Name: Steve Allen Location: Toronto, Ontario Question: What is the range for the ship and sub? How long can they stay at sea before going into port to restock/refuel etc.? Capt. Ralph van Hoek: The ship has a range of 6,000 nautical miles and can stay at sea for 1 month, depending on conditions. The sub can dive to a maximum of 3000' and operates for 3.5 hours "deck to deck" (that is, from launch to recovery). Name: Sandra Hendry Location: Boca Raton, Florida Question: How big are these creatures usually and what's the largest you've seen? Dr. Marsh Youngbluth: Colonies of the physonect siphonophore can grow to 1.5 m in length. The nectosome and siphosome are about 3 cm in diameter. The tentacles, when fully extended, are a meter long. One species of physonect siphonophore called Apolemia uvaria stretches out for 20 meters! Name: Sharron Sheppard Location: Atlanta, Georgia Question: Are these animals dangerous in any way? Why are you studying them? Dr. Marsh Youngbluth: Most people who have been stung by siphonophores exhibit mild skin reactions such as epidermal blisters or subdermal swelling. The reasons why we are studying siphonophores are described in the FEATURE STORY of the The Maine Event web coverage on @Sea Name: Marcus Hearn Location: Santa Barbara, Califonia Question: Does the bioluminescence of these creatures help them to attract their copopod prey in any way? Dr. Edith A. Widder, Director and Senior Scientist in the Bioluminescence Department at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution There is no evidence that Nanomia's bioluminescence serves to attract prey. I suspect that the light, which is emitted in response to a mechanical stimulus, serves as a warning that says, "Stay away, or I'll sting you."