Laboulbeniales

I've been writing a lit review about insect-fungal interactions. This is probably the coolest thing I have re-discovered in my reading. Laboulbeniales is a group of fungi that live on insects. Unlike other fungi that like to snack on insects, though, the Laboulbeniales like to hang out on the outside of the insect. Here you can see them attached to a ladybird beetle, sticking out like tiny yellow spikes. The fungus is anchored to the insect's cuticle, with roots extending down into the insect's hemocoel, drinking their juices. This way, the fungus can live and let live, feeding but not killing its host. More information here:
Laboulbeniales
Laboulbeniomycetes
Harmonia beetles with Laboulbeniales

Photo from Wikipedia, used under creative commons license.

Luciferase - Enzyme of wonder

Firefly light production itself is kind of a little miracle. In their light organs, the enzyme luciferase oxidizes luciferin in a reaction that converts almost all the energy of the reaction into light without producing excess heat. The light can be turned on and off by the coordination of nitrous oxide production to liberate oxygen to participate in the reaction.

Things that make you want to become an oceanographer

Yeah, it's a jellyfish. A really huge blanket-like jellyfish called Deepstaria enigmatica. I love it!