Jellyfish may be observed in all the world"s oceans in an array of shapes and sizes. There are about 2,000 different species of jellyfish, and they all lack hearts, bones and brains. Pacific sea nettle jellyfish, seen here, are known for their vibrant golden-brown bell and long tentacles, and inhabit the coastal waters of California and Oregon. Moon jellyfish are pale and have short tentacles, and in an unexpected but somewhat appropriate twist, they ventured into space aboard the space shuttle Columbia in 1991 to help scientists study their unique biology. No matter the species, jellyfish play a vital role in the ocean"s food chain, as they are the primary food source for many seawater animals, including sea turtles. Jellies are threatened by climate changes, marine pollution and overfishing, and damage to their populations has reverberating effects on the sea life that depends on them.
Pacific sea nettles off the coast of Carmel, California, USA
Today in History
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Haghartsin Monastery, Armenia
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Bathing boxes at Brighton Beach, Australia
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Horsetail Fall, Yosemite National Park, California, USA
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A ghost on the mountain
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Kings of the north
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Red rock country
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Martyrs’ Day
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Toledo, Spain
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Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa
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Bukhansan National Park, South Korea
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Just a couple of know-it-owls
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A world within a world
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An indigo on a branch, Texas, USA
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‘Moravian Tuscany’
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A glimpse of the grandest of canyons
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The sun sets on the Valley of the Moon
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Ross Sea, Antarctica
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A view that’s out of this world
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Take the trail more travelled by
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The dawn of a new beginning
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Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve, Australia
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What are these beautiful sandy waves?
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Aýna, Albacete, Spain
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A chocolate lovers favorite fruit
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A painters palette of natures hues
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Misool, Raja Ampat Islands, Indonesia
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We’ve identified these ‘flying objects’
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The sprout with amazing potential
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Isn’t this view mesmerizing?
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World Wildlife Day