No Swimming

A Deadly Alkaline Lake in Africa Turns Animals into Calcified Statues With 140-degree water temperatures and pH levels nearly as alkaline as ammonia, Lake Natron in northern Tanzania is one of the harshest environments on Earth. While working in Africa, photographer Nick Brandt paid a visit to the lake and found the calcified carcasses of several different bird and small mammal species. The animals were literally turned to stone by the deadly water. These grimly beautiful photographs from Lake Natron are a part of Brandt's new book, Across the Ravaged Land. Newspaper Pages Cut Like Embroidered Lace by Myriam Dion Armed with a scalpel and the latest edition of Le Devoir or the International Harold Tribune, Canadian artist Myriam Dion cuts rich textural patterns reminiscent of embroidered lacework right into the pages newspapers. Major elements of the paper's original design are left intact, creating a strange element of harmony, as if the paper was always intended to look that way. A Brick Facade Appears to Melt Off of an Apartment Building in Margate Amused residents of Margate, England were left scratching their heads when British designer Alex Chinneck unveiled this installation without any identifying information. Titled From the Knees of My Nose to the Belly of my Toes, Chinneck's installation creates the illusion of a building's facade melting away from the rest of the structure, right into the front yard. A Huge Submarine Bursts through the Streets of Milan As part of an absurdly clever advertising campaign orchestrated by ad agency M&C Saatchi Milano for insurance firms Europ Assistance IT and Genertel, a giant submarine was installed near the city center as if it had suddenly burst through the street. The carefully orchestrated stunt which unfolded on October 1st was complete with a live reenactment meant to reinforce the idea of safeguarding yourself and possessions against unforeseen events. Deadpan Comedy: Surreal Drawing of a Dystopian Future by Samuel Gomez Measuring 18' x 5', this surreal triptych titled Deadpan Comedy by New York artist Samuel Gomez, is meant as commentary on the negative effects of corporations and capitalism. The piece is so densely packed with imagery and symbolism that it's almost impossible to catch every detail, even when viewing it in person. Take a Death-Defying Ride Alongside India's Well of Death Riders Part music video, part hair-raising documentary, this new clip for British rock band Django Django's track "WOR" features the terrifying Well of Death riders from Allahabad, India. The riders risk life and limb, driving cars and motorcycles around a temporary cylindrical structure, held aloft by centripetal force. The video was directed by Jim Demuth, based on the original concept by Vincent Neff. Observing the Earth: Incredible Satellite Photos of Earth from the European Space Agency Due to a few, uhm, minor budget cuts all NASA websites are down at the moment. But that doesn't mean you have to miss out on incredible photos of space (and Earth from space). The European Space Agency updates this incredible archive of astronomy photographs every week. Don't worry, most photos are accompanied by an essay to give you an idea of what you're looking at. These are a few of the best. From the Colossal Shop From designer Janelle Gramling, this little porcelain planter comes with the perfect sized air plant. Built and glazed by hand, each piece is completely unique. The faceted jewel is made to rest on its side and is perfect for a well-lit (though not direct sunlight) spot.