Nereus - very cool.
So, no offense to my astrophysics friends, because I think space is very cool and important to study, but it has always frustrated me that we know more about Mars than we do about our own oceans. If we want to learn anything about how Earth's climate really works, or about the variety and nature of life on Earth, we have to begin to understand our own oceans. Casey knows how amazed I am at how little we know about our oceans, so he texted me this afternoon and said "Google Nereus." He knew I'd be excited, cause Nereus is a new exploratory vessel that can reach the deepest part of the ocean in the Mariana Trench. Very cool! That means that this sub can go virtually anywhere in the ocean and explore! Into the trench, into the waters under the ice caps... Plus it can bring back up samples, and take pictures. Very cool!