The Science Thread

Apparently the Greenland shark can live to be over 500 years old, and researchers recently discovered one such specimen.

Researchers have found an ancient shark in North Atlantic, believed to be 512 years old, which could be the oldest living vertebrate in the world. While the animal was discovered a few months ago, its potential age was revealed in a study in the Science journal.

Marine biologist Julius Nielsen found that an 18-foot Greenland shark his team had been studying was at least 272 years older and possibly as much as 512 years old. Earlier this year professor Kim Praebel, from the Arctic University of Norway, found that Greenland sharks could have a lifespan of up to 400 years. But the recent research proves that the species could be even older. With the help of mathematical model analyzing the lens and the cornea that linked size with age, researchers found a way to predict age.

By measuring the size of the recent Greenland shark found, researchers suggest the animal could have been born as early as 1505, making it even older than Shakespeare. Greenland sharks grow at a rate of one centimeter a year, enabling scientists to determine their age by measuring their size.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...rth-atlantic/ar-BBGIUaQ?li=BBmkt5R&ocid=ientp
 
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Even older than Corwin?

BTW, the meat of the shark is toxic (not pufferfish level), but is considered a (foul smelling) delicacy on Iceland.

pibbur who tends to avoid foul smelling/fooul tasting delicacies, but readily eats foul-looking ones.

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Yes, in order to deal with toxicity, they throw the shark in a hole, urinate on it, bury it, and leave it to fester for a couple of months. Then they dig it up, air dry it for a couple more months, and then feast on it.
 
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Ironman to send his Tesla Roadster into an elliptical orbit between Earth and Mars in about two hours. Live stream here: http://www.spacex.com/webcast

Will eventually be picked up by the USS Voyager, I'm sure.

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Starman is the test payload - a mannequin in a Tesla roadster on top of a 3rd stage rocket motor, on their way to Mars, with selfie cameras all round it Fantastic marketing, eh?

Wonder how far out they will be able to pick up it's signal. It doesn't look like it has any solar arrays, so the battery may run out first.

KsQVMH8.jpg
 
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There are stars visible in space. But the brightness of the sun and reflective surfaces means they have turned the camera sensitivity way down so that the car and earth are not overexposed.
 
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What bums me out is that nebulae are not visible in the pleasing way they're portrayed in science fiction - big luminous clouds like the inside of a lava lamp. In reality, they're usually not perceptible in the visible spectrum, and they are so large and diffuse, that if you were inside one you'd be none the wiser.
 
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Apparently 2 of the 3 engines didn't ignite, sending it to impact the ocean at 300mph. Oops!

If watching those double boosters land wasn't cool enough, here's what they sound like both breaking sound barriers:

 
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