World's largest sea sponge found in Hawaii waters - size of a minivan

[ScienceRocks]

World's largest sea sponge found in Hawaii waters - size of a minivan

Scientists say the discovery of the world's largest known sea sponge in deep waters off Hawaii happened by accident.

The ancient giant, which has its own ecosystem, was discovered by a United States National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration research project exploring waters in the Pacific Ocean.

The unusually shaped sponge is more than 2 metres wide and over 3.5 metres long, comparable in size to a minivan.

"It looked like a folded blanket," Dr Christopher Kelly, a research scientist with NOAA and co-lead for the expedition, told Pacific Beat.

Minivan-sized sea sponge discovered by accident in Hawaii

Way cool!

 

[Old Rocks]

Interesting. As we explore, in detail, more and more of the world around us, we find some of the most fascinating things. This is right near where I mostly grew up, and I bet that I have walked over it without realizing it.

Largest Living Thing | Mushroom in Oregon

Until August of 2000 it was thought that the largest living organism was a fungus of the same species (Armillaria ostoyae) that covered 1,500 acres (600 hectares) found living in the state of Washington. But then mycology experts surmised that if an Armillaria that large could be found in Washington, then perhaps one just as large could be responsible for the trees dying in the Malheur National Forest in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. Researchers were astonished at the sheer magnitude of the find. This most recent find was estimated to cover over 2,200 acres (890 hectares) and be at least 2,400 years old, possibly older.

To go into the forest where this giant makes its home you would not look at it and see a huge, looming mushroom. Armillariagrows and spreads primarily underground and the sheer bulk of this organism lies in the earth, out of sight. Occasionally, during the fall season, this specimen will send up golden-colored "honey mushrooms" (see photo, above left) that are the visible evidence of its hulking mass beneath. Scientists have not yet begun to attempt to estimate the weight of this specimen of Armillaria.