As you might have heard, scientists at The Museum of New Zealand have just thawed out an extremely rare colossal squid, which they are hurriedly analyzing now. Imagine if you defrosted a fish and then had to study its every nook and cranny before it rotted right before your eyes and nose. That's what these frantic researchers are up against now. The squid, accidentally captured by fishermen in early 2007, was shoved into the vessel's freezer and has been frozen ever since. It likely represents a number of animal kingdom firsts: It's the world's largest known colossal squid and could measure over 30 feet in length. (It needs to thaw more before accurate measures can be taken.) It has the largest eyes of any animal, with each eye about the size of a basketball. It could be the only animal with built-in searchlights, as a light organ was detected right above its eyes. It's the best preserved specimen of its kind in any collection worldwide. It'll probably be the only colossal squid of its kind to ever go on public exhibit. A giant formalin/water-filled tank is already in the works. The atmosphere in the laboratory where they're studying the squid is unusual, to say the least. Picture multiple scientists all intensely focused on this enormous creature, which is laid out on a sort of trough contraption. The room absolutely reeks of fish. (It's a cephalopod, but fish is what comes to mind.) Members of the media are running around all ov ...
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