EDITH WIDDER

MARINE BIOLOGIST, DEEP-SEA EXPLORER

-  Lisa Leinbaugh

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?