St. Pete scientists work to crack the case of myserious eyeball - Tbo.com [fornadablog.blogspot.com]
In January 2012, Aerofex presented its recent work at the American Helicopter Society Future Vertical Lift Conference in San Francisco. The technology discussed utilizes ejector dynamics to augment the thrust and control of ducted-fan aircraft. The goal of the effort is to simplify vertical flight, in this case by eliminating the complexity of cyclically-variable rotors. The technical paper is published and distributed through the AHS. The presentation video, shown here without the benefit of narration, documents the technology's effectiveness through a sequence of flight maneuvers demonstrated on a manned aerial-vehicle. More info on the broader effort can be found at www.aerofex.com Tandem-Duct Aerial Demonstrator
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[fornadablog.blogspot.com], St. Pete scientists work to crack the case of myserious eyeball - Tbo.com
By | The Tampa Tribune
Published: October 13, 2012
Updated: October 13, 2012 - 7:53 AM
Here's looking at you, squid.
Or marlin. Or maybe even a swordfish.
Ever since a blue, softball-sized eye washed ashore Wednesday in north Broward County's Pompano Beach, people have been abuzz as to what animal could have such humongous peepers.
Scientists have chimed in on the mystery, saying it's an eyeball from a giant squid, perhaps a whale.
And, of course, the Internet exploded with theories of sea creatures creeping up from the depths.
The world was still waiting for an answer on Friday as marine biologists kept working to crack the case of the disembodied eyeball.
The surprising find was put on ice and taken to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg for DNA testing, said spokeswoman Carli Segelson.
"They're working on preserving the eye," Segelson said.
Pompano Beach resident Gino Covacci found it Wednesday during a morning stroll along the shoreline. Covacci told the South Florida Sun Sentinel the eye was so fresh it seeped blood when he placed it in a plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator.
Covacci then called police, who suggested he contact state wildlife officials.
Covacci's discovery went viral shortly after the wildlife commission snapped photographs of the orb, dubbed it the Mystery Eyeball and posted them on the agency's Facebook page.
The answer as to where it came from will probably be more down-to-earth, said George Burgess, a marine biology professor at the University of Florida.
The eye could have belonged to a species of marlin or a swordfish â€" some grow to more than 1,000 pounds. Perhaps a fisherman cut it out and threw it overboard, Burgess said.
"I wouldn't be surprised if it was a bigeye thresher shark," he said. "The species is found in southeast Florida."
Bigeye threshers are true to their name, Burgess said. The shark's eyes are as big as grapefruits.
"I have one in a jar in my lab and it freaks people out," he said.
Heather Bracken-Grissom, an assistant marine science professor at Florida International University, suggested the eyeball's lens and pupil are similar in shape to that of a deep-sea squid.
Bracken-Grisson said a deep-sea squid's eyes are as large as soccer balls and can easily become dislodged.
But Segelson said the commission's scientists have found bone fragments around the eye, which rules out squids, octopi and sharks.
No matter what creature it came from, the eye has become a sensation because everybody loves a good mystery, she said.
"It's a large eye. It's close to Halloween. And it's the only part of the creature that's been found," she said.
Florida has a long history of weird, organic objects washing ashore.
Deep-sea oar fish occasionally are found on beaches, Burgess said. Their long, flat, spiny appearance evokes images of the sea monsters of yore, he said.
In the 1890s, the remains of a strange animal were found on a beach in St. Augustine, said Sidney Pierce, a biology professor at the University of South Florida.
Residents named it the St. Augustine Monster, saying it resembled the giant octopi of legend, the ones that were big enough to crush galleons with their tentacles.
It turned out to be the decomposed carcass of a whale.
"That's the annoying part," Pierce said.
"Everyone wants to find a sea monster. I would really like to find a sea monster. If I could find that, I could probably retire on the book royalties."
Burgess said it's likely the mystery eyeball belonged to a common denizen of the ocean.
"The answer will probably be much simpler," he said. "But I'm sure it was a thrill to whoever found it. This has been a fun story."
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