Isopod Update

I linked to an article about the giant isopod (Bathynomus giganteus). The article was incorrect on several issues, and the most prominent mistake from that post was with the supposed size (I didn't check the literature, I assumed the author had done so.  Sorry for the bad information).  A quote from a worker on deck suggested that the specimen was over 2.5 ft long.  Published literature places the average length at ~0.9-1.2ft, and MacAvoy et al. 2002 claims the largest specimen in collection is ~1.6ft. It is possible that this specimen is the largest ever seen, but it is more likely that the guy on deck overestimated the size.  For a fantastic article that corrects many of the mistakes circulating in the main stream media about this creature check out the Deep Sea News blog.

1. MacAvoy, S. E., R. S. Carney, C. R. Fisher, and S. A. Macko. 2002. Use of chemosynthetic biomass by large, mobile, benthic predators in the Gulf of Mexico. Marine Ecology Progress Series 225:65-78

Capsize Guam!?

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) apparently thinks that Guam is in danger of capsizing! Really? Really?

Credit Where Credit Is Due

ABC has released an article on a young girl who was apparently saved by a miracle of god. In 1987 Benedicta McCarthy a two year old from Boston got into her parents medicine supply and ingested 19 times the lethal dose of acetaminophen. When she arrived at the hospital the physicians did not think this case would have a positive outcome, however due to a kidney transplant and immediate help from physicians it did have a positive out come. The Vatican and McCarthy now 25 believes it was a miracle from heaven. I would be more inclined to think it was the work of a talented group of physicians trained in science based medicine using state of the art technology that saved her life and not that magical bullshit.

The thing that really amazes me about this article, and really pisses me off about these overzealous religious cooks is that she thanks god and the saints but completely fails to recognize those critical to her survival. How about the doctors who performed the kidney transplant that saved your life! How about the donor that provided that kidney. But no, the modern science that saved McCarthy's life is pushed to the side so the Catholic church can sit high and take credit for things which they had no part in.

The kicker to me is the part where the family was so amazed how fast she felt better. Well she got a new kidney, and guess what those things start working pretty damn fast once they're in! The family didn't know that a new kidney will make a person feel a lot better quickly and so they assumed it was gods work, that is just an argument out of ignorance. I am disappointed that ABC would put out an article that is so one sided without even a hint of looking at what really happened.

If Ms. McCarthy wants to give credit to saints and angels that's fine, but maybe she could put them down on the list a little, and maybe give some credit where credit is due.

Thursday Isopod

This Giant isopod (Bathynomus giganteus) attached to an ROV at roughly 8,500 ft. It is just over 2.5 feet from head to tail, and it is one crazy looking bastard. Click here to see the full article.

The Logical Fallacy Song!

We've all heard them.

Christopher Hitchens: Variation On A Theme

My kind of ten commandments. This one comes courtesy of Stupid Evil Bastard.

The Virgin Damaged My Macula!

Ireland's Knock shrine is well known for apparent divine visions of the virgin Mary and other sacred figures. The shrine, and the visions associated with it are considered by the catholic church to be trustworthy1. These 'miracles' attract over 1.5 million visitors annually making the Knock shrine the most popular attraction in western Ireland1. In late October an apparition of the virgin 'appeared' in the skies over the shrine.

About 10,000 people attended a supposed apparition of the Virgin Mary at the Knock shrine in Co Mayo on October 31st. At this, and at a similar event on October 11th, people claimed to see the sun shimmering, changing colour and “dancing in the sky”.

This 'miracle' turns out to be a public health concern. Dr. Eamonn O’Donoghue, an ophthalmologist surgeon in Galway has seen a five fold increase in cases of solar retinopathy. A condition caused by staring at the sun that can lead to blindness.

Solar retinopathy, or eclipse retinopathy as it is also known, affects the macula and can cause a significant reduction in vision. It can also lead to altered images, altered colour perception and blind spots.

Miracles seem less and less miraculous the closer we look. In this case the affect was negative. If it were a corporation they would have been sued for something like this. Perhaps the church will be, but I doubt it.

1: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/knock-shrine

All quotes are from the Irish Times.

Also see:
The Irish Times article about the health concern.
The Skeptics Guide To The Universe podcast
The Bad Astronomer, Phil Plait