Rare ‘doomsday' oarfish on display at Birch Aquarium after washing up in San Diego
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The 'doomsday fish' that washed up on a San Diego beach late last year is now on display at San Diego's Birch Aquarium, giving visitors a unique chance to see the rare oarfish in person.
The 11-foot oarfish was found on Grandview Beach near Leucadia in northern San Diego County in November 2024, and can be seen on display through this summer at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego.
Another rare 'doomsday fish' discovered in San Diego County
'Oarfish: Recent Discoveries from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography Collection' is a new limited-time immersive exhibition that brings visitors into their deep-sea world, and includes the preserved Short-crested Oarfish, along with a preserved ribbonfish — a King-of-the-Salmon.
Oarfish are scaleless with silvery heads, and have a string-like red dorsal fin, and long, narrow bodies that can grow up to 30 feet. They are found in warm seas worldwide, but are rarely seen by humans as they are deep sea fish that live in the mesopelagic zone, a layer of the ocean between 200 and 1,000 meters deep.
In folklore, oarfish are typically depicted as as 'messengers' that warn humans of earthquakes, diseases and other natural disasters, hence the 'doomsday fish' nickname.
Giraffe calf born at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
The oarfish discovered in Encinitas was the second found dead in San Diego County in 2024.
'Oarfish are rarely encountered here in California, making it remarkable that we recovered, studied, and preserved two of them last year,' said Ben Frable Senior Collection Manager of Marine Vertebrates at Scripps. 'Each new specimen deepens our understanding of this enigmatic fish. With their long, silver bodies and striking red fins, emerging from the vast ocean, oarfish have long fueled human imagination. I hope that seeing these specimens in person fosters a deeper appreciation for them—not as mythical creatures, but as remarkable living beings that share our world.'
The oarfish exhibit is open through summer 2025 at Birch Aquarium and is included with general admission. The aquarium says advanced reservations are required.
Birch Aquarium is located at 2300 Expedition Way in La Jolla. Visit aquarium.ucsd.edu for more information, including the Daily Schedule.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Life Science Labs Signal Shifting Strategies Amid New Economic Pressures, According to Survey of 550+ Researchers
ARLINGTON, Va., June 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- New survey insights reveal a measurable shift in how life science labs are responding to global financial uncertainty, rising operational costs, and upcoming U.S. tariff policies. Based on responses from more than 550 academic and industry researchers, the latest data from BioInformatics' Beyond the Bench series captures how lab priorities, purchasing decisions, and funding strategies have evolved from January to mid-April 2025—offering a rare pre- and post-policy view of market sentiment. While the first wave of the survey was fielded prior to the announcement of new tariff policies, the second wave offers a timely comparison as labs began adjusting to anticipated policy changes under the Trump administration and broader macroeconomic pressures, including inflation, tightened research budgets, and supply chain strain. Click here to download the Lab Budgets & Funding Survey Key Survey Findings Include: Funding confidence is declining, with only 57% of labs reporting confidence in securing 2025 funding—down from 66% in the first wave. Financial strain is hitting North American labs harder than those in Europe: 46% report new funding challenges (vs. 21% in Europe), and over half are considering personnel cuts, compared to just 28% in Europe. 42% of labs cite new concerns about securing funding through year-end, signaling heightened financial risk across the sector. Cost-saving strategies are accelerating, including resource sharing, supplier renegotiations, outsourcing, and delayed equipment purchases. These findings reflect shifting institutional priorities and underscore the growing need for timely, market-aligned planning as labs face increased constraints and financial pressure. "By fielding this survey before and after key policy announcements, we're able to offer a real-time snapshot of how labs are adjusting to economic volatility," said Richa Singh, VP, Market Insights at BioInformatics. "As tariff policies begin to reshape lab planning, companies need focused, evidence-backed insights to align their strategies. This data helps commercial teams track funding sentiment, adapt messaging, and make confident, evidence-based decisions—especially in a market where priorities can change within weeks." About Beyond the Bench Beyond the Bench is a free monthly intelligence series created by BioInformatics to help life science and diagnostics companies understand how customer sentiment and commercial priorities are shifting—particularly during times of uncertainty and industry disruption. Powered by the Science Advisory Board, BioInformatics' proprietary network of over 55,000 life science professionals, each report delivers survey-based insights on market trends, strategic shifts, and buyer behavior. The series was launched to provide a clear, unbiased view into the evolving challenges facing researchers and decision-makers—giving commercial teams actionable guidance to align strategy, messaging, and resource planning with what matters most to their customers. Access & Get Involved: Download the Lab Budgets & Funding Survey Sign up to receive monthly Beyond the Bench reports Join the Science Advisory Board — qualify to participate in surveys, earn rewards, and shape the future of scientific research. About BioInformatics BioInformatics, part of the Science and Medicine Group, is a leading market research and advisory firm serving the life science and diagnostic industries. The company delivers custom and syndicated research powered by a proprietary global panel of more than 55,000 professionals. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE BioInformatics Inc.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Life Science Labs Signal Shifting Strategies Amid New Economic Pressures, According to Survey of 550+ Researchers
ARLINGTON, Va., June 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- New survey insights reveal a measurable shift in how life science labs are responding to global financial uncertainty, rising operational costs, and upcoming U.S. tariff policies. Based on responses from more than 550 academic and industry researchers, the latest data from BioInformatics' Beyond the Bench series captures how lab priorities, purchasing decisions, and funding strategies have evolved from January to mid-April 2025—offering a rare pre- and post-policy view of market sentiment. While the first wave of the survey was fielded prior to the announcement of new tariff policies, the second wave offers a timely comparison as labs began adjusting to anticipated policy changes under the Trump administration and broader macroeconomic pressures, including inflation, tightened research budgets, and supply chain strain. Click here to download the Lab Budgets & Funding Survey Key Survey Findings Include: Funding confidence is declining, with only 57% of labs reporting confidence in securing 2025 funding—down from 66% in the first wave. Financial strain is hitting North American labs harder than those in Europe: 46% report new funding challenges (vs. 21% in Europe), and over half are considering personnel cuts, compared to just 28% in Europe. 42% of labs cite new concerns about securing funding through year-end, signaling heightened financial risk across the sector. Cost-saving strategies are accelerating, including resource sharing, supplier renegotiations, outsourcing, and delayed equipment purchases. These findings reflect shifting institutional priorities and underscore the growing need for timely, market-aligned planning as labs face increased constraints and financial pressure. "By fielding this survey before and after key policy announcements, we're able to offer a real-time snapshot of how labs are adjusting to economic volatility," said Richa Singh, VP, Market Insights at BioInformatics. "As tariff policies begin to reshape lab planning, companies need focused, evidence-backed insights to align their strategies. This data helps commercial teams track funding sentiment, adapt messaging, and make confident, evidence-based decisions—especially in a market where priorities can change within weeks." About Beyond the Bench Beyond the Bench is a free monthly intelligence series created by BioInformatics to help life science and diagnostics companies understand how customer sentiment and commercial priorities are shifting—particularly during times of uncertainty and industry disruption. Powered by the Science Advisory Board, BioInformatics' proprietary network of over 55,000 life science professionals, each report delivers survey-based insights on market trends, strategic shifts, and buyer behavior. The series was launched to provide a clear, unbiased view into the evolving challenges facing researchers and decision-makers—giving commercial teams actionable guidance to align strategy, messaging, and resource planning with what matters most to their customers. Access & Get Involved: Download the Lab Budgets & Funding Survey Sign up to receive monthly Beyond the Bench reports Join the Science Advisory Board — qualify to participate in surveys, earn rewards, and shape the future of scientific research. About BioInformatics BioInformatics, part of the Science and Medicine Group, is a leading market research and advisory firm serving the life science and diagnostic industries. The company delivers custom and syndicated research powered by a proprietary global panel of more than 55,000 professionals. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE BioInformatics Inc.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Space station sensor helps detect water pollutants off California coast
(FOX 5/KUSI) — A sensor on the International Space Station that helps map minerals was able to help track water contaminants off the San Diego coast. According to NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, researchers involved in a study of the instrument's capabilities found that it could potentially help track some water contaminants faster than traditional means. The instrument is called the Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) and it observes sunlight reflecting off the Earth. Recently, EMIT was used to examine the wastewater from the Tijuana River as it emptied into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Imperial Beach. The wastewater has been emptying into the ocean for decades and has harmed ocean and river ecosystems, humans and wildlife. Researchers examined EMIT's images pixel by pixel and were able to identify signs that indicated certain molecules present in specific areas of the image. When they cross-referenced their findings with water testing done on those same areas of the Pacific Ocean, the findings lined up, helping detect phycocyanin, a pigment in cyanobacteria, which can make humans and animals sick. 'From orbit, you are able to look down and see that a wastewater plume is extending into places you haven't sampled,' JPL scientist Christine Lee said in a news release. 'It's like a diagnostic at the doctor's office that tells you, 'Hey, let's take a closer look at this.'' Eva Scrivner, the lead author of the study, said that EMIT could help fill data gaps about polluted sites where traditional water testing could take too much time or money. EMIT was launched in July 2022 and was dedicated to mapping minerals and dust across Earth's deserts, but now researchers have found that it can provide insights about water too. 'The fact that EMIT's findings over the coast are consistent with measurements in the field is compelling to water scientists…It's really exciting,' Scrivner said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
