The world seems dark and grim. These 5 links are about bringing a little light. 💡

  1. Native jumping spider found in restored Rotorua forest | RNZ News:

    A native jumping spider boasting great eyesight and tiny genitalia has been discovered at a Rotorua forest that is being restored.

    Rotorua Canopy Tours has been working to make the Dansey Scenic Reserve pest-free for more than a decade.

    They are now enjoying the fruits of their labour, with new species being discovered as the old growth forest thrives.

  2. Are Sailing Ships the Future of Sustainable Shipping?:

    By leveraging the power of wind, Grain de Sail vessels reduce CO2 emissions by 90 percent compared to conventional maritime freight.

  3. DOC ranger snaps rare footage of tuatara and takahē 'having a scrap' | RNZ News:

    A takahē and a tuatara have been filmed engaging in a bush-floor stoush in a new video captured by a DOC ranger. …

    It started with the takahē seemingly attacking the tuatara, DOC ranger Nick Fisentzidis said. …

    "I saw them having a bit of a nip at each other; the takahē definitely had a go at the tail of the tuatara, and they had a bit of a scrap.

    "I followed them down the hill, and the tuatara got a couple of bites in, so the takahē backed off and snuck back away up the forest."

  4. Researchers uncover giant 30-year-old fungus near Eltham | RNZ News (be sure to visit the link and look at the photo):

    A trio of fungal experts stumbled across the largest Ganoderma specimen they had ever seen … the enormous Ganoderma bracket fungi, which was almost 82 centimetres wide and 45cm deep and thought to be about 30 years old, on a rotten stump at Rotokare near Eltham ….

    Two others on the stump were almost as big.

  5. I challenge you to look at these photos and not immediately feel a bit better about life.

    If you're having a bad morning, afternoon or evening, Jason Kottke has you covered:

    These are owls in towels. That’s it, that’s the post.

    Best link ever!