humpback whales in the Antarctic recently. Blubber samples over a six year period showed approximately 60 percent of females had high progesterone levels, an indication that they were pregnant. The scientists also have seen an increase in the number of calves born in recent years. Both signs are encouraging as humpback whales are at ten percent of their population from pre-whaling years.
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