I'm beluga blowing bubbles

BY MILES ERWIN

LIKE children blowing little bubbles through rings, these beluga whales are astounding onlookers by learning to blow bubbles of air underwater. The whales have delighted thousands of visitors since being taught the impressive trick by scuba divers in a pool. - They are given a breath from the diver's regulator to give them enough air to blow the big bubbles. Following a clap from their instructor they exhale the air, about 30cm (12in) wide, towards a glass wall. They also sometimes direct the bubble right at members of the audience standing by the glass. The three belugas form a group as the diver blows air out of his regulator for them to draw into their lungs. The act also includes juggling balls, twisting around and swimming through hoops at the Aquas aquarium in Hamada, 700km (434 miles) south-west of Tokyo. Beluga whales live only in the cold waters of the Arctic Ocean and are regarded as threatened. Their natural predators are orcas and polar bears, but North American native tribes are also allowed to kill a limited number. There are 400 other aquatic species that live in the aquarium, the biggest in central Japan. The whales can live for 25 to 30 years and reach about 4.8m (l6ft). The famed delicacy beluga caviar does not come from the whales but the beluga sturgeon, which is found in the Black Sea. The name beluga means white in Russian.
[Metro Jul28,2008]

Welcome to Planet Pop

BY ROBERT DEX

THESE pictures may look out of this world but in fact they are soap bubbles created using nothing more than some washing-up liquid and a bent coat hanger. Photographer Jason Tozer took the stunning close-up snaps using items from around the house and a digital camera. I looked online for bubble recipes and a bit of glucose is apparently the key,' said the 38-year-old from east London. 'Ten parts water, one part washing-up liquid and a little bit of glucose. We also used distilled water as well because hard water isn't so good.' The bubbles are held in place by a coat hanger which is bent into a hoop. 'The first bubble you make has loads of colour in it, when you make another couple they seem to have less detergent in them, so less colour,' he added. The photos were taken as part of a project between Sony and the Creative Review magazine. Go to flickr.com/photos/creativereview for more images.