Cyborg Jellyfish at 麻豆传媒
It鈥檚 not uncommon for people to frequently stop in front of assistant professor , mesmerized by the giant aquarium of drifting moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita). Inside, Xu鈥檚 team has created 鈥渃yborg鈥 jellies, fitting them with tiny microelectronic devices that steer their movements with pacemaker-like pulses. The technology could transform deep-sea exploration by offering an energy-efficient way to gather climate data in remote waters 鈥 and inspire the next generation of ultra-efficient underwater vehicles.
500 million+ years
evolutionarily unchanged
20 years
captive lifespan
2 years
wild lifespan
听
Energy-efficient
Most efficient swimmers on earth.
听
Future upgrades
Sensors for temperature, pH, salinity.
听
Health and safety
of the jellies are prioritized.
听
Small cameras
enable the study of animals in their natural environments.
听
Data collection
Information can be collected by swarms of jellyfish at higher spatial and temporal resolutions.
Moon jellyfish fitted with tiny electronic devices.
听
Control and steering
Devices simulate swimming muscles like a pacemaker.
听
Safe
Stinging cells can鈥檛 penetrate human skin.
听
Small sensors
measure changes in the ocean to track climate change.
听
Part of a Denver Aquarium partnership, which includes well-being checks on the jellies by aquarists.
听
Goal is affordable, sustainable ocean monitoring.
听
Size
As small as one centimeter (half of a penny) or larger than a dinner plate.
听
Environments
Found in a wide variety of ocean habitats around the world.
听
Diet
Zooplankton, crustacean larvae, small fish.
听
Anatomy
No brain, but sensory nerves for movement.
Photos by Glenn Asakawa