europeanspaceagency posted a photo:

To mark the first anniversary of the European Space Agency’s Biomass satellite, we present a selection of striking images captured over the past 12 months, revealing Earth’s forests, and much more, in new detail. In just one year, this pioneering mission has begun transforming our understanding of forest dynamics and advancing how scientists monitor the critical role forests play in regulating the global carbon cycle.

This image, captured over Bolivia on 19 June 2025, shows the Beni River in the lowlands of northeastern Bolivia, where its sediment-rich ‘whitewater’ winds through the vast landscape of Llanos de Moxos tropical savannas and lush gallery forests that thrive along its fertile, seasonally flooded banks.

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Credits: ESA/DLR; CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

Thomas Hawk posted a photo:

Onmogelijke keuze tussen deze drie. De jury koos Silvia B, hoera, gefeliciteerd en gegund. Alle drie goed, eigen en herkenbaar. Geen van de drie is eng herhalingsdriftig blijven steken, ze meanderen in zelf ontwikkelde signatuur. [Meer...]

Het Europese 'applausje voor jezelf' blijft ongeëvenaard

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"Sex is only sex when consent is freely given, informed, and revocable at any time. Everything else is rape." Er zijn gezelligere binnenkomers op verjaardagen. En het roept toch ook wel vragen op. Stel, je hebt in Amsterdam seks met volledige wederzijdse instemming, tijdens de daad vraagt ze wat je eigenlijk stemt, na het antwoord trekt ze haar instemming in, maar als een bokser die de bel niet hoort geef je toch nog een laatste stootje. Ben je dan een VERKRACHTER? Ook prikkelend, deze verdere uitwerking: "Silence, lack of resistance or previous relationship must not imply consent". En, ten laatste, betekent instemming 'revocable at any time' dan ook dat deze instemming achteraf, misschien zelfs na maanden of jaren, ingetrokken kan worden? Afijn als ze straks maar niet vergeten de nieuwe wet in het Afghaans, Arabisch en Somalisch af te drukken, want voor je het weet zien zij het over 't hoofd!

Ja geeft te denken

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Het aantal mensen met vruchtbaarheidsproblemen stijgt en een ivf-behandeling kost veel tijd en capaciteit. Daarom wordt gehoopt dat kunstmatige intelligentie kan bijdragen aan efficiëntere zorg en lagere kosten. Patiënten grijpen elke hoop op een grotere kans op een zwangerschap aan. Maar artsen hebben ook twijfels.

De brand is voor Nederlandse begrippen „uitzonderlijk groot”, zegt Landelijk Coördinator Natuurbrandbeheersing Edwin Kok. Defensie was woensdag aan het oefenen met geweer- en mitrailleurvuur, kanonnen en explosieven. Maar hoe het vuur precies is ontstaan, is nog onbekend.

​“Wow, heel sick, is dit AI?” Dat wil Davey weten na het zien van een multimediaal kunstproject waar een heel leger aan mensen onder regie van één visionaire kunstenaar aan heeft gewerkt. “Zal wel, hè? Moet je zien man, wat een werk. En iedereen die zo precies heel ritmisch beweegt enzo.”

“Nee, het lijkt me niet dat je dat zelf allemaal hebt lopen verzinnen. Moet je bedenken wat een werk dat is, joh. Is ook een beetje inefficiënt, toch?“, vraagt Davey over een kunstwerk dat tot de maker kwam na een moeilijke jeugd, een droom die hij had na het roken van opium en een zevenjarige opleiding aan een kunstacademie en een daaropvolgende master.

“Claude, zeker, toch?“, vraagt Davey. “Of Nano Banana? Nou ja, leuk gedaan in ieder geval. Ik like het hoor.”

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therealthings.com has added a photo to the pool:

For a long time, I didn’t think I would revisit my photos from my 2024 trip to Japan. Mainly because I wasn’t in the right mindset, and I was unsure if I had the ability to truly do them justice. But after recently planning another visit, I decided to take the plunge and make a start. Hopefully, this is the first step toward more...

This time, I’m sharing a shot of Japanese industry—something that has fascinated me for a long time. It connects directly to my interest in sci-fi industrial scenes filled with pipes, rust, steel, steam, and raw structure. My wife calls it a “boys’ thing” and only joins me on these outings if I occasionally return the favor by visiting something more cultural...

What stands out to me in this image is the dramatic backlight, creating a striking interplay between light and shadow. The emissions from the chimneys add another layer, casting patterns that give the scene even more depth and atmosphere.

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© Marcus Antonius Braun
www.therealthings.com

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C.H Lam Photography has added a photo to the pool:

C.H Lam Photography has added a photo to the pool:

DirtyGlassEye has added a photo to the pool:

For how big it is and how much you can capture from it in both night and day settings, it's a little challenging to get a good shot of Lake Fujikawaguchiko (mouthful of a name). It's essentially just a touristy boat lake, so it's a little challenging to find a usable composition.
Previously I shot around this side of the lake at dusk and that night was very experimental (I already posted the only one I think I can use).
As I was leaving Iyashi two days later, I found myself taking the same road along the other side of the lake. Fuji was starting to disappear behind clouds again but it was still visible enough for the time being.
Near a tunnel I decided to pull over and get one last try at a natural landscape shot on the riverbank, a type of shot I've been a little devoid of in Japan thus far.
Through the dry grass I spotted this pedestal-like rock poking near the shore line with Fuji peaking out behind another forested range. In editing I took a few creative liberties on this in editing, for one, I curved the photo a bit (you can see it in the shore line) and redirected the lighting to Fuji specifically and not the sky. I recentered the light in the dry grass to lead towards the middle as if it was a leading line.
Interestingly, there were two kayakers floating on a turned over raft and waving their oars around (clearly asking for help), cops showed up about 10 minutes later and waited for them to come in. Just an out of the ordinary scenario to witness while trying to set up a shot like this.

Darren Schiller has added a photo to the pool:

The sunlight was illuminating the handrails but not the wall behind, adding a bit of contrast to this scene.
I have shot this scene before in even light: flic.kr/p/2rWEyZd
Not sure which version I like best.
Solomon Street, Adelaide"

Darren Schiller has added a photo to the pool:

Not sure what these bins were celebrating, but I hope they had fun.
Bloor Court, Adelaide CBD

Darren Schiller has added a photo to the pool:

Bloor Court, Adelaide CBD

Valentina Lisitsa

Katia Labèque

Tallinn Chamber Orchestra

London Gabrieli Brass Ensemble

An anonymous reader quotes a report from NBC News: The Food and Drug Administration on Friday granted a quick review of three experimental psychedelic drugs meant to treat major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. It's the latest move by the Trump administration signaling a shift in policy toward treatments that also give users a high -- coming a day after the Justice Department said it would ease restrictions on state-licensed medical marijuana.

UK-based biotech company Compass Pathways said Friday it has received an expedited review for its experimental form of synthetic psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. In a press release the company cited two large, phase 3 studies that had "generated positive data." Usona Institute, headquartered in Wisconsin, also said it's received a voucher for its work with psilocybin to treat major depressive disorder. In an email, a Usona spokesperson said the company expects the review process to last one to two months after it submits its application. "The voucher expedites the timeline only; it does not alter scientific or regulatory standards," the spokesperson wrote. New York-based Transcend Therapeutics has also been granted a priority review voucher for its experimental drug methylone for PTSD, Blake Mandell, the company's chief executive officer, said. "There's a battle still raging in their mind that we don't fully understand biochemically," FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said. "When you see something that looks promising for a community that is suffering with mental health illness, despair and suicidal ideation, you can't help but recognize that."

Makary told NBC News that with the priority voucher program, the agency could potentially approve the first psychedelic drug by the end of summer.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.