Jan 12, 2021 10:45 AM EST
It was in 1841 when renowned biologist Richard Owen was left in awe when he found a new sea sponge species in the Philippines. He was astounded by the organism's beauty.
(Photo : From Steve Rupp, National Science Foundation)
Green and yellow sea sponges, Antarctica
Fast forward to today, many scientists are still marveling over sea sponges. It's not just visually appealing, but it's also somewhat special to aquatic scientists because of its unique characteristics.
Glass sponges are said to live for thousands of years if it is left on optimal conditions, which makes them one of the longest living animals. They can also channel light through their fiber optic like silica strands.