Tiny Octopus-Like Microorganisms Named After Lovecraft's Cthulhu

Newly discovered tiny octopus-like microorganisms have been named after the fictional monsters created by American horror author H.P. Lovecraft. The single-cell protists, Cthulhu macrofasciculumque and Cthylla microfasciculumque, live in the gut of termites and help them digest wood. The scientists say in a release that they decided to name the creatures after the Lovecraft monsters as "as an ode to the sometimes strange and fascinating world of the microbe." 

UBC researcher Erick James, lead author of the paper describing the new protists, says, "When we first saw them under the microscope they had this unique motion, it looked almost like an octopus swimming."

The octopus-like movements and appearance of both protists reminded James of the horrid Cthulhu and Cthylla. Lovecraft described the Cthulhu as "A monster of vaguely anthropoid outline, but with an octopus-like head whose face was a mass of feelers, a scaly, rubbery-looking body, prodigious claws on hind and fore feet, and long, narrow wings behind, along with a large jugular vein." 

Cthulhu and Cthylla are very small. They are in the range of 10 to 20 microns, which is why they had not previously been identified. Most of the larger protists living in termites - that have already been identified - are around 50 to 150 microns. 

The research paper was published here in PLoS One.

Photo: University of British Columbia

Posted on April 3, 2013
Here is a video of the Cthulhu macrofasciculumque in action: 

http://www.sciencespacerobots.com/tiny-octopus-like-microorganisms-named-after-lovecrafts-cthulhu-40320131

Groping Octopus Ghost

A British grandmother claimed that she cannot sleep at night as she is plagued by a groping, octopus-like ghost that is haunting her apartment.

Doris Birch, 73, said the ghost began haunting her home in Herne Bay, on England's southeastern coast, four months ago.

"It's like an octopus," she told local newspaper the Herne Bay Times. "It started four months ago. I was lying in bed when I felt this creepy pair of hands. I kicked frantically, and it went away. Next time it came, I hurled the duvet on to the floor."

She added, "But the ghost keeps coming back. I've tried sleeping without the duvet. But it started shaking my mattress. I even threw the mattress off the bed and bought a new one, but it has made no difference."

Birch has turned to her vicar and local ghost hunters to help rid her of the unwelcome guest.

"I told the vicar, and he said it is a lost spirit," she said. "What I want to know is, why has it got lost in my flat?"

She continued, "People are going to think I am [crazy], but it is as real as the day to me. I'm not lonely. I love living alone. But this is very creepy and is giving me the jitters. It's harassing me. I need to call in the Ghostbusters."

Hugh-Nigel Sheehan, Birch's local Methodist minister, said, "I was approached by Mrs. Birch, but I fear I am not in a position to help. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. I have no expertise in this at all."

The 73-year-old said: `It's like an octopus. I was lying in bed when I felt this creepy pair of hands. 

`I kicked frantically and it went away. 

'I've tried sleeping without the duvet. But it started shaking my mattress. 

`I even threw the mattress off the bed and bought a new one but it has made no difference.

`This is very creepy and is giving me the jitters. It's harassing me. 

'I need to call in the Ghostbusters.' 

Mrs Birch, who lives alone, says she has consulted a vicar who believes the disturbances are being caused by a `lost spirit', according to the Canterbury Times.

The former nursing home assistant has had a promise from a local husband-and-wife ghost hunting team to send the poltergeist packing.

Spirit medium Ray Herne says he will draw the ghost into him while his wife Beryl will capture it in a `vortex of light' and send it to the `other side'. 

More...Indiana Jones missed the REAL Mayan skull - used in a game of 'squash' where the losers would become human sacrifices 

Terror of family who claim their five-year old son is haunted by the 'man with grey skin' 

Methodist Minister Hugh-Nigel Sheehan of the nearby United Church confirmed he had been approached by Mrs Birch but had been unable to help. 

Larissa Laing, head of Canterbury City Council's Head of Housing said: 'The council has a duty of care and will respond to any complaints or concerns experienced by our tenants. 

'Therefore even though we have received no similar reports from residents living in Margaret Court I'm more than happy to meet Doris Birch and discuss her situation.' 

Poltergeist activity has often been believed to be the work of malicious ghosts.

The word poltergeist comes from the German words poltern 'to make a noise' and geist 'spirit'.

The term itself literally means 'noisy ghost' and victims often report inanimate objects being picked up and thrown, noises such as knocking, rapping and human voices - or even physical attacks.


http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpps/news/offbeat/british-grandmother-plagued-by-groping-octopus-ghost-dpgonc-20111121-ch_16053588