I just got to see a different species of kleptoplastic sea slugs in the wild last month, on a kayak tour of the mangroves around Key West. Our guide scooped some lettuce sea slugs up in a plastic container (and then returned them safely). They were bigger, about 3 inches long, with a wavy/frilly green border. It made my biologist heart very happy!
Some things on Earth (especially in the ocean) you'd think were extraterrestrial... What a gift to still be able to find such amazing animals out there.
Makes you imagine a world with high solar power density and maybe lower gravity or something where larger land animals might be realistically supplemented by solar energy as well.
I just got to see a different species of kleptoplastic sea slugs in the wild last month, on a kayak tour of the mangroves around Key West. Our guide scooped some lettuce sea slugs up in a plastic container (and then returned them safely). They were bigger, about 3 inches long, with a wavy/frilly green border. It made my biologist heart very happy!
I remember as a kid wondering if we could give humans chlorolaplasts.
I believe that mitochondria and chloroplast both were originally independent single celled organisms.
So kind of funny that, chloroplast is being "stolen" again by this sea slug.
Real Life Bulbasaur
Life is amazing.
Stuff like this really makes you wonder what life might look like out in the universe.
Some things on Earth (especially in the ocean) you'd think were extraterrestrial... What a gift to still be able to find such amazing animals out there.
https://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/TheyMade.s... - love this short story and its take on that question.
A classic, and regularly shared here on HN :)
I really like this version of it personally: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6JFTmQCFHg
Isn't life on this planet also life out in the universe? It depends on your point of view.
[1] Pale blue dot - Carl Sagan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wupToqz1e2g
Do you consider things that are inside a house to also be outside a house?
All things are moving in space and time and in relation to other objects so inside or outside are relative points of view.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_relativity
[2] Point of view is worth 80 IQ points - Alan Kay. He didn't specify the sign....
I wonder if life elsewhere in the universe is pedantic too.
QED.
[1] Why people hate smart individuals: Studies reveal it's linked to your own intelligence level https://www.gq.com.au/health/wellness/studies-say-who-you-ha...
[2] On the importance of being pedantic https://medium.com/@lfloridi/on-the-importance-of-being-peda...
[3] Pedantic definition https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/pedantic
[4] Pedantic opinion https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/pedantic
Things inside this house are indeed outside that house.
Makes you imagine a world with high solar power density and maybe lower gravity or something where larger land animals might be realistically supplemented by solar energy as well.
Closer to the sun (high solar power density) and smaller (lower gravity)... I think we actually have one of those nearby?
Some infinite water supply would be probably helpful there.
Infinite indeed, need to keep it topped off as it all boils away.