What We Loved This Week, Jan. 3 – 9

Published January 8, 2016

107 million spiders found in huge Baltimore web, gorgeous tropical Instagram photos, China’s panda researchers in panda suits to comfort cubs, up-close snowflake photos from the 1800s, TIME’s best animal photos of the year.

A Man Rides A Horse With A Child Through The Flames During The "Luminarias" Annual Religious Celebration In San Bartolome De Los Pinares

A man and child ride a horse through flames during the “Luminarias” annual religious celebration in San Bartolome de los Pinares, Spain. Image Source: TIME

TIME’s Most Astounding Animal Photos Of The Past Year

Baby Undulate Rays

Two endangered 10cm baby undulate rays which were born last month at the SEA LIFE London Aquarium. Image Source: TIME

Whether they’re small remarkably tiny or remarkably huge, compellingly cuddly or compellingly dangerous, markedly domesticated or markedly exotic, we’re inexhaustibly enthralled by animals. And from baby hippos to baby pandas to some creatures that are far more dangerous, TIME has collected the 50 most astounding, singular animal photos of the past year. See the full gallery here.

Hippo Tossing Baby Hippo

An sub-adult hippo tosses a small calf into the air as the distressed mother watches, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, South Africa. Image Source: TIME

107 Million Spiders Found In Vast Web In Baltimore

Baltimore More Spiders1

The webs were spun by long-jawed orb weaver spiders. Image Source: Mail Online

Okay, maybe we didn’t love these pictures, but even as we shuddered, we had to admit they were interesting. Originally discovered at the Baltimore Wastewater Treatment Plant in 2009, the gigantic web covered more than four acres. Draped over 95% of the plant, researchers claimed the web was so thick in places that it was damaging the fixtures. Need a handy size comparison for 107 million spiders? That’s exactly enough spiders to fill every single one of your nightmares for the rest of your life. see more at the Daily Mail.

More Baltimore Spiders1

In some places, the webbing was “as thick as a fire hose.” Image Source: Mail Online

Baltimore Spiders1

There are no spiders crawling on you right now but you should probably check again anyway. Image Source: Mail Online

The First Up-Close Photos Of Snowflakes Are Absolutely Stunning

Vintage Snowflakes

Image Source: National Geographic

In 1885, Vermont farmer Wilson Bentley revealed the first photograph of a single snow crystal that was reproduced with a bellows camera with an attached microscope. He mastered a technique of catching snowflakes on black velvet in such a way that allowed the flakes to be captured by his camera before melting. Now, National Geographic is revisiting Bentley’s remarkable work with an incredible collection of his images and the story behind them.

Vintage Snowflakes 2

Image Source: National Geographic

Vintage Snowflakes 3

Image Source: National Geographic

author
All That's Interesting
author
A New York-based publisher established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science to share stories that illuminate our world.
editor
John Kuroski
editor
John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.