National Wildlife Photo Contest

Give Us Your Best Shot(s)!

More than $30,000 in cash prizes!
Our 40th annual photo competition is our biggest ever!

We are now accepting entries to the 2010 National Wildlife Photo Contest. Cash prizes of more than $30,000 plus other gifts will be awarded to the winners in seven categories in three separate divisions. Go to the entry page for more details and the complete rules.

• Two $5,000 Grand Prizes
• Pro, Amateur and Youth divisions
• Submit up to 25 images in 7 categories: Birds, Mammals, Other Wildlife, Landscapes/Plants, Connecting People and Nature, Backyard Habitat and Global Warming
• Winning images will be published on our website and a selection will appear in our December 2010 issue

Check out the 2009 photo contest winners here

Fun With GFP's

Green flourescent proteins, which are naturally occuring in some species, can be attached to other proteins enabling scientists to mark proteins of their choice with a green glow. GFP's have been used to decrypt previously invisible processes, like the spread of cancer or the development of nerve cells.

Crystal Jelly- Green fluorescent protein, naturally occurring

Rhesus Macaque Monkey- Green fluorescent protein, introduced into DNA of egg via virus (2008)

Pig- Green fluorescent protein, added to embryos (2006)

Cat- Red fluorescent protein, introduced via a virus into cloned DNA, which was implanted in cat eggs, then implanted in mother (2007)

Mice- Green fluorescent protein, received via DNA from father, which had been implanted with glowing sperm-creating cells from a flourescent mouse (2004)

Mice- Cyan, red, and yellow fluorescent proteins, injected into DNA in embryos (2007)

Tobacco- Firefly luciferase gene, introduced via a virus into tobacco DNA (1986)

Emperor Scorpion- Beta-carboline, naturally occurring

Nematode Worm- Green fluorescent protein, introduced into its DNA (2005)

Dog- Red fluorescent protein, introduced via a virus into cloned DNA (2009)

Zebrafish- Green, yellow, and red fluorescent protein, introduced into its DNA (2003)

Bacteria- Multiple colors of fluorescent protein, introduced into its DNA (2008)

I feel pretty! Oh so pretty!

One Cubic Foot

Within One Cubic Foot
Guess how many organisms you'll find in a cube of soil or sea.
By Edward O. Wilson
Photograph by David Liittschwager

When you thrust a shovel into the soil or tear off a piece of coral, you are, godlike, cutting through an entire world. You have crossed a hidden frontier known to very few. Immediately close at hand, around and beneath our feet, lies the least explored part of the planet's surface. It is also the most vital place on Earth for human existence.... Click here to read more

One Cubic Foot Photo Gallery

Return of Puppy Cam!

Click here for puppy cam!

Get ready to be non-productive for the next 8 weeks!

Lady DogDog

Lady GaGa seems to be the talk of the town, and here she is spotted on her current Monster Ball tour with her new Shiba Inu puppy. Super cute! Shibas are extremely intelligent little buggers so this one is bound to keep her on her toes!

The Whale that Ate Jaws

Off the coast of San Francisco, an unexpected killing challenged the great white shark's supremacy as the ultimate predator when one became prey to a killer whale. Whale-watchers witnessed a stunning act of nature as a killer whale rose to the water's surface with a great white in its mouth and held it there for 15 minutes. Even more amazing, biologist Peter Pyle was nearby and able to get underwater footage of two whales feeding on the shark.


My guess would be that it was an Offshore Orca since they aren't as discriminating in their diet as Residents or Transients.

Did Shamu Go On a Diet???

Nooooooo of course not! But you'll notice those aren't Orcas either. For some reason or another, the Bottlenose Dolphins and Pilot Whales seem to be in rotation with the Orcas in the main tank at Sea World San Diego. Rennovation perhaps? Or maybe part of a new show? Who knows, but enjoy it while you can and watch these guys at Shamu.com