Reaching Through the Ether: Now you see me, now you don’t: cephalopods in hiding

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Now you see me, now you don’t: cephalopods in hiding

Today’s post is about a natural phenomena so strange that one would swear it is a result of something otherworldly. However, sometimes the truly bazar is hiding in our own backyard and, despite the “reality” of this story, it seems worth sharing to those ether-minded readers.

(Source: http://www.dimensionsguide.com/size-of-an-octopus/)

Marine biologist, Roger Hanlon, studies cephalopods, which include squid, cuttlefish and octopus. During one of his expeditions, he was able to film one of the most interesting abilities of these sea creatures: the capacity to completely mimic their environment. On his Marine Biological Laboratory website page, Hanlon writes that the “distinguishing feature of cephalopods is that individual animals can change their appearance with a speed and diversity unparalleled in the animal kingdom: we term this ‘rapid, neurally controlled polymorphism.’” He goes on to write how some cephalopods can have 30 to 50 different appearances.

Biologists have determined six “mechanisms of camouflage;” including: 1) General background resemblance, 2) Deceptive resemblance (including mimicry), 3) Disruptive coloration, 4) Countershading/concealment of the shadow, 5) Rarity through polymorphism, and 6) Cryptic behavior and vigilance. What is so striking about cephalopods is their ability to use all six mechanisms. A complete understanding of how this process takes place still alludes scientist. Still, they have surmised that sight is the primary cue for both texture and color changes despite being colorblind. The video goes on to show how the skin actually changes pigment and does a far better job of demonstrating these abilities than any words could.

(Source: http://www.sciencefriday.com/videos/watch/10397)

Special Note: Apologies are due for the limited number of recent posts. The Reaching Through the Ether team has been busy developing a website to replace the companion blog. This site will greatly expand on news, expeditions, films and books that creep out of the depths of the ether. Currently, this blog is still being used until further notice.

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...our upcoming article on the examiner.com, covering the same topics as this blog, at: www.examiner.com/astrology-and-paranormal-in-columbus. In addition, visit M's fiction blog for discussions on speculative fiction and to read his own works of fiction as well as up and coming publications at: www.storiesfromtheether@blogspot.com. Finally, for those interested in handmade paper products, visit D's blog at: aloveaffairwithpaper.blogspot.com as well as her onlone shop at etsy.com/shop/aloveaffairwithpaper.

Our Mission

What we hope to accomplish is twofold. First, we aim to understand the background and mythology that led to the belief that a paranormal event has taken place in a particular location. On a micro-level, we want to understand the individual making the claims and on a macro-level, we want to follow the nature of the evolving meme that has been created in a community of people holding a given belief. This is as equally interesting as to whether or not an “event” actually took place. This is meant to go beyond whether an old pipe is pretending to be a ghost. Second, we, of course, want to determine the validity of the paranormal events being explored. Here, the balance of the skeptic and the believer will be used to shed light on whether or not there are really paranormal events reaching out to us from the ether.

Our Process

Before going out to a site, we will do the prep and due diligence. We will announce our project and the date of the site visit. In the days or weeks leading up to the site visit, we will research the event, the location and those involved to the best extent possible. Our research will then be shared with all of you who honor us with your readership. Some information – videos, audio recording, writings, etc. – will be shared as we are in the process of the site visit. Depending on the nature of “the event,” additional follow-up research may continue and, of course, be shared. We thank you and look forward to taking all of you on this journey with us!