Dolphin Rings

The attached video is of dolphins playing with silver colored rings which they have the ability to make under water to play with. It isn't known how they learn this, or if they're born with the ability.

As if by magic, the dolphin does a quick flip of its head and a silver ring appears in front of its beak. The ring is a solid, donut shaped bubble about 2-ft across, yet it doesn't rise to the surface of the water. It stands upright in the water like a magic doorway to an unseen dimension. The dolphin then pulls a small silver donut from the larger one. Looking at the twisting ring for one last time, a bite is taken from it, causing the small ring to collapse into thousands of tiny bubbles which head upward towards the water's surface. After a few moments the dolphin creates another ring to play with. There also seems to be a separate mechanism for producing small rings, which a dolphin can accomplish by a quick flip of its head.

An explanation of how dolphins make these silver rings is that they are "air-core vortex rings". Invisible, spinning vortices in the water are generated from the tip of a dolphin's dorsal fin when it is moving rapidly and turning. When dolphins break the line, the ends are drawn together into a closed ring. The higher velocity fluid around the core of the vortex is at a lower pressure than the fluid circulating farther away. Air is injected into the rings via bubbles released from the dolphin's blowhole. The energy of the water vortex is enough to keep the bubbles from rising for a few seconds of play time.

Mosaic Monday

A few years ago I had the privilege of touring the Vatican Mosaic Studio. I have a little sample of the smalti (glass) as a souvenir which, despite turning my house upside down, I can't seem to find! The reproductions in mosaic of some of The Masters works are just stunning! It is very painstaking work and can take years to complete one piece. The quality of the pictures I took that day is not the best but I do have some from an exhibit in New Orleans which I visited a while back.

Please click on the pictures to enlarge.

Peek-a-boo Pink Poppies!

Such delicate flowers - one heavy rain - like today - and they are gone!

Great cover of a great song and a very creative video

Friday's Flowery Five

This weeks blooms!

Have a peaceful weekend!

Rainy Day... Fair

Toronto has one of the largest fairs in North America every summer. The one pictured here is one of a series of traveling fairs that comes to the nearby mall.

My granddaughter is still too young for these rides but they are always fun to watch!

I love the art deco styling of some of the older rides!

Always colourful!

We had a wonderful time with our little family last week, they have returned to their home and we to our usual routines...

We will visit them next in August for the 1st birthday celebration!

Happy Day!

My granddaughter arrives today for a weeks visit... so for the next week I plan to be
holding and kissing her 24/7 ! Will catch up later!