Rise Age Short Film - Mesmerising Animation About Environmental Collapse

It may take you a while to fully comprehend what the title of this intriguing animated short means – for me, it had to be made explicit at the end…  Yet there is something quite mesmerising about this animated short by Tatjana Theuer, who created this while doing her postgraduate course in Motion Design at the FilmakademieBaden-Württemberg.  As a “student film” this is astonishingly mature work.

It tells the story of a community of sea-slug type creatures, happy in their carefree crawliness which is orchestrated and coordinated from above by a choir.  Yet as they go about their daily lives, something invisible threatens their way of life – but even after one group after another disappears, nothing seems to stop them from going about their business. Still, one by one they disappear.  This is all accompanied by the mesmeric “song” of their leaders, that with only small pauses as the destruction overtakes them, carries on regardless.  It was only towards the end I realised that this was about our rising sea levels and how we have done little or nothing to prevent it – in fact, we are the cause.

Take a look at Rise Age, which has to be one of the more charismatic animated shorts presented by students this year  – it is as thought provoking as it is entertaining.

Kindergarten Kids React to Visiting the Louvre — Their Awe Is Priceless

The Louvre may be the most famous museum in the world, with thousands of visitors every day,, but on Tuesdays it is closed to the public. However, this group of kindergarteners managed to break in and steal lots of treasures… no, not really.  They were there because their teacher is part of the CLEF programme, which allows groups of young students to visit the museum, participating in the Tuesdays at the Louvre initiative.  After all, when you are just so high, it’s hard to get a glimpse of the exhibits with lots of grown ups around.

This group had a chance to offer their reactions to the art on display, particularly those in the Hall of the Caryatids .  Their little gasp of astonishment and awe as they entered the room is absolutely priceless; you know that this museum is getting it right simply from this initial collective “oooh”.  Then they get to see the statuary and seem particularly taken with Artemis – Goddess of the Hunt (showing impeccable taste; also known as the Diana of Versailles, this statue has been in France since 1556, it is roughly 1,800–2,000 years old today and in astonishingly good condition). Their reaction comments – like the art – are priceless.

Watch the video below:

If You Have Never Wanted to Visit Seville, You Will After You Watch This

Sevilla’s Metropol Parasol has never looked like this before, and that’s because it’s transitioning.  If you just spat your coffee out, perhaps you have misinterpreted.  The city’s third most visited urban landmark has been filmed by Hyperlapse Professional Kirill Neiezhmakov, whose mission is to capture as many of the world’s famous landmarks on film as possible – and then do extraordinary things with it.  In his hyperlapses, his aim is to create seamless morphing transitions between locations (hence the parasol reference!).  This makes a beautiful and already very interesting city seem even more dreamlike, as streets, skylines and structures appear to bend and flow into one another with impossible smoothness. The result is a hypnotic visual journey through Seville.

Sevilla was never been top of my “go to” cities in Spain – apologies.  Yet, having seen this it has certainly gone up a few places on the list. Through Neiezhmakov’s lens, Seville looks vibrant, futuristically historic and full of energy, proving that sometimes a fresh perspective can completely transform the way we see a city.  This is just gorgeous.  Sevilla’s city council should put this on their website!

This Dungeons & Dragons Musical Celebrates the Agony of Rolling a Natural 1

 

If you have played tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, then you are probably aware of the term Natural 1.  It is tabletop gaming slang for rolling the lowest possible score on a 20-sided die. Not only that, it usually signals a catastrophic failure: the hero misses the target, fumbles the spell, or somehow turns a simple task into a disaster. Because the number is rolled naturally on the die, before bonuses are added, players call it a “natural” 1 — or simply, a “nat 1.”

So, Arin Jacobelli and Sho Xia, students at Ringling College of Art and Design and self-proclaimed massive nerds and D&D enthusiasts, came together to create a musical homage (if you can call it that) to Natural 1.  It follows Richard, a very unlucky bard who only rolls Natural 1s.  That’s a blow to any bard’s self-esteem, especially when his companion, Bonk the Barbarian (I wonder if Bonk means the same thing in the US as it does in the UK?) rolls only Natural 20s. 

As you will see, Richard ultimately resolves that even a lifetime of Natural 1s is OK, if you have your best buddy next to you…

Muse Return to Sci-Fi Glory in Stunning New “Cryogen” Official Video

Ahead of their North American tour, Muse have just released the official video for Cryogen.  Many fans are agreeing that the song, as well as the official video, show a return to form for the British band (and the space croissant is back too!).   The video leans heavily into the band’s well-know sci-fi aesthetic.  There’s icy space imagery, themes of isolation and something darker, mor emotional than some of their recent singles. Plus the scale is truly cinematic – this would look (even more) awesome on the big screen.

Fans have already comparing the atmosphere to older Muse eras like Origin of Symmetry and Black Holes and Revelations because of the spiralling guitar riffs and apocalyptic visuals.   Although it is hard to disagree, to me this also feels and sounds different - a return and a departure?

Muse fans have also been claimed that this is the closest the band has come in years to recapturing the eerie grandeur of their early work. One fan declared that the song “genuinely channels the intensity, atmosphere, and ambition that made early Muse so compelling in the first place”, while another joked that “nature decided to cosplay as a horror movie” after discovering that the blood-red Antarctic waterfall shown in the video is a real phenomenon known as Blood Falls. Elsewhere, viewers marvelled at the band’s now fully cosmic aesthetic - “I always knew that Muse came from another planet!” wrote one commenter - while others focused on the music itself, especially the climactic finale, praising “that killer outro” and the moment “where they all get a mini solo”. Predictably, the fanbase also found time to worry about drummer Dominic Howard, with one popular comment pleading: “here to not break Dom’s heart.”

Harry Styles ‘Dance No More’ - Fans Are Losing Their Minds Over Those Red Shorts

Well, Mr Styles.  You’ve done it again.  Harry Styles’ video for Dance No More has quickly become an event since it dropped (about three hours ago at the time of writing) and is threatening to break YouTube’s servers, such is the demand.  And who could blame people for pressing the play button?  To say Harry has an eager audience would be something of an understatement – it currently stands at 15.4 million subscribers (that’s the combined population of Estonia, Iceland and Rwanda if you’re interested). So, needless to say the video is being watched by many people as you read this.

It is quite something, too.  Directed by Colin Solal Cardo, a French filmmaker, photographer, and music video director based in Paris, the video begins. Now, this is a really funky number and reminds me a little of some of Prince’s work in the 80s.  It’s spare, fluidly rhythmic and very, very knowing.  Oh, it's D-I-S-C-O too, but in a good way. It’s also something of a celebration of the sense of togetherness being on the dancefloor brings, that release that comes with physical effort.  It’s also pretty funny. I don’t exactly mean that Harry Styles is sending anything up, but he is certainly having a lot of cheeky fun here.

Talking of cheeks, they’re not on display, but Harry’s legs certainly are and these seem to be provoking most of the comments!  Unafraid to get most of his body parts out for the masses, Harry’s red shorts are creating quite a buzz – which may or may not say a lot about the current state of western civilisation.  I will leave that up to you to decide, but have to share a few comments.  One says: “jaw? dropped. ass? shaken. mother? respected. kiss? all the time. disco? Occasionally”  Which does just about sum the whole thing up. Over to you, Harry!

Pumpkin Spring – The Grand Canyon’s Arsenic Pool

Below the rim of the Grand Canyon runs the beautiful Colorado River.  Many take trips down its length but among the majestic scenery is something which they do not quite expect – a huge, enormous gourd-like squash. Jutting out from the canyon wall and perched above the river, this highly unusual formation is known as Pumpkin Spring.

Photograph by kind permission of Flickr user Roger Steeb

Watch Luke Evans as Frank-N-Furter on The Tonight Show – ‘Sweet Transvestite’ Performance Stuns

Back in January we featured Luke Evans singing I’m Going Home, in civvies, in preparation for his new role as Frank-N-Furter in Richard O’Brien’s cult classic The Rocky Horror Show.  Now he has performed with the entire cast on The Tonight Show – in full costume.  The song? Why Sweet Transvestite, of course.  It’s a difficult role for any actor – Tim Curry’s boots were so big (and his corset so tight) that comparisons are always inevitably made.  From the looks of the comments below the video, it seems that Evans’ performance is winning favor.  This isn’t just because he makes a few knowing nods to the original, but because he makes the role his own.

Jimmy Fallon certainly looks very happy to introduce the number from the show, currently doing its Transylvanian thing at Studio 54 on Broadway (New York, USA!).  And the cast are in their element too – we get glimpses of Janet Weiss (Stephanie Hsu), Brad Majors (Andrew Durand), Magenta (Juliette Lewis) and the rest of the ensemble but we get two eyeballs full of Luke Evans.  Resplendent is hardly the world and he looks in his absolute element.  The great Welsh voice is in full throttle and his delivery is absolutely spot-on – he belts out the number with great gusto.  Physically, too, he fits the part - he is probably going to give Rocky a run for his money when it comes to muscles! This is not an impersonation as much as a reinvention.  I’m not entirely convinced by that moustache, though…

The comments, too have put a smile on my face.  Some diehard original fans have not reacted well, but generally the comments are overwhelmingly positive. One gleefully says: “I love how they chose the one song that would offend all the right people”, while another spurts: “Man, Gaston really found himself when he got rejected by Belle. LOL (This performance is amazing!)”.  I think I have to point a final comment out - “he makes Frank his own just as David Bedella, Anthony Head and Laverne Cox have in the past.”  Agreed.

Exam Stress: 3 Proven Ways to Stay Calm and Reduce Anxiety During Exams

As the GCSE exams approach in the UK, I thought I would give a little advice, but in the style of an exam response for GCSE English Language (AQA board).  It’s a difficult time for many, so I would like to share the three ways that I coped with exams when I was a student... a long, long time ago in an exam hall far far away.  I hope, too, that it will help students with preparing for their GCSE English exam, as I have tried to show – as well as I can – the skills needed to get a very high grade for writing an article (if that even comes up).  This may be a little too long for a GCSE response in the real exam (I timed myself at 45 minutes but I have been writing this kind of thing for decades).

If you are doing your GCSEs this year, you could have some fun by marking this! What grade would you give it? OK, here’s the question, formatted as a Paper 2 Question 5 article. 

OK, will give it a title and then get on with it!

Exam Stress: how can we stay calm when it matters most?

If you ask me, exams cause way too much stress.  However, as there is no better way to measure national achievement – apparently – we have to put up with them.  As an older teacher (I know my students would probably say “ancient” is a better adjective), I would like to offer a few words of advice, especially as we get closer to the exams.  Some of it is advice I was given as a teenager, other bits and pieces I learned for myself along the way!

Why are Crows Wrecking My Bird Bath? Eggs, Chaos and Garden Wildlife in South East London

Over at our sibling site, the Ark in Space, is a piece about my garden – or rather the crows that come to visit it to take advantage of its amenities! They are clever birds, these corvids, and are very, very quick to take advantage of anything and everything their habitat has to offer.  As it's suburban South East London, that means whatever its human inhabitants have to offer.  My garden comes with free bathing facilities for them (no, I don’t charge) which can lead to a photo opportunity or two.  I think I may have been inspired by Sir David Attenborough's most recent series, Secret Gardens, which was a very pleasant watch and perhaps encouraged me to write this piece.  Crows love a bath, after all, so why not share their antics?  But do they really have to wreck the bird bath in the process? Go take a peek at the Ark in Space.

Star Wars Day 2026: Celebrate May the 4th with Iconic Heroes and a Special Video

Happy Star Wars Day 2026! Every 4 May, fans around the world celebrate the galaxy far, far away made famous by Lucasfilm. From Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader to Princess Leia, Han Solo and Yoda, the saga continues to inspire generations.

To mark Star Wars Day, take a look at this special video from El Archivista de la Fuerza (translated as The Archivist of the Force), exploring the legacy of the Force and its heroes.  I think that this has every major Star Wars character ever in it at one point or another – and it’s beautifully put together.  So, join the celebration, share your favourite moments, and may the Force be with you - always.

100 Crimes and a Pint Too Many: The Tragicomic Life of Birmingham’s Charles Paige

I came across this video a few months ago, and didn’t get around to featuring it but it stuck in my mind. Or, rather, the story of Charles Paige did.  He was well-known in and around Birmingham (the one in the UK, not the one in Alabama) for being something of a nuisance around the pubs of England’s second city. It's a tale both comedic in parts but ultimately deeply tragic - but for some reason my mind kept wandering back to the life of this hapless, hopeless, half-cut huckster - Mr Charles Paige.

The story is brought to life by yourfamilyline, a YouTube channel with an associated website, dedicated to  “telling the stories of forgotten lives, and bringing their voices back into the light through detailed research and digital storytelling”.  It looks like it’s a one man show, which makes it all the more impressive and has a growing number of subscribers. (The picture used at the top of this post is an AI rendition of Charles Paige and not affiliated with yourfamilyline).

Paige was an inveterate alcoholic and well-known to the police. In fact, over the decades spanning the late 1890s to the early 1920s, Paige was convicted numerous times, and reached his “century” (his 100^th offence) towards the end of his criminal career.  The constabulary at local police stations must have rolled their eyes each time he rolled in…

No personal record was left by Charles Paige, which is a shame as we get one side of the story – that left behind in court and newspaper archival material.  He was infamous for his confidence tricks – posing as someone who might wish to purchase a large amount of alcohol from a pub (you could do that, then) and asking for free tasters to ascertain what he should buy.  That sounds like a good trick and many landlords (who are certainly not known for their gullibility) fell for it, which shows that he had a certain knack – he was able to present himself in a way that persuaded people that his requests were legitimate. Some say that his ghost haunts the pubs and canalsides of Birmingham to this day.

There are many comedic elements in Charles Paige’s story, but also an underlying and profound sadness. After all, it is a story of alcoholism, a chronic, relapsing brain disease – an oh boy, did Paige relapse. Although it seems he spent time getting help in “certified inebriate reformatories” this leopard did not change its spots.  Handled correctly, I think Paige’s story could be the basis of a very good British comedy-drama.  I'm already casting in my mind - perhaps Toby Jones, Reece Shearsmith or Mark Rylance? No, if I was the casting director, the job would go to Steve Pemberton.  I’m now blathering on – have a watch of the story of Charles Paige and make your own judgement about him – after all, he was quite used to other people doing that…

The Milky Way – Facts About Our Galaxy You Never Thought You Needed to Know

The ancient Greeks were the first to realise that we were just a tiny part of something much, much larger and they called it The Milky Circle.  After something of a rebrand, we now know it as The Milky Way.  At its center (which is also known as The Bulge) is a supermassive black hold, and that’s why the galaxy is like a spiral.  We are 30,000 light years (give or take) away from the center… but did you know that the supermassive black hole has a name? It’s Sagittarius A* (like it’s achieved a very high grade in an exam). 

You can find out a host of other interesting facts about our galaxy (and a couple of our next door neighbors) by watching this fascinating animated short by the Greenwich Royal Observatory.  Although I suspect it is aimed mostly for kids, I do like it when science is explained in a fairly simple way, because that way I can just about keep up!

Watch the video below.

The West Hood Story (WESTHOODSTORY) – A Dance Film by Shay Latukolan

Dutch choreographer and dancer Shay Latukolan has taken Spanish Grease by Willie Bobo and created The West Hood Story (it seems to be listed as WESTHOODSTORY even though the film's title sequence splits up the words), which must be one of the best dance films - if not the best - created so far this year.  From the get go, it is obvious that a lot of time, energy and love has been ploughed into its creation and it hits the nail right on the metaphorical head.  I think if Willie Bobo was still alive, he would absolutely adore this interpretation of his classic 1965 number.

The story is simple and straightforward (I’m tempted to say it's a tale as old as time, but that’s really a universe away).  A beautiful young woman makes something of a grand entrance to a dance hall and immediately turns the heads of all the young men in the place, causing just a little antagonism between them as they compete to catch her eye and win her heart.  Their attempts all fail, but her choice of Maxi, the local nerd, ultimately spurs them on to continue their hunt for some loving back in the dance hall.  This may sound like a lot to fit into a five minute dance film, but Shay pulls it all together brilliantly, using some fantastic choreographic shorthand to tell the story and we’re left feeling almost as if we’ve just watched an entire movie in balletic fast-forward.

As Bobo’s most famous track, Spanish Grease was the perfect choice for this dance film.  It’s a key example of 1960s Latin jazz crossover into pop and soul and is generally considered way, way ahead of its time.  And although the video pays homage to those times, in wardrobe and atmosphere (with plenty of West Side Story nods), as well as the music, of course, this comes across as something very modern, very 2026.  I’m not sure where this was filmed, although I suspect London because of the accents of some of the dancers in the spoken-word elements of the film, but the only thing that struck me as missing was the smoke that would have filled a dance hall like this in the 1960s.  To our modern noses, it would have royally stunk – but there is atmosphere aplenty here without it.  I think one of the film's greatest strengths is how so many of the dancers come off as well-formed characters – an incredibly hard thing to do in five minutes.

The comments about WESTHOODSTORY are effusive to say the least.  One says “Simply incredible choreo, direction, and execution as always! Shay your work belongs in a full-length feature on The West End and Broadway!” which, you know, cannot be disagreed with. Another uses hardly any adjectives at all; it just says “The style, swag, vibe, tone, choreography, and creative direction”.  Yet another says: “I’ve watched this piece 7 times already back to back! I doubt it’ll be my last one”. Yes to all.  And thank you Shay Latukolan and team for bringing this superb piece of art to the world and giving Spanish Grease the video it has needed for 61 years!  Watch it below (as many times as you want).

Farewell – An Animated Short by Luke Lee

As we grow up, there are always decisions to be made about our future direction – and some of them are not without their own fair share of pain, even though they are the right decisions and our hearts and heads must be followed.  Often, these decisions involve leaving others behind, however metaphorically, and this can often be difficult to accept, producing bewilderment, sorrow, even anger.  At times like these the mix of emotions often seem unbearable… but still the decision must be made and it is time to leave.

This remarkable animated short by Luke Lee (aka binsoo) tells such a tale.  A pair of brothers with a close bond enjoy a pastoral life, looking after a huge flock of very knowing sheep.  Yet the age gap between them means that one reaches young adulthood first and makes the decision to take his musical skills to a wider audience – the ewes and their lambs are appreciative but he needs more. And so, the difficult decision is reached, and the younger brother will be inevitably left behind.  Yet the older sibling leaves him a gift…

I don’t want to give to much away here, as it’s up to you to watch Farewell and take away from it what you will.  As one of the commenters says “That was an entire Studio Ghibli movie in 7 minutes, impressive” – and yes, there are influences on display. However, Farewell is very much its own story told in its own style.  It is Lee’s final piece from his time at Calarts, and I hope that having made so much of his time at the prestigious Californian seat of higher learning, that he enjoys a long and productive career in the visual arts.  Watch Farewell below.

Blinded by the Flag – New Banksy Statue in Central London

A new work of art by Banksy appeared overnight (29 April) in London’s Waterloo Place.  It depicts a man marching, his chest pumped in patriotic pride, holding his nation’s flag aloft.  Unfortunately for him, the flag has blinded him, swathing itself around his head so that he has no idea in which direction he is marching.  As luck wouldn’t have it, he is marching proudly towards an abyss (or in this case off the plinth).  It’s a strikingly simple visual metaphor, but one with great premonitory depth. Image

As ever with Banksy, the work of art arrived without  notification or fanfare – although he has now confirmed on Instagram that he created it.   It is situated in Waterloo Place, in the St James are of the borough of Westminster.  The location is craftily chosen for such an anti-imperialist piece, as Waterloo Place is littered with statues commemorating Britain’s past habit of stepping foot into countries without invitation.  You do not have to walk far to encounter statues of Florence Nightingale (and the Crimean War Memorial) as well as one of Edward VII.  The artist, who remains anonymous not just because that’s how it has always been but because he has been the target of threatening extremist behaviour, obviously thought long and hard about where to place the statue.

The statue in gold you can see behind Banksy's piece is one of Athena (also known as Minerva), the goddess of both wisdom and war.  She seems, almost, to be greeting the new statue - to acknowledge, perhaps, the inherent contradiction of wisdom and war.

We Were Here Once – A Letter to the Ones Beyond the Stars

Voyager 1 and 2 each carried a Golden Record, a disc which carried sounds, images, music and greetings from our planet to anyone or anything that might come across the spacecraft as they travel through interstellar space.  Yet what would you write if you were to send your own missive to the ones beyond the stars?  This deeply thought-provoking short film by Véras Fawaz focuses on an elderly gentleman, approaching death with quiet dignity, who is about to send his final message. 

As well as being a beautiful piece of film-making, with the visual richness of a full-length movie, the message that the old man sends into space is something very special.  Shaped by the awareness of his own mortality, as well as that of those he loves and loved, the letter presents us as fragile, yet driven and very, very, well, human. It confronts issues that are very twenty-first century – how we fill our lives with stories and screens to cope with fear, even though that might make us feel more disconnected than ever.  The old man identifies love as the defining human force, on which is quiet, enduring and found in moments both ordinary and extraordinary.  It sends to the stars a simple message – that humans feel, fear and love.  And even as we edge towards death, we still hope to connect. 

Watch We Were Here Once below.

GENER8ION - Storm starring Yung Lean – A Visceral Dance Performance

Set in Leeds in 2034, GENER8ION’s new video for Storm, with Swedish rapper, singer, and songwriter Yung Lean taking the lead, is something very, very different. It is immediately reminiscent of “If…” the 1968 satirical drama set in a strict boys’ boarding school where the students rebel and things escalate into chaos.  I’m not sure if that is where the inspiration for this video came from, but I was also reminded of the character of Mondain, the older, aggressive student who arrives partway through 2002’s Les Choristes and proceeds to terrorise the school.  Lean plays one such student, who rules the school through a combination of sheer thuggery and menacing charm. Throw a little single-sex Battle Royale and a slice of Lord of the Flies into the mix and you get Storm. As you might expect, the video is brimming with testosterone and hats off to these boys - they don’t hold back.

Remember, though: chaos almost always has a still center. Like the eye of a hurricane.

In case you haven’t come across GENER8ION before, it is the stage name of Surkin, a French electronic music producer. He uses the GENER8ION name for a more experimental, audio-visual project that blends electronic music with striking visuals and film-style storytelling. One of the best-known works under this name is the track The New International Sound (Part II), which has a powerful, cinematic feel and a famous video set in a Chinese martial arts school.  I have a feeling that this video is going to become equally as (in)famous.  The first part comes across, as I have said, like “If…” on acid.

Yet it is the second part of this music video that makes it so special, extraordinary even.  It's the end of the academic year - the end of school for these particular reprobates! The boys line up for a school photo, with Lean at its heart and then they dance.  Finally they dance. And oh boy, do they dance. The choreography by Damien Jalet is superb, and the whole ensemble is directed with great panache by Romain Gavras.  One of the commenters on YouTube said “AI – good luck trying to do something like this”.  Well, that’s because this isn’t just a very clever music video that contains a bit of dancing.  This is art.  Another commenter said “Easily one of the best music videos I’ve ever seen. And I’m old.”  I agree.  This is phenomenal.

So, what is the fuss all about? Watch the video below.

 

Apocalypse Dog

This animated short is a blast from start to finish… it could easily form the basis of an excellent video game.  It tells the story of Bob and Pasha (the apocalypse dog of the title), who go about their business scavenging a living, with everything they own tottering and teetering on top of their rusty, dilapidated old car.  Bob does, frankly, look a little too well-fed for someone living after the end of the world as we know it, but perhaps the wasteland is full of calories as well as dangers.  His companion Pasha, who I think might be a miniature Doberman (definitely as wilful as some I have met!), is the more gregarious of the two – and it is his inclination to go in search of the source of a tantalising aroma that causes a rift in their relationship… and exposes both to great danger.

Told at breakneck speed, Apocalypse Dog successfully uses a number of cunning structural devices to tell its story - right up to the end - as well as changes in animation style.  It’s a fantastic piece of animation from a group of students at Rubika (in Valenciennes, France) which would be great as a supporting feature at the movies.  I particularly like the facial expressions that both Bob and Pasha use to communicate their thoughts and feelings.  All told, this is an animated short brimming with vitality and humour.  It is quite amazing to think that this is an undergraduate project,  given the high quality of both the animation and storyline.

Apocalypse Dog was directed by Aziliz Le Clainche, Camille Nasarre, Jing Qian, Juliette Barraux, Emma Plumey, Lucile Arnaud and Solène Cauchie. The music was composed by Cyrille Marchesseau, with sound design by Valentin Petiteau, and features voice work from Michel Elias (shout out here – great emotional communication using little more than grunts!).

What Happens When Phosphorus Runs Out?

Phosphorus is underestimated.  We don’t talk about it enough - so here are some very cool facts about phosphorus.  It is a finite resource and there is no point looking for it elsewhere as it is very rare in the universe (not all stars create it and that’s why, some say, that alien life is proving elusive).  Phosphorus is the “unsung hero” in all life itself – it’s even in our DNA.  We get it from the food we eat, and the plants get it from the soil – it’s a cycle – but one which we managed to inhibit once we started living in cities and developed sanitation.  

Many scientists believe that we are going to run out of it this century.  It’s a crisis that will happen but what will we do about it?  Find out much more about this fascinating element than you probably ever wanted to, what happened when we discovered it and what the future might like without it in this fascinating short by BBC Earth Science.

Ducks: Cute, Clever… and Slightly Unhinged

I do love a cautionary tale about ducks. And, as luck would have it, this very funny animated short has just come up on my radar.  A number of people, looking for a little recreation, visit their local park. They hope, of course, to do the normal “parky” things, stroll around, take in the scenery, feed the ducks a little bread – that kind of thing.  Something of a shock waits in store for them – some of the local ducks have worryingly changed…

The animated short – entitled “Ducks” (well it would be, wouldn’t it?), is self-funded, and written, directed, designed and animated by one person - AJ Jefferies.  Music and sound design is by Megalithic Sound.  It was very well received on the festival circuit, reaping a number of awards. This includes the audience choice award at the Sweaty Eyeballs International Shorts Competition and it won the Best Short Film for Children award at the Kuki Festival in Berlin.  As Kuriositas is, after all, a place for grow-up children who want to keep learning, it’s quite fitting and appropriate that we feature it here.  Watch “Ducks” below…

Bird’s Nest Fungi: Tiny Nests, Big Trick

Bird’s Nest Fungi are tiny – not much bigger than a fingernail.  Yet if noticed, they are rarely forgotten as they appear like eggs, laid somewhat haphazardly in a nest by what would most definitely be the smallest, klutziest bird in the world.  

As a cosmopolitan species – in other words one which is found across most parts of the world – you would probably not have to go far from your house in order to find them either. If you have a garden, they may even already be there waiting for you to discover them. Image

Image Credit

As long as you live close to somewhere that plant matter is breaking down – rotting wood, fallen logs, woodland floors, bark mulch, woodchip beds, compost heaps or even rich soil – you will likely find bird’s nest fungi.  That’s because it is a saprobic family of species; they thrive where organic material is decomposing, feeding on the nutrients released as plant matter breaks down into simpler compounds. 

Altogether, there are roughly 60–70 described bird's nest species (so you will see a variety here), though the exact number shifts a little depending on how mycologists classify and split them - fungal taxonomy is still being refined with genetic data.  To give you a better idea of their size, here are some examples next to coins.

S.O.U.R.C.E. - Water Wars on Alien Worlds: The Final Mecha Duel for Humanity’s Last Oasis

In the far future, water has become scarce in the universe, leading inevitably to war.  On the planet Airon, a unit of mechas of the intergalactic corporation S.O.U.R.C.E. has been assigned to take over the last oasis, but met fierce resistance.  Finally, there are only two left – and this is their last battle. Whoever wins will gain the only remaining pure source of water in the galaxy…

This animated short by a group of ESMA students is, effectively, one long battle sequence and as such shows off their animation skills with panache. It’s breath-taking, non-stop and ingenious.  Yet there is also a poignant story at the heart of all this sound and fury, which you only appreciate right at the end.  Hats off to these students for telling this story – a visual metaphor for how our own planet is going frankly!

The short was directed by Alexandre André, Louis Bonnaud, Adrien Gouloubi, Mathieu Hebrard, Pierre Lopez, Anton Markov, Evana Mingsisouphanh, Maxence Porelli, and Ludovic Vacher with music by Seiji Champollion. Sound was by Guilhem Favard, José Vicente and Yoann Poncet with the voices provided by José Vicente.

Bette Midler Sings Woody Guthrie’s All You Fascists (Bound to Lose) with a Stellar Supporting Cast

Bette Midler may be 80, but she can still belt out a good number.  There are few better (or timelier) than Woody Guthrie’s All You Fascists (Bound to Lose).  The lyrics have been updated a little (with permission from Guthrie’s family) and is an exhortation to voters to get to the polls and vote.  It’s definitely a toe-tapper and Midler delivers it with her usual gusto.  Not only that, it has a stellar supporting cast of backing singers, too.

You may be able to spot one or more of the following… Barbara Hershey (co-starred with Bette Midler in Beaches), David Hyde Pierce (appeared with Bette Midler in Down and Out in Beverly Hills), Brian Hargrove (married to David Hyde Pierce, linking him to Bette Midler), Shoshana Bean (Wicked), Marisha Wallace (Dreamgirls), Jennifer Lewis (The Preacher’s Wife), Christian Dante White (Ain’t Too Proud), Sara Edwards Butler (Sister Act), Ari Butler (Les Misérables), Matthew Mucha (Save Rock and Roll), Jaime Bartolett (The Phantom of the Opera), Aron Kaburick (Jersey Boys), Amanda LaMotte (Wicked), Elaine Caswell (Cats), Kristen Beth Williams (Wicked), James Ludwig (Law & Order), Cayden Smaka (The Voice), Corban Belle (Hamilton),  and finally Don’Tae Mitchell (Dreamgirls).  Phew – that’s quite a cast.

Guthrie himself wrote the song in the early 1940s as a response to the fascist threat of Hitler, Mussolini and the likes.  Midler, who is concerned about the way that politics is going in her own home country, has sent out this message to her fans: “I hope you'll sing it when you are marching. Because sometimes people, sometimes you just gotta SING OUT!”.  Indeed.  Take a look at the video below.

How Fast Did Teen Gossip Spread Before Social Media? This 1963 Musical Number has the Answer

Want to spread gossip? Then tell a teen. The very worst age group with which to share a secret – or even something you don’t want spread about – is to spill the beans to a teenager. These days, emails, text messages, social media and apps of varying degree of iniquity – all combine to ensure that when Kim and Hugo get together, and Kim texts Kathy to tell her – that the entire world will know within approximately thirty seconds.  It may seem like a modern phenomenon, but it is only the methods of communication that have changed.  And this clip from 1963 proves it more than adequately but with a lot of charm.

Back then, it was all about the spoken word but way, way more importantly, it was about the telephone.  I used to continually astonish my parents that after seeing my friends all day in school, I would find the need (let alone the things to say) to phone them in the evening.  Not for a few minutes, of course. We would natter on about pretty much anything and everything, anyone and everyone, until I was told (in no uncertain terms) to put the phone down (usually by my mother who wanted to do some nattering of her own.

This clip from the 1963 movie Bye Bye Birdie shows us the teenage Pony Express at full throttle.  When Kim McAfee (Ann-Margret) is “pinned” by Hugo Peabody (Bobby Rydell) – an American teenage tradition where a boy gives his girlfriend his school pin to show they’re officially a couple - the news spreads at lightning speed. The neighbourhood telephone chain erupts, with calls, gossip, and teenage hysteria bouncing from house to house in minutes. It all unfolds in one of the most energetic and memorable musical sequences directed by George Sidney.  It’s something of a joy to behold. Watch it below.

The Fallen Angel: The Shocking Painting of the Devil that Nearly Destroyed a 24-Year-Old Genius

Painted almost 180 years ago in 1847, The Fallen Angel, created by Alexandre Cabanel when he was just 24 years old, still has the power to engage, to captivate, to horrify – you name the emotion, people will experience it when they see this painting for the first time.  When I first saw it in my teenage years, I was amazed that Cabanel got away with something so daring, so risqué, so controversial at such a young age.  The truth is – he didn’t get away with it.  Like the Lucifer of Liege, which we covered several years ago, the story of both Cabanel and his painting of the devil is a little more complex.

The picture could have been career-ending for a young artist at this particular point of time.  Cabanel was not expected to take on such challenging subjects at such a young age – and not only that, he presents Satan as an astonishingly beautiful young man.  The painting’s reception was scathing, something which (rightly) incensed the young painter.  I will leave the bulk of the story to the great video by Inspiraggio (great name for a YouTube channel) below, but I’m happy to say that Cabanel went on to a long and illustrious career – his most praised work, ironically, would be the Death of Moses, painted in 1851.

Like Cabanel, The Fallen Angel we see here is down but certainly not out.  The eyes are perhaps the most remarkable part of the composition.  Look at them – is it anger, resentment, regret, or hatred we can see?  Ultimately, it’s up to you. However, this painting has had a host of earthly admirers and detractors in its long history.  If you are a science-fiction fan, you may look at the expression in the eyes, the way that the arms are held, and wonder where you have seen that before.  It is believed that George Lucas was inspired by the painting when filming the final showdown between Anakin Skywalker and his old Jedi master, Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.

How true or not this is, I cannot say, not having a direct line to Mr Lucas.  However, for this history of The Fallen Angel and its reception, take a look at the fascinating video below.

The Stained Group

If you fancy an extended visual metaphor, you’ve come to the right place.  This heartfelt and very touching animated short tells the story of Finn, a young boy who has stains on his skin.  He has met up with a trio of other kids that have similar stains, and together they form a community – one which helps them put up with the prejudice they encounter about their condition every day.  I guess that doesn’t sound too cheerful – and it isn’t – but I was left at the end with a sense of optimism. 

This animated short was created by a group of students at Rubika.  It has taken quite a while for this to make it onto the schools YouTube channel, but it won the prestigious "Jury's Choice" award at SIGGRAPH 2019.  The Stained Group was created by a talented bunch of students – directed by Mélanie Lopez, Chan Stéphie Peang, Alice Jaunet, Simon Boucly, Marie Ciesielski, and Béatrice Viguier.  Music is by Valentin Lafort and sound design by Henri Petitprez and Kamal Ouazène.  Watch The Stained Group below – and I am pretty sure you will know why I love this animated short so much by the time you get to the end!

The Most Popular Card Games for Solo Play and Social Gatherings

Image Credit

Card games remain one of the most adaptable forms of play. A single deck can support quiet solo sessions or lively social gatherings without requiring a complex setup. For players, the appeal lies in variety. Some games offer structure and focus, while others encourage interaction and quick thinking.

This article explores five popular card games that work well across different settings. Each section focuses on one game, with clear details to help players understand how and when to play it.

Solitaire for Focused Solo Play

Solitaire stands as the most recognized solo card game. It’s designed for one player and emphasizes sequencing, planning, and attention to detail. The most common version is Klondike, where players build foundation piles in ascending order by suit.

The gameplay begins with a tableau of cards arranged in columns. Players reveal hidden cards while moving them between columns in alternating colors. The goal is to organize all cards into the foundation piles.

Solitaire works well because it allows full control. Players can move at their own pace, restart when needed, and gradually improve their approach. Variations like Spider and FreeCell add different levels of complexity, offering new challenges without changing the core idea.

This game suits quiet environments and helps build patience. Over time, players become more efficient at recognizing patterns and planning several moves.

Baccarat for Structured Table Play

Baccarat offers a clear and structured format that appeals to players who prefer simple rules and an orderly pace. The game centers on comparing two hands, known as the player’s and the banker’s. Because each hand follows fixed drawing rules, the experience feels easy to follow and free from unnecessary complexity.

That simplicity becomes even clearer once players understand how card values work. The aim is to reach a total closest to nine, which gives each round a clean and consistent objective. After a few hands, the rhythm of the game starts to feel natural.

Baccarat’s appeal lies in its structured play, where each round follows a consistent flow. Players who prefer a controlled pace often choose to play baccarat in a casino platform, where the environment mirrors that same steady rhythm.

Each round follows a familiar sequence, which makes it easy to stay engaged without needing to track too many moving parts. The game doesn’t require extensive memorization, yet it maintains interest through its balance and predictable structure.

The Painted Monasteries of Romania

You would reasonably expect a monastery to have frescoes - inside.  Yet a number of monasteries in the Romanian region of Moldavia have centuries old frescoes on the exterior of their katholikon (main church) which have, incredibly, survived the years and the elements.  Perhaps the most famous, which you can see here, is the Voronet Monastery with its bright azurite background – known to Romanians as Voronet blue - but it is not alone in this remarkable tradition.

Image Creditt Flickr User Waqas Ahmed

Who are the Outstanding Ballet Power Couple Duos of Modern Times?

Now, there’s a question and although many will agree on some included on the list that Christina of Facethe Barre has compiled, it may be down to your own particular tastes when you draw up your own!  Christina used to dance for the Estonian National Ballet, so she certainly knows her dancers (and she pronounces their names beautifully and authentically) – she will have studied their moves since she was a child.  So, I think her list is excellent (although she includes just four ballet power couples!).  I would probably included Giorgi Potskhishvili, with his most high-profile stage partnership at the Dutch National Ballet being Anna Tsygankova, but I am a bit of a Giorgi fan.

The four couples that Christina focuses on are Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev, Ekaterina Maximova and Vladimir Vasiliev, Margot Fonteyn and Rudolf Nureyev, Gelsey Kirkland and Mikhail Baryshnikov.  I particularly like the way that she describes the partnerships, really showing her in-depth understanding and knowledge of why these partnerships are obsessed over by so  many.  Ivan Vasiliev and Natalia Osipova are my favorite choice of hers (we featured Ivan on Kuriositas back in 2011).  Once engaged in real life, their on-stage chemistry was always palpable, especially in their supreme performances in Romeo and Juliet.  Their infamous decision to leave the Bolshoi is also something which Christina covers here.

As for the other couples – so many of these names are well-known outside of ballet circles and if you were asked on the street to name some amazing partnerships in the ballet world, I would expect you to come up with one or two of these!    Take a look at her video below – I must say that I haven’t seen many ballet videos on YouTube that are presented by someone with such an extensive knowledge of the form as Christina.