Expedition 13 Mail Buoy: December 10

What are living quarters like in the ship? What do crew members do for recreation?

Caleb

Dear Caleb:

This is my first cruise on Atlantis and I’m very impressed with the living quarters. Things are tight and not like living at home or in a hotel, but this is a ship and you quickly learn to adjust. My previous cruises have been smaller, 2- or 3-day trips on smaller research vessels where we shared a large, communal bunk space. Here, I share a berth with one other person (Dave Sims) and we share a head (bathroom) with another 2-person berth. The mess (dining area), lounge, library and labs—all the shared areas of the ship—are very small, but, for a ship, very roomy and comfortable. The crew has exercise equipment and a large library of books and movies. In fact, some of the most well-read people I’ve met live or work on ships. Several of the crew have hobbies. That I’m hoping to highlight in an upcoming daily update.

—Ken Kostel, Science Writer, WHOI

Why is the mini submarine called "Alvin"?  Is it named after the small chipmunk?

Emma

Dear Emma:

It’s actually named after Allyn Vine, who was an early driving force behind the development of a maneuverable deep-sea submersible in the 1950s. Alvin’s first support ship, Lulu, was named after his mother. You can read more here:

History of Alvin

—Ken Kostel, Science Writer, WHOI

For Dr. Chuck Fischer - will you be able to sample the thick brown substance covering the coral near the wellhead? If so, can you ID it as La sweet crude and "fingerprint" it aboard ship?

Bob Serata

Dear Bob:

We will be able to sample the material, and already have. [See slideshow 12/9/10, image 8] We do not, however, have the capability to fingerprint it on board—we’ll be sending the material to labs once we reach shore to do that.

—Chuck Fisher, Penn State

The following questions are from Ms. Sheild's 7th grade science class, Clarke Middle School, Lexington, MA

I am one of Ms. Sheild's seventh grade students, and I would like to know if there are any organisms that both photosynthesize and chemosynthesize? Thank you for your time to answer my question.

Andrew

Dear Andrew:

In the deep sea there’s not enough light for photosynthesis to work. There might be something in shallow or coastal water, but not that I know of. That’s not to say it’s impossible—in fact, we’re regularly amazed by the strategies that organisms employ to live.

—Erik Cordes, Temple University

Im in Ms. Sheild's class and we are learning about tubeworms and bacteria. Since tubeworms aren't really consumers because they don't eat the bacteria, what category are tubeworms in? (I know they don't make their own food either- the bacteria do). Thank you

Rachel

Dear Rachel:

Because tubeworms and bacteria are considered a single functional organism (neither could probably live independently of the other), the tubeworms are essentially primary producers.

Andrea Quattrini, Temple University

I am from Ms. Sheild's seventh grade class.  We are learning about photosynthesis and chemosynthesis.  I know that in plants, chloroplasts perform the photosynthesis.  Is there a specific organelle in deep sea bacteria that converts the chemicals to energy?

Thank you for answering my question.

Isaiah

Dear Isaiah:

Bacteria don’t have organelles. They are very simple organisms. Rather, they act as organelles in the tubeworms. In fact, the mitochondria in our cells are thought to have once been internal symbionts that later became a part of the internal structure of cells.

—Erik Cordes, Temple University