Phantoms and Monsters: Pulse of the Paranormal

Friday, January 11, 2013

The Kraken LIVES! Calamari For All!

Video - Giant Squid Filmed in the Depths for First Time

After a decade-long hunt almost as obsessive as Captain Ahab’s search for Moby Dick, a team of researchers and journalists from Japan’s National Science Museum, the Discovery Channel, and Japanese broadcaster NHK have captured video of the mysterious giant squid in its natural habitat, about 9 miles from ChiChi Island and 600 miles south of Tokyo.

This three meter long creature is actually on the small side; giant squids can grow to eight meters (twenty-six feet)!

These real-life underwater giants are believed to be the inspiration for the Kraken, a mythical Nordic sea monster known for attacking ships in the waters off of Scandinavia. Having inspired numerous artists and writers over the centuries, it is no surprise that this fantastical animal has captured the imaginations of scientists as well.

These squid have earned their elusive reputation for a reason. The team used a submersible to pursue the squid to depths of 900 meters below the ocean’s surface, into an environment so hostile and extreme that it has hidden the squid’s secrets from humans until now. Living in the nearly impenetrable darkness has led to the evolution of huge eyes in squid—up to 10.6 inches!—so the team developed a special high definition video camera for the project, capable of recording images at light levels imperceptible even to the sensitive sea monster.

In recent years, the population of giant squid has grown*, due perhaps in part to warming water in the Pacific Ocean. Warmer temperatures increase the animals’ metabolic rate, allowing them to grow faster. In a single year, a young squid can grow from just 2 millimeters long to a meter, the equivalent of a new born child growing to the size of a whale in its first twelve months of life.

The full video of the giant squid will be featured on the season finale of Discovery Channel’s Curiosity. - Ocean

NOTE: I certainly do love calamari...Lon

Giant Squid: Searching for a Sea Monster (Smithsonian)

Kraken: The Curious, Exciting, and Slightly Disturbing Science of Squid

The Search for the Giant Squid: The Biology and Mythology of the World's Most Elusive Sea Creature

Spirit Rescue International™
Providing no-cost professional spiritual help, personal support and guidance
Take the first step towards genuine peace of mind
---------------
Sign up for the
Spirit Rescue International Newsletter

The Spirit Rescue International™ Haunted Help Forum
Discussion of paranormal and spiritual phenomena,
including peer support for those with questions or concerns

*Join Our Group On Facebook*

Join Eric Altman and Lon Strickler
*LIVE*
each Sunday at 8 PM ET as we go
Beyond the Edge!

--> Buy official 'Beyond the Edge Radio' gear <--

'Phantoms & Monsters: Cryptid Encounters' Now Available!
Don't have a Kindle device? No problem...
Free Reading Apps: Your Kindle purchase can be sent automatically to your Android, iPad, iPhone, PC, Mac, BlackBerry, or Windows Phone 7 device.
DOWNLOAD A 'FREE APP' HERE!
Borrow this book for free on a Kindle device with Amazon Prime.
Buy a Kindle today
and start your Amazon Prime free trial
to borrow this book and others at no cost.

ANOMALIST BOOKS
Works on maverick science, unexplained mysteries, unorthodox theories, strange talents, and unexpected discoveries. Please check out their excellent and diverse catalog