(Roughly) Daily

“Immortal” jellyfish swarming across the world
An “immortal” jellyfish is swarming through the world’s oceans, according to scientists.

The Turritopsis Nutricula is able to revert back to a juvenile form once it mates after becoming sexually mature.  Marine biologists say the jellyfish numbers are rocketing because they need not die. Dr Maria Miglietta of the Smithsonian Tropical Marine Institute said: “We are looking at a worldwide silent invasion.”

The jellyfish are originally from the Caribbean but have spread all over the world.

Turritopsis Nutricula is technically known as a hydrozoan and is the only known animal that is capable of reverting completely to its younger self.  It does this through the cell development process of transdifferentiation.  Scientists believe the cycle can repeat indefinitely, rendering it potentially immortal.  While most members of the jellyfish family usually die after propagating, the Turritopsis nutricula has developed the unique ability to return to a polyp state.

Having stumbled upon the font of eternal youth, this tiny creature which is just 5mm long is the focus of many intricate studies by marine biologists and geneticists to see exactly how it manages to literally reverse its aging process.

(source:  Daily Telegraph)

As we reconsider Ponce De Leon, we might recall that recall that it was on this date (Candlemas Day; aka, Groundhog Day) in 1536 that Spanish conquistador Pedro de Mendoza founded Buenos Aires, Argentina (or “Ciudad de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Ayre,” as he called it then).

Buenos Aires monument to Pedro de Mendoza

Microsoft has introduced a new tool, Songsmith; as their site suggests:

Songsmith generates musical accompaniment to match a singer’s voice. Just choose a musical style, sing into your PC’s microphone, and Songsmith will create backing music for you. Then share your songs with your friends and family, post your songs online, or create your own music videos.

…Or watch this video (and some of the ones linked beside it), in which vocal tracks from well-known songs are run through Songsmith– and head back for the shower.

As we bask in our humanity, we might recall that it was on this date in 1929 that The Broadway Melody, Hollywood’s first original film musical, opened at Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Los Angeles. It went on to become the first sound film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture.

Original Cinema Exhibition Poster