Tom Furniss
LightNews LightNews
banner
tomfurniss.bsky.social
Tom Furniss
@tomfurniss.bsky.social
220 followers 13 following 62 posts
🇬🇧 & 🇯🇵
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Tom Furniss
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Something beautiful for the weekend! ✨

A rare rock crystal tool made by Neanderthals between 200,000 - 40,000 years ago.

From a Mousterian level at the Merveilles rockshelter, Sergeac, Dordogne, France. 6 x 3.3 x 1.5 cm.

Musée d’Archéologie Nationale, Saint-Germain-en-Laye 📷 by me

#Archaeology
My photo shows a slightly ovoid-shaped tool knapped from yellow-tinged rock crystal. It is mounted for display against a grey background. Described as a scraper (racloir) by the Musée d’Archéologie Nationale, it measures 6 x 3.3 x 1.5 cm. It was recovered from a Mousterian (Neanderthal) level in the Abri Des Merveilles rockshelter in France. The rock shelter was excavated by the American School of Prehistoric Research for a number of seasons from 1924 onwards, led by George Grant MacCurdy who documented that this rock crystal tool (and six others) were excavated from the lower level of the shelter together with a lithic assemblage (flint handaxes, scrapers and points) identified as Mousterian i.e. associated with Neanderthals. He suggested the original source of the rock crystal was some 90 miles north of the Merveilles rockshelter “near to and beyond the headwaters of the Vézère in the direction of Limousin and Puy-de-Dome” He suggested the rock crystal was either brought to the cave, or was carried away from its source by the river Vézère and then picked up from the riverbed by neanderthals. The info label at the Musée d’Archéologie Nationale reads: ‘Neanderthals were the first to show their interest in non-utilitarian objects: collection and transport of fossils and minerals, use of dyes such as ochre or haematite, choice of aesthetic raw materials for cut tools, such as rock crystal from Sergeac or opal jasper from Fontmaure’
January 17, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
ianfraser.bsky.social
“I read the news today, oh boy
4000 holes in Blackburn, Lancashire
And though the holes were rather small..”

The Beatles ‘A Day in the Life’ was released on 1 June 1967, five months after the Daily Mail article, as the closing track on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.
January 17, 2026 at 9:44 AM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
tubemapper.bsky.social
One of my favourite memories was when I met up with a Spiderman cosplayer on the London Underground. People treated him like the real Spiderman! Hugs, selfies etc. I almost lost it when a tourist asked him for directions. I did manage to capture a photo of it through the laughter
Spiderman on the London Underground
January 16, 2026 at 5:14 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
laurelgale.bsky.social
I'm saving for a new wildlife camera/lens and would love advice.

I want mirrorless w/ bird eye tracking. I care about both reach and low light performance. I'm targeting around $4K, will buy used.

I'm leaning toward Canon R7 w/ the 100-500mm lens + 1.4x extender.

📷
January 16, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
craigchivalry.bsky.social
The Astronomy Picture Of The Day - M1: The Crab Nebula via NASA 🔭🧪

#Space
#NASA
January 16, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
curiousordinary.bsky.social
Momotaro (Peach Boy) is a Japanese folktale about a young boy who was found floating down a river inside a giant peach. He grew up to be a hero who defeated a band of fierce oni with the help of his talking animal companions (a dog, a monkey, and a pheasant).
🎨Suzuki Harunobu, 1890.
#WyrdWednesday
An ukiyo-e print depicting Momotaro and a monkey, dog and pheasant. The animals are standing up dressed in human clothes. The dog is pulling a chariot. Mt Fuji can be seen on the horizon.
January 14, 2026 at 1:35 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
curiousordinary.bsky.social
#LegendaryWednesday #yokai
curiousordinary.bsky.social curious ordinary @curiousordinary.bsky.social · Sep 15
In #JapaneseFolklore Kodama are the spirits of trees. While they are attached to specific trees, they can also move freely through forests often appearing as glowing orbs of light. In some accounts they present as regular trees but with the ability to move around at will.
#FolkloreSunday #yokai
1/2
A large tree stands in a forest. A shimenawa (straw rope) encircles the trunk. Glowing orbs float around the tree. Illustration is by Matthew Meyer who is a yokai artist and folklorist.
January 14, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
mousecow.bsky.social
Mousecow often takes quite a while to get properly comfortable.
#EverybodyLovesMousecow
January 14, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
mondomascots.bsky.social
Sabi-chan is a big-eyed wasabi fairy from Shizuoka, Japan.
A green wasabi root mascot with huge eyes stands in front of a roped off red carpet.
January 14, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
laurelgale.bsky.social
Good morning.

#wildlife #nature
A photo of a deer standing at the crest of a hill, looking toward the camera.
January 14, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
dailyrothko.bsky.social
𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗞𝗢, No.64, 1960
Oil on canvas
© 2024 Kate Rothko Prizel and
Christopher Rothko/ ARS, New York
January 14, 2026 at 4:50 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
weratedogs.com
This is Minnow. She is thrilled her human has taken an interest in one of her favorite hobbies. Their form could use some work, but not bad for a beginner. 13/10 (TT: aly_minnow_koda_mufasa)
January 14, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
fieldexplores.bsky.social
Boy Meets Dog (Part 1/2) - Gator Days
Boy Meets Dog (Part 1/2) - Gator Days Transcript Panel 1 Gustopher is out with Hannah when he starts to notice a mysterious ringing sound. He can't seem to tell where it's coming from but Hannah knows what it is immediately. Gustopher: Do you hear a bell? Hannah: Oh, that's me. Panel 2 Hannah starts to fish the bell out of her pocket. Hannah: The dog I walk is blind. I carry a bell so he knows where I am. Panel 3 Hannah turns to show the Bell to Gustopher but something seems to be wrong. Hannah: I accidentally left it in my- Are you okay? Panel 4 Gustopher is not okay. Hannah knows a dog and she hasn't introduced this dog to Gustopher? How could she do this? He thought they were friends. This is in his top ten anime betrayals. He would definitely introduce all his friends to a dog if I he had one to introduce them to. Gustopher: YOU KNOW A DOG AND DIDN'T TELL ME!? Hannah has no time for these theatrics and cuts to the chase. Hannah: Want to meet him? Gustopher: YES!
January 14, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
alisonfisk.bsky.social
A small and exotic Buddha found far from home in #VikingAge buildings on the Swedish lake island of Helgö.

Probably made in the Swat Valley, the Buddha travelled some 5,000 km from its place of origin, encapsulating the idea of long-distance trade during the Viking Age.

#Archaeology
My photo shows a bronze Buddha statuette sitting on a double lotus flower against a grey background in a glass display case. The bronze is now light green in colour, but would originally have appeared like burnished gold. The Buddha is sitting cross-legged with feet upturned. His right hand rests against his knee and his left arm is raised holding his monastic robe. A raised dot on the forehead represents Buddha’s third eye. His expression is serene, with smiling lips, and eyes gazing ahead. His facial features were highlighted with silver, tin, and black niello. There is glass residue in the eyes and the raised dot on the forehead was highlighted with a layer of gold. Height 8.4 cm, width 6.4 cm. It was probably made in the Swat Valley (present-day Pakistan) in the late 500s-mid 600s. It was excavated from Viking-age settlement buildings dated AD 800. It isn’t known how it arrived at its final destination but this exotic object travelled far, hinting at far-flung trade routes. I saw the Helgö Buddha on display at the British Museum’s ‘Silk Roads’ exhibition in October 2024, on loan from Historiska Museet, Stockholm.
January 14, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
coralcitycamera.bsky.social
In under 40 seconds CCC serves up close midnight parrotfish, blue tang, sergeant major, striped parrotfish, clown wrasse, spotted moray, spotted eagle ray, and crevalle jack in the back. CCC doesn’t have to go so hard but we’re thankful when it does 🙏🐟🐠🐡🦈🐉 #coralcitycamera #miami #coralcity
January 14, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay - 14 January - in 83 BC Mark Antony was born. A key figure of the Late Republic, Antony's career as lieutenant of Caesar, rival of Octavian, and partner of Cleopatra is fascinating. #AncientHistory 🏺

Image: RRC 527/1; Münzkabinett Berlin (18202297). Link - numismatics.org/crro/id/rrc-...
January 14, 2026 at 7:06 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
allthegalaxies.galaxyzoo.org
A ring galaxy, observed with the Hubble Space Telescope in the GEMS survey.

It is at redshift 0.73 (lookback time 6.67 billion years) with coordinates (53.18966, -27.64450).

122 volunteers classified this galaxy in Galaxy Zoo: Hubble.
A ring galaxy from the Galaxy Zoo: Hubble project, classified by 122 volunteers.
January 14, 2026 at 8:27 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
doccrom.bsky.social
#OnThisDay – 10 January – in 49 BC Julius Caesar marched his army across the Rubicon, beginning a Roman civil war. His refusal to yield military command to serve as consul, pushed him to conflict with the Senate. #History 🏺

Image: RRC 452/2; ANS 1948.19.225. Link - numismatics.org/crro/id/rrc-...
January 10, 2026 at 9:12 AM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
tanukinomori.bsky.social
A chilly winter walk this morning. I came across this massive Kagamimochi, a traditional Japanese New Year decoration.
January 10, 2026 at 1:14 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
mondomascots.bsky.social
Tenga Robo is a robot who can transform into a Tenga sex toy. (They were promoting them in Shinjuku, Tokyo.)
A cylindrical red and silver robot with green eyes stands in front of a city store and waves with both hands.
January 10, 2026 at 2:01 AM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
curiousordinary.bsky.social
'Onsen Cats' - Utagawa Kuniyoshi, 1884.
#Caturday #ukiyoe #JapaneseArt
A print depicting an onsen where all the customers are cats. In the centre cats can be seen bathing. In the foreground cats arrive at the gate dressed in traditional Japanese dress.
January 10, 2026 at 6:33 AM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
curiousordinary.bsky.social
This is one of my favourite Japanese prints, I love the atmosphere and sense of tranquillity. I was lucky enough to be able to visit Chionin Temple when I was last in Japan and I've included some photos in the reply below.
🎨'Chionin Temple' - Kawase Hasui, 1933.
#JapaneseArt #shinhanga
1/2
The inside of the Chion-in Temple in Kyoto. The evening sun casts pools of light inside of the dark temple gates.
December 1, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
jembenson.bsky.social
A picture a week for 2026: 2
The River Trent flowing peacefully north of Castle Donington, reflecting a gently cloudy sky. It emerges from the left of the picture and then flows straight ahead into the distance, framed by its banks and trees.
January 9, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
coralcitycamera.bsky.social
Miami Dolphin takes a breath of fresh air on Earth with Jupiter above 🐬🌃 #dolphin #dolphinsofcoralcity #dolphinsinspace #spacedolphin #coralcityafterdark #coral #coralcitycamera #miami #portmiami #biscaynebay #coralcity
January 8, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Reposted by Tom Furniss
laurelgale.bsky.social
From the summer, an osprey just after an unsuccessful attempt to grab a fish.

I shared its disappointment.

#birds #nature #wildlife
A photo of an osprey flying just above the water, with its feet extended down and its talons empty.
January 8, 2026 at 4:02 PM