Nauticus is a great museum well worth the visit. In addition to the navel exhibits there is information on weather, the local sea life, underwater exploration, geography and geology Tom and I spent about two hours wandering the exhibits.
Nauticus Mission Statement:
- NAUTICUS inspires and educates with engaging & interactive experiences that celebrate our connections with today's maritime world. Nauticus is a contemporary museum that uses the natural setting of Norfolk's harbor to showcase global maritime commerce and the world's largest Navy.
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These are Horseshoe crabs that are being rehabilitation after being
harvested for their blood. Unlike mammals, horseshoe crabs do not have hemoglobin in their blood, but instead use hemocyanin to carry oxygen. Because of the copper present in hemocyanin, their blood is blue. Their blood contains amebocytes, which play a role similar to white blood cells for vertebrates in defending the organism against pathogens. Amebocytes from the blood of L. polyphemus are used to make Limulus amebocyte lysate, which is used for the detection of bacterial endotoxins.
Harvesting horseshoe crab blood involves collecting and bleeding the animals, and then releasing them back into the sea. Most of the animals survive the process; mortality is correlated with both the amount of blood extracted from an individual animal, and the stress experienced during handling and transportation. [11] Estimates of mortality rates following blood harvesting vary from 3% to 15%. [12] |
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SOS Station
Imagine gazing upon
Earth as you are suspended in orbit 22,000 miles above its surface with NOAA's "Science On A
Sphere".
Touch a tornado. Strike a spark and learn about lightning. Analyze current
weather conditions. A variety of exhibits and weather instruments cover all
types of weather-related phenomena. |
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Shark Experience
Meet our newest
additions to Nauticus - Brownbanded Bamboo Sharks, Whitespotted Bamboo Sharks,
Coral Catsharks, Epaulette Sharks and a Shovelnose Guitarfish. |
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| Maryland crab |
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| Moray Eel |
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