Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Jason and the Octopus



So octopuses just got cooler, guys. I know - is that possible? Turns out it is. A couple of Australian scientist have been observing the Argonauta argo octopus, largest in its genus, and also called the paper nautilis (paper sailor). The females secrete a white, paper-thin shell. Aristotle was all up on these guys, and theorised that they used their shells to sail along to the top of the ocean.


Like Argonauts. You know, only octopus style. He was wrong, though. These octopuses actually trap air under their shells and use them to achieve a bouyancy that holds them under the surface of the water.

Whenever I got my paws on a helium balloon as I child I would try my best to turn it into a little zephyr. I'd tie whatever I could to the bottom as a counter weight to the helium. If I got it right, the balloon would just hang in the air, perfectly still. I would poke it to propel it around, but I didn't need to hang onto it. It was like taking a pet for a walk, except, you know, much sadder.

That's pretty much what the Argonauta argo are doing. By achieving perfect bouyancy, they can jet around the ocean with little effort. Read more here, look at some pictures here, and check out this vid:


Wednesday, May 5, 2010

aquamaaaaaan


Kate Beaton is one of the best things about the internet. Check out her fine, fine work at www.harkavagrant.com

This is one of my recent favourites:

those crazy sea-jellies


So what is happening in jellyfish this week? Some crazy shit, that's what. Tasmanian scientists found this guy in the Derwent River. He represents a whole new species, a whole new genus, and a whole new family of jellyfish. He's called Csiro Medusa Medeoplis. It means "city of gonads". Cos that's what this guy's got going on on his head. A cluster of sex organs.

He's harmless, though. Read more here.

Ocean, you just keep getting better.