In the oceans, aliens lie hidden and waiting
In the oceans, aliens lie hidden and waiting avatar

The real title of the paper is “Multiple self-splicing introns in the 16S rRNA genes of giant sulfur bacteria”. But who’s going to fall out of their chair for that? The truth is, we do have aliens peppered among us. Think about Men in Black: plenty of space creatures, but Homo sapiens remains completely oblivious. Will Smith can separate the . . . → Read More: In the oceans, aliens lie hidden and waiting

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What knowledge of the deep sea tell us about life on other planets
What knowledge of the deep sea tell us about life on other planets avatar

We as humans have three fundamental questions. Where do we come from? Where are we going? Are we alone in the universe? The answers to these thrust at the core of our humanity and uniqueness.  Through science we seek out replies to these inquiries. The Drake Equation In 1960 the National Academy of Sciences asked . . . → Read More: What knowledge of the deep sea tell us about life on other planets

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GUEST INTERVIEW: Peter Rona on the Diversity of Hydrothermal Systems on Slow Spreading Ocean Ridges
GUEST INTERVIEW: Peter Rona on the Diversity of Hydrothermal Systems on Slow Spreading Ocean Ridges avatar

Geophysical Monograph Series, Volume 188, 2010. Editor’s Note: The following interview was conducted by Colin Schultz for American Geophysical Union’s (AGU) member publication Eos. AGU and Colin have been kind enough to let Deep Sea News reprint the interview for our readers! Peter Rona is a legend in hydrothermal vent research.  Colin Schultz, Diversity of . . . → Read More: GUEST INTERVIEW: Peter Rona on the Diversity of Hydrothermal Systems on Slow Spreading Ocean Ridges

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Another New Yeti Crab! Pt II
Another New Yeti Crab! Pt II avatar

A Yeti crab found living at the Dragon Vent in the south-west Indian Ocean Photograph from David Shale On December 15th, I mentioned the exciting news from Jon Copley of the discovery of potentially new species of Yeti Crab. The Guardian has a photo gallery of the some of the creatures from the Dragon Vent including the . . . → Read More: Another New Yeti Crab! Pt II

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TGIF: Marine Snow
TGIF: Marine Snow avatar

From Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute…In the ocean, there are places where it looks like it is snowing. These magical places are near undersea volcanic activity. The snow particles are clumps of bacteria that use chemicals to make food. Chemicals they use include hydrogen sulfide, which is toxic to virtually all other life. Most . . . → Read More: TGIF: Marine Snow

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Another New Yeti Crab!!??
Another New Yeti Crab!!?? avatar

Yeti crab clambers over a scaly-foot snail You heard here first people, another new species of Yeti crab may be out there!  Jon Copley just sent this message along. Well hey, a couple of weeks ago we found yet more yeti crabs out here at vents on the SW Indian Ridge, different in morphology to . . . → Read More: Another New Yeti Crab!!??

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Yeti Crab Roundup
Yeti Crab Roundup avatar

Back in 2005, three researchers described and named a very unusual crab from a hydrothermal vent in the Indian Ocean (paper here).  The scientists christened this crustacean Kiwa hirsuta from the name of the goddess of shellfish in Polynesian mythology and the Latin hirsutus meaning hairy. The later specifically referring some very hairy claws indeed. Thus . . . → Read More: Yeti Crab Roundup

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What 1 hour of Deep-Sea Vent Life Looks Like in 2 Minutes
What 1 hour of Deep-Sea Vent Life Looks Like in 2 Minutes avatar

Our friends at Neptune Canada have posted this time-lapse video on their Youtube Page. Note the zillions of sea spiders (Pycnogonids), this is a feature of the Northwest Pacific vent province, we rarely see so many pycnogonids at other vents around the world. Sea spiders, tubeworms, scaleworms, limpets and snails crawl about in a . . . → Read More: What 1 hour of Deep-Sea Vent Life Looks Like in 2 Minutes

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When a Whale Dies, The Story Has Just Begun
When a Whale Dies, The Story Has Just Begun avatar

A great film about a whale fall by Sharon Shattuck. Whale Fall (after life of a whale) from Sharon Shattuck on Vimeo. Broadcast Spawn!Tweet#call_to_action h4{padding:0px 5px;}A great film about a whale fall by Sharon Shattuck. Whale Fall (after life of a whale) from Sharon Shattuck on Vimeo. Broadcast Spawn!Tweet

The EPR Chronicles XII
The EPR Chronicles XII avatar

For background on the EPR Chronicles, see this post. The expedition was also recorded online at the Field Museum during this time (before science blogs!) and includes dispatches, videos and photos! Wednesday 11/19/03 3:30 am I love the warm winds of the tropical ocean. They caress me & run their invisible fingers me through my hair. reminds me of . . . → Read More: The EPR Chronicles XII

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