Buzz
Jellyfish are remarkably simple organisms. They lack brains, bones, lungs, and intestines, yet possess organized tissues and a nervous system. They are among the oldest multi-organism life forms, having existed for over 500 million years, making dinosaurs seem like a recent phenomenon. Found in every ocean, they have even become invasive in certain regions.
Famous for their dangerous stings, which can be fatal within minutes for some species, jellyfish are also enjoyed as a delicacy in China and Japan. But these ancient creatures offer much more than just a painful encounter or exotic cuisine. Their versatility will astound you.
10. Pets
A jellyfish in a specially designed tank is a major upgrade from a goldfish swimming in a bowl.
"Moon jellyfish" refers to the Aurelia genus, which encompasses various species that look similar but can only be truly identified through DNA testing. They are named moon jellyfish due to their round, white bodies that resemble the full Moon.
Moon jellyfish are the most common type of jellyfish kept as pets. They flourish in temperatures around 27°C (80°F), perfect for heated home aquariums. Their diet includes frozen or freeze-dried brine shrimp, copepods, phytoplankton, and minced seafood. Some enthusiasts not only keep them but also breed them.
Moon jellyfish cannot thrive in a regular tank. They need a continuous water flow to stay suspended and use their tentacles to catch food. Being delicate, their tanks must be smooth with no sharp edges. Specialized tanks use circular water flow, preventing the jellyfish from touching the sides of the tank.
Since moon jellyfish don't need light, many jellyfish tanks are equipped with LED lighting that highlights the creature's translucent form as it drifts in the water, creating a living lava lamp effect.
9. Fertilizer
Organic farming has gained popularity not just due to increasing consumer demand for organic products, but also because it is gentler on the land, supporting more sustainable agricultural practices. However, without the use of chemical fertilizers and herbicides, organic farms can struggle with weed control and achieving high crop yields. Jellyfish fertilizer offers a solution to both of these challenges.
Desalinated and dried jellyfish chips serve as an organic fertilizer that enriches the soil with nutrients while preventing weed growth. In Japan, rice fields fertilized with jellyfish chips yielded results comparable to those treated with chemical fertilizers, and consistently outperformed fields enriched with rice bran, another organic option.
Jellyfish chips have also been used to restore forests. After a devastating forest fire in 2012 on Mount Jubong in South Korea, jellyfish fertilizer was applied to the soil to enhance its moisture and nutrient content before new seedlings were planted.
With the correct application of jellyfish chips, the seedlings experienced improved growth. These promising results will likely encourage greater use of jellyfish fertilizer in future forest restoration efforts.
8. Medical Research
Jellyfish naturally produce green fluorescent protein (GFP), which allows scientists to attach glowing tags to specific cells and track their movement throughout the body. For instance, GFP was attached to insulin-producing pancreatic cells to study their function, which aids in the development of new treatments for diabetes. GFP can also be used to monitor the spread of infections like HIV.
The groundbreaking discovery of GFP was so significant that the researchers who developed its use were awarded the Nobel Prize in 2008.
GFP has played a key role in advancing research on the nervous system. This protein can be modified to emit nearly 100 different colors, each corresponding to separate cells in the same region. This enables scientists to distinguish between the billions of cells in the brain and track the individual paths of nearby cells.
Brain cells are so tightly packed and appear so similar that, prior to GFP, it was impossible to monitor the progress of individual cells. Studying the activity of specific brain cells helps researchers better understand and treat disorders such as epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease.
7. Microplastic Filters
Microscopic plastic particles, known as microplastics, have emerged as a significant environmental issue. One source of microplastics is microbeads, tiny plastic balls found in some shower gels, which have now been banned in several countries, including the US, Canada, and the UK. Microplastics also result from the shedding of synthetic fibers during washing machine cycles and the gradual breakdown of larger plastics over time.
In response to the growing concerns about microplastic pollution in oceans, rivers, and lakes, the GoJelly project was launched. GoJelly aims to address this issue by utilizing jellyfish, reducing both the invasive jellyfish population and the levels of microplastic pollution in water bodies.
Sewage treatment plants currently lack the ability to capture microplastics because the particles are too small. However, research has demonstrated that jellyfish mucus can bind to microplastics, meaning jellyfish-based biofilters could be used in sewage treatment plants to tackle this problem. These biofilters could also be applied in factories and manufacturing plants that generate microplastic waste.
6. Glow-In-The-Dark Ice Cream And Beer
Charlie Francis owns a unique ice cream company named Lick Me I’m Delicious, which is famous for creating bizarre flavors like roast beef and chili. The company also made history by producing the world’s first glow-in-the-dark ice cream using jellyfish protein.
Francis discovered the bioluminescent qualities of jellyfish while reading a scientific paper. Intrigued, he contacted a lab in China that was already experimenting with synthesizing the bioluminescent protein.
The ice cream doesn’t glow when scooped out. Instead, it reacts to heat, with the proteins beginning to fluoresce when a warm tongue touches the ice cream. It’s an exciting treat for kids, though it comes at a hefty price of over $200 per scoop.
A former NASA biologist also leveraged the bioluminescence of jellyfish to create something edible. Josiah Zayner developed fluorescent yeast kits that allow home brewers to craft their own glow-in-the-dark beer.
However, Zayner’s goal wasn’t just to make a glow-in-the-dark drink for parties. As stated on his website, he hopes that the fluorescent yeast kits will inspire people to embrace synthetic biology and genetic design in their everyday lives. He envisions a future full of genetic engineering and aims to encourage people to explore its possibilities.
5. Artificial Tears
Japanese chemists examined the innards of the jellyfish populating their shores, looking for innovative ways to use these abundant creatures. They found that mucin, a protein chain rich in carbohydrates that retains moisture, is the most abundant protein in jellyfish. This protein serves both to clean them and protect them from predators.
Humans also produce mucin for similar protective purposes. It keeps our eyes moist and forms the basis of mucus in the nose, which acts as a defense against harmful bacteria.
Mucins are already in use within the health and beauty industries, but they are typically sourced from pig stomachs and cow saliva, which makes them quite costly. By harvesting mucin from jellyfish, a more affordable alternative could be provided.
Mucins are found in artificial tears, food additives, and various cosmetic products.
4. Energy Source
Scientists continue to discover new applications for the powerful green fluorescent protein (GFP) derived from jellyfish. The most recent innovation involves using this green substance as a potential energy source.
A group of Swedish researchers developed a cell capable of converting ultraviolet light into energy. This cell, which consists of two aluminum electrodes with a small gap between them, uses GFP. When a droplet of GFP is placed in the gap, it forms strands that connect the electrodes. Exposure to ultraviolet light generates an electrical current in the cell.
While GFP still needs further development before it can power large-scale devices like flashlights or entire neighborhoods, it presents numerous advantages as an energy source. GFP is inexpensive to harvest, and the jellyfish population continues to rise, ensuring a steady supply. Additionally, GFP can be integrated into self-contained cells that don't require an external light source, using natural photons to activate the protein.
3. Diapers
Jellyfish swarm the beaches of Israel, while disposable diapers continue to clutter landfills worldwide, taking centuries to decompose. An Israeli company has devised an innovative solution by using jellyfish to produce biodegradable diapers.
Shachar Richter, a material scientist, conceived the idea while researching jellyfish tissue. The tissue possesses remarkable capacity to absorb large amounts of liquid without breaking down. Richter harnessed this unique property of jellyfish flesh to create a novel material called 'hydromash,' which can absorb several times its weight in liquid.
The creation of hydromash involves breaking down jellyfish tissue and combining it with antibacterial nanoparticles. The resulting material is not only strong and absorbent but also flexible and fully biodegradable within 30 days.
Hydromash is used in the production of diapers for both infants and adults, feminine hygiene products, and medical bandages.
2. Caramels
The Nemopilema nomurai, commonly known as Nomura’s jellyfish, is among the largest jellyfish species. This massive creature can weigh as much as 204 kilograms (450 lb) and span 2 meters (6.6 ft) in width.
Since the early 2000s, Nomura’s jellyfish have been invading the Sea of Japan, wreaking havoc on the local fishing industry and the livelihoods of those living along the coast. However, a group of high school students decided to turn this nuisance into an opportunity by making caramels from the giant jellyfish.
Students from Obama Fisheries High School in Obama, Japan, boiled the troublesome jellyfish to create a paste, then ground it into fine particles. They combined this jellyfish powder with sugar and starch syrup to craft a sweet-and-salty treat: jellyfish caramels.
The students reached out to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, asking for their jellyfish caramels to be included on the menu for astronauts bound for the International Space Station.
These caramels are not the students' only jellyfish-based treat. They've also used jellyfish powder to bake cookies, which are available for purchase in a local shop.
1. Space Research
In 1991, scientists began sending jellyfish into space to study how microgravity affects their development. After reproducing, these space-born jellyfish offered valuable insights upon their return to Earth.
Jellyfish use calcium sulfate crystals to detect gravity. These crystals line the perimeter of their bodies, protected in small chambers. As jellyfish move, the crystals shift and settle at the bottom of their pockets, allowing them to determine the direction of gravity.
The jellyfish that were born in space developed their gravity-sensing crystals as usual. However, upon returning to Earth, they lost their ability to swim. Their movements were erratic and uncoordinated compared to their Earth-born counterparts. Although the gravity crystals remained intact, they no longer seemed to function properly.
Humans also rely on calcium crystals to sense gravity. These crystals, found in our inner ears, help our brains understand which way is up when we move. The gravity issues faced by space-born jellyfish suggest that space travelers might experience the same challenges upon returning to Earth, possibly leading to persistent vertigo.
