Cyborg Jellyfish at CU 91Ҹ
It’s 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’s team has created “cyborg” 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 — and inspire the next generation of ultra-efficient underwater vehicles.
500 million+ years
evolutionarily unchanged
20 years
captive lifespan
2 years
wild lifespan
Energy-efficient
Most efficient swimmers on earth.
Future upgrades
Sensors for temperature, pH, salinity.
Health and safety
of the jellies are prioritized.
Small cameras
enable the study of animals in their natural environments.
Data collection
Information can be collected by swarms of jellyfish at higher spatial and temporal resolutions.
Moon jellyfish fitted with tiny electronic devices.
Control and steering
Devices simulate swimming muscles like a pacemaker.
Safe
Stinging cells can’t penetrate human skin.
Small sensors
measure changes in the ocean to track climate change.
Part of a Denver Aquarium partnership, which includes well-being checks on the jellies by aquarists.
Goal is affordable, sustainable ocean monitoring.
Size
As small as one centimeter (half of a penny) or larger than a dinner plate.
Environments
Found in a wide variety of ocean habitats around the world.
Diet
Zooplankton, crustacean larvae, small fish.
Anatomy
No brain, but sensory nerves for movement.
Photos by Glenn Asakawa