A Typical Example Of A Juvenile Turkey Vulture Perched Next To A Leucistic Adult Turkey Vulture. Leucism

your girl calls me Sparrow the way I. no i shan’t say

I shall say YOUR girl calls me sparrow the way I jack her off!!!!!!!!!

I think sparrabeth making it to the finals would be fun and sexy but there is a part of me that doesn’t want it to win bc I don’t think Elizabeth should be subjected to Jack for the rest of her life. now Barbossa on the other hand

Konstantin Korobov (Russian, 1985) - Sharks (2023)

TWO INJURED SEA COMBS CAN FUSE INTO A SINGLE ENTITY, AND THRIVE

In a surprising new discovery, scientists have found that two injured individuals of Mnemiopsis leidyi, a species of comb jellies or ctenophores, can fuse into a single entity. This phenomenon, which challenges our typical understanding of biological processes, reveals just how remarkable these planktonic creatures truly are.

Ctenophores, known for their translucent beauty and delicate movement in the ocean, appear to lack a mechanism called allorecognition—the ability to distinguish between self and non-self. This means that, when two comb jellies are injured and placed close together, they can merge, not just physically, but also functionally. Their nervous systems combine, allowing them to share nerve signals (or action potentials), and even their digestive systems become one.

The discovery was made by Dr. Jokura and his team, who were observing comb jellies in a seawater tank. After removing parts of their lobes and placing them side by side, they were astonished to see 9 out of 10 injured comb jellies fuse to form a single organism. Even more fascinating, the newly formed organism survived for at least three weeks, with its muscle contractions fully synchronized within just two hours. The digestive system also fused, enabling food taken in by one mouth to travel through their shared canal and exit through both anuses—although not at the same time!

While the exact benefits of this fusion are still unclear, the researchers believe that studying this phenomenon could provide valuable insights into how organisms integrate nervous systems and even how tissue regeneration occurs. It may also offer clues about immune system functions in species where the lines between individual organisms become blurred.

This discovery offers a glimpse into the hidden potential of the ocean’s lesser-known inhabitants, challenging what we think we know about biological boundaries and cooperation.

Video: Kei Jokura

Reference: Jakura et al., 2024. Rapid physiological integration of fused ctenophores. Current Biology

On top of the Yankees field cat there was a praying mantis on top of the nationals players hat tonight. Huge night in baseball

just imagine what it's like to be me for five seconds what if you everyday had to go before the grand court of tumblrinas and be like "yeah I think this is one of the most interesting characters to somehow sneak his way into hollywood I think he's nuanced beyond what the average sane viewer will ever grasp I think he's severely misunderstood by like 90% of viewers and I'm a true unironic elitist about him" and the character in question is faggy the pirate disney's golden cashcow and face of a million lunchboxes. and he's in fortnite. and you're not allowed to kill myself