Images: Deep-Sea 'Black Smoker' Vents in Action

Hydrothermal vent chimney

This photo-montage shows a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney--one of many that were recently discovered by MBARI researchers in the southern Gulf of California. Some of the recently discovered chimneys were over 65 feet (20 meters tall. The "smoke" emanating from this chimney is actually tiny mineral particles that form when the hydrothermal fluids come in contact with near-freezing seawater.

Out of nowhere

This deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney was one of many recently discovered by MBARI researchers in the southern Gulf of California. Some of the recently discovered chimneys were over 20 meters (65 feet) tall. The "smoke" emanating from this chimney is actually tiny mineral particles that form when the hydrothermal fluids come in contact with near-freezing seawater.

Smoke stack

Tech Discoveries

This deep-sea hydrothermal vent was one of many recently discovered by MBARI researchers in the southern Gulf of California using two underwater robots--one (an autonomous underwater vehicle) to map the seafloor and a second (a remotely operated vehicle) to explore the seafloor, take video, and collect samples. The water from some of these vents is at least 300 degrees Celsius (570 degrees Fahrenheit). The "smoke" emanating from this chimney is actually tiny mineral particles that form when the hydrothermal fluids come in contact with near-freezing seawater.

Less than freezing

Doctor in the house

his photo shows the manipulator arm from MBARI's remotely operated vehicle "Doc Ricketts" holding a temperature probe used to measure the temperature of the water from the recently discovered deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the southern Gulf of California. The water from some of these vents is at least 300 degrees Celsius (570 degrees Fahrenheit). The "smoke" emanating from vents is actually tiny mineral particles that form when the hydrothermal fluids come in contact with near-freezing seawater.

Working it

This photo shows the manipulator arm from MBARI's remotely operated vehicle "Doc Ricketts" holding a temperature probe used to measure the temperature of the water from the recently discovered deep-sea hydrothermal vents in the southern Gulf of California. The water from some of these vents is at least 300 degrees Celsius (570 degrees Fahrenheit). The "smoke" emanating from vents is actually tiny mineral particles that form when the hydrothermal fluids come in contact with near-freezing seawater.

Make use of what you have

These large tubeworms were photographed by MBARI researchers at a recently discovered hydrothermal vent field in the southern Gulf of California. These worms grow to over three feet (1 meter) tall, and contain bacteria that help them live off of chemicals flowing out of the hydrothermal vents.

Finding the needle in a haystack

This sonar map allowed researchers to pinpoint the location of the vents, which had remained elusive for nearly a decades.

http://www.livescience.com/

The Power of Ice: Glacier Erosion

Greenland Ice Sheet

A new study has found that glaciers of the Greenland Ice Sheet erode away underlying bedrock much faster than thought. [Read about theGreenland glacier study.] The margin of the Greenland ice sheet, showing Russell Glacier (left) and Leverett Glacier (right).

Leverett Glacier

The waterfall site at which the meltwater draining from Leverett Glacier was monitored.

Meltwater River

A meltwater river on the surface of the ice sheet near Leverett Glacier.

Moulin Drain

Meltwater drains into a moulin on the ice sheet surface near Leverett Glacier.

Fjord near Nuuk

Glacially eroded fjord near Nuuk, south-west Greenland.

http://www.livescience.com/

Image Gallery: Mummy Evisceration Techniques

Egyptian eviscerationEgyptian evisceration

A systematic analysis of ancient Egyptian mummy evisceration has found that historical descriptions of the techniques may have been off-base

Trade secret

n ancient Egypt, embalmers had guild-like organizations and their tricks of the trade were closely guarded secrets.

Father of history

But in the fifth century B.C., ancient Greek historian Herodotus managed to get an inside peek at the industry and described the techniques used to eviscerate the dead.

Organ removal

In his histories, he says that the highest classes were the only ones eviscerated with a trans-abdominal slit, and that the brain was always removed. Other accounts suggested the heart was always removed.

Cedar oil enema?

The lower classes, he said, received a cedar oil enema to eat away their internal organs.

Thorough analysis

But researchers Andrew Wade and Andrew Nelson wanted to see whether Herodotus accounts matched practices we actually see in mummies. They analyzed mummies described in the literature, and performed CT scanning on several others. Here, a Theban male mummy from the Redpath museum gets scanned.

Varied techniques

Credit: Andrew Wade

They found that contrary to Herodotus' accounts, the upper and lower classes alike tended to get the trans-abdominal slit, with a cut through the anus restricted to elites.

Mummy skeleton

Mummies didn't show evidence of cedar oil enemas. In addition, the mummies didn't always have their hearts left in place and their brains removed. Here, a 3D reconstruction of a mummy, with an oval indicating the incision site.v