Beach photography movement in ME looks to give back

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The group uses profits from beach photography to generate a stream of donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

WELLS, Maine — Maine’s rocky coastline is often the subject of beautiful photographs, something that inspired Wells local Matthew Rainey to pick up photography as a hobby a few years ago. 

Rainey started to take photos of southern Maine’s beaches, sharing them online with friends and family. And it didn’t take long for the photos to gain traction and for others to join in. 

“It just started, you know, taking pictures with a cell phone,” Rainey said. “Just doing pictures here and there, and then I just got a lot of encouragement from the Wells community.”

But instead of turning a profit, Rainey and his crew had a different plan: to give back to the state he fell in love with. 

“That’s when we started thinking, well maybe we can turn it into something that we can benefit Make-A-Wish from?” Rainey added. 

After founding the Facebook group “Maine Beach Photos,” Rainey and others started to display and sell their photos through prints, decor and photo books for Make-A-Wish’s Maine and New Hampshire chapters.

So far, the group has generated $12,000 dollars for the foundation. 

The group has even partnered with small businesses such as Salt Water Farm and the Wells Harbor Shellfish Lab. 

“They send us updates, on the good that it’s doing,” co-worker and Make-A-Wish liaison Peter Parisey said. “You wanna do more, and that’s why we didn’t make it a one-off. We wanted to continue and build.”

With no signs of stopping, both Parisey and Rainey hope continue to inspire others to find their own niche to give back, or join in on the movement. 

“You’re among all of this beauty. Grab a camera, and keep practicing,” Rainey said. 

More NEWS CENTER Maine stories

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries

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Olympic boxer’s girlfriend charged over ‘intimate’ photo in wig

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The ex-girlfriend of Olympic boxer Harry Garside has been charged with distributing an intimate photo of him posing with a purple wig.

Ashley Alsione Ruscoe was represented by her lawyer Bryan Wrench in Sydney Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday after she was charged with four domestic violence offences.

The 35-year-old was arrested at her Bellevue Hill home in July and charged with assaulting and intimidating her former partner.

A month later, the boxing coach and wellness guru was charged with two fresh offences of intentionally distributing intimate images of Mr. Garside without his consent.

The boxer gave permission to be identified as the alleged victim through his legal team.


Harry Garside (L) attends the 2022 GQ Men Of The Year Awards at Crown Sydney on November 23, 2022 in Sydney, Australia.
Ashley Alsione Ruscoe has been charged with distributing an intimate photo of him posing with a purple wig.
Getty Images

Ms. Ruscoe is accused of sending messages containing the intimate photos on the afternoon of March 27 and the evening of June 1.

However, her lawyer railed against the classification of the image as intimate.

He claimed that Mr. Garside had given Ms. Ruscoe a photo of himself involving a brightly coloured wig that had been displayed in her living room.

“He basically gifted my client with a photo of himself … posing with a purple wig,” Mr. Wrench said.

“It’s definitely not an intimate image.”

The court was told the photo had been used as a bookend in the living room, where it had been “prominently” displayed.

He said witnesses would be called to attest to the nature and display of the image in question.

On Wednesday, Ms. Ruscoe formally entered not guilty pleas to the two charges of distributing an intimate image without consent.

She had previously pleaded not guilty to the charges of common assault and stalking or intimidating her former partner.

Mr. Wrench asked for an adjournment so he could obtain “exculpatory” information from his client’s phone, which is being held by police.

He noted that he had also not been provided with data from Mr. Garside’s phone despite the boxer’s reassurances the material would be provided to the defence.

A police officer estimated it would take more than two months for police to obtain detailed reports about the data contained on both devices.


Harry Garside attends the WBO Global and Asia Pacific Super Welterweight title bout between Tim Tszyu and Takeshi Inoue at Qudos Bank Arena on November 17, 2021 in Sydney, Australia.
The 35-year-old was arrested at her Bellevue Hill home in July and charged with assaulting and intimidating her former partner.
Getty Images

The police prosecutor noted some of the material may need to be redacted.

Ms. Ruscoe’s matter was adjourned until November 8 to allow for all the evidence to be served and assessed.

The court was told an interim apprehended violence order would remain in place until the next court date.

Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Mr. Wrench claimed the boxer had previously “turned up unannounced to (Ms. Ruscoe’s) workplace”.

He also took issue with an interview with the sportsman published in The Australian earlier this week in which he discussed the domestic violence allegations.

“It is totally and grossly improper,” Mr. Wrench said strongly.

Mr. Garside was initially charged over an alleged domestic violence incident at the couple’s Bellevue Hill home on March 1.

He was arrested at the airport on May 2 immediately upon his return from filming I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! in South Africa.

The Olympic boxer steadfastly maintained his innocence, and the charges against him were dropped by police.

His legal team told a Sydney court that a video previously not seen by police showed Ms. Ruscoe was the alleged aggressor.


Harry Garside showcases designs on the catwalk during The Iconic 'Runway X' Show on November 02, 2022 in Sydney, Australia.
Garside won a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympics.
WireImage

Weeks later, the martial arts instructor was arrested and charged over the alleged altercation.

Mr. Wrench previously told a Sydney court that he was “surprised” his client had been charged over the alleged incident.

He said he was “concerned” about Mr. Garside’s “motivation” in coming forward with the allegations against his ex-girlfriend.

The lawyer said in court he would rely on the evidence of witnesses who would reveal the boxer “has a history of domestic violence”.

Mr. Garside and Ms. Ruscoe dated for 18 months before they split earlier this year.

The couple were often snapped by the paparazzi together and made several high-profile appearances, such as at the GQ awards in November last year.

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Nuevo impacto registrado en Júpiter

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De nuevo Júpiter ha sufrido el impacto de un objeto de grandes dimensiones, posiblemente un asteroide o un cometa. El evento fue registrado por varios telescopios a las 16:45 UT del 28 de agosto.

En las imágenes se puede apreciar un súbito aumento de brillo en una zona del planeta, un breve destello que solo se puede explicar por la colisión con otro objeto celeste. No es la primera vez que esto sucede, ya hemos visto con anterioridad eventos similares por lo que hay múltiples telescopios capturando constantemente imágenes del planeta y monitorizando si se producen destellos similares.

En esta ocasión el proyecto OASES (Organized Autotelescopes for Serendipitous Event Survey) y PONCOTS (Planetary Observation Camera for Optical Transient Surveys) publicaron una alerta sobre el evento y fueron varios los astrónomos aficionados, muchos de ellos japoneses, que confirmaron haberlo capturado.

El gran tamaño y la masa de Júpiter producen una gran atracción gravitatoria para estos cuerpos menores de nuestro sistema solar. En ocasiones sus órbitas son modificadas y en otras, como ésta, les pone en rumbo de colisión.

Por el momento se desconocen más detalles sobre el tamaño y órbita del objeto que chocó contra Júpiter.

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The Evolution of Photography: From Film to Digital

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Photography often referred to as the art of capturing light, has a history rich in innovation and transformation. From the early days of unwieldy glass plates to the contemporary era of digital and AI-enhanced photography, it has evolved into a universal language that transcends cultures and connects people across the globe. This journey through time and technology has redefined the way we document our lives, express our creativity, and tell stories. In this exploration of photography’s evolution, we will venture through its various stages, from the age of film to the digital revolution, uncovering how it has not only democratized visual expression but also left an indelible mark on our collective memories and understanding of the world.


The Age of Film Photography


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The Age of Film Photography dawned with the groundbreaking invention of roll film, an epochal moment that liberated early photographers from the constraints of glass plates and unwieldy equipment. In 1888, George Eastman emerged as a pioneer, introducing the world to the Kodak camera, an ingenious device that would forever reshape photography. At its core was the revolutionary roll film, a compact, flexible medium that replaced fragile glass plates. This innovation democratized photography, making it accessible to the masses with the promise that ‘you press the button, we do the rest’. The Kodak camera’s portability, user-friendliness, and convenience allowed people to effortlessly document their lives and experiences, fostering a new era of visual storytelling. George Eastman’s legacy extended beyond this invention; his dedication to simplifying photography laid the foundation for the industry’s future growth and innovation, leaving an indelible mark on the art of capturing life’s moments.


Emergence of Digital Cameras


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The emergence of digital cameras marked a watershed moment in photography’s history, fundamentally altering how we capture and interact with images. Instead of relying on traditional film, digital cameras harness electronic sensors to convert light into digital data, enabling instant image capture and viewing. This transformative technology unleashed a wave of creative possibilities, offering photographers unprecedented control over their craft. With the advent of digital cameras, the concept of megapixels and resolution became paramount, allowing for the preservation of intricate details and unparalleled clarity in photographs. Beyond the realm of dedicated cameras, integrating high-quality digital cameras into smartphones brought photography to the fingertips of billions, democratizing the art form and enabling individuals to document their lives and express themselves visually on a global scale. The digital era continues to evolve, driven by innovations such as AI and computational photography, further enhancing image quality and the creative potential of the medium. In essence, the emergence of digital cameras has not only reshaped photography but has also revolutionized the way we communicate, share, and experience the world through images.


Megapixels & Resolution


megapixes


Megapixels and resolution have become central pillars in the modern photography landscape, shaping how we perceive and capture images. Megapixels, the tiny light-capturing units within a digital camera’s sensor, determine the image’s level of detail, with higher megapixel counts translating to greater clarity and sharpness. Resolution, a measure of how many pixels are packed into an image, plays a pivotal role in determining print quality and digital display. The advancements in megapixel technology have empowered photographers to capture astonishing levels of detail, transforming the way we document our world. High-resolution images have revolutionized industries ranging from advertising to scientific research, enabling us to zoom into the tiniest nuances and zoom out to panoramic vistas. The world of photography develops, giving us ever more beautiful visual storytelling tools that preserve life’s ephemeral moments with astounding fidelity and elegance as technology pushes the limits of megapixels and resolution.


The Rise of Smartphone Photography


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The rise of smartphone photography has democratized the art of capturing moments, placing a powerful camera in the hands of billions. These pocket-sized devices have evolved into formidable imaging tools capable of producing stunning photographs and videos. With intuitive interfaces and many creative apps and filters, smartphones have enabled individuals of all skill levels to express their creativity visually. The instant accessibility and share ability of smartphone photos have reshaped how we document our lives and experiences, and social media platforms have become a canvas for personal expression through images. Smartphone photography transcends cultural and geographical boundaries, fostering a global community of image-makers who continually redefine the art, making it more inclusive, dynamic, and pervasive than ever before. As smartphones push the limits of camera technology advancement, they are securing their position as a crucial tool for visual storytelling and memory preservation in the digital age.


Film Photography’s Nostalgic Resurgence


film


Film photography’s nostalgic resurgence represents a heartfelt return to the roots of the craft, a journey back to a time when every shot was a carefully considered and finite endeavor. In an era dominated by the immediacy and convenience of digital technology, film photography offers a slower, more deliberate and tactile experience. Enthusiasts are drawn to the unique aesthetics of film, appreciating its grain, color rendition, and the unpredictability of chemical reactions. Communities and specialty labs dedicated to film have thrived, celebrating the tangible and authentic qualities of analog photography. This resurgence is not just about sentimentality; it’s a deliberate choice to embrace the deliberate and artful process of image-making, highlighting the enduring allure of film’s timeless, physical medium amidst the digital deluge.


Preserving the Heritage: Film Archives & Museums


preserving


Preserving the heritage of film photography is a testament to the enduring value of this art form. Film archives and museums worldwide play a pivotal role in safeguarding the rich history of traditional photography. These institutions meticulously collect, catalog, and conserve vintage cameras, photographs, and darkroom equipment, ensuring that the legacy of film photography remains intact for future generations. By showcasing historical artifacts, hosting exhibitions, and organizing educational programs, film archives and museums pay homage to the pioneers of photography and offer a window into the evolution of visual storytelling. They allow us to appreciate the craftsmanship, techniques, and artistic vision of photographers from a bygone era while nurturing an appreciation for the heritage of this remarkable medium in an increasingly digital age.


Advancements in AI & Computational Photography


Advancements


Advancements in AI and computational photography are redefining the possibilities of image capture and enhancement. With intelligent algorithms and machine learning integration, modern cameras, including those in smartphones, can now automatically optimize settings, reduce noise, and enhance image quality in real time. These technological leaps allow amateur and professional photographers to focus more on creativity and less on technical intricacies. Beyond basic enhancements, AI-driven features can generate artistic effects, such as bokeh and portrait mode, or even merge multiple exposures to create stunning high dynamic range (HDR) images. Moreover, computational photography techniques expand the horizons of what’s achievable in low-light conditions and astrophotography. As AI and computational photography continue to evolve, they promise to make photography even more accessible, versatile, and visually captivating, shaping the future of this art form in remarkable ways.


Conclusion


Photography has evolved remarkably from film to digital and a resurgence of film photography. It now serves as a universal language, uniting people worldwide. Digital cameras, smartphone photography, and AI-driven techniques have democratized the art, making it more accessible and versatile. Film archives and museums ensure its heritage endures. As we look forward, photography will evolve, offering fresh creative possibilities and expanding visual storytelling boundaries. Whether we embrace film’s nostalgia or digital and AI-driven innovation, one thing remains unchanged: photography’s power to capture life’s essence and shape our memories for generations.

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James Webb Telescope drops another out-of-this-world photo of distant spiral galaxy

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Another awe-inspiring magical image of deep space has been captured by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Released on August 29, the latest high-resolution photo shows us a glimpse of a spiral galaxy that is found 27 million light years away from Earth in the Canes Venatici constellation.

Known as the Whirlpool Galaxy, or Messier 51a, it has been a central focal point for astronomers and astrophotographers for years (it was first discovered in 1773) but has never before has it been viewed in such fine detail.

The most recent image shows a red whirlpool galaxy with protruding spirals and a bright bluish-white core. While you might not be able to get such a high resolution even with the best cameras for astrophotography, this bedazzling galaxy is sometimes visible from Earth.

• Check out the best telescopes for astrophotography so you can capture stunning photos of the night sky from your back garden

Image of the M51 galaxy from James Webb Telescope

Image of the M51 galaxy from James Webb Telescope

Taken using the JWST main near-infrared camera (NIRcam) and a mid-infrared instrument (MIRI), the two separate photos have been combined into a composite to create a truly out-of-this-world galactic portrait. These incredibly advanced camera systems capture the infrared light that the eye cannot see and decode the data to create images scientists can study to unlock the secrets of our universe. It’s thought that the shape of M51 is due to its close proximity to the nearby dwarf galaxy NGC 5195 and its spiraling arms are formed through its strong gravitational influence.

Up until now, the clearest image we had of the M51 galaxy was taken by the Hubble Telescope in 2011 but it was nowhere near as in-depth and detailed as the JWST offering. The actual image has been colorized so we can distinguish areas of ionized gas created by recently formed star clusters (the orange and yellow buts) while the darker areas represent empty cavities necessary for the galaxy to maintain its spiral shape.

Image of M51 galaxy by James Webb Telescope

Image of M51 galaxy by James Webb Telescope

This latest image is part of a body of research known as Feedback in Emerteging Extragalactic Star Clusters or for east, FEAST. Since the James Webb telescope is 100 times more powerful than the Hubble Telescope, it enables scientists and astronomers to discover even more about deep space. The European Space Agency commented, “Webb is opening a new window into the early stages of star formation and stellar light as well as the energy of reprocessing gas and dust”.

Not only do these images enable us to develop a deeper understanding, but they are signs that the instruments onboard the JWST are still fully functional following some concern there have been some technical issues. While the NIRcam image and the MIRI image offer two different perspectives of the same galaxy, the combined composite offers exaggerates the remarkable wonders of this “grand spiral staircase sweeping through space” – a term that NASA has used to describe it.

Image of M51 galaxy taken by James Webb telescope

Image of M51 galaxy taken by James Webb telescope

Also check out the best telescopes for kids or the best telescopes for beginners

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Western Mountain Photography Show opens

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2022 best in show winner, Cadillac Vista Photograph by Jen Hickey. Submitted image

RANGELEY — The Rangeley Friends of the Arts announces the Ninth Annual Western Mountain Photography Show. Juried exhibit awards reception:

Saturday, September 9, from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the Lakeside Contemporary Art Gallery located in the lobby of the RFA Lakeside Theater at 2493 Main Street in Rangeley.

The Theme for the 2023 Exhibit is PERSPECTIVE.

During the entire exhibit, attendees may vote for their favorite image in the People’s Choice competition. The show will run Sept 9 through Oct 2. Gallery hours are Tues-Sat 10 a.m.-2 p.m..

This is a public event and reception featuring complimentary snacks and a cash bar (beer/wine) where the accepted images will be on display and the winners will be announced and prizes awarded.

The Western Mountain Photo show is sponsored by: Nick Leadley Nature Photography & Rangeley Lakes Trail Center.

The RFA is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit “bringing the arts to life” in the Rangeley Lakes Region. FMI about their programs and events, visit rangeleyarts.org.

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Star-studded stellar nursery shines in new Hubble Telescope photo

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The Hubble Space Telescope has photographed a bright stellar nursery studded with dazzling infant stars. 

Taken using Hubble‘s Wide Field Camera 3 instrument, the image captures a massive protostar called OH 339.88-1.26 lurking behind star-forming clouds of dust and gas. OH 339.88-1.26 lies an estimated 8,900 light-years from Earth in the constellation Ara. 

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CJPOTY round 9: Natural Colour

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The theme for the ninth round of the 2023/24 Camera Jabber Photographer of the Year (CJPOTY) competition is ‘Natural Colour’. Nature always seems to go one way or the other with colour. It’s either full-on or subtle. We want to see your images of whichever you prefer, muted tones or vibrant hues – or both!

The photographs can be taken anywhere at any time.

This round of our monthly competition is open for submissions until 23:59 BST (00:59 CET and 15:59 PST) on 30th September 2023.

To submit your entry, follow the link to cjpoty or click on the CJPOTY button at the top of any of our website pages. You can submit up to three entries for £2.00 plus payment processing costs (£0.26). Images should be Jpegs at least 1920 pixels along their longest side but no larger than 2MB.

Camera Jabber Photographer of the Year prizes

At the end of the month, the Camera Jabber team will pick one winning image and nine runners-up from the September entries. The photographer of the winning image will receive a voucher from MPB.com to the value of £500, which can be spent on anything from a huge range of kit from the World’s biggest platform for used photographic gear.

All 10 of the selected images will go into our shortlist for the year.

We’ll do this each month in 2023 so that by the end of the year, there will be 120 shortlisted images. These will then go before our fantastic panel of judges who will decide the 1st, 2nd and 3rd-placed images.

The photographer of the first-placed image overall, as decided by the panel of judges, will receive a voucher to the value of £1000 from MPB.com as well as a trophy and the title ‘Camera Jabber Photographer of the Year 2024‘. The photographers who come second and third will receive vouchers worth £500 and £250, respectively.

You don’t have to enter the competition every month, but you are welcome to do so, and the more shortlisted images you have at the end of the year, the greater the chance of winning the top prize.

CJPOTY VIP Judges

At the end of the year, our illustrious panel of judges has the onerous task of selecting the first, second and third-placed images overall from the shortlist of 120. Our judges are:

Benedict Brain – Photographer, journalist & Sigma ambassador
Sophie Collins – Chief Marketing Office at MPB, Trustee of Royal Photographic Society
Donna Crous – Food photographer, author, Nikon Europe ambassador and Rotolight Master of Light
Ross Hoddinott – Landscape photographer, wildlife photographer, author, tutor, conservationist
Tracy Marshall-Grant – Arts Director, curator and producer
Denise Maxwell – Multi-genre photographer and lecturer
Carolyn Mendelsohn – Artist and portrait photographer
Paul Sanders – fine art photographer
Jemella Ukaegbu – Photographer & founder of UK Black Female Photographers (UKBFTOG)
Christina Vaughan – Founder of Cultura Creative, the home of inclusive stock photography

Follow the link to find out more about the CJPOTY judges.

MPB

About MPB

Founded by Matt Barker in 2011, MPB is the world’s largest platform for used photography and videography kit. MPB has transformed the way people buy, sell and trade equipment, making photography more accessible, affordable and sustainable.

Headquartered in the creative communities of Brighton, Brooklyn and Berlin, the MPB team includes trained camera experts and seasoned photographers and videographers who bring their passion to work every day to deliver outstanding service. Every piece of kit is inspected carefully by product specialists and comes with a six-month warranty to give customers peace of mind that buying used doesn’t mean sacrificing reliability.

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Nature’s Cleanup Crew For Forever Chemicals

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Aligning manufacturing with nature is a massively important step toward becoming sustainable stewards of Spaceship Earth. In part, it will require addressing the existing consequences of industry and confronting pollution in partnership with nature.

Since the age of advanced chemistry in consumer products that took off in the middle of last century, the things humans make are more useful, durable, and affordable than ever. But that means they are often made of plastics and chemicals that extend more thoroughly throughout our ecosystems and stay there for much longer, even forever. Science is still working to understand the extent of pollution to Earth’s waterways, soil, even our own bodies.

Among the most concerning pollutants are polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAs, the ‘forever chemicals’ used to manufacture nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, and countless other applications since manufacturers started using them in the 1930s. These days, they are being discovered all over the place, including the bloodstreams of almost every human being. Thankfully the PFA levels detected in humans have gradually declined as awareness has increased, but their presence in groundwater and food remain a real risk.

But where life is being harmed by such chemicals, life may also offer the solution: the endless creativity of microbes.

Within their tiny, often single-celled bodies, they contain the tools for creating and breaking apart endless varieties of chemicals. We harness these abilities to create things like citric acid to enhance our food, or ethanol for fuel. Microbes are even behind many of the vitamins we take to stay healthy, and countless other important chemicals.

Humans have been replicating microbes for millennia, in the form of fermentation, encouraging Lactobacillus bacteria to create lactic acid in a crock of sauerkraut, Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast to create alcohol in a vat of beer. Fermentation is vast, but recent advances in parsing the DNA of different microbes given humans the ability to access and apply previously unknown or undetectable microbial abilities.

For instance, among the most exciting to emerge recently is the discovery of bacteria that consume PFAs as food, currently being advanced by a company called Allonnia. Their recently announced 1,4 D-Stroy system uses a specially identified bacteria that targets the forever chemical 1,4 Dioxane. Common to detergents and other consumer chemical products, been used since the 1950s, has been discovered in as much as 25% of drinking water, and causes serious health problems. To address the problem, Allonnia brings a tank of the specially cultivated bacteria to a target site, introducing them to the 1,4 D contaminated water, where the bacteria eagerly break the bonds of the forever chemical, leaving water and CO2. The company claims rates of as high as 98 percent removal of the contaminant.

This is an example of what is often called ‘bioremediation’, which essentially means using biology to clean up contamination and pollution. It’s a promising industry that has actually been around in a somewhat less sophisticated form for decades. What makes this moment different than before is the tools available to discover the useful abilities of microorganisms. This is made possible thanks to high resolution, high volume sequencing of DNA, and analytical tools that allow scientists to isolate a single microbe with a unique and super useful skill — like eating PFAs, for example. Companies and researchers are just beginning to explore the vast, untapped diversity of life already out there doing things that could help solve some of the biggest impacts of manufacturing and chemical industries.

Nature has already invented many of the solutions we are looking for. As our ability to scan swathes of DNA for specific traits and abilities becomes more refined, it will be like nature beginning to open all its patents for humanity to use.

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Best cameras for low light photography 2023

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Best cameras for low light photography 2023: Jump Menu

Having the best cameras for low light photography is a game-changer, regardless of your experience level. Whether you’re just starting out or an astrophotography pro, these cameras are your best companion when shooting in low light environments, be it indoors or outdoors. 

Cameras are made to capture light, but it’s important to remember that taking photos in low-light situations can be challenging, in a similar way to how our eyes struggle to see in the dark. However, technological advances in recent years means that digital cameras can produce breathtaking nightscapes and beautiful results in dark environments too, especially when you pair them with the Best lenses for astrophotography.

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