This photo, released on September 19, 2008, shows a new species of soft coral (octocorals) recently found on Australia's coral reefs.(GARY GRANITCH/AFP/Getty Images)

From The Big Picture:

World Animal Day was observed earlier this month - on October 4th. Started in Florence Italy in 1931 at a convention of ecologists, World Animal Day has since expanded its focus from its original intent, which was to bring attention to endangered or threatened species. The day is now set aside as a time to reflect on all of the animals we share this world with, and our involvement with them - and to spur action to commemorate that respectful relationship. Half the world's mammals are declining in population and more than a third are probably threatened with extinction, according to an update of of the Red List (an inventory of biodiversity issued by the IUCN), released on October 6, 2008. Below is a collection of recent photos of animals around the world - Happy (belated) World Animal Day.

Click thumbnails to enlarge.

From a photo series of The Sun on the Boston Globe site The Big Picture:

The Sun is now in the quietest phase of its 11-year activity cycle, the solar minimum - in fact, it has been unusually quiet this year - with over 200 days so far with no observed sunspots. The solar wind has also dropped to its lowest levels in 50 years. Scientists are unsure of tthe significance of this unusual calm, but are continually monitoring our closest star with an array of telescopes and satellites.