Blazers Owner Paul Allen Loans Custom Submarine To Amazing Fish Research

by Ben Golliver on Nov 17, 2011 11:49 AM PST in News

via Raphael Plante and posted on mongabay.com

Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen just made a major contribution to the study of living fossils, and I'm not talking about Juwan Howard or Marcus Camby.

Amy West of MongaBay.com reports that Allen lent his custom submarine to scientists who used it to study descendants of coelacanths -- a fish thought to have gone extinct more than 70 millions year ago -- off the coast of Africa.

A study published earlier this year in the journal Marine Biology summarizes 21 years of coelacanth population research by one team, led by Hans Fricke of the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany. Working in the Indian Ocean off the African island nation of Comoros, Fricke documented a stable population of Latimeria chalumnae. However, his study notes that deep-set fishing nets could threaten these unique animals.

The last living relative of the coelacanth ("SEE-la-kanth") disappeared 70 million years ago. The fish "returned" from its presumed extinction after fishermen captured one in 1938. This "living fossil" retains characteristics unlike those found in modern fish: hollow tail spines, fleshy fin bases, unique fin coordination, hinged skull, electroreceptor organ, and armored scales. Like some sharks, coelacanths bear live young.
...
Though Fricke was surprised at never seeing juveniles during the study to date, Erdmann was not. Manned subs have fundamental restraints, notably observation time and maneuvering in tight spaces, that make it difficult to "look in small cracks and caves." Japanese researchers discovered the first juvenile using a smaller remotely operated vehicle (ROV).

To explore potential juvenile and adult habitat deeper than Fricke's census area, Paul Allen- the cofounder of Microsoft- lent his ROV to Fricke for three dives.

This story has nothing to do with anything but, yeah, pretty cool.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

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Siiiiiiggh

I wish I had a submarine. :(

by fart on Nov 17, 2011 12:11 PM PST reply actions

was that a sigh

or a siiiiilent but deadly one?! LOL! hopefully just a sigh.

by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 17, 2011 12:54 PM PST up reply actions

aaahhh to be a billionaire

sure you can borrow the sub, i wasnt usin it right now anyways. Just dont try any funny stuff and have her back by curfew son. See ya later, im off to see the wizard.

by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 17, 2011 12:21 PM PST reply actions

A chunk of PAs conversation: "coelacanth schmoelacanth - I eat coelacanths for breakfast!"

“were cloning and mating nessies in my secret science labs under the polar ice cap. Elvis and Buddy Holly are both performing live on level 3 tonight, on the main stage next to the cafeteria. They are cyborbs, ai ran by the newest Microsoft os. Anyways after that, I board a shuttle for a venus flyby, landing back in Florida a few hours later! I will stop by the small island I just bought and I have filed to have its independence recognized to make it its own small country of which I will become King, Emperor, and Grand Supreme Blackberry King. Then its dinner time. I am flying to hong kong for some authentic chinese food, before I head over to Japan to hot spring with giant macaques. Finally back to Seattle, and one last call to Stern before its time for his power nap for the night. Hey Stern, my business isnt making enough money and I vote we dont offer anywhere near 50-50. MJ backs me on this. He and I are meeting up in his secret batcave in Chi town after I take my power nap.” and so on….

by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 17, 2011 12:44 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs

Very cool that PA offered to help them out.

by Timmay! on Nov 17, 2011 12:28 PM PST reply actions

It does have something to do with Paul Allen

And unlike previous media attempts to vilify Allen, this story is likely true. While we are team-centric at BE, Paul is not so much. He appears to be very curious about much around the world and uses his immense wealth to explore and to support others that do the same. Paul will not be taking a year off because of the NBPA refusal to continue bargaining. He will find many other things to fascinate and explore.

by lee3022 on Nov 17, 2011 1:43 PM PST reply actions

They need to find Mega Shark before it takes out another bridge

"How you gonna fire a ninja Paul?" - Rich Cho

by Sexual Tyrannosaurus on Nov 17, 2011 1:50 PM PST reply actions 2 recs

time to call in Manny Puig!

by cavejunctionblazer on Nov 17, 2011 1:58 PM PST up reply actions

Let's see Mark Cuban do something as cool as this!

My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.

by OCBlazerFan1 on Nov 17, 2011 1:56 PM PST reply actions

does buying the Dodgers count as cool?

I guess they both sink

I JUST WANT MY BASKETBALL BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Sean in Vancouver on Nov 17, 2011 2:33 PM PST up reply actions

No.

Unless he digs up Tommy Lasorda, freezes him in carbonite, and puts him on display in front of the stadium.

Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

by conspirator5 on Nov 17, 2011 4:42 PM PST up reply actions

Cuban started a tequila company with a guy named Turtle

#aquaticresearch

by Norsktroll on Nov 18, 2011 10:42 AM PST up reply actions

Regardless of anything else

this is pretty cool

I JUST WANT MY BASKETBALL BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Sean in Vancouver on Nov 17, 2011 2:32 PM PST reply actions

I tried to do a report on Coelacanths...

in 1988 when I was in fourth grade. There was not enough information for me to do one at the time though so I switched to pumas. There was not any internet for me to do more research at the time and the elementary school library had no information on Coelacanths.

by thefansattic on Nov 17, 2011 3:06 PM PST reply actions