What lurks ‘Below’ Newfoundland waters? A marine biologist explains the science behind the show

nature & planetanalysisThe Conversation (Canada)

What lurks ‘Below’ Newfoundland waters? A marine biologist explains the science behind the show

the gist

Newfoundland is one of the few places on Earth where giant squid wash ashore with some regularity, roughly in cycles of about 30 years, and New Zealand is another; both are cool-water regions. Science's first solid evidence of the animal came from here: in the 1850s the Irish clergyman Moses Harvey photographed and reported a specimen brought by fishermen to the scientific community in London. Later researchers at Memorial University pursued the species for decades but only ever obtained dead animals; the first live footage in the wild came from Japanese scientists about 20 years ago. Giant squid are cephalopods, a group with remarkable intelligence, but there is no evidence they hold grudges.

so what

An animal long dismissed as sailors' legend was confirmed by fishermen's finds in Newfoundland, a reminder that the deep ocean is still barely observed. The region's folklore and its science grew up together.

fun fact

Giant squid have the largest eyes in the animal kingdom, about the size of a dinner plate.

more on this

background

The giant squid (Architeuthis dux) is a species of deep-ocean dwelling squid in the family Architeuthidae. It can grow to a tremendous size, offering an example of abyssal gigantism; recent estimates put the maximum body size at around 5 m (16 ft) for females, with males slightly shorter, from the posterior fins to the tip of its long arms. This makes it longer than the colossal squid at an estimated 4.2 m (14 ft), but substantially lighter, as it is less robust and its arms make up much of the length. The mantle of the giant squid is about 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long (longer for females, shorter for males), and the feeding tentacles of the giant squid, concealed in life, are 10 m (33 ft). Claims of specimens measuring 20 m (66 ft) or more have not been scientifically documented.

The number of different giant squid species has been debated, but genetic research suggests that only one species exists. In 2004, a Japanese research team obtained the first images of a living specimen in its habitat.

From Wikipedia: Giant squid (CC BY-SA 4.0) ↗ · text CC BY-SA 4.0

see

Inger Eleanor Winkelmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Inger E Winkelmann, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Natural History Museum of Denmark, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

key facts

Conservation status: least concern
Scientific name: Architeuthis dux
Height: 43

Facts: Wikidata (CC0)

The Conversation

Illustrative photo · NTNU Vitenskapsmuseet, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

source: The Conversation (Canada) ↗

politics

Trump and Netanyahu reportedly clash over whether to resume military action against Iran

the gist

Israeli reports also say the cabinet directed the military to prepare for a possible new attack on Iran.

so what

The United States and Israel have been closely aligned on Iran's nuclear programme and regional threats, so open disagreement between their leaders over military strategy is unusual and closely watched. Whether to resume strikes is a decision with consequences for shipping, oil markets and the wider Middle East.

fun fact

Benjamin Netanyahu has served as Prime Minister of Israel for more years in total than any other person.

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Data: GDELT Project

Illustrative photo · Israel Belkind and Fanny Abramovitch (original) “The Provis…, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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supplementary video · Epimetheus on YouTube ↗

world cultures & travelWikivoyageclassic9th–15th century · Siem Reap, Cambodia

Angkor was the largest pre-industrial city on Earth, covering about 3,000 square kilometres

the gist

Angkor, near Siem Reap in northern Cambodia, was the capital of the Khmer Empire, which ruled much of mainland Southeast Asia between roughly the 9th and 15th centuries. At its height the city spread across about 3,000 square kilometres, making it the largest pre-industrial city on Earth by area. Its growth depended on water: huge reservoirs called barays, along with canals and embankments, stored monsoon rain and carried it to rice fields. That system let farmers harvest more than once a year and fed a very large population through the dry season. The temple complex of Angkor Wat, built in the early 12th century, is the best-known monument and still stands at the heart of the park.

how it works

The Khmer kings built enormous rectangular reservoirs that caught monsoon rain during the wet season. Earthen dykes and canals moved that water into rice paddies, so farmers could grow crops across much of the year. The surplus food supported craftsmen, builders and the workforce that raised the temples.

so what

Angkor shows how a society without industrial machinery could build a city on a scale that rivals modern metropolises, using engineering and water management instead. Some historians link its decline to drought, flooding and shifts in its water systems, which makes it a long-running case study in how cities depend on managing water. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important archaeological landscapes in Southeast Asia.

fun fact

The outline of Angkor Wat appears on the national flag of Cambodia.