For one species of comb jelly, survival from injury can come down to numbers. Two Mnemiopsis leidyi– aka the sea walnut–can fuse together and turn into one after an injury. These bioluminescent ...

In a tank of comb jellies in the lab, the team one day noticed a particularly big and misshapen individual. But weirdly, it seemed to have two apical organs – a kind of sensory structure – instead of ...

A little more than a year ago, while biologist Kei Jokura was in Woods Hole, Mass., he routinely walked down to the water, scanning for comb jellies. "They look like a jellyfish," he says, "but ...

Besides their bodies, comb jellies, scientifically known as Mnemiopsis leidyi, also fuse their nervous and digestive systems, research found. Late one summer night in 2023, Kei Jokura entered the ...

Researchers found that two individuals of a type of comb jelly can fuse and become one with a shared nervous system and digestive system. It has implications for animal regeneration and immune systems ...

Comb jellies, technically known as ctenophores, are one of the weirdest creatures on Earth. They appeared in the seas over half a billion years ago and have maintained to the present day the comb-like ...

In a Frankenstein-y feat, a small, gelatinous sea creature can merge its body with a neighbor’s. The animals — called sea walnuts, a type of comb jelly — can then sync up their bodily functions, ...

Armed with the ability to accept all cells as its own, comb jellies can merge with others to survive. Here’s how it works. On a quiet summer day at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about biodiversity and the hidden quirks of the natural world. During a dive off the coast of Southern California in 1979, ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. For one species of comb jelly, survival from injury can come down ...

A little more than a year ago, while biologist Kei Jokura was in Woods Hole, Mass., he routinely walked down to the water, scanning for comb jellies. “They look like a jellyfish,” he says, “but ...