More than 2,000 feet (628 meters) under the surface of the ocean, the enormous tentacles of a giant squid emerged from the darkness. It was responding to the light of an electronic jellyfish called an "e-jelly." When the giant squid saw the e-jelly flashing, it was most likely looking to devour the jellyfish's attacker. Instead, it became the first giant squid ever captured on video in its natural habitat.
For this 2012 expedition off the coast of Japan, Edith Widder and other marine scientists had teamed up to search for the elusive giant squid. Widder brought a camera she had designed "that could see without being seen." It captures images in far-red light, which is invisible to most deep-sea inhabitants. She had also created the e-jelly. It was intended to mimic the bioluminescent display of a jellyfish under attack, which had been proven to attract smaller squid. The team was thrilled when they reviewed the raw footage onboard the ship and saw that the e-jelly had indeed lured a giant squid.
Widder is a marine biologist specializing in bioluminescent ocean animals-sea creatures that use light created by chemicals in their bodies. She is well-respected for devising new equipment and techniques to observe, attract, and interact with ocean animals. Her work has revealed rare displays of bioluminescence and captured images of rarely seen deep-ocean animals like the giant squid.
Widder co-founded and leads the Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA), based in Florida. Since 2005, ORCA has worked to protect and restore aquatic ecosystems and animals. She is also the author of the 2021 book Below the Edge of Darkness: A Memoir of Exploring Light and Life in the Deep Sea.
WHY DID YOU DESIGN THE ELECTRONIC JELLYFISH, OR E-JELLY?
Esta historia es de la edición July/August 2023 de Muse Science Magazine for Kids.
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Esta historia es de la edición July/August 2023 de Muse Science Magazine for Kids.
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To figure out if we can die of boredom, we first have to understand what boredom is. For help, we called James Danckert, a psychologist who studies boredom at the University of Waterloo in Canada.
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SERGE WICH
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ELODIE FREYMANN
When you’re feeling sick, it probably doesn’t occur to you to try eating tree bark.
Guardians of the Forest
EARLY, MAKESHIFT WILDLIFE DRONES HELPED TO DETECT AND PROTECT ORANGUTANS.
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Dr. Ape Will See You Now
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THE LEFT OVERS
A lot has happened for modern humans to get to this point. We lost most of our hair, learned how to make tools, established civilizations, sent a person to the Moon, and invented artificial intelligence. Whew! With all of these changes, our bodies have changed, too. It’s only taken us about six million years.
SO, WHAT IS A PRIMATE?
What do you have in common with the aye-aye, sifaka, siamang, and potto? If you said your collarbone, you re probably a primatologist—a person who studies primates. If you’re not, read on.
