Thursday, August 7, 2014

The True Octomom

Octomom's EGGxtreme -Brooding

The deep ocean has spawned a new record: the longest egg-brooding period. In April 2007, Bruce Robison of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in Moss Landing, Calif., and colleagues sent a remote-operated vehicle down 1,397 meters (4,583 feet) into the Monterey Submarine Canyon. There they saw a deep-sea octopus (Graneledone boreopacifica) making its way toward a stony outcrop. One month later, the scientists spotted the same octopus, which they dubbed ‘Octomom,’ on the rock with a clutch of 155 to 165 eggs. The researchers returned to the site 18 times in total. Each time, there she was with her developing eggs.

Did you know that most female octopuses lay only one clutch of eggs, staying with the eggs constantly and slowly starving to death while protecting them from predators and keeping them clean. When the eggs hatch, the female dies.

The octopus was observed on her eggs for 53 months, the longest brooding period of any known animal.


This video follows the deep-sea octopus dubbed “Octomom” as she brooded her eggs for more than 4.5 years. She may be gone now, but her hatchlings live on thanks to their mother’s care.

Credit: MBARI/YouTube Booshire, Ethany. "'Octomom' Sets Egg-brooding Record." Science News. N.p., 30 July 2014. Web. 07 Aug. 2014.

Monday, July 14, 2014

New Mexico Space Grant Consortium is reaching for the stars and giving students the opportunity to shoot for the moon.

New Mexico Space Grant Consortium completed its fifth Student Launch Program launch event from Spaceport America on June 21, 2013. This video features the highlights of the launch and showcases the excitement of students and teachers for this unique educational opportunity. http://www.launchnm.com

New Mexico Space Grant Consortium mission is to advance the economic, education, and scientific benefits of space related endeavors. New Mexico Space Grant Consortium strengthens and inspires lifelong learning in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as it pertains to space related activities and NASA's mission.

This is such a great opportunity for students and teachers! What experiment would you send up to space if you were given the opportunity?

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

The World Around Us

The world around us is full of mystery and intrigue! What are the things that you wonder about? Ask a real scientist to explain them for you.