Ready to have your mind explode like a massive dying star? Trust me, if you are going to have your mind blown, this is the way to do it.
Massive stars die in a "cataclysmic nuclear explosion"that cause a burst of radiation that often outshines an entire galaxy before eventually fading over weeks or months. During this time a supernova will let off as much energy as the Sun is expected to emit over its entire life span.
If you are amazed by that, just wait until you see it. Supernova 1994D
Cygnus Loop Supernova
Supernova Remnant N 63A Menagerie
Supernova Remnant G292.0+1.8 (one of 3 Supernova remnants in the Milky Way.)
As a human, I feel a little ripped off. This is how stars get to go out, and we get to go out like this:
It is not a lie that sharks "fall asleep" (quotations necessary) when they are turned over on their backs. For several species of sharks, being inverted puts the shark into Tonic Immobility," an "unlearned behavioral response characterized by a state of immobility and torpor." "Tonic immobility can be induced by various procedures which place the subject in an 'unnatural' posture or situation, which has the effect of altering the usual course of its sensorimotor and emotional interchanges with its environment" (http://www.springerlink.com/content/hv211n88926r5563/fulltext.pdf?page=1). Studies were originally completed on Lemon sharks, but later studies proved a similar response in Tiger, Great White, and Smooth Dogfish sharks as well.
So, if you place a shark in an "unnatural posture or situation," its senses are flooded and it will drop into a catatonic state.
WHAAAAAAAAAT?
I know, it may sound like a lie (it did to my friends, thus inspiring the title for this blog) but I swear to you on all of my Harry Potter paraphernalia that I am telling the truth. Check it out here. This crazy awesome guy uses the tiny electromagnetic pulses created by the metal glove in the salt water to overload the senses of this shark and perform this incredible feat:
Marine biologists, such as the one you just saw, use tonic immobility as part of their research methods to place various tracking devices on the sharks. And humans are not the only ones to use this insane biological response to achieve their purposes; Orcas have also learned of the benefits of tonic immobility. Often in their hunting of Mako and Great White sharks, the Orcas will work to invert the shark, cutting off its ability to fight back, and allowing them to feed.
Did you just say "Whaaaaaaat" again? I thought you might. Yes, yes, tonic immobility seems impossible, but alas, nothing is impossible here on liesaboutsharks.
Perhaps the first post on this blog should explain why it's not a lie that sharks fall asleep (sort of) when they are flipped upside-down. But that is Meghan's responsibility. So I am hereby christening this blog with the first of a series: Lies About Wolves.
Fact #1: Gray wolves are built to travel and to hunt. A perfect combination of physical attributes--long legs that result in a powerful stride, big feet that ensure traction over difficult terrain, and strong musculature--allows these sturdy animals to reach sprinting speeds of up to 45 miles per hour.
-Daniel J. Coxl, NaturalExposures.com
Crazy, right?! If this simple fact does not impress, surprise, or intrigue you, just don't read this blog. If, however, it just blew your mind.... well, welcome to the pack. (Fact: nerds cannot resist a good pun. Or a bad pun.)
And now, here are some totally sweet wolf pictures I found on Flickr: 1, 2, 3.
Cygnus Loop Supernova
Supernova Remnant N 63A Menagerie
