A woman has seen her own heart on display at a medical exhibition. Scientists have discovered a species of brittle star whose outer skeleton is covered with crystalline lenses that appear to work collectively as an all-seeing eye. In the past few days, researchers have seen areas of sea foaming with gas bubbling up through “methane chimneys” rising from the sea floor. I’m just wondering what the heck is in our water supply, what the heck is in our oxygen supply, of the metallic outside salts that create a rainbow effect in a sprinkler? What is oozing out of our ground that allows this type of effect to happen? It caused me so much pain and turmoil when it was inside me. Seeing it sitting here is extremely bizarre and very strange. Restrictive cardiomyopathy causes the heart muscle to stiffen so the heart cannot relax normally after contraction. As the disease progresses, the heart muscle continues to stiffen and eventually contraction is also affected. Thanks to evolution, they have beautifully designed crystal lenses that are an integral part of their calcite skeleton, said Hendler. Those lenses appear to be acting in concert with chromatophores and photoreceptor tissues. At earlier sites we had found elevated levels of dissolved methane. Yesterday, for the first time, we documented a field where the release was so intense that the methane did not have time to dissolve into the seawater but was rising as methane bubbles to the sea surface. Not just around our sun and our moon anymore — everywhere we look, the visible spectrum… is rainbows. This cannot be natural. Finally I can see this odd looking lump of muscle that has given me so much upset.
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Sources: Woman sees own heart on display; Brittle Star Found Covered With Optically Advanced “Eyes”; The methane time bomb; Sprinkler Rainbow Conspiracy
Hmm. I was ready for this to be a poetic chain of newly discovered facts in the manner of the “Findings” section of Harper’s, so when I hit the first person it felt like an eruption of methane. But I hear you reaching for something powerful here, and hope you keep reaching this way.
I like the random connnected/disconnectedness of these – the hardening heart, the brittle stars, the oozing threat from the ground, the sea foaming, the chromatophores, photoreceptors, and rainbows. The hardened crystal lenses on a star, and seeing one’s hardened heart. Spooky and beautiful. Thanks.
I really like this blending of fact and emotion. Mind if I borrow your idea? It seems both beautiful as a craft form, and therapeutic as a response to crises.
Sure, borrow away! I was just feeling guilty that I hadn’t used this material in a more creative fashion. But I figure Via Neg readers don’t need to see a poem every day.
Jarrett, Peg – Thanks for letting me know that this worked for you. I guess I’ll have to try it more often, instead of simply posting links to the sidebar.
A fine riff… I like that way of doing links, attempting to make everything approach the condition of art. This one seems likely to turn into a poem.