Jellyfish: Terrible Beauties (1/3)

Jellyfish: Terrible Beauties (1/3)

From polar water to tropical seas, jellyfish have existed for more than 670 million years. Their recipe for success is their ability to adapt. They can tolerate long periods of hunger, reduce their body weight by 99% and even eat their own sexual organs if necessary - and they are dangerous predators. In addition, jellyfish may soon revolutionize human medicine. Jamie Seymour, an Australian marine biologist, intends to secure tropical dream beaches from dangerous jellyfish, without wiping out the species or intervening in the biological cycle. He is researching a remedy which, when smeared on human skin, will neutralize the dangerous effect of jellyfish poison. Recently, scientists were even able to prove that jellyfish are practically immortal. Under optimal conditions new unhurt specimens are created from chopped bits of the animal. If it were possible to decipher this process, it would be possible to direct the development of human stem cells, in order to grow human organs for example. In Norway, experts are attempting to solve a completely different problem: jellyfish have destroyed the entire fish stock in a fjord and are continuing to spread out. No weapon can match theirs: up to twelve, one meter long tentacles bristle with poisonous stinging cells.

Jellyfish have existed for more than 670 million years. They can bear long periods of hunger, reduce their body weight by 99% and even eat their own sexual organs if necessary. Hoping to revolutionize medicine, scientists were able to prove that jellyfish are practically immortal. In Norway and Australia though, experts are facing serious problems: jellyfish endanger entire coastal zones.

Bronze Medal Nature Film Festival NATURALE 2005