Ice Worms.

Posted by Alex in Animal, Science & Tech on February 26, 2006 at 4:31 pm


Ben Lee of the University of Puget Sound and biologists Dan Shain and Paula Hartzell of Rutgers University went "worming" to Mount Rainier to find out more about ice worms.

Polar bears weather the cold with thick insulation and the ability to generate their own heat. Antarctic cod have blood laced with antifreeze. Ice worms don’t have any of these defenses.

Instead, they have the remarkable ability to boost their cells’ energy production when the temperature drops, Shain discovered. "It’s equivalent to putting more gasoline in your tank," he said.

The worms also possess cell membranes and enzymes that function and stay flexible in temperatures where most animals’ cellular processes creak to a halt.

The downside is extreme sensitivity to heat. At about 40 degrees F, the worms’ membranes melt and their enzymes go haywire.

Link


Previous post
this post? Please Email this               
Next post


FUN PRODUCTS FROM THE NEATORAMA SHOP:
BuckyBalls (w/ Mystery Bonus!)


COMMENT
Be The First To Comment!

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT

Neatorama Comment Policy
You don't have to register or login to comment, but it's easier if you do so. Comments aren't censored, but those that are abusive or off-topic may be edited or deleted.


Stay updated on the comments with Comment RSS