Jellyfish converted into “cyborgs”: the surprising approach to explore the depths of the ocean
The ocean is the most unknown territory on our planet: we know more about Mars than its abyssal depths. The high costs and technical difficulty of sending submarines to those depths have limited our exploration capacity. Now, science proposes an unexpected ally: jellyfish turned into marine “cyborgs.”
### How a remote-controlled jellyfish works
At the University of Colorado in Boulder, engineer Nicole Xu and her team have designed a small electronic device that acts as a pacemaker. Installed in the jellyfish, it stimulates their swimming muscles to steer their course, turning them into natural vehicles capable of carrying sensors that collect data on temperature, pH, or water quality.
The goal is to send them to regions too deep or dangerous for conventional human exploration, transforming them into living messengers that transmit key information about the oceans.
### Why choose the moon jellyfish
The choice is not random. This invertebrate has been on the planet for over 500 million years and is considered the. Its nervous system is extremely simple, without a brain or spinal cord, which facilitates integration with electronic devices without complex interferences.
Also, it is harmless to humans: its stinging cells do not penetrate the skin, making it a safe organism for work in the laboratory and in the field. In fact, successful trials were already carried out in 2020 in shallow waters, and now the challenge is to reach greater depths.
### Ethics and animal welfare
Xu’s team also addresses ethical issues. Although traditionally it was thought that invertebrates do not feel pain, recent research suggests that some may experience it. In this case, the jellyfish show no signs of stress, such as increased mucus, and continue to reproduce normally in the laboratory.
This suggests that the experiments do not cause them suffering, although researchers remain vigilant in their assessments.
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