Dangerous box jellyfish dwell in the seas near Table Mountain, South Africa, possessing among the most toxic venom found anywhere.
In the vast oceans, where light fades and darkness reigns, a group of creatures shines bright, defying the gloom with their bioluminescent glow. These are the jellyfish, marine animals that have captivated scientists and onlookers alike for centuries.
Jellyfish, with their nearly transparent, gelatinous structure, are made mostly of water, allowing them to float effortlessly and move with minimal energy expenditure. This composition is one of their key adaptations, enabling them to thrive in various ocean environments.
One of the most intriguing aspects of jellyfish is their speed of sting reaction. Their stinging cells, known as nematocysts, fire at an extremely rapid speed, making their sting one of the fastest biological processes. This rapid firing allows them to effectively capture prey or defend themselves almost instantly when triggered.
Many jellyfish species can produce light through bioluminescence, a chemical reaction that produces light without heat. The crystal jellyfish, for instance, use a gene called green fluorescent protein (GFP) as part of their bioluminescence. The researchers who used GFP as a biomarker won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 2008.
Jellyfish exhibit other unique abilities as well. For example, they can regenerate lost or damaged body parts quite rapidly, sometimes within 24 hours. Some species can even revert to earlier developmental stages as a stress response, effectively becoming "immortal" in certain cases.
Interestingly, jellyfish lack a central nervous system, yet some can be bioelectrically stimulated to contract muscles, allowing external control of their motion. This has been demonstrated by cyborg jellyfish projects used for scientific exploration.
Jellyfish can be found in various tropical waters, including the Indo-Pacific, Florida, the Caribbean, and Hawaii. One famous location is Palau's Jellyfish Lake, home to the bioluminescent golden jellies. Here, upside-down jellies, or jellyfish that live on the seafloor, farm algae and follow the sun during the day, fertilizing their 'crop' at night.
However, Jellyfish Lake is running out of jellyfish, a situation that concerns researchers like Lucas Brotz, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. Despite their resilience, jellyfish are not immune to the effects of human activities and environmental changes.
While jellyfish are often beautiful, they can also be dangerous. Some jellyfish stings can be lethal, while others do not penetrate human skin. It's important to note that even if a squid eats a jellyfish but does not fully digest it, the jelly's stinging cells can still potentially harm anyone who eats the squid.
The green fluorescent protein (GFP) from the crystal jellyfish has been used by scientists as a biomarker, shedding light on the inner workings of the body. The rapid release of pressure from hundreds of nematocysts makes for superfast jabs, lasting just 700 nanoseconds.
In conclusion, jellyfish are remarkable marine animals, with their water composition, speed of sting reaction, and bioluminescence being just a few of their notable "superpowers." They have survived every mass extinction and have existed for over 600 million years, demonstrating their incredible adaptability. Understanding these fascinating creatures can provide valuable insights into the mysteries of life and evolution.
[1] Bioluminescence in Jellyfish: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3693980/ [2] The Jellyfish and the Cyborg: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature.2012.11876 [3] Jellyfish Bioluminescence: https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/jellyfish-bioluminescence-14253265 [4] Jellyfish and the Sea: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1120603/
- Despite their nearly transparent structure, jellyfish are equipped with stinging cells, known as nematocysts, that fire at an extremely rapid speed, making their sting one of the fastest biological processes in the world.
- The crystal jellyfish, renowned for their bioluminescence, use a gene called green fluorescent protein (GFP) as part of their light production system, a mechanism that earned the researchers who used it as a biomarker a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2008.
- Showcasing their adaptability, some jellyfish species can regenerate lost or damaged body parts within 24 hours, and in certain cases, revert to earlier developmental stages as a stress response, effectively extending their lifespan indefinitely.
- Remarkable creatures, jellyfish exhibit a unique ability to be bioelectrically stimulated to contract muscles, allowing external control of their motion in cyborg jellyfish projects used for scientific exploration.
- Found in various tropical waters worldwide, such as the Indo-Pacific, Florida, the Caribbean, and Hawaii, these mesmerizing creatures can be admired in specific locations like Palau's Jellyfish Lake, where upside-down jellies farm algae during the day while emitting a bioluminescent glow at night. However, declining populations in specific locations, like Jellyfish Lake, are alarming researchers concerned about the long-term impact of human activities and environmental changes on these marine animals.
