How Life Thrives Under the Ocean’s Crushing Pressure
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…
Elephant Seal, Interrupted
Story by Sara Maxwell and Patrick Robinson, University of California-Santa Cruz Imagine it. The sun is shining. You’re snoozing on a sandy beach. You’re a…
View More Elephant Seal, InterruptedDaddy, Where Do Whales Go When They Die?
Well son/daughter, their decomposing carcasses bloat up, sink to the deep, dark ocean floor, where other animals rip away their flesh and consume their bones*.…
View More Daddy, Where Do Whales Go When They Die?Leatherback turtles: going where few air-breathers dare
When you hear about deep-diving, air-breathing animals, you might first think of colossal sperm whales plunging over 1,000 meters to battle giant squid in the dark abyss. Or perhaps you think of massive elephant seals spending over an hour at depths over a half a mile down chasing prey. But what about turtles?
View More Leatherback turtles: going where few air-breathers dareMegavertebrate Week
The writers at Deep Sea News are big fans of all things invertebrate. We bend over backwards trying to convince people that deep-sea worms, isopods, anemones, and squid are the coolest animals anywhere on Earth. We stick up our noses at charismatic megafauna like sea turtles and whales, thinking “What could possibly be so interesting about air breathing animals with bilateral symmetry?” We recognize that “normal people” like the vertebrates, … especially the marine megavertebrates.
View More Megavertebrate WeekTortoise and Hare Ridges
Attributed to Aesop is the old parable of the tortoise and the hare. We all know the story and the moral. Slow and steady wins…
View More Tortoise and Hare RidgesFriday Deep-Sea Picture (04/13/07)
Aplacophora is a class of mollusks comprised of about 320 species. They were considered echinoderms until around 1987 when they were moved to Mollusca. Species…
View More Friday Deep-Sea Picture (04/13/07)Turtle-lympics, turtle-mentaries, and turtle-omedy
In the most ingenious conservation fund raising idea ever, a dozen satellite tagged sea leatherback sea turtles will be released simultaneously from the shores of Costa Rica. Leatherback turtles in the Pacific have declined 90% over the last decade. These deep diving sea turtles are in dire need of help. Pick a turtle and place a wager.
View More Turtle-lympics, turtle-mentaries, and turtle-omedyFrom The Desk of Zelnio: Scientists & Students FLEXE Their Scientific Muscles!
Going on as we speak is an experiment of monumental proportions. It may not seem that way to you sitting in front of your computer…
View More From The Desk of Zelnio: Scientists & Students FLEXE Their Scientific Muscles!From The Desk of Zelnio: Scientists & Students FLEXE Their Scientific Muscles!
Going on as we speak is an experiment of monumental proportions. It may not seem that way to you sitting in front of your computer…
View More From The Desk of Zelnio: Scientists & Students FLEXE Their Scientific Muscles!Missing Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt is up in heaven now. My first book report was on the Cat’s Cradle. A novelty read for a student in rural high school.…
View More Missing Kurt Vonnegut