Returning back to our early-evolutionary roots this week. I’ve been learning how to breathe underwater (scuba certification).

To prep, I’ve been brushing up on aquatic TCK. Enjoy some of the best recent watery stories!

~ Scuba Steve

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Tonga the Explorer

A globetrotting plume explored the stratosphere for months after an eruption in January. Tonga was our largest volcanic activity in the past century.

• Tonga is an underwater volcano in the South Pacific Ocean

• Scientists tracked water vapor from the plume ~50 miles up

• ~55 million tons of water was ejected into the stratosphere

Vapor was blown around the globe twice during six weeks of tracking. Researchers looking for environmental impacts of the large plume believe Tonga's undersea origin spared us a troublesome toxic cloud. If only they could all be elephant toothpaste volcanos.

International plume of mystery (TCK #67)

Aquanaut

NASA’s latest robot explores wonders of the unknown, Earth’s oceans. Aquanaut's AI provides awareness of its surroundings, eliminating the need of a tether to make up for communication lag.

• Roughly the size of a sports-car

• Looks like a torpedo while travelling

• Transforms into inspection-mode with 2 arms at destination

While most deep-sea robots tether to a support vessel, Aquanaut saves up to $100k per day by travelling solo. It will also support inspection and maintenance for oceanic industries like wind turbines and aquaculture. One step closer to actual Transformers!

Automating Aquaman’s job (TCK #62)

Squirmy Seas

Over 500 million years ago, an armored worm squirmed the seas to lay the foundation for future species. Researchers discovered the first fossil evidence of Wufengella bengtsoni in Yunnan, China.

• W. bengtsoni was the “parent” to brachipods, bryozoans, and phoronids

• These 3 filter-feeding species evolved specialized features from “Wuffy”

• Taxonomists used living context clues to predict the worm’s appearance

Discovering W. bengtsoni's fossilized remains that match predictions is proof we can semi-reverse-engineer evolution. As more “missing links” are discovered, we can improve accuracy and fill in the blanks. Or at least come up with realistic sci-fi beasts.

dO tHe WoRm (TCK #69)

Clickables

• Beautiful neon slugs (#4 looks like freeze pops)

• Ever wonder what dolphin selfies look like?

• Watch a pistol shrimp pew-pew in slo-mo

• Check out the view from a shark fin camera

• New seafloor creatures just dropped

st3v on site

Hanging w/Aquanaut

Apparently they don't make flippers in wheel sizes.

Thank you for reading!

Missed last week’s Convo?

Catch-up here: Tardigrade Wizard | Sea Sips | Dusty Bacteria - The Convo Kit #76

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