Images Dated 11th July 2014

MY Steve Irwin, anti-whaling campaign vessel of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society

MY Steve Irwin, anti-whaling campaign vessel of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, making her way towards Launceston for repairs and a refit before returning to Antarctica to protect whales during the next spring and summer when Japanese whalers may once again perform their so-called research on whales in the Southern Ocean. Tamar River, northern Termania, Australia

Zircon crystal 4.1 billion years old, among the oldest fragments of Earthly material ever found

Zircon crystal 4.1 billion years old, among the oldest fragments of Earthly material ever found, The crystal is the size of dust and contains uranium. The degree of atomic decay in the uranium indicates that the crystallisation began over 4.1 billion years ago. The holes were made during the dating process at the Australian National University, Canberra. From Mount Narryer, Gascoyne region, Western Australia

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Precipitous mountainside with mist clinging to the conifer forest

Precipitous mountainside with mist clinging to the conifer forest, in an area flanking the Tibetan Plateau that has some of the worlds highest and steepest mountains. Middle elevations with dense conifer forests and an understorey of Arrow bamboo provides habitat for Giant pandas. Wolong Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China

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