We always thought Cthulhu was just something H. P. Lovecraft made up. But in April, scientists found a fossilized critter that could have been the inspiration! The Sollasina cthulhu is an ancient (430 million years ago!) relative of the sea cucumber with 45 tentacles that stretched out in all directions. And yes, the scientists chose...
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Sometimes, accidents make for great science! In this case, a scientist cleaning coral out of a tank accidentally broke the coral. However, in three weeks, each of the dozen pieces of broken coral had grown to the size of the original coral. The broken coral had originally taken three years to grow to its size,...
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An essay by Eleanor Bradley, as provided by Annika Sundberg Art by Leigh Legler My name is Eleanor Bradley and I am the reason you are alive. How do I know this, you ask? Anyone could be reading this. But here’s the deal. I saved all of you. You’re welcome. Too bad I didn’t...
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A frilled shark sounds like an animal that would be at home at a tea party, with frills and ruffles, right? Wrong. The frilled shark, Chlamydoselachus anguineus, is actually a terrifying, serpentine shark with 300 needle-sharp teeth lining its mouth in neat rows. It’s also a shark that has been around for a long time....
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An interview by R. L. Evars, as provided by Emma Whitehall Art by Ariel Alian Wilson When I first meet Odessa Malko, I barely know what to expect. The marine crypto-biologist has recently become the talk of Aforcaster, with her astounding research into the hitherto-mysterious creature, Microcosmus marinus–otherwise known as the Kraken. However, she...
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Divers and scientists are baffled by the appearance of large gelatinous spheres, up to a meter across, that have appeared in the ocean off the west coast of Norway, among other locations. Spotted in cold, northern locales and off the coast of Turkey, some have speculated that these could be eggs laid by giant...
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A letter by Dr. Elizabeth Chu, as provided by Alanna McFall Art by America Jones To Dr. Von Lupe, My Most Glorious God-on-Earth and Leader Among All the Ranks of Humans, Greetings to you, my dark master who claims dominion over the land and the skies (and in whose name we are all working hard...
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An essay by Dr. John P. Armitage, as provided by Joshua Steely Art by Luke Spooner; Diagrams by Dawn Vogel Journal of the American Marine Biology Society, Volume 42B, Fall 1956. Introduction: Let me begin with a plea for cooperation from my fellow scholars. The constant accusations in these past few months, the debate over...
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A letter by Dr. Elizabeth Chu, as provided by Alanna McFall Art by Scarlett O’Hairdye To the most glorious and esteemed Dr. Von Lupe, Hello, sir, and may I just say it was a pleasure to hear from you in your last missive. Dr. Quinn and I were both honored and delighted, and we...
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Letters by Dr. Walter Matheson, Ph.D., as provided by Jennifer Mitchell Art by Luke Spooner Dated 12 June 2015 Dr. Walsh, I have made a discovery that I think you will find of interest. While collecting water samples with my research assistant, I came across a small species of jellyfish. To me they seemed unremarkable,...
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