The Ocean Podcast / science edu + ocean info
Microbe Week continues over at the Deep Sea News Blog. But if you need an additional inoculation, consider tuning into the very well produced MicrobeWorld radio/podcast.
MicrobeWorld Radio is an educational outreach initiative that revolves around a daily, 90-second radio series designed to increase public understanding and appreciation of the vital role microbes play on our planet and to promote the science of microbiology.
The Pacific Science Center has a variation on a popular numbers game.
Do you Sudoku? Well, here’s a twist we think you’ll love. We call it PacSci-Doku…Instead of filling in the blanks with numbers, use letters. Hidden in one of the columns or rows is the answer to a science question. The question in this edition is:
What ancient sea reptile lived during the age of the dinosaurs in what is now Europe?
To find the answer, complete this PacSci-Doku using the following nine letters:
A O U S D L R P C
![Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure Poster [PDF]](http://cephalopodcast.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/pic-natgeo-seamonster.jpg)
This might be a fun supplement for educators following along when National Geographic premieres its new giant screen film Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure on October 5th.
Stunning photo-realistic computer-generated animated transports audiences back to the Late Cretaceous, when a great inland sea divided North America in two. The film follows a curious and adventurous dolichorhynchops – familiarly known as a ‘dolly’ – as she travels through the most dangerous oceans in history. Along the way, she encounters long-necked plesiosaurs, giant turtles, enormous fish, fierce sharks, and the most dangerous sea monster of all, the mosasaur.
Sadly, it doesn’t appear to be playing anywhere close to me. 
However, it’s not only a movie, it’s also a multimedia marketing blitzvideogame for the Wii
I have to think that combining these games with the standards-based lesson plans would make for a pretty interesting classroom assignment.
The Make: Magazine blog has a couple of links to a Do-It-Yourself underwater camera housing using an inexpensive Igloo™ cooler. Probably not a good idea to take this thing to any kind of depth, but useful around the pool. And only about $50 in materials.
We had a shark bite in Sarasota Bay recently. A hapless New College student went night swimming and got nibbled on by a (suspected) bull shark. She is expected to recover after receiving several dozen stitches. If you care to see the damage, she has posed for inspection. 
Remarkably, it is only the seventh reported unprovoked1 shark bite in Sarasota County since 1882. These statistics are literally kept on file at the International Shark Attack File. They advise not being in the water during darkness or twilight hours when sharks are most active and have a competitive sensory advantage. Indeed. My buddy SB and I didn’t follow that advice in our undergrad days either. We took a couple turns snorkeling along Lido at sunset. But the severed head of a stargazer and a disemboweled cownose ray were pretty good clues we weren’t alone.
Of course, I kind of like the notion put forth by NBA star Gilbert Arenas. He recently opined that there are no such things as shark attacks:
There are these things called shark attacks, but there is no such thing as a shark attack. I have never seen a real shark attack. I know you’re making a weird face as you’re reading this. OK people, a shark attack is not what we see on TV and what people portray it as. We’re humans. We live on land. Sharks live in water. So if you’re swimming in the water and a shark bites you, that’s called trespassing. That is called trespassing. That is not a shark attack.
A shark attack is if you’re chilling at home, sitting on your couch, and a shark comes in and bites you; now that’s a shark attack. Now, if you’re chilling in the water, that is called invasion of space. So I have never heard of a shark attack. When I see on the news where it’s like, “There have been 10 shark attacks,” I’m like, “Hey, for real?! They’re just running around? Sharks are walking now, huh! We live on the land, we don’t live underwater.”
Perhaps the co-ed would have been less attractive had she slathered on some Shark Defense. This is a new sun tan lotion that purports to also repel sharks. Testing for the product took place at the Bimini Biological Field Station. This is also the location where a classic Mythbusters segment was filmed, one dealing with the notion that sharks can smell one single drop of blood in a thousand drops of water. It’s a shame Discovery hasn’t cottoned on to the idea of letting users embed their video into posts, a la Comedy Central. But you can follow the links below to see how Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman used condoms and syringes to bust this myth.
Unprovoked attacks are defined as “incidents where an attack on a live human by a shark occurs in its natural habitat without human provocation of the shark.”
![Generic Crowd Release T-Shirt Disclaimer [200x224, 12K]](http://www.cephalopodcast.com/img/pic/pic_070719_GenericCrowdRelease.jpg "Generic Crowd Release T-Shirt Disclaimer")
We are gearing up for some video productions at my day job. While working on pre-production, the issue of shooting crowd scenes came up. In many cases, you have to get clearance from anyone who appears in a scene. For video in public venues, where people are part of a crowd scene, it is often required to place notices about the presence of recording equipment. A typical example is available here [doc].
But what about the gonzo, DIY videographer who is on the move? You would think the presence of a large video camera would be enough indication that recording is taking place. But I wondered if a more portable disclaimer would make a difference. I still don’t have an answer. But I added an example to my CafePress shop for your consideration:
IMPORTANT NOTICE
IF YOU CAN READ THIS SHIRT, THEN YOU ARE IN PROXIMITY TO AN AREA WHERE VIDEOTAPING IS TAKING PLACE AND YOU MAY APPEAR IN THE PICTURE.
BY ENTERING THIS AREA, YOU GRANT TO _______________ THE RIGHT TO PHOTOGRAPH YOU AND RECORD YOUR VOICE WITHOUT COMPENSATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE VIDEO: _______________ AND ITS DISTRIBUTION AND EXPLOITATION. YOU RELEASE _______________ AND ITS LICENSEES FROM ALL LIABILITY. _______________ ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR INJURY TO YOUR PERSON, OR DAMAGE OR LOSS TO YOUR PROPERTY.
The use of camera or audio recording equipment is prohibited. Thank you.
I am not a lawyer. This shirt is for entertainment purposes and (probably) does not consitute a legally binding contract. But you can grab a Sharpie™ and fill in the name of your video production to see if it works.
![http://www.flickr.com/photos/jawboneradio/533726939/ [83x100]](http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1163/533726939_23ffb9f8c9_t_d.jpg "Len's Octopus, inspired by Johnathan Coulton")
[via Glenn]
Johnathan Coulton has released another song about love, life, relationships and cephalopods. Octopus is his first public song since his celebrated Thing a Week ended last year. Nice to hear from him again. If you like the music, support the independent artist by buying his song. He has several other sciencey songs available too, like Womb with a View, Bacteria, Seahorse and That Spells DNA.
Johnathan is also the contributing troubadour for the Popular Science Podcast.
[via SHARK-L]
Here is some more video of a live goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni). It is a WMV file hosted at Tokai University’s School of Marine Science and Technology. Think this is the same specimen from a couple months ago? It’s in Japanese, so I can’t be sure. Here’s a nice, gnarly picture too.
Also, there’s a Flash movie featuring pics of a captured megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios), which is another rarely seen species.
![Turtles in Trouble, thetravelfoundation.org.uk [150x217, 16K]](http://www.cephalopodcast.com/img/pic/pic_070508_mcsturtles.gif "Turtles in Trouble, thetravelfoundation.org.uk")
Take eight minutes out of your day and watch this clever little animated PSA about sea turtle conservation. Even though it is targeted at European travelers, its message is global.
The short film explains how UK tour operator practice can make a positive difference to the conservation of endangered loggerhead and green turtles during the summer holiday season at destinations in Greece, Crete and Turkey.
It’s not nearly as dry as it sounds. In fact, it is delightfully moist.
Got a chance to see Spider-Man 3 tonight. First time we’ve been to the movies since we wasted an afternoon with The Fountain. One thing that surprised me were three different ocean-related messages that popped up during the preshow.
First, we went to a new AMC Theatres theater that was equipped with a digital projector. I’d be curious to know what software they used to generated their little trivia graphics. Anyone know? Well, one of the slides was about blue whales. They related their size and weight to other critters. Can’t remember exactly what numbers they used, but think it said blue whale=1800 humans?
The second thing I noticed was yet another animated penguin movie (YAAPM) coming out this summer. This one features surfing birds.
Finally, there was a crummy commercial for Vault soda. You can watch it here while it lasts (under Advertising). The premise is that a weakling male wins back the affection of his philandering female by blowing up the reef and showering her with pearls. Take home message: drink plenty of caffeinated, carbonated, corn syrup and you will have the strength to destroy the environment, thereby intimidating your rivals and winning the attention of the opposite sex.
So anyone else notice the ocean popping up in unexpected places? Let me know.
BTW, I did enjoy the Spider-Man movie. Pacing was a little rushed, and it had an unexpected twist. But a nice popcorn flick. Nothing like the artificial experience of the cinema.
![Humpback whale's tail [200x150, 6.8K]](http://www.cephalopodcast.com/img/pic/pic_070413_NOAA.jpg "Humpback whale's tail; Captain Budd Christman, NOAA Corps;")
Hey, NOAA has updated their online photo library. Because most of these images are taken as part of the normal operations of this federal agency, they are copyright free and in the public domain. All they ask is that proper photo credit is given.
Bizarrely, the search function is currently not working, making perusal of the collection a somewhat arduous expedition.
- More than 10,000 new images.
New search capability.- Many new albums that better reflect NOAA’s stewardship role and range of operations.
- Hundreds of Hurricane Katrina images that help record the extent of damage of this American tragedy.
- Thousands of stunning ocean exploration photographs, coral reef photographs, and polar regions photographs.
- New additions to albums including remarkable lightning photography, coastal photographs detailing the nooks and crannies of our American coastline including a medley of American lighthouses, and new images detailing the Treasures of the NOAA Library.
- And in this, the 200th Anniversary of the Coast Survey, NOAA’s oldest ancestor agency and America’s first science agency, thousands of newly digitized historical photographs detailing the work of the Coast Survey, Fisheries Commission and Weather Bureau.
In addition to still images, NOAA also makes available a number of copyright free video clips. The quality is a bit mixed, but it’s a nice way to build a royalty-free library.
NOAA maintains a library of video footage, which is compiled and categorized by subject. It’s available for the cost of reproduction on a public domain basis—no license or clearance required. It’s requested that you credit “NOAA” or “National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,” when using the footage.
More tentacle tinglage coming up from PBS. Sadly, no lesson plans or prepared companion guides for educators. Originally aired December, 2005.
ENCOUNTERING SEA MONSTERS
Airs April 8, 2007 at 8pm on PBSNATURE follows Bob Cranston in his quest to film and understand the world’s most mysterious cephalopods.
[via TONMO]![PBS NOVA Kings of Camouflage, Cuttlefish [200x150, 7.6K]](http://www.cephalopodcast.com/img/pic/pic_070329_PBScuttlefish.jpg "PBS NOVAL: Kings of Camouflage")
PBS airs another oceanic special, this time on cuttlefish. My tentacles are tingling!
Cuttlefish: The Brainy Bunch by Kaufmann Productions
a film by Gisela Kaufmann & Carsten Orlt
Premiers Tuesday, April 3 at 8 pmJoin NOVA on a voyage beneath the waves, where you’ll discover a bizarre, alien-like creature like no other. It’s an animal with eight sucker-covered arms growing out of its head, three hearts pumping its blue-green blood, and a doughnut-shaped brain. It has the ability to change its color and shape to blend in with seaweed and rocks, and it has a knack for switching on electrifying light shows that dazzle its prey. Perhaps most surprising of all, this animal is quite intelligent, with a highly complex brain. In this program, underwater cameras capture the extraordinary, transformative powers of the cuttlefish.
I am thinking of hosting a webcast/Skypecast during this program. Would anyone be interested in joining a simultaneous conversation while the show is airing?
Continue reading ‘PBS Special on Cuttlefish, Tuesday, April 3 at 8 pm’
PBS is airing its tenth installment of Journey to Planet Earth series tomorrow. The show is hosted by Matt Damon, which is kind of annoying. Expect a disheartening survey of the many ills facing our planet’s oceans interspersed with optimistic words about mankind’s resourcefulness and the hope that technology and international cooperation will someday solve all these problems.
STATE OF THE OCEAN’S ANIMALS
Premiers March 28th, 2007 at 8pm on PBS
Check local listingsNearly half the world’s marine animals may face extinction over the next twenty-five years. Global warming, over-fishing, and habitat destruction are emptying the world’s oceans. Join host Matt Damon as “State of the Ocean’s Animals” takes a hard look at the future of our watery natural world: the beauty, the incredible animals, and the dangers that threaten them.
Features scenes from the Pacific Northwest (whales, salmon and sea otters), Florida (sea level rise and its effect on loggerhead turtles), Japan (the slaughter of dolphins), China (shark fin trade), and the Antarctic (threats to Emperor Penguins).
What would happen if Apple decides to make a service like Tivo’s recently announced remote video and picture sharing service available to .Mac subscribers via AppleTV? There is already photocasting via .Mac accounts. So maybe videosharing is already available somehow? Seems like there could be a pay-per-view scheme in there somewhere for video podcasters.
TiVo has just announced a new service that will allow users to route video content directly to other people’s Now Playing lists. [T]he unnamed feature lets anyone with a PC and broadband connection upload vids or photos to a special site, where they are then sent to a specified list of subscribers…Unlike YouTube or Google Video, the uploaded content is strictly controlled and not open to the public….
So wouldn’t it be neat if, in a future iteration, AppleTV not only received video but also sent it? Your television room could become a broadcast studio as well as theater.
[via JW, thanks!]
![[64x54, 4K]](http://www.cephalopodcast.com/img/pic/pic_060326a_pinktentacle.jpg "Rare goblin shark [via pinktentacle.com]")
A couple of weeks ago the world got to see stunning video of a rare deep sea frill shark. Another bizarre looking customer is the goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni). You can check out some amazing photos and videos of a live goblin shark at this website:
We eagerly await to see if the fine folks from Pink Tentacle can help with a translation. In the meantime, here is Google Translates robotic effort.
UPDATE: According to the Underwater Times, the shark did not survive for long.
A goblin shark — a rarely seen species often called a “living fossil” — was caught alive in Tokyo Bay but died after being put on display, an aquarium said.
The grey, long-nosed shark was caught in fishermen’s nets around 150 to 200 metres (500 to 650 feet) deep. It was discovered by officials of the Tokyo Sea Life Park when they took a boat with local fishermen on January 25.
But the shark died on the morning of January 27.
The Reuters report repeats the misconception that these deep sea creatures die primarily because of a sudden pressure change. Deep sea animals have bodies composed mostly of water, with no gas pockets. Because liquids are virtually incompressible, these animals seem to suffer little pressure-induced effects from dramatic depth changes. It’s far more likely that the change in temperature is more stressful (from 4°C to ~30°C).
via Plankton Forums (Izzy Dolphin)
Looking for more marine podcasts? Scripps Institution of Oceanography has started offering access to their digital audio and video content via iTunes.
They are also now producing a free monthly electronic magazine about Scripps research, called Explorations@Scripps.
Jason Robertshaw
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