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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNewly Discovered Microorganisms Named After Cthulhu
http://www.geekosystem.com/cthulhu-microbes/A pair of microbes that help termites digest wood have been identified by researchers at the University of British Columbia. While finding new forms of life is always cool, this one probably wouldnt have caught our eyes if not for one thing the researchers who discovered the symbiotic microbes have named them after dread Cthulhu, and therefore earned our undying respect.
The two new species are Cthulhu macrofasciculumque and Cthylla microfasciculumque, the latter named after the less well known daughter of the greatest of the Great Old Ones. According to lead researcher Erick James, he and his team arent devotees of ancient monsters from beyond the veil of space and time or anything. Instead, the names were inspired by the octopoid movements of the newly discovered symbiont. When we first saw them under the microscope they had this unique motion, it looked almost like an octopus swimming, James says. Being good sci-fi dorks all, octopoid features reminded the team of Cthulhu, and the names stuck.
Theres no need to fear for your safety now that Cthulhu (well, a Cthulhu, anyway) is officially on the loose, though. The newly named protists are small even for single-celled animals, measuring no more than 10-20 microns in length, and live only in the stomachs of termites. Thus, the odds of them rising up to destroy human civilization and bring about an eternity of chaos and blight are, we like to think, fairly slim.
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Newly Discovered Microorganisms Named After Cthulhu (Original Post)
jpak
Apr 2013
OP
hatrack
(59,442 posts)2. I, for one, welcome our termite-borne intergalactic star-spawn overlords
Cthulhu fhtagn!
cthulu2016
(10,960 posts)3. WOOT WOOT!
kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)4. I approve. Lovecraft would, too.
Rex
(65,616 posts)5. I am sorry but Juiblex could kick Cthulhu's ass
once they both decided on what part is the ass.
jollyreaper2112
(1,941 posts)6. cutethulu