The blue whale is not only the largest animal alive currently, but is likely the largest animal ever to have lived.

Depending on the location, blue whales can grow to be 33 meters (108 feet) and weigh as much as 181 metric tons (200 imperial tons).They can live to be 90 years old and ingest about 3.6 metric tons (4 imperial tons) of krill each day. Blue whale are considered endangered by the IUCN.

China's world famous landmarks like the Great Wall and army of terracotta soldiers draw millions of visitors a year but the Middle Kingdom has another drawcard that is equally breath-taking despite being largely unknown.

Co-owned by Google, NRG Energy and BrightSource Energy, the giant Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System in California's Mojave desert will produce 392 MW of solar power at full capacity - enough electricity to provide 140,000 Californian homes with clean energy. The plant contains 300,000 large computer-controlled mirrors that help focus sunlight to the top of three 140m-high towers, where water is turned into steam to power turbines.

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This is a mating ritual being performed by a colony of James's Flamingoes (Phoenicoparrus jamesi), native to Peru, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina. The males will all vocalise together, sticking their necks and heads straight up in the air, and turning them back and forth in unison to attract the females. ...

It is not surprising that this family of moths are commonly called woolly bears or woolly worms, as the caterpillars of many species are really very hairy. The larvae can be full of poisonous chemicals acquired from their host plants, advertising that they are bad to eat with bright colours, bad odours and unusual shapes. The adult moths have distinctive wing venation and can also be distasteful when eaten. They produce ultrasonic sounds to warn off predators and confuse bats looking for a tasty treat. There are over 10,000 species worldwide including all the tiger, footmen, wasp and lichen moths. Amazingly, the caterpillars of some species can even survive freezing. ...