It is one of the “most extreme” examples of animal regeneration ever seen. Two species of sea slugs can pop off their heads and regrow their entire bodies from the noggin down, scientists in Japan recently discovered. This incredible feat of regeneration can be achieved in just a couple of weeks and is absolutely mind-blowing. … More Solar-powered sea slugs chop off their heads and grow new bodies
Written by Rebecca Greatorex Freezing of animals is probably a concept you haven’t given much thought to. As humans, we can put on a hat and coat and survive out in the snow for hours on end. This is because we are endothermic, which means we produce our own heat. Some arctic animals like whales … More Baby it’s cold outside: Freezing in marine animals
Written by Rhodri Irranca “An old trick well done is far better than a new trick with no effect.”– Harry Houdini. Gargantuan ocean-dwelling beasts have been depicted globally in folklore since the dawn of human existence, such as the kraken described by Pontoppidan in his mid-18th century work “The Natural History of Norway”. Subsequent works … More Catch me if you can! Cephalopod defences & predator avoidance
A new study based in the UK is now underway to determine if the genes of the rapidly-healing zebrafish can help people afflicted by scarring. If successful it could be life changing for millions of people. Last month saw the start of a new five-year study, led by researchers from the University of Bristol, into … More Zebrafish genes may hold the key to fixing human scars
A new study into deep-sea fish and crustaceans has revealed the presence of anthropogenic mercury pollution at the deepest points in the ocean, including the Marianna Trench. Researchers suggest that the most likely source of the toxic chemical is the sinking bodies of dead fish from the surface. Mercury pollution in the ocean is an … More Fish carcasses deliver toxic mercury pollution to the deepest parts of the ocean
A new study into the fluid dynamics of blue whales has given researchers the first ocean recordings of their famous hitchhiking partner, the remora, revealing the suckerfish’s secret whale-surfing skills as they ride aboard the world’s largest animal. Sticking to the bodies of sharks, whales and other large marine creatures is a well-known specialty of … More The secret surfing skills of hitchhiking remoras
Australian scientists on-board the Schmidt Ocean Institute research vessel Falkor, have discovered a massive detached reef in the Great Barrier Reef. It highlights that there is still so much to be discovered in our oceans, even in one of the most well documented regions on Earth. For the first time in over 120 years, a … More New 500m tall coral reef discovered in Great Barrier Reef
New research has revealed how photosynthetic algae managed to survive the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs, by quickly adapting to hunt other microbes in the absence of sunlight. Not only did this help them thrive when so many species were wiped out, but it also provided a much needed lifeline to our early oceans. Around … More Algae & the asteroid: how single-celled plankton succeeded where the dinosaurs failed
A list of some truly unbelievable facts about our oceans and the weird and wonderful creatures that call them home. In a slight change to the normal type of articles we produce, this post is simply a collection of some of our favourite facts about our oceans and marine life. It is by no means … More 50 mind-blowing facts about our oceans & marine life
New research has uncovered the genetic origin of gill covers in fish, which occurred over 430 million years ago. It sheds light on one of the most important evolutionary developments for fish, as well as over vertebrates such as humans. If you ask a palaeontologist what the most important change in vertebrate evolution was, they … More The evolution of gill covers in fish (and humans)
Marine Madness 