Crouching Beech Tree, Hidden Starfish.

Whoa. Yet again I cannot fathom how cool things are.
Cool things are cool.



How would one elude the greatest of scientific minds for years?
Stay hidden longer than the average person is alive?
Well humans certainly couldn't, but there is a kind of starfish who can...and has.
Ophiotylos, a species of brittle star, was last seen by Japanese scientists 76 years ago.
Not only is this little star a master of disguise, it is also distinct among the other species in that its offspring stays close to it until maturity, whereas other species fling their tiny offspring into the blue.
Recently three specimens were brought back to the United States from a successful excursion in Nikko Bay, and the scientists who are examining it will hopefully find out more amazing things.


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An aerial shot of the areas the scientist combed for Ophiotylos.



Brittle star.

http://news.yahoo.com/usc-dornsife-scientific-diving-think-brittle-star-105800944.html;_ylt=AnsKkzDwK9oXD93B_RI1iqcPLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTNzNjZ2aGc1BG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBTY2llbmNlU0YEcGtnAzg5MmQyNjE5LTc2YzUtM2Q3My1hYWM4LTI0OGY4NDQxYTc0MQRwb3MDOARzZWMDdG9wX3N0b3J5BHZlcgM5MDRkMThjMC1iOTY2LTExZTEtYmZmZi02OGJjMDI0NGI5NzA-;_ylg=X3oDMTFlamZvM2ZlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3

Antarctica.

The only continent that corn does not thrive upon.

The only continent that almost nothing thrives upon.

During the middle Miocene period, temperatures rose worldwide, and Antarctica became host to a variety of lush undergrowth and even tiny trees.

*Tiny trees!!!*

And the scary thing is, this occurred after global carbon dioxide rose up to between 400-600 parts per million, and today carbon dioxide is 393.

Pretty scary.

Not that having plants on Antarctica would be a bad thing... but, I mean...

Disney World would be underwater.

Bad.

An artist's interpretation of middle Miocene Antarctica.

Pollen of the southern Beech tree in New Zealand - similar trees would have grown on Antarctica.

http://news.yahoo.com/icy-antarctica-once-ringed-carpet-lush-flora-164956767.html;_ylt=As1qCE5QmO9Lo94j6SwZmH8PLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTN0aDFzbXJyBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBTY2llbmNlU0YEcGtnAzNhNWRlYzU0LWQ5ZDEtM2U1Zi1iMjQwLTA5OTJjY2Y5ODFiNwRwb3MDMTMEc2VjA3RvcF9zdG9yeQR2ZXIDMTAzZTNkNzAtYjk2Ny0xMWUxLWJmZmItMGFmOGRmZjRjZjc0;_ylg=X3oDMTFlamZvM2ZlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3

I am not necessarily qualified to talk about this next article, but for those who are, it is very informative.

Scientists often do outreach work while getting things published for several reasons, and here are a few ways this can impact their careers for the better.

Scientists in academics, professors especially, depend almost entirely on the textbooks they write and publish for a steady income and tenure.

 http://news.yahoo.com/why-scientists-publicize-findings-purely-selfish-reasons-115300458.html;_ylt=Au3XU7MSTgIUe352VoKFxYwPLBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTNzMDBwcGxiBG1pdANUb3BTdG9yeSBTY2llbmNlU0YEcGtnA2MyMDI1OWY2LWE3ODUtM2NlOC1hY2E3LTgwODYxZWI1OTdmOQRwb3MDNQRzZWMDdG9wX3N0b3J5BHZlcgNlNDQzNGE4MS1iOTZiLTExZTEtYWNmZi01ZDUxZjE1OTE1NjE-;_ylg=X3oDMTFlamZvM2ZlBGludGwDdXMEbGFuZwNlbi11cwRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdAMEcHQDc2VjdGlvbnM-;_ylv=3

EXPLOSION.

As water particles and ash mix in the air above a volcano... lightning strikes.

Lightning strikes a lot.

Here are some photos and documentation of the phenomenon of Volcanic lightning.

Seriously, though.

How ba-dass is that?

Volcanic lightning, Chile.

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/volcano-lightning-slideshow/

And now...

I couldn't resist.

Science. You know.