Like most deep-sea biologists, I have a large collection of decorated Styrofoam cups. A couple dozen line the bookshelf of my office, each displaying a…
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Category: Organisms
Tiger Sharks Will Nom Nom Anything
Tiger sharks are sort of generalist feeders. And by generalist, I mean they will pretty much eat anything. And by everything, I mean everything. On…
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A Journey to the Hottest Place on Earth: Hydrothermal Vents and the Resilient Pompeii Worm
I have only seen a hydrothermal vent once, during Dive 73 aboard the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute’s Doc Ricketts. Unlike many deep-sea biologists, I…
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Surviving Toxic Havens
The ROV Global Explorer reaches bottom at around 9:01 am, nearly 3.5 kilometers deep in the Gulf of Mexico. The 1.5-ton machine flies nimbly through…
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The Carpet Dragon Takes Flight
Guest post by Dr. Melissa Betters “They got it!” echoed shouts down the hallways of the Research Vessel Atlantis in Fall 2018. The whole science…
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The Cost of Fear: How Perceptions of the Deep Sea Hurt Conservation
Guest post by Dr. Melissa Betters Are you afraid of the deep, dark ocean? If so, you’re not alone. Thalassophobia (fear of deep water) seems…
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Introducing a New Species: My Namesake, a New Bone-Eating Worm
Osedax worms, or the ‘bone eating’ worms are little soft sacks resembling snotty little flowers. The “bone devourer” is not quite accurate as the worms…
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Hump Day Happiness: Dive into Deep-Sea Delights
You know what your hump day needs? Some absolute stunning photos of deep-sea animals. Look at this one. Look at that one. You gotta get…
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New Deep-Sea Cucumber Has 100 Feet
A new species of deep-sea cucumber has over 100 feet in alternating two or three rows. This means of course that when it plays the…
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Ancient Origins of the Vampire Squid
Delving into the evolutionary past of the enigmatic deep-sea vampire squid, Vampyroteuthis infernalis, has long been a pursuit shrouded in mystery. However, recent discoveries, such…
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