Al Naslaa (4,000-year-old Rock Formation), Tayma Oasis, Saudi Arabia.

Al Naslaa is 4,000-year-old Rock Formation has a Mystery Laser-like Cut through its Center. The Al Naslaa rock formation is a rock formation located 50 km south of the Tayma oasis in Saudi Arabia. It has been split down the middle into two parts, both of which are balanced on their own tiny pedestal. The cause of the split is unknown, but is posited to be due to natural causes including windblown sand and periodic rain.

The rock is approximately 6 metres high and 9 metres wide, and is covered on its south-east face with numerous petroglyphs

Al Naslaa is remarkable not only for its shape, position, and age but also for the exact split that divides one side of the formation from the other. While it appears to be a normal fracture in the sandstone’s foundation, the break is so precise and straight that it appears as if the rock was split apart with a laser. Furthermore, the two incredibly hefty sides of the structure appear to balance on little more than thin bits of rock, almost as if they are floating in mid-air.

The boulder split most likely because the earth beneath one of the two supports moved slightly. It’s possible that it was formed by a volcanic dike of a weaker material that crystallized before everything was unearthed. It might also be a pressure crack from the past. It dates back over 4,000 years, and no one truly knows how it came to be.

The Tayma oasis in Saudi Arabia is famous for its rock art and its historic legacy. It was a major trade route in antiquity and was once the dwelling place of a Babylonian king, Nabonidus. It is referenced in both Assyrian and Biblical sources as a trading post and is also known for abundant rock art made as much as 4000 years ago. One particularly interesting feature of the Tayma region is the Al Naslaa rock formation - a sandstone block connected to what looks like an eroded natural pedestal. The rock is split through the middle by a clean and straight crack which looks almost as if the rock was sliced with a laser. Surprisingly though, this feature is natural, formed by faulting or jointing activity.

Most of the Arabian Peninsula is made up of limestone, sandstone, and shale, which overlie the west Arabian crystalline shield and a southern crystalline complex. These overlying sedimentary deposits formed in shallow sea environments. In the present-day Arabian desert, windblown sand as well as periodic rains have carved the sandstone and limestone bedrock, creating many unusual rock shapes - some of which look quite extraordinary.

The block is also archaeologically significant because of an exquisite example of rock art that resembles a horse or camel that is engraved onto it. The block is in situ and the lower section of the block resembles what is called a ventifact. Ventifacts are geologic formations created by abrasion from windblown sand beating against a rock surface. This can create rocks with unusual shapes and very smooth surfaces.

The White Desert of Egypt is famous for ventifacts that resemble giant stone mushrooms emerging out of the landscape. It is not clear if the Al Naslaa rock formation is a ventifact, though the bottom part connecting it to the ground does resemble one. The upper part of the block has a very smooth surface on one side, but the shape of the complete rock looks too angular and blocky to be a true ventifact. It could, however, be a ventifact that is still in the process of forming.

Geologists who have examined the fracture say that it was probably formed when the ground beneath it was offset, causing the rock to split apart. It has also been suggested that it could be an old fault line. The rock material near faults tends to become weakened and erodes more easily. As sand blew into the cracks of the rock over the ages, this material may have been more rapidly eroded than the surrounding sandstone, resulting in the fracture.

The fracture may have also formed from jointing of the rock. In geology, joints are fractures formed by rock being pulled apart along zones of pre-existing weakness through some sort of pressure. Joints can be very straight and look almost artificial. In certain climates, ice can form in the cracks created by the joints and cause the fractures to widen until rocks are pulled apart. There are a couple of other cracks parallel to the one that split the rock that may be joints. The major crack could be related to them and just be in a more advanced stage.

The Algar do Carvão (Cavern of Coal), Terceira Island (Azores), Portugal

The Algar do Carvão (Cavern of Coal) is an ancient lava tube or volcanic vent located in the central part of the island of Terceira in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. It lies within the civil parish of Porto Judeu in the municipality of Angra do Heroísmo. 

Their are few very few places in the world allow you to explore and go inside a volcano. One of these places is the Algar do Carvão, located in the Azorean island of Terceira. The name Algar do Carvão means “coal pit” because the cave walls are formed from dark black lava.  To enter the cave you need to go down the volcano chimney that is lava free today, uncommon in most volcanoes, and a tunnel and staircases offer access to the caves below. At the bottom there is a crystal clear lake formed by rainwater, with unique stalactites and stalagmites.

The Algar do Carvão is, in fact, one of the few volcanoes in the world you can visit and the only one in which visitors can explore a volcanic chimney and secondary magma chambers. The volcanic eruption that took place at Algar do Carvão 3,200 years ago originated into volcanic rock highly rich in silica. Then, a second eruption, 2,000 years ago happened in the same place but with basaltic lava that formed several magmatic chambers.

Thanks to this fluid lava the chimney and the magma chambers were left empty when it all settled down. Algar do Carvão is now the only place on earth where you can see these two structures, the chimney and chambers without being cooked alive. What stands out as unique in the world is the stalactites and stalagmites formed by amorphous silica – Alvar do Carvão actually has the biggest concentration in one place.

Tours and the general maintenance of the volcano cave is in charge of local association “Os Montanheiros.” The first group of Montanheiros went to the volcano interior Montanheiros in 1963 and in 1968 they led the first visitors. Visits take place all summer and have to be scheduled in advance in the winter. They also organize visits to the Gruta do Natal, on Terceira.

A crystal-clear freshwater lake covers the base of Algar do Carvao, formed by the constant rain. Nuno estimates it’s about 39ft (12m) deep, although it can rise to 82ft (25m). During periods of drought, the water completely dries up. Down here, the dripping has an eerie echo. The only lifeforms this far down are bacteria, and a fleet of endemic spiders, centipedes and beetles found in the Azores that lurk in the cracks and crevices.

Before climbing back up the 338 steps, I take a moment to let it all sink in. This is where molten magma exploded out from the depths of the Earth 2,000 years ago. The same magma that created this tiny island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

The existence of the cavern had been known for a long time, but the depth and lack of ambient light, made any descent difficult, owing to the vertical descent, and delayed any real exploration.

On 26 January 1893, the first descent, "...with the use of a simple rope, was accomplished by Cândido Corvelo and Luis Sequeira."

The second descent was made in 1934, by Didier Couto, who produced the first rough map of the interior. This drawing, based on visual observations alone (rather than measurements), turned out to be quite accurate.

On 18 August 1963, a group of enthusiasts organized a descent using a "chair" platform suspended on a nylon line and, later, a harness.

With the advent of portable lighting systems, it was possible to re-examine the observations first-hand, including the most remote and narrow sections of the cavern. The site was open to the public in the late 20th century, through weekly organized tours (except weekends and holidays) through the summer (from May to September). Access to the site is also possible through the Montanheiros (Mountaineers) organization, the group responsible for matters associated with the Algar.

The word, algar, is a Portuguese word that denotes a natural cavity in the earth that, unlike most caves or caverns, is more vertical in its orientation, like a well. The Portuguese word derives from the Arabic word, al-Gar, which means "the crease", while Carvão means "coal" in Portuguese. The Algar do Carvão is not a source of coal, and the term carvão has also been used in the Portuguese vernacular akin to "blackened", "sooty" or "burnt", referring to the dark composition of the rocks.

Terceira is the site of four large volcanoes (Pico Alto, Santa Bárbara, Guilherme Moniz, and Cinco Picos) grouped along a basaltic fissure zone that transects the island from northwest to southeast. The Algar do Carvão is directly associated with the caldera of the Guilherme Moniz volcano, but it is part of the same complex as Santa Barbara to the west, Pico Alto to the north, and Guilherme Moniz, which is a short distance to the south of the Algar do Carvão site. Algar do Carvão is situated at 583 metres (1,913 ft) above sea level.

The 40.5 hectares (4,360,000 sq ft) extent was classified as a Regional National Monument (Portuguese: Monumento Natural Regional) due to its peculiar volcanological characteristics, in addition to its environmental ecosystem. The mouth of the Algar consists of a 45 metres (148 ft) vertical passage to the interior, that reaches a ramp of debris and gravel. From here there is another decline to the clear waters of the interior pool, approximately 90 metres (300 ft) from the level surface. The pool is supported by rainwater, and can reach as deep as 15 metres (49 ft) depth or become dry in summer months, owing to little or no precipitation.

The cave itself is remarkable for the unique mineralogical characteristics of its silicate stalactites. The Algar is populated by a rich plant tapestry, that covers the mouth of the cone structure, including various endemic species. Further, there are several invertebrate species that make the cavern their homes, such as the cavernous spider Turinyphia cavernicola and other species of Troglofauna, like the centipede Lithobius obscurus azorae, the springtail Pseudosinella ashmoleorum and ground beetle Trechus terceiranus. Finally, there is a distinct presence of various moss, including those on the Red Data Book of European Bryophytes (ECCB), like the Alophosia azorica and Calypogeia azorica, among others

Deep Dive (World Larest & Deepest Swimming Pool), Dubai

Deep Dive Dubai, located in Dubai's Nad Al Sheba neighborhood, is now verified by the Guinness World Record as the world's deepest swimming pool, at a depth of 169.9 feet (60.02 meters) and holds 14 million liters of water. That, the owners say, is the equivalent of six Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Located in Nad Al Sheba neighborhood in Dubai, the massive pool features a sunken city that divers from all levels can explore featuring abandoned streetscape, an apartment, garage, arcade and many other surprises.

The pool features sound and mood lighting systems as well as a unique filtration system. To maintain fresh water, it gets filtered and circulated every six hours using a siliceous volcanic rock. NASA-developed technology and UV radiation is also used within the filtration system.

The pool’s water temperature is maintained at 30 degrees Celsius to ensure divers comfort. With a massive size of 1,500sqm, the facility features a diving shop, a gift shop and a restaurant that will be open to the public later this year. It also hosts a variety of meeting, event and conference spaces.

The exterior design is shaped like a enormous oyster to highlight the United Arab Emirates pearl diving heritage. Deep Dive Dubai also offers freediving and scuba diving experiences as well as courses for all abilities, from first timers to experienced individuals. Alongside the courses, participants can get a chance to gain scuba diving and freediving certifications.

Deep Dive Dubai has even had an A-list celebrity visitor, with actor Will Smith visiting the attraction in early July. The city of superlatives with the world's tallest tower among its many records, Dubai now has the deepest swimming pool on the planet complete with a "sunken city" for divers to explore.

 

Deep Dive Dubai, which opened recently but initially by invitation only, prides itself as "the only diving facility in the world" where you can go down 60 metres (almost 200 feet), 15 metres deeper than any other pool, as confirmed to AFP by Guinness World Records.

With graffiti, crumbling facades and a large portrait of Marilyn Monroe hanging on the wall, Dubai’s new vertical diving pool contains the remnants of a lost submerged city. There’s an apartment building and library even an arcade with a vintage Pac-Man machine, foosball and pool table. As for the size of the underwater city, several dives are needed to fully explore it, according to the website.

Beginners can dive to a depth of 40 feet, while those with certifications can explore the entire pool either with a guide or alone. Certified divers can also “free dive” which is diving without a tank, using breath only while connected to a fixed ascent line. Courses are also available to teach divers new skills.

Bookings are by invitation only. Actor and rapper Will Smith wrote about his visit in an Instagram post that has been liked more than 3 million times in four days.

There is, however, no living marine life, including coral, which is normally a huge part of the leisure diving experience.

"Deep Dive Dubai allows thrill-seekers to dive inwards and discover a new underwater dimension filled with adventure and wonder. It offer an unparalleled experience with year-round diving, in a safe environment, with outstanding instructors and services," Abdulla Bin Habtoor, spokesperson for Deep Dive Dubai, shared in a statement. "This facility is an investment in Dubai's growing sports culture and will add another world-class destination to Dubai's thriving tourist attraction and adventure tourism sector."

for more information - Deep Dive Dubai

Cordyceps Militaris - World’s Most Expensive Mushroom

Cordyceps Militaris is a species of fungus in the family Cordycipitaceae, and the type species of the genus Cordyceps. It was originally described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 as Clavaria militaris

The fungus forms 1–8 cm high, club-shaped and orange/red fruiting bodies, which grow out of dead underground pupae. The club is covered with the stroma, into which the actual fruit bodies, the perithecia, are inserted. The surface appears roughly punctured. The inner fungal tissue is whitish to pale orange. The spores are smooth, hyaline, long-filiform, and often septate. They decompose to maturity in 3–7 μm × 1–1.2 μm subpores. The asci are long and cylindrical. Sometimes an anamorphic state, which is Isaria, is found. Masses of white mycelia form around the parasitised insect; however, these may not be of the same species

Cordyceps Militaris can be cultivated in a variety of media including silkworm pupae, rice, or liquid nutrition. It is considered inedible or "probably edible" by American field guides. In Asia the fruiting body is cooked as a mushroom in dishes like chicken soup.

Cordyceps Militaris is a potential harbour of bio-metabolites for herbal drugs and evidences are available about its applications for revitalization of various systems of the body from ancient times. In traditional Chinese medicine, this fungi can serve as a cheap substitute of Ophiocordyceps sinensis. Both contain cordycepin. It contains a protein CMP18 that induces apoptosis in vitro via a mitochondrion-dependent pathway. It is thought that it might be toxic when eaten. Cooking destroys this protein. Cordyceps in the wild has more than 400 different species. Similar species include Cordyceps sobolifera, Elaphocordyceps capitata, and Elaphocordyceps ophioglossoides

Cordyceps is a fungus which grows from the spores fallen on caterpillars inside the soil which give rise to mushroom like body of fungus with stalk and head. As wild variety of this mushroom or fungus is rarely found so it is very expensive and difficult to afford. The world’s most expensive mushroom, prominently talked about in the mushroom category and regarded as the top mushroom with extraordinary properties is used as pre-workout supplement. It can be considered as one of the top super foods.

It is mostly found in high mountain regions of China. Cordyceps are found all over the world and include 400 species that typically infect other insects and arthropods.  As we check for the lifecycle then it is the spore that starts the whole formation. Cordycep spores will land on the insect and then the spore will start germinating, resulting in the formation of hyphae which grow inside the insect and turn into mycelium, which is an important part of the mushroom. Now that the mycelium start consuming the insect and the insect is fully consumed, a blade-like mushroom (fruiting body) will be produced from the insect’s head. The environmental conditions need to be favourable for the whole process. The lifecycle continues and the mushroom will again release spores and infect other one to spread the entire thing.

The wild species of Cordyceps is basically Wild Cordyceps sinensis -The Caterpillar fungus. It is considered as the father of present day Cordyceps which is not actually the sinensis species as being costly and rarely available. It is the most well known species of Cordyceps, now officially known as Ophiocordyceps sinensis which infects the caterpillar of the Hepialus moth. It is mainly found in high elevations in Tibet and Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai and Gansu but less abundant in India, Nepal and Bhutan. 

The history of Cordyceps dates back to 1993 during the Chinese national games in Beijing. It became popular when a Chinese athlete Wang Junxia consumed Cordyceps as the source of tonic and made a world record in 10,000 meter race in just 42 seconds. No other athlete in the past 23 years could beat her record. But later many athletes who also took Cordyceps as a tonic failed to give desired results. Hence this raised a big question on the efficiency of Cordyceps – whether it really helps in boosting the energy and stamina levels in athletes.

Cordyceps are known to improve the immune system and providing protection from several diseases specially cancer by formation of new cells that strengthen the immune system. It is also associated in shrinking of cancer or tumor cells especially in case of lung and skin cancer. They are also used in kidney problems and other problems related to it; is used after kidney transplant. It can also be used in male sexual disorders, liver related diseases and act as dopamine to improve athletics performances and many other conditions but there are no scientific evidence for above mentioned uses.  

You’ll be surprised to know that the species of Cordyceps or the supplements we are consuming are not actually the wild Cordyceps Sinensis but the commercial form grown invitro.  The cost of wild Cordyceps is around $20,000 per kilogram which is quite high and makes it the most expensive mushroom all over the world. 99.9 Cordyceps supplements do not contain wild Cordyceps not just because of its high price but also that it is exclusively sold in Asia and rarely available in North American market. The reason for the high price of wild Cordyceps is that for many years, the Chinese were unable to cultivate it which led to the lag in its production meanwhile commercial cultivation of the mushroom began by fermenting the spores and forming myceliums leading to the Cordyceps named as “Cordyceps Cs 4”.

Ambergris (The Floating Gold)

Ambergris, Ambergrease, or grey amber, is a solid, waxy, flammable substance of a dull grey or blackish colour produced in the digestive system of sperm whales. Freshly produced ambergris has a marine, fecal odor. It acquires a sweet, earthy scent as it ages, commonly likened to the fragrance of rubbing alcohol without the vaporous chemical astringency.

Ambergris has been highly valued by perfume makers as a fixative that allows the scent to endure much longer, although it has been mostly replaced by synthetic ambroxide. Dogs are attracted to the smell of ambergris and are sometimes used by ambergris searchers.

The word ambergris comes from the Old French "ambre gris" or "grey amber". The word "amber" comes from the same source, but it has been applied almost exclusively to fossilized tree resins from the Baltic region since the late 13th century in Europe. Furthermore, the word "amber" is derived from the Middle Persian (Pahlavi) word ambar (variants: ’mbl, 'nbl). 

Ambergris is formed from a secretion of the bile duct in the intestines of the sperm whale, and can be found floating on the sea or washed up on coastlines. It is sometimes found in the abdomens of dead sperm whales. Because the beaks of giant squids have been discovered within lumps of ambergris, scientists have theorized that the substance is produced by the whale's gastrointestinal tract to ease the passage of hard, sharp objects that it may have eaten.

Ambergris is passed like fecal matter. It is speculated that an ambergris mass too large to be passed through the intestines is expelled via the mouth, but this remains under debate.Ambergris takes years to form. Christopher Kemp, the author of Floating Gold: A Natural (and Unnatural) History of Ambergris, says that it is only produced by sperm whales, and only by an estimated one percent of them. Ambergris is rare; once expelled by a whale, it often floats for years before making landfall. The slim chances of finding ambergris and the legal ambiguity involved led perfume makers away from ambergris, and led chemists on a quest to find viable alternatives.

Ambergris is found in primarily the Atlantic Ocean and on the coasts of South Africa; Brazil; Madagascar; the East Indies; The Maldives; China; Japan; India; Australia; New Zealand; and the Molucca Islands. Most commercially collected ambergris comes from the Bahamas in the Atlantic, particularly New Providence. In 2021, fishermen found a 280 pound piece of ambergris off the coast of Yemen, valued at $1.5 million dollars. Fossilised ambergris from 1.75 million years ago has also been found.

Ambergris is found in lumps of various shapes and sizes, usually weighing from 15 grams (1⁄2 ounce) to 50 kilograms (110 pounds) or more. When initially expelled by or removed from the whale, the fatty precursor of ambergris is pale white in color (sometimes streaked with black), soft, with a strong fecal smell. Following months to years of photodegradation and oxidation in the ocean, this precursor gradually hardens, developing a dark grey or black color, a crusty and waxy texture, and a peculiar odor that is at once sweet, earthy, marine, and animalic. Its scent has been generally described as a vastly richer and smoother version of isopropanol without its stinging harshness. In this developed condition, ambergris has a specific gravity ranging from 0.780 to 0.926. It melts at about 62 °C (144 °F) to a fatty, yellow resinous liquid; and at 100 °C (212 °F) it is volatilised into a white vapor. It is soluble in ether, and in volatile and fixed oils.

Ambergris is relatively nonreactive to acid. White crystals of a terpene known as ambrein, discovered by Ružička and Fernand Lardon in 1946, can be separated from ambergris by heating raw ambergris in alcohol, then allowing the resulting solution to cool. Breakdown of the relatively scentless ambrein through oxidation produces ambroxan and ambrinol, the main odor components of ambergris.

Ambergris has been mostly known for its use in creating perfume and fragrance much like musk. Perfumes can still be found with ambergris. Ambergris has historically been used in food and drink. A serving of eggs and ambergris was reportedly King Charles II of England's favorite dish. A recipe for Rum Shrub liqueur from the mid 19th century called for a thread of ambergris to be added to rum, almonds, cloves, cassia, and the peel of oranges in making a cocktail from The English and Australian Cookery Book. It has been used as a flavoring agent in Turkish coffee and in hot chocolate in 18th century Europe. The substance is considered an aphrodisiac in some cultures.

Ancient Egyptians burned ambergris as incense, while in modern Egypt ambergris is used for scenting cigarettes. The ancient Chinese called the substance "dragon's spittle fragrance". During the Black Death in Europe, people believed that carrying a ball of ambergris could help prevent them from contracting plague. This was because the fragrance covered the smell of the air which was believed to be a cause of plague.

During the Middle Ages, Europeans used ambergris as a medication for headaches, colds, epilepsy, and other ailments. From the 18th to the mid-19th century, the whaling industry prospered. By some reports, nearly 50,000 whales, including sperm whales, were killed each year. Throughout the 1800s, "millions of whales were killed for their oil, whalebone, and ambergris" to fuel profits, and they soon became endangered as a species as a result. Due to studies showing that the whale populations were being threatened, the International Whaling Commission instituted a moratorium on commercial whaling in 1982. Although ambergris is not harvested from whales, many countries also ban the trade of ambergris as part of the more general ban on the hunting and exploitation of whales.

Urine, faeces and ambergris (that has been naturally excreted by a sperm whale) are waste products not considered parts or derivatives of a CITES species and are therefore not covered by the provisions of the convention.

The knowledge of ambergris and how it is produced may have been kept secret. Ibn Battuta wrote about ambergris, "I sent along with them all the things that I valued and the gems and ambergris..."Glaswegian apothecary John Spreul told the historian Robert Wodrow about the substance but said he had never told anyone else

In chapter 91 of Herman Melville's Moby-Dick (1851), Stubb, one of the mates of the Pequod, fools the captain of a French whaler (Rose-bud) into abandoning the corpse of a sperm whale found floating in the sea. His plan is to recover the corpse himself in hopes that it contains ambergris. His hope proves well founded, and the Pequod's crew recovers a valuable quantity of the substance. Melville devotes the following chapter to a discussion of ambergris, with special attention to the irony that "fine ladies and gentlemen should regale themselves with an essence found in the inglorious bowels of a sick whale."

In A Romance of Perfume Lands or the Search for Capt. Jacob Cole, F. S. Clifford, October 1881, the last chapter concerns one of the novel's characters discovering an area of a remote island which contains large amounts of ambergris. He hopes to use this knowledge to help make his fortune in the manufacture of perfumes.

Black Rice, Grown in Asian Part of World

Black Rice is a range of rice types of the species Oryza sativa, some of which are glutinous rice. Black rice is also known as 'Forbidden Rice' in ancient China since only those belonging to the upper class could afford to eat it.

The 'forbidden rice'. The secret of the intriguing nomenclature goes back to Ancient China, where a black variant of rice was consumed by a host of Chinese kinsmen for betterment of kidneys, stomach and liver, until a handful of noble Chinese men took possession of every grain and withheld it from public consumption. Black rice then became a property for the royalty and the wealthy only in Ancient China. Black rice continued to be cultivated but only for the elite classes, in limited quantities and under strict surveillance. The common folk were prohibited from growing or consuming it, and since then it earned its much renowned label - the forbidden rice.

There are several varieties of black rice available today. These include Indonesian black rice, Philippine heirloom balatinaw black rice and pirurutong black glutinous rice, and Thai jasmine black rice. Black rice is known as chak-hao in Manipur, India.

In Bangladesh it is known as kalo dhaner chaal (black paddy rice) and used to make polao or rice-based desserts. The bran hull (outermost layer) of black rice contains one of the highest levels of anthocyanins found in food. The grain has a similar amount of fiber to brown rice and, like brown rice, has a mild, nutty taste.

Black rice has a deep black color and usually turns deep purple when cooked. Its dark purple color is primarily due to its anthocyanin content,which is higher by weight than that of other colored grains. It is suitable for creating porridge, dessert, traditional Chinese black rice cake, bread, and noodles. 

compared to other types rice varieties. The whole grain rice also packs umpteen health benefits.  Black rice or the forbidden rice (Chinese) is a rare and a very old variety of rice that has been growing in India for centuries.  It is mainly grown in the North East region (called as Chak Hao) and the southern parts (called as Kavuni in Tamil) of India. Here are a few benefits of Black rice. 

Benefits of Black Rice-

1. Rich in Antioxidants
2. Natural Detoxifier
3. Good Source of Fiber
4. Preventing Risk of Diabetes
5. Preventing Risk of Obesity
6. Richer Protein Content
7. Better Heart Health