Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Rumors on the Internet: Latest One Starts with Fish Discoveries

I remember years ago reading the revised edition of Bill Gates' " The Road Ahead," and how he speculated what they called then the "information highway" ( President Clinton LOVED that phrase) might bring

No one anticipated the extent to which rumors would get going on the internet

Latest one is about earthquakes-- happening but not being reported, etc.

from the BBC

Quake rumours over new beached 'sea serpent' in US

An oarfish washed up on the beach in Oceanside The elusive fish can grow up to 15m long, marine biologists say

Related Stories

Social media has lit up with earthquake rumours after a giant oarfish washed up on a California beach - the second such discovery in several days.

The 4.3m (14ft) dead snake-like fish was found in the city of Oceanside - five days after another and larger specimen (5.5m) had been found.

Reports on social media recall an ancient Japanese myth linking extremely rare oarfish sightings to tremors.

But scientists remain sceptical of any link to increased tectonic activity.

They remain puzzled, however, by the two discoveries of this rare deepwater fish near the beach.
The larger specimen, found on Santa Catalina island, has now been dissected and it appears well-fed, healthy and with little sign of disease.

"It looks good enough to eat - if you have a 13ft pan," biologist Ruff Zetter said.

Tests are also being done for radiation, following Japan's Fukushima nuclear leak on the other side of the Pacific.

But it is also a rare chance to gather information about a little-known species that hovers vertically in the ocean and grazes on passing proteins.

The elusive fish - which can grow up to 15m - dives to depth of up to 1,000m and is found in all temperate to tropical waters.

Oarfish found on Santa Catalina island, California, 16 October 2013  
 
The Santa Catalina specimen was dissected and found to be healthy

More on This Story

Related Stories

No comments:

Post a Comment

Please leave a comment-- or suggestions, particularly of topics and places you'd like to see covered