It Looks Like a Baby Dragon!

I just saw this picture on Facebook.  The description says that it's a Glaucus Atlanticus sea slug, but it looks like a baby dragon - or some kind of fake.  Doesn't it?

So I looked up Glaucus Atlanticus sea slug - and it's real. There is lots of info out there on this little slug, also known as sea swallow, blue glaucus, blue sea slug and blue ocean slug.  Found off of South Africa, Mozambique or Australia, this little creature floats upside down riding the surface tension of the water.  It feeds on Portuguese man o’ wars, consuming the toxic nematocyst cells that the man o’ war uses to immobilize fish.

The slug is immune to the toxins and collects them in special sacs within the cerata—the finger-like branches at the end of its appendages—to deploy later on.  So, while these creatures may be tiny and incredible-looking, they can pack a powerful sting! 

Look, but don't touch - and marvel at the amazing creatures in our world!

Aurora over Norway (Time Lapse)

This is absolutely, totally, completely amazing!


The Aurora from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

More info at Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Explanation: Sometimes, after your eyes adapt to the dark, a spectacular sky appears. Such was the case earlier this month when one of the largest auroral displays in recent years appeared over northern locations like the border between Norway and Russia. Pictured in the above time-lapse movie, auroras flow over snow covered landscapes, trees, clouds, mountains and lakes found near Kirkenes, Norway. Many times the auroras are green, as high energy particles strike the Earth's atmosphere, causing the air to glow as electrons recombine with their oxygen hosts. Other colors are occasionally noticeable as atmospheric nitrogen also becomes affected. In later sequences the Moon and rising stars are also visible. With the Sun expected to become ever more active over the next few years, there may be many opportunities to see similarly spectacular auroras personally, even from areas much closer to the equator. 

Someday, I really want to see these in person!

Related articles

• Time-lapse Tuesday: Ultimate aurora (newscientist.com)