SONG: Octopus Gloves
SONG: “Octopus Gloves”. (OGG version)
ARTIST: grant.
SOURCE: Science News 13 July 2022, “This octopus-inspired glove helps humans grip slippery objects,”… Read the rest “SONG: Octopus Gloves”
marine biology
Science Art: Cetorhinus maximus, by Greg Skomal
Basking sharks are really big. As fish go, only whale sharks get bigger, and only then sometimes. And both of them eat plankton, not sailors. They’ve got nothing to prove.
This photo… Read the rest “Science Art: Cetorhinus maximus, by Greg Skomal”
Octopus gloves. They grab things better.
Science News reports on gloves that are especially good at picking slippery things up and sticking to ’em thanks to “rapidly switchable” materials inspired by octopus… Read the rest “Octopus gloves. They grab things better.”
Octopus brains and human brains have “jumping genes” in common.
Science Daily reports on an Italian study that found something in common between human brains and the brains of two different species of the unusually intelligent invertebrate the octopus… Read the rest “Octopus brains and human brains have “jumping genes” in common.”
The largest plant in the world stretches over 180 km and is 4,500 years old. And fish like it.
The University of Western Australia has singled out a seagrass, Poseidonia australis, in the waters of Shark Bay, Western Australia, as the world’s largest plant:
… Read the rest “The largest plant in the world stretches over 180 km and is 4,500 years old. And fish like it.”UWA student researcher
Science Art: Crabs (figures 212-216, Natuurlyke Historie, page 256, 1782.
A collection of crustaceans from a book by Amsterdam-based publisher Louis Renard on East Indian sea creatures. The illustrations were apparently done by Samuel Fallours, an artist employed… Read the rest “Science Art: Crabs (figures 212-216, Natuurlyke Historie, page 256, 1782.”
Dolphins use corals and sponges as medicine – to treat their skin.
Science magazine takes a deep dive on the medical lives of dolphins, who appear to be intentionally using corals and other stuff growing on the reef as antibiotic treatments for itchy skin… Read the rest “Dolphins use corals and sponges as medicine – to treat their skin.”
Fossil-eating sponges found on the Arctic seabed.
The U.K.’s National History Museum celebrates the unexpected discovery of Arctic sponges that feed on 3,000-year-old fossils:
… Read the rest “Fossil-eating sponges found on the Arctic seabed.”The fossilised remains of an ancient ecosystem
Little green lights could save sharks and turtles while keeping fisheries in business.
Science magazine reports on one of those simple fixes that could make everything a little bit better if only everyone would sign on. Scientists have found that by attaching green LEDs to … Read the rest “Little green lights could save sharks and turtles while keeping fisheries in business.”
Barnacle glue saves lives.
Science magazine offers a briefing on a paste modeled on barnacle glue that sticks to wet surfaces within 15 seconds – making it a perfect coagulant to stop bleeding wounds:
… Read the rest “Barnacle glue saves lives.”The marine
Science Art: Blue Shark (Carcharias glaucus), 1904.
Reinhold Thiele painted this limber-looking blue shark for the book British Salt-Water Fishes.
I found it on Wikimedia Commons, but they got it from University of Washington’s … Read the rest “Science Art: Blue Shark (Carcharias glaucus), 1904.”
Cone snails trick their prey into thinking it’s time to get it on. Then they eat ’em.
Science News shares a nightmare scenario from the ocean. The lights are low, there’s slow music playing, and look, there’s someone sexy over by the bar who doesn’t seem… Read the rest “Cone snails trick their prey into thinking it’s time to get it on. Then they eat ’em.”
There’s a new whale in the Gulf of Mexico. A whole new species, in fact.
NPR introduces us to a 42-foot-long stranger, the Rice’s whale. The mysterious species is large in size, but small in number, hanging out in off the Redneck Riviera and not bothering… Read the rest “There’s a new whale in the Gulf of Mexico. A whole new species, in fact.”
Lobster-shell patterns make concrete stronger.
Reuters reveals a new technique to strengthen ordinary concrete by imitating the criss-cross pattern of lobster shells:
… Read the rest “Lobster-shell patterns make concrete stronger.”Reinforced with steel fibres, the concrete becomes more durable
Science Art: Lamprometra protectus, ventral view of a specimen with 23 arms from Stat. 125., 1918
This is a crinoid, a cousin to sea urchins, sea cucumbers and starfish. I suppose some of them have stalks like sea anemones, but these ones don’t! The image is from The Unstalked Crinoids… Read the rest “Science Art: Lamprometra protectus, ventral view of a specimen with 23 arms from Stat. 125., 1918”