[sigtau]

Who lives in a rainforest under a tree?
Unfortunately, Spongebob Squarepants.

Meet Spongiforma squarepantsii, a sponge-like fungus that was recently discovered.  It retains the qualities of a table sponge, in that it retains its shape even after wringing the water out of it, which somehow convinced scientists to name it after the yellow cartoon character their kids are probably obsessed with.

[Mongoose]

I strongly dislike the show myself, but this isn't the first time that a species has been named after something pop-culture-related, and I don't really see anything wrong with it.  It gets people to care about something they'd never hear about otherwise.

[Snail]

I'd hate to be that fungus.

[Black Wolf]

One of the more significant developmental hox genes is called "Sonic Hedgehog" - this sort of stuff is nothing new.

[Nuke]

our ex ninth planet was named after a yellow orangish cartoon dog drawn by a very disturbed individual.

[General Battuta]

One of the more significant developmental hox genes is called "Sonic Hedgehog" - this sort of stuff is nothing new.

There are loads of these, especially in drosophila. (Plus you've got the Garry Larsen bug, god bless its tiny soul)

[Black Wolf]

Heh, Far Side is especially beloved by scientists. My favourite.

[StarSlayer]

That reminds me how official are those "name a star" programs you hear advertised on a radio?  I ask because it'll be super lame if in the far future you pop open the galaxy map and its populated with stupid names like the Amanda Huginkiss system.

[watsisname]

From the star registry website: 

International Star Registry ® star naming is not recognized by the scientific community.
Your stars name is reserved in International Star Registry ® records only.

And thank God for that, as I never want to open up a star catalogue and find a bunch of ridiculous people-names in there. D:

Meet Spongiforma squarepantsii, a sponge-like fungus that was, until recently, discovered.  It retains the qualities of a table sponge, in that it retains its shape even after wringing the water out of it, which somehow convinced scientists to name it after the yellow cartoon character their kids are probably obsessed with.

I can't help but wonder how high you would get if you ate it...

[BloodEagle]

a sponge-like fungus that was, until recently, discovered.

Wait. What?

[Timerlane]

a sponge-like fungus that was, until recently, discovered.

Wait. What?

Quite simple, really. Everyone knew it existed, then someone undiscovered it, which removed it from the conscious memory of all living beings; the only reason we know about it now, is that the process of undiscovery isn't up-to-date enough to delete information off the internet.

[Mongoose]

Meet Spongiforma squarepantsii, a sponge-like fungus that was, until recently, discovered.  It retains the qualities of a table sponge, in that it retains its shape even after wringing the water out of it, which somehow convinced scientists to name it after the yellow cartoon character their kids are probably obsessed with.

I can't help but wonder how high you would get if you ate it...

It would probably stimulate your IMAAAAAAAGINATION!

[Bobboau]

Or enzyme activity in your liver.

[Klaustrophobia]

our ex ninth planet was named after a yellow orangish cartoon dog drawn by a very disturbed individual.

or a greek god.

[Nuke]

our ex ninth planet was named after a yellow orangish cartoon dog drawn by a very disturbed individual.

or a greek god.

lies!

[sigtau]

a sponge-like fungus that was, until recently, discovered.

Wait. What?

Quite simple, really. Everyone knew it existed, then someone undiscovered it, which removed it from the conscious memory of all living beings; the only reason we know about it now, is that the process of undiscovery isn't up-to-date enough to delete information off the internet.

Oops.  Fix'd.

[Marcov]

That doesn't look like spongebob at all.