Hubble Space Telescope

Round and round we go... In this new #HubbleFriday image, the spiral galaxy NGC 3596 shines from 90 million light-years away. From Hubble's perspective in low-Earth orbit, NGC 3596 appears face-on, showcasing the galaxy’s neatly wound spiral arms. These bright arms hold concentrations of stars, gas, and dust, that mark where star formation is most active, seen as the brilliant pink star-forming regions and young blue stars tracing NGC 3596’s arms. Researchers believe that spiral arms represent a pattern of high-density and low-density areas rather than a physical structure. As stars, gas, and dust orbit within a galaxy’s disk, they pass in and out of the spiral arms. Like cars moving through a traffic jam, these materials slow down and bunch up as they enter a spiral arm, before emerging and continuing their journey through the galaxy. Discover more at the link in our bio! Image description: A spiral galaxy viewed face-on, with a slightly oval-shaped disk. The galaxy’s center appears as a bright white spot surrounded by a golden glow. Two spiral arms extend out from the center, wrapping around the galaxy and broadening out to form the thick outer edge of the disk. Thin reddish strands of dust and bright pink spots follow the arms through the disk. Faint strands of stars extend from the tips of the spiral arms and out beyond the disk. Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, D. Thilker #NASA #Hubble #Friday #galaxy #space #stars #science #astronomy #universe 

Nature

Photographed by @shaazjung Rare sightings of a black panther 🐆 roaming Kabini Jungle, India 🇮🇳 

Discovery

Spotted along the Western Ghats of India, the great hornbill is known for being the largest species of hornbill 💛 📸: @pratikhumnabadkar #birdwatching #wildlife #India #greathornbill 

EarthPix 🌎 Travel

The magic of Disney is about to make its mark on the Middle East with a new Disney theme park resort in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Located on the iconic @YasIsland – a hub for world-class entertainment and leisure – this waterfront resort will connect travelers from the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia, Europe, and beyond. #Earthpix #YasIslandPartner #Disney #Disneyland #Travel 

EarthPix 🌎 Travel

Who else can relate? @yoopalak 

EarthPix 🌎 Travel

@kyrasgoodeats I need one of these machines at home 

EarthPix 🌎 Travel

This seems like lots of fun! @nigel_yahman 

BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS

Over the last few weeks you have been sending us your incredible applications for the BD Academy and we have been blown away. The diversity and passion behind each story has been enjoyed by all of us. To all those who have submitted their entries, thank you so much. We watch every submission that comes in and appreciate all your creativity and we’ll be in touch soon. We can’t wait to continue this journey with you all, so watch this space for when applications open again! 

National Geographic

Bat ears are extraordinary 🦇 In Panama’s rainforests, fringe-lipped bats eavesdrop on frog mating calls to hunt—but not all croaks lead to dinner. Some frogs are toxic, and knowing the difference is a learned skill. New research shows adults can tune out “spam calls” from poisonous species, while juveniles still respond to them—sometimes even attacking the wrong sound. Scientists believe they learn through trial-and-error or by following their mothers. Learn more about how fringe-lipped bats use their ears to hunt at the link in bio.