Alien [Extraterrestrial life]

Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth. Possible forms of extraterrestrial life range from simple bacteria-like organisms to sapient beings far more advanced than humans. It is unknown whether any such forms of life exist or ever existed.

The development and testing of theories about extraterrestrial life is known as exobiology, xenobiology or astrobiology; the term astrobiology however also covers the study of life on Earth, viewed in its astronomical context.

Several theories have been proposed about the possible basis of alien life from a biochemical, evolutionary or morphological viewpoint.

Alien life, such as bacteria, has been theorized by scientists such as Carl Sagan to exist in the Solar System and quite possibly throughout the Universe. No samples have been found, although there is some controversy about possible traces of life in Martian material (see life on Mars), of which the most famous are on the Allan Hills 84001 meteorite.

Gomti River [Lucknow]

The Gomti, Gumti or Gomati River (Hindi: गोमती Gomtī) is a tributary of the Ganges River. According to Hindu mythology the river is the daughter of Sage Vashist, and bathing in the waters of the Gomati on Ekadashi (the eleventh day of the Sanatana Dharma-Hindu calendar) can wash away one's sins. According to the major religious work Srimad Bhagavatam, the Gomati is one of the many transcendental rivers in India

The Gomti originates from Gomat Taal which formally known as Fulhaar jheel, near Madho Tanda, Pilibhit, India. It extends 900 km (560 miles) through Uttar Pradesh and meets the Ganges River near Saidpur, Kaithi in Ghazipur.

After 20 km from its origin, very small river Gaihaaee meets it. The river is a thin stream until it reaches Mohammadi Kheri(about 100 km from its origin),a tehsil of Lakhimpur kheri distirct, where it is joined by some tributaries like Sukheta, Choha and Andhra Choha. From here the river is well defined. Later other tributaries join this river. These are Kathina at mailani and Sarayan at Lakhimpur. Another major tributary is the Sai River, which joins near Jaunpur. At the "sangam" of Gomti and Ganges, the famous Markandey Mahadeo temple is situated.

After 240 km the Gomti enters Lucknow, through which it meanders for about 12 km. At the entrance point water is lifted from the river for the city's water supply. 25 city drains in the Lucknow area drain untreated sewage into the Gomti. At the downstream end the Gomti barrage impounds the river converting it into a lake.

The cities of Lucknow, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sultanpur and Jaunpur are located on the banks of the Gomti and are the most prominent of the 15 towns located in its catchment area. The river cuts the Jaunpur city into two equal half and becomes wider in Jaunpur.

The river collects large amounts of human and industrial pollutants as it flows through the highly populous areas (18 million approx) of Uttar Pradesh. High pollution levels in the river have negative effects on the ecosystem of the Gomti, threatening its aquatic life. On 25 July 2008, foundation stone for a sewage treatment plant was laid, which would have a capacity of 345 million litre effluents per day.

Turtles

Turtles are reptiles of the order Testudines (the crown group of the superorder Chelonia), characterised by a special bony or cartilaginous shell developed from their ribs that acts as a shield. "Turtle" may either refer to the Testudines as a whole, or to particular Testudines which make up a form taxon that is not monophyletic—see also sea turtle, terrapin, tortoise, and the discussion below.



The order Testudines includes both extant (living) and extinct species. The earliest known turtles date from 215 million years ago, making turtles one of the oldest reptile groups and a more ancient group than lizards, snakes and Crocodiles. Of the many species alive today some are highly endangered.

Like other reptiles, turtles are ectotherms—varying their internal temperature according to the ambient environment, commonly called cold-blooded. However, leatherback sea turtles have noticeably higher body temperature than surrounding water because of their high metabolic rate.

Like other amniotes (reptiles, dinosaurs, birds, and mammals), they breathe air and do not lay eggs underwater, although many species live in or around water. The largest turtles are aquatic




Location : Lucknow ZOO

Camera Make : Nikon D3000

Image Taken By : Pranjal Verma

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Monkey is any cercopithecoid (Old World monkey) or platyrrhine (New World monkey) primate. All primates that are not prosimians or apes are monkeys. The 264 known extant monkey species represent two of the three groupings of simian primates (the third group being the 22 species of apes). Monkeys are generally considered to be intelligent and, unlike apes, monkeys usually have tails.

The New World monkeys are classified within the parvorder Platyrrhini, whereas the Old World monkeys (superfamily Cercopithecoidea) form part of the parvorder Catarrhini, which also includes the apes. Thus, scientifically speaking, monkeys are paraphyletic (not a single coherent group) and Old World monkeys are actually more closely related to the apes than they are to the New World monkeys.

Location : Lucknow ZOO

Camera Make : Nikon D3000

Image Taken By : Pranjal Verma

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Butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts, egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. Butterflies comprise the true butterflies (superfamily Papilionoidea), the skippers (superfamily Hesperioidea) and the moth-butterflies (superfamily Hedyloidea). All the many other families within the Lepidoptera are referred to as moths.

Butterflies exhibit polymorphism, mimicry and aposematism. Some, like the Monarch, will migrate over long distances. Some butterflies have evolved symbiotic and parasitic relationships with social insects such as ants. Some species are pests because in their larval stages they can damage domestic crops or trees; however, some species are agents of pollination of some plants, and caterpillars of a few butterflies (e.g., Harvesters) eat harmful insects. Culturally, butterflies are a popular motif in the visual and literary arts.



Location : Lucknow ZOO

Camera Make : Nikon D3000

Image Taken By : Pranjal Verma

Facebook Profile : http://www.facebook.com/#!/pranjalthekiller