Tag Archives | ocean science

Why Penguins Can’t Fly

May 23, 2013

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) Millions of years ago, penguins lost their ability to fly, and now scientists finally know why. The tuxedoed birds are some of the best divers out there, but unfortunately good flippers don’t make for good flyers. Scientists say, once penguins sacrificed flight, their wings and body size most likely evolved quite rapidly since flying no longer inhibited transformation in body form. Researchers were confused as to why the aquatically-skilled animals chose sea over air, but they hold a promising theory regarding the species’ perplexing decision. Continue reading for the answer to this mind-boggling question and learn more on prehistoric flying penguins. — Global Animal

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New Species Discovered In Antarctica

May 15, 2013

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) A new species of fish was discovered by Ukrainian mariners on a fishing trip near Antarctica in 2009. The new fish known as the hopbeard plunderfish, was discovered when the fishermen were attempting to catch Antarctic Toothfish. The discovery was recently publicized in a ZooKeys study this April and describes how the strange brownish splotched fish, whose shape vaguely resembles that of a tadpole, lives in depths of up to 4,560 feet. To learn more about the specifics of this new species, continue reading below. — Global Animal

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Something’s Fishy About Kim Kardashian’s Feet

May 2, 2013

(CELEBRITY NEWS) Aside from her all-too-public (and extremely short-lasting) marriage to Chris Humphries and her Brady Bunch-esque family of celebs, Kim Kardashian is becoming known for her particularly strange beauty regimen. From blood facials to all body laser treatments, Kanye West’s counterpart is never too shy about trying any bizarre treatment. But it seems this time, she might have crossed the line. The TV star is filming her reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians in Greece at the moment, and while on a break she decided to pamper herself at the local nail salon with sister Kourtney. Unfortunately instead of a good old mani/pedi, the Kardashian sisters decided to get a fish pedicure. Read on to find out why this practice is not only morally wrong, but also dangerous. — Global Animal

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Dolphins, The Ultimate Sleep-Swimmers

April 26, 2013

(OCEANS) The things that keep most of us up at night, may have dolphins sleeping easy. But interestingly enough, our marine mammal friends might not need it. Dolphins have a unique ability to sleep with only half of their brains, keeping the other half alert while they rest. This function allows dolphins to avoid predators, and surface for air, while they remain at rest. Continue reading below in order to find out more about this interesting study. — Global Animal

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One Student’s Plan To Take Out The Trash

April 25, 2013

(ACTIVISM) The world’s oceans may have just found their savior in the form of a 19 year-old Dutch student, Boyan Slat. At this moment, our oceans are filled with millions of tons of plastic waste. The waste from the oceans washes up on beaches all over the world, threatening countless marine species. Slat’s plan takes advantage of the ocean’s currents, collecting the debris at platforms, which then can be separated and recycled. Continue reading for more of the details on Slat’s plan and how his idea may save Earth’s precious marine life. — Global Animal

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Shark Tag: A Game Of Survival

April 23, 2013

(OCEANS) Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water, it is. In truth, you should have never felt the need to get out of the water in the first place. The shark community has been forever plagued with misconceptions—most of which derive from the fact that little is actually known about them. Astonishingly, 250,000 sharks die daily at the hand of poachers. However, thanks to Dr. Neil Hammerschlag and a group of scientists, this shocking statistic could change. Hammerschlag has developed a shark tag that runs off solar power and has the ability to last for decades, which will help researchers observe sharks at a distance, and leave the animals untouched for the majority of their lives. Researchers hope to learn about sharks’ migratory patterns and nursing environments, with the ultimate goal of learning how to protect these impressive animals. Read below to take a look at Brain Lam’s remarkable first hand account of this research expedition. — Global Animal

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Look Who’s Talking

April 17, 2013

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) It looks like Doctor Dolittle might not have been so special after all—as it turns out, animals really can talk! According to a new study, bottlenose dolphins can actually identify the vocal patterns of other dolphins familiar to them. What’s more, scientists have observed variations in these patterns that imply bottlenose dolphins may in fact be sharing additional information with one another. However, this news really comes as no surprise seeing as though dolphins are the second smartest animal in the world—second only to humans. Regardless, this level of communication between species is uncommon and could mean big news for the future understanding of animal communication. Continue reading to find out what scientists believe this could mean for the animal world. — Global Animal

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The Sea Hare’s Weapon Of Choice

March 29, 2013

(ANIMAL SCIENCE) The sea hare, a type of sea slug, possesses a weapon of smell destruction. Aquatic-dwellers tend not to mess with these molluscs, and now scientists know why. A study was conducted analyzing the sea hare’s opaline, a powerful substance the gastropod squirts at enemies conjointly with ink. Scientists tested how other marine animals reacted to the natural chemical defense, and the outcome was not pretty. Read on about the dangerous sea hare and the slug’s venomous weapon of choice. — Global Animal

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