Seals for Science!
Ok, so their proper name is a bit of a mouthful - Southern Elephant Seals as Oceanographic Samplers (SEaOS) - but these seals kick ass. They have a little computerised tag thing pasted to their heads which collects masses of information as they swoosh about in the ocean depths, then when they pop up for a breather, said tag thing beams its info back to base in Scotland. And this info is fabulously useful, telling oceanographers all about the feeding and breeding habits, navigation techniques and patters, and general lifestyle of the seals, and also lots about currents, salinity, temperature, and heat exchange in the oceans. And for those of you worried about seal safety, apparently, if you're an elephant seal, having a little tag glued to your head doesn't cramp your style a bit, and you'll shed it anyway in a year or so when you moult. I love it. (More from BBC News here)
(Thanks Eleanor!)
wait... seals moult? this blows my mind. i have to say that the little guy in the picture doesn't look too upset with his hardware, though he does remind me of dr. evil's sharks with laser beams on their heads. you know? from austin powers? anyone?
Posted by: kilowatthour | February 24, 2006 at 07:20 AM
Totally! And what about sharks for science! Might help change their bad image...by giving back to society, rather than just eating it.
Posted by: anna | February 24, 2006 at 08:03 AM
I was waiting to see if anyone else brought up the Austin Powers sharks with the fricking laser beams attached to their heads ... and the mutated sea bass who are decidedly ill tempered ...
Posted by: Katie | February 24, 2006 at 06:02 PM
I bet the seals think its cool too. "look! i got a hat! whee!"
Posted by: corrine | February 24, 2006 at 08:30 PM
Dang, someone beat me to the sharks with frickin' laser beams. Still, how about military dolphins with frickin' mine detecting abilities?
http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/mine_hunting.html
Posted by: Kim Bieler | February 24, 2006 at 08:52 PM
I bet somewhere under the oceans there's a reef where all the cool marine folk hang out and compare notes...
Dolphin: I'm really cute and hyper intelligent and people spend a fortune to swim with me. And I can find mines. You're big and fat and make a noise like a donkey and your nose is horrible. Tee hee.
Elephant Seal: Maybe, but do YOU have a cool hat like mine? Don't think so.
Posted by: Katie | February 27, 2006 at 08:24 AM