Jellyfish cyborgs are at the center of a new project by researchers at Tohoku University, who are exploring how these animals can help monitor the ocean in a more eco-friendly way. Led by Associate Professor Dai Owaki, the team is turning live jellyfish into low-energy ocean tools by gently guiding their movement with small electric pulses.

Jellyfish move through water using “a simple, energy-efficient method that doesn’t require a brain or bones; this natural ability, called ’embodied intelligence,’ makes them ideal for long-term, low-impact use in the ocean.” The team also added lightweight AI to predict how fast the jellyfish will swim.

Unlike traditional underwater vehicles that use motors or batteries, jellyfish cyborgs leave a much smaller environmental footprint. As such, they could be used to track coral reef health, detect oil spills, and observe changes in the ocean.

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