Science Snapshot: Sea Star

The above image may look like a scaly white mouth opening up to reveal tons of tiny bubblegum pink tongues, but it is actually a starfish! More specifically, this is the ventral (stomach) side of the starfish arm. I took this picture at an aquarium here in Utah, the Loveland Living Planet aquarium. When I […]

Deep Sea Pharmaceuticals

Welcome to Deep Sea Pharmaceuticals! We are happy to serve you and, like our motto states, we know that ‘the ocean holds all the keys to healing whatever ails you.’ I know what you’re thinking, “what’s wrong with my prescription drugs that come from terrestrial plants and animals? Why should I believe your ocean drugs […]

Methane Hydrate=The Currency of the Ocean?

Extra, extra, read all about it! Coal and other fossil fuels, which have provided a steady energy source for many years, is running out. Plus, the use of such fossil fuels is hurting our planet and contributing to global climate change. Experts are urging humanity to make a push for cleaner, renewable, and sustainable energy […]

Ariel, Take It From Sebastian, It Is Better Under the Sea

Since the beginning of mankind, humans have been obsessed with exploring. With every exploration came new discoveries. With every new discovery, humans became more advanced as a species. We explore, we learn. We learn, we survive. Once we had discovered everything we could on land, we decided to press our luck and take our explorations […]

Mythology Meets Geology: Fulgurites

With the clap of his mighty hands and the swing of his brawny arm, Zeus sent ear-shattering thunder and blinding bolts of lightning through the air and down to Earth. Zeus’s intentions were not to punish the people of Earth, but to remind them who possesses all power both in heaven and Earth as the […]

Periodic Players: Oxygen

The periodic table of elements… if you are still reading this I am pleasantly surprised! Ever since high school chemistry, the periodic table of elements has become taboo mixed with unpleasant recollections of memorizing each element along with its (sometimes perplexing) atomic symbol. Well, now that I have the worst part out of the way, […]

Evolutionary Mash-up: Australian Box Jellyfish

*To gain a greater appreciation for this post, be sure to read the previous “Evolutionary Mash-ups” posts about giraffe necks, dragonfly wings, and chameleon tongues. I take the best adaptations natural selections has to offer and combine them into one animal. At the end of this post I will combine all four “Evolutionary Mash-ups” animals […]

Evolutionary Mash-ups: Veiled Chameleon Tongue

*To gain a greater appreciation for the post, be sure to read the previous “Evolutionary Mash-ups” posts about giraffe necks and dragonfly wings. I take the best adaptations natural selections has to offer and combine them into one animal. At the end of the month, check out my post where I combine all four “Evolutionary […]

Evolutionary Mash-ups: Dragonfly Wings

Never have I looked more stupid than when I tried to catch a dragonfly in a net. Bug catching has been a hobby of mine for a few years now. One summer, as I was out catching bugs in the mountains, a beautiful blue darner dragonfly zipped in and out of my peripheral field of […]

Evolutionary Mash-ups! Giraffe Necks

Whether young or old, we humans have been enthralled with the amazing world of animals. We go to the zoo to see animals in person, we watch animals in their natural habitat on the television, we even watch action films like X-men where the human heroes have interesting mutations, most of which may well be […]