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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The other continent down under
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Star Wars Day
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High above the Aegean Sea
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Which bird wore it best?
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Dragon tails trail to the sea
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA
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Beech trees and anemone wildflowers, Jutland, Denmark
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The gateway to jungle
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An iridescent view
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A public restroom or a tourist spot?
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Elephant Rock, Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia
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Whos in this creepy copse?
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The holy city of Varanasi
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Something to ‘bee’ thankful for..
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Wait, mountain – you shall bear my castle!
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The festival of breaking the fast
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Nap your worries away
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Allens Hummingbird
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Bridging the gap two ways
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Birch trees, Drammen, Norway
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Whats so funny?
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The worlds most exclusive beach?
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A future built on the past
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Celebrating sibling bonds
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Spanning the soft sunlight
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Is anybody home?
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World Book Day
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Camels in the desert, United Arab Emirates
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Fit for a fairytale
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Eurasian red squirrel