Astilbe biternata, commonly known as false spirea or false goats beard, is a species of flowering plant in the family Saxifragaceae native to Eastern Asia and Eastern North America. The plant is known for its ornamental appeal, displaying showy, plume-like clusters of white or pink flowers and finely dissected, fern-like foliage. These perennials prefer moist, well-drained soils and partial to full shade areas. They are often used in rock gardens, border fronts, and shady corners in landscapes.

Celestial globes show the apparent positions of the stars in the sky. They omit the Sun, Moon, and planets because the positions of these bodies vary relative to those of the stars, but the ecliptic, along which the Sun moves, is indicated.
There is an issue regarding the “handedness” of celestial globes. If the globe is constructed so that the stars are in the positions they actually occupy on the imaginary celestial sphere, then the star field will appear reversed on the surface of the globe (all the constellations will appear as their mirror images). This is because the view from Earth, positioned at the centre of the celestial sphere, is of the gnomonic projection inside of the celestial sphere, whereas the celestial globe is orthographic projection as viewed from the outside. For this reason, celestial globes are often produced in mirror image, so that at least the constellations appear as viewed from earth. Some modern celestial globes address this problem by making the surface of the globe transparent. The stars can then be placed in their proper positions and viewed through the globe, so that the view is of the inside of the celestial sphere. However, the proper position from which to view the sphere would be from its centre, but the viewer of a transparent globe must be outside it, far from its centre. Viewing the inside of the sphere from the outside, through its transparent surface, produces serious distortions. Opaque celestial globes that are made with the constellations correctly placed, so they appear as mirror images when directly viewed from outside the globe, are often viewed in a mirror, so the constellations have their familiar appearances. Written material on the globe, e.g. constellation names, is printed in reverse, so it can easily be read in the mirror.
Before Copernicus’s 16th century discovery that the solar system is ‘heliocentric rather than geocentric and geostatic’ (that the earth orbits the sun and not the other way around) ‘the stars have been commonly, though perhaps not universally, perceived as though attached to the inside of a hollow sphere enclosing and rotating about the earth’. Working under the incorrect assumption that the cosmos was geocentric the second century Greek astronomer Ptolemy composed the Almagest in which ‘the movements of the planets could be accurately represented by means of techniques involving the use of epicycles, deferents, eccentrics (whereby planetary motion is conceived as circular with respect to a point displaced from Earth), and equants (a device that posits a constant angular rate of rotation with respect to a point displaced from Earth)’. Guided by these ideas astronomers of the middle ages, Muslim and Christian alike, created celestial globes to ‘represent in a model the arrangement and movement of the stars’. In their most basic form celestial globes represent the stars as if the viewer were looking down upon the sky as a globe that surrounds the earth.

Magpies are birds of the Corvidae family. Like other members of their family, they are widely considered to be intelligent creatures. The Eurasian magpie, for instance, is thought to rank among the worlds most intelligent creatures, and is one of the few non-mammal species able to recognize itself in a mirror test. They are particularly well known for their songs and were once popular as cagebirds. In addition to other members of the genus Pica, corvids considered as magpies are in the genera Cissa, Urocissa, and Cyanopica.
Magpies of the genus Pica are generally found in temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and western North America, with populations also present in Tibet and high-elevation areas of Kashmir. Magpies of the genus Cyanopica are found in East Asia and the Iberian Peninsula. The birds called magpies in Australia are, however, not related to the magpies in the rest of the world. Magpies are national birds in Bangladesh.

Uncluttered generally refers to something that is neat, tidy, clear, or free from disorder or unnecessary items. It can describe spaces, designs, thoughts, writing styles, etc., that are simple, organized, and not overly complicated or filled with extraneous elements.

A variable-pitch propeller is a type of propeller with blades that can be rotated around their long axis to change the blade pitch. This adjustment allows the propeller to maintain optimal aerodynamic efficiency under varying flight conditions such as changes in speed, altitude, and aircraft load. The ability to alter the pitch provides improved performance over a wider range of conditions than constant-pitch propellers.

Pharomacrus mocino, also known as the Resplendent Quetzal, is a bird species found in the humid highland forests in Central America. It is a member of the Trogon family and is known for its colorful plumage and long tail feathers. It is also considered as one of the most beautiful and remarkable birds in the western hemisphere. The Resplendent Quetzal plays an important role in various types of Mesoamerican myths and as a symbol in both Mayan and Aztec cultures.

a republic in eastern Africa; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1963; major archeological discoveries have been made in the Great Rift Valley in Kenya

A non-Catholic is a person who does not belong to, follow, or practice the religious teachings, traditions, or rules of the Catholic Church. This person could belong to another Christian denomination, another religion altogether, or have no religious beliefs.

To be a highlight of.

An attestation report is a formal document produced by an independent third-party entity such as an auditor or a certified public accountant, reviewing and verifying the accuracy, validity, or completeness of certain information provided by an individual or an organization. These reports are typically used in business audits, regulatory compliance, and financial transactions. They reassure stakeholders that the provided information is accurate and in compliance with relevant regulations or standards.

to ask or entreat with urgency; to supplicate; to implore

Pachyrhizus is a small genus of five or six species of tropical and subtropical plants growing from large, often edible taproots.

To destroy the life of by beating, or by weapons of any kind; to slay by a blow; to kill; as, to smite one with the sword, or with an arrow or other weapon. Also, to beat or put to rout in battle; to destroy or overthrow by war.

Consentaneous refers to a state or condition where there is harmony, agreement, or unanimous consent among a group of individuals. It denotes a situation where everyone shares the same opinion, perspective, or decision.

A youth subculture distinguished by its sharp dress, especially peg-leg pants (1950s: e.g. Baltimore, MD). Antonym: square

Zoysia tenuifolia is a species of grass native to Asia and Australia, often used in landscaping and gardening. It is known for its ability to tolerate a wide range of harsh conditions including drought and heavy foot traffic, making it an ideal choice for lawns. Also known as Korean velvet grass or Mascarene grass, it is characterized by its fine texture, dense growth and dark green color. Its often used as a ground cover and in rock gardens. Zoysia tenuifolia is a slow-growing grass and requires less mowing compared to other lawn grasses.

any New or Old World carnivorous bat erroneously thought to suck blood but in fact feeding on insects

The genus Chamaeleon belongs to the Chamaeleonidae family and is a group of mostly arboreal, old world reptiles that are famous for their unique characteristics and their ability to change colors. Species under this genus possess prehensile tails, zygodactylous feet, and highly modified, rapidly extrudable tongues. They have distinctive eyes that can move and focus independently, giving them a full 360-degree arc of vision around their bodies. These species are usually found in warm habitats that range from rain forests to deserts, but are predominantly present in Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar.

Of or pertaining to a shrew, a nagging, ill-tempered woman.

The abomasum is the fourth and final stomach compartment in ruminants, such as cows and sheep. It functions similarly to a human stomach, producing acid and digestive enzymes to break down food particles.