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The northern rosella (Platycercus venustus) is a species of parrot native to northern Australia, ranging from the Gulf of Carpentaria and Arnhem Land to the Kimberley. It was described by Heinrich Kuhl in 1820, and two subspecies are recognised. The species is unusually coloured for a rosella, with a dark head and neck with pale cheeks—predominantly white in the nominate subspecies from the Northern Territory and blue in the Western Australian subspecies. The northern rosella's mantle and scapulars are black with fine yellow scallops, while its back, rump and underparts are pale yellow with fine black scallops. The long tail is blue-green and the wings are black and blue-violet. Found in woodland and open savannah country, the northern rosella consumes seeds, particularly of grasses and eucalypts, as well as flowers and berries, but it may also eat insects. Nesting takes place in tree hollows. Although uncommon, the species is not threatened. (Full article...)

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Kernosovskiy idol

... that Ukrainian museum director Horpyna Vatchenko forced the Hermitage Museum to abide by its agreement and return the Kernosovskiy idol (pictured) after a loan?
... that David Soliani, the creator of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, became an Internet meme for crying on stage?
... that Cy Block and Ross Horning testified before the United States Congress about how the reserve clause limited their careers in professional baseball?
... that all stanzas of the song "Gott liebt diese Welt" begin with this line, sending the message that God loves this world to young Christians in Mecklenburg after the Berlin Wall was built?
... that Thomas Fleet, the founder of the Boston Evening-Post, began his printing career by publishing an American version of Mother Goose, from stories told by his mother-in-law to his children?
... that deadly attacks from stray cows in India have become an electoral issue?
... that decades after resigning from his pulpit, rabbi Mitchell Fisher published a book titled Rebel, O Jews! And Other Prayers?
... that lichexanthone, a chemical found in some lichens, enhances human sperm motility and kills mosquito larvae?

In the news

Jack Dongarra

Jack Dongarra (pictured) wins the Turing Award for his contributions to high-performance computing.
Scientists announce the discovery of Earendel, the farthest known individual star at 12.9 billion light-years away from Earth.
CODA wins Best Picture and Dune wins in six categories at the Academy Awards.
The Labour Party, led by Robert Abela, wins the most seats in the Maltese general election.

On this day

April 2: World Autism Awareness Day; feast day of Saint Francis of Paola (Catholicism); Malvinas Day in Argentina

John Gotti

1800 – Russia and the Ottoman Empire signed the Treaty of Constantinople, establishing the Septinsular Republic, the first autonomous Greek state in more than 300 years.
1863 – About 5,000 people in Richmond, Virginia, mostly poor women, rioted in protest of the high price of bread.
1982 – Argentine special forces invaded the Falkland Islands, sparking the Falklands War.
1992 – John Gotti (pictured), the head of the Gambino crime family of New York City, was convicted of racketeering, murder, conspiracy to commit murder, loansharking, obstruction of justice, illegal gambling, and tax evasion.
2002 – Second Intifada: Palestinian militants sought refuge from advancing Israeli forces in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, beginning a month-long siege.

Charlemagne (b. 747)
Paškal Buconjić (b. 1834)
Juanito (d. 1992)

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Today's featured picture

Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles. This collage depicts samples of nine types of sand, in rows from left to right:

Glass sand from Kauai, Hawaii
Dune sand from the Gobi Desert
Quartz sand with green glauconite from Estonia
Volcanic sand with reddish weathered basalt from Maui, Hawaii
Biogenic coral sand from Molokai, Hawaii
Coral pink sand from Utah
Volcanic glass sand from California
Garnet sand from Emerald Creek, Idaho
Olivine sand from Papakolea, Hawaii

Photograph credit: Siim Sepp

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