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New Species of Worms Found To Release "Bombs"
caffiend666 writes "A newly found deep ocean worm 'can cast off green glowing body parts, a move scientists think may be a defensive effort to confuse attackers. Researchers have dubbed the newly discovered critters "green bombers." ... The first of the new species has been given the scientific name Swima bombiviridis. ... [T]he worms are able to regenerate the body parts.' So, it's a naturally occurring animal that rips off its arms and throws them, and we're not talking about a game from ID Software?"
I too use a type of bomb that can repel attackers. Mine doesn't confuse visually, though... it's more of an olfactory experience.
What doesn't kill you only delays the inevitable
The first of the new species has been given the scientific name Swima bombiviridis.
Subsequently, the entire scientific community got together to call the researchers and tell them they're not allowed to name any new species, ever. This was not the first time such had happened. Ever since the 2007 Sunken-Eyed Lemur was given the scientific name masturbatus furious the scientific community has been tightening the leash on allowing researchers to label their discoveries.
I am the richest astronaut ever to win the superbowl.
But I prefer worms that throw banana bombs, super sheep, and can wield a shotgun.
I judt got a nre Kinesis keybiartf so please excusr ant egregiou typos.
Those scientists seem to be total noobs when it comes to things that can be dropped.
Wrong war analogy - the worms are releasing chaff.
"Bomb" is a bit of a misnomer. This is more of a flare/chaff countermeasure.
Call it biological countermeasures or BCM if you need an accurate and succinct term for generating buzz.
isn't that the real story here?
I know that it's also a new type of deep sea swimming worm but is the really sexy part that it glows? The article also points out that several other ocean creatures drop off or "throw" body parts, but I think they don't glow. Squids can drop off an arm and I think sea cucumbers can spit out something from their gut. Of course, many lizards can also break off their tail. I guess the real question is whether humans should develop glowing detachable body parts ...
Like with fighter jets.
It lights. It does not explode!
But how are you going to get the hype machine going, to for once in your desperate life get some attention, right caffiend666?
Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
What seems most interesting about this discovery is any possible evolutionary links. The common yard lizard in the southern USA (Florida, Texas, 'Bama, Georgia) loses its tail when attacked. Some starfish will break off a limb as a decoy. Many other examples across the phyla, kingdoms and classes.
Has the ability to lose a limb and regenerate evolved multiple times? Is this an evolutionarily ancient and common ability that humans have lost? Or these species linked on some crooked branch and our tree description is just totally screwed up?
I think those are the real questions this article raises.
because then we could label them terra-rists.
(sorry).
"I bless every day that I continue to live, for every day is pure profit."
There was a species of human who's legs would fall off when they got scared too. All eaten though. Sad.
Equine Mammals Are Considerably Smaller
While this is an interesting new creature, this ability is hardly something new. Sea cucumbers after all are already known for its ability to fire off select internal organs at predators as a distraction so they can flee...
Green glowing body parts being called bombs? Are these researchers in any way related to the police officers involved in the Boston bomb scare of '07?
so they can flee...
Have you ever seen a fleeing sea cucumber? That must be SOME organ that they jetison if it keeps a predator busy for that long...
Yeah, I got yer bomb-launching worm right here.
I've calculated my velocity with such exquisite precision that I have no idea where I am.