Tonight I became nocturnal. This is an experiment in itself. For the past three days we have been living with the diurnal. This evening we get to experience science after the sun sets. Hopefully my sleep pattern can be adjusted and I’ll make it through to morning. My prediction is that the excitement and samples coming in will allow that to happen without interruption by sleep.
It’s been impressive as I’ve said in previous tweets on board, how friendly and open everyone is about their research. I’m watching right now a paleogeologist respond to blog questions from my students back at Midpark High School. He has dedicated that time to share his knowledge, and I’m impressed by that. In passing I’ve stumbled into conversation with almost all the researchers, and I actually learned how to chart and locate the ship position on a sea chart. That’s the kind of think that has impressed me most about the researchers. They are totally willing to teach us. The remarkable part of this whole cruise, on the research end, is each scientist is working in their own discipline. However, each is contributing to a common goal. Ultimately, helping to explain what changes have occurred and are occurring to the local history and ecology of the Santa Barbara basin.
I’ve taken a small sea nap in an attempt to make it through to 05:00 hrs on Wednesday. I’m excited to see what the night crew has been collecting and hopefully get myself involved with the science of it as well. I’ll let you all know.
Steve Blatnica
Education At Sea 
So you didn’t make it through the entire night?
You should try to drink a bunch of coffee, maybe that might help you stay awake longer. That’s really nice about the one researcher responding to all of us.
Is a sea nap like cat nap?
Precisely. A sea nap involves being rocked to sleep by the gentle motion of the ship.
I did make it through!
what is the thing you liked learning about most from the other researchers?
I’m really fascinated by the research that is going on with the fish that migrate up the water column each night to feed. While we are sorting through some of the fishes we are seeing some really interesting creatures with cool adaptations.
What is the duirnal?
Diurnal is the opposite of nocturnal, and it refers to organisms that are active during the day! Which in most instances would be me.
What was the most interesting thing that you have learned from other researches on the ship?
Are you enjoying being on the night crew?
I would say that the night watch is where it’s at.
Did you find any interesting samples yet?
There are so many great organisms coming in each day. We found some really great squid, and several crustaceans from the IKMT nests last night. It’s really exciting to see what comes up on each deployment. Check out the photo gallery for some shots of the organisms we found.
how much longer do you have to be on the night crew? and do you enjoy being with the researchers that are open about there fields?
I’ll be on a shift from 14:00 to 02:00 (2pm-2am) for the rest of the week.
What are you looking forward to most about being on the night shift?
Who do you think has the hardest job on the ship and why? Are they on the night shift too?
There are really several crews that work on the ship. The engineers are in charge of the ships equipment, and piloting the vessel. Then there is the crew that take care of the cooking and making sure everyone is comfortable on board, and they have what they need. The final group of people on board are the scientists that are working on there projects. They all are responsible for a lot.
Who do u think has the hardest job on the night shift and why?
What is the most impressive thing that you have learned while on this expedition?
It seems like you guys are working hard, have you guys found anything unusual, or interesting? How much sleep do you get.
We just found a burrowing fish in a box core sample. That’s rather unusual.
What type of research did you find at night with the researches?
What’s the diurnal?
It sounds like everyone is having lots of fun. Do you like being on the night shift better than the day shift?
Whats the diurnal?
Other than studying samples, are you doing any other research in the middle of the night?
Some of the other research taking place at night involves phytoplankton (floating organisms that photosynthesize). Some researchers are looking at levels of dissolved substances of water samples at various depths.
Do you think by doing the night shift, you’ll find many more things than when you’re researching normal hours? Have you met any particular scientists that you’ve become reall good friends with?
I hope you like being on the night shift. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve found so far?
That is cool that everyone is so friendly. Is it hard to chart and locate the ship position on a sea chart?
Not anymore
I hope it gets easier for you to stay awake all night. Otherwise sounds like you’re enjoying yourself. Its nice of the researchers to be so willing to tell you about what they came on the vessel to do.
Which is more interesting/fun, researching during the night or researching during the day?
What is your favorite part of the trip? Least favorite? Why?
Night shift must really be difficult in the middle of the ocean. Do you think that will be the hardest task you will have to complete on your research trip? I am glad you are making a lot of friends while doing research. haha.
What has been the most interesting thing that you have learned from the researchers so far?
What’s it like working on the night crew? Was it hard to adjust to staying awake at night instead?
Was it hard to adjust your sleep schedule? Or did all of the friendly, interesting people and exciting experiences make it much easier for you?
Was it hard for you to stay up? And wouldn’t the lack of sleep affect your research?
Did you find any interesting things at night?
What have you enjoyed the most on your raccoon adventures, as I would call it? How exactly have the researchers taught you how to locate the boat wherever it is?
Was it really hard to stay awake for that many hours?
How did you do it?
Is it easier staying up all night doing something your interested in? I think it would harder if you were bored with what you were learning.
What is your motivation to stay up during the night and do research?
What is a paleologist?
i ment paleogeologist,sorry.
Is it hard for you to stay up all night, since your so use to waking up for school hours?
monster energy drinks are key!
I think that it is really ccool you get to research during the night time to see all the different things. It does not sound fun though to lose sleep. I hope that you found a lot of interesting things while on that adventure. What was the most interesting thing that you think you did find?
what types of creatures are you guys studying on the night shift? How are your guys likeing the creatures your studying?