Undersea sponge has fiber optic cables beat

Reuters ^ | 8/20/03 | Reuters Staff

[AndrewC]

CNN story on it

"It's incredible, really. We're looking at these things that are not known to be visual animals yet we're finding these fascinating optical properties that are built into their bodies," Kochevar said.

Good design wouldn't you say?

[LiteKeeper]

You betcha!!

[Michael_Michaelangelo]

A good design, indeed. Thanks for the ping.

Scientific American has picked up on it as well. Amazing Sponges

Here's an interesting little 'snippet' from their article:

"each spicule is capped with a cross-shaped antenna of sorts. The flat spokes of the antenna capture light, which then travels directly down the silica tube of the spicule to the garden of green thriving at the base."

Boy that evolution sure is crafty. And what a choice of words the author used!

FRegards, M_M

[AndrewC]

Hey, neat two of em(species that is). But they don't say this one has algae in it. I wonder if the shrimp need mood lights?

[gore3000]

To add to the problems for the evolutionists, this sponge has a symbiotic relationship with algae:

Taking inspiration from the age of telecommunications, Italian scientists recently discovered the secret of the symbionts. It turns out that some sponges have a system of fiber optics that allows them to gather what little light reaches their murky depths and to direct it to the algae.
From: Scientific American

When evolutionists can prove to me that needing a million dollars results in a million dollars being deposited in my bank account, I will start believing in evolution.

[HP8753]

Undersea Sponge?????

Did the Clintoons take up SCUBA diving???

[f.Christian]

When evolutionists can prove to me that needing a million dollars results in a million dollars being deposited in my bank account, I will start believing in evolution.

wow !

[AndrewC]

Yes the sponge "Rossella racovitzae" has that relationship, and the sponge mentioned here, "Euplectella aspergillum" has a relationship with shrimp. Sprinkler from the Phillipines

Sponges like our treasure have an interesting commensal relationship with some species of shrimp. Pairs of shrimp penetrate the sponge skeleton and upon growing are unable to escape. They spend their entire lives in this "sponge prison". In olden Japan, our treasure was frequently offered as a wedding present to symbolize the idea "until death do us part".