Deep down: There are some mighty weird creatures swimming around the depths of the ocean - they're surreal things, with big eyes and snaggly teeth, kind of like what you'd see in a Hieronymous Bosch painting or a Ducktales episode. Some of them live so deep in the ocean that they can explode from the change in pressure if brought to the surface too quickly. It's no wonder these nightmarish beasties inspired such sci-fi terrors as the Alien. Seriously consider buying a larger aquarium at www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=19383.

Ewww: Slime molds are a unique form of life that scientists used to think were fungus, but now regard as something entirely different - and sinister. They're basically disgusting hunks of living, moving slime. There are two main kinds of slime molds: ones that are effectively a single giant slime cell, and others that are made up of many cells but can swarm together when needed. Grow your own as a pet at www.exploratorium.edu/turbulent/slime.act.html.

Comments? Michael Citrome