I went to a cool TED lecture on how jellyfish and squid swim, looking for inspiration on how to build pulsatile swimming robots that mimic the efficiency seen in nature. On first glance, a physicist might wonder why a oscillating membrane creates forward motion rather than simply vibration in place. The key lies in the asymmetric formation of ring vortices in one direction versus laminar flow in the other.
Or, in other words, the jellyfish relies on the difference between blowing and sucking.
Here is a little experiment to demonstrate this: Hold a finger in front of your mouth and blow on it as if it were a birthday candle. You can easily feel the power of your breath on your finger. Keeping your finger in the same place, shift to a sucking breath inward, and you won’t feel a thing on your finger.
Here’s a video of this beautiful blue jelly pulsing away…
(which reminds me – I have to scoot. Be back in a few days)
29 responses to “Must be Jelly…”
Wow, I love this shot, most you see here are the pink or pale orange variety set against blue. They are very striking but this is magnificent. Very very nice.
beautiful
Mmm, yah, perty. Interesting about the propulsion method too. Jelly drones, the ultimate in stealth.
breathtaking story + beauty of life at a glance . thank you -_-
hmmmm…. a biological AirZooka
…..or Zero-Blaster.
?
😛
🙂
Magnificent beauty!
I wonder how far it would go if it were in space. It would quite a spectacle!
… or the moon as a balloon!
exquisite..
nice shot, I love the vid also!
Great shot Steve. Gotta love fluid dynamics. Happy trails!
Fabulous. Beauty and intelligence at the same time. Thanks Steve!
Amazing shot. The fluid dynamics lesson was also good.
succulently sublime**
LOL! 😀 "succulently sublime"
Zene… we don´t eat them!!! When we say we eat ‘jelly’ or ‘jello’, it is the artificial imitation, not the real jellyfish…!
😉
Gorgeous. 123
Nice shot. I love the jellyfish at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. (1-2-3)
what an interesting creature.
thanks y’all.
Lamo: right you are! The speaker used a Zero-Blaster during the talk to demonstrate the concept. (I I keep my Airzooka under the desk here for times of need =)
For sea world lovers, view this photo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmulibra/126711220/in/set-720575941...
and this set, in particular the last photos which were just uploaded.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mmulibra/sets/72057594104107152/
I just love the blue colors and transparency. The picture makes me imagining him, sliding peacefully through the water. Great shot!!
You are invited to post this image to "Spectacular Nature, invite only
http://www.flickr.com/groups/spectacular_nature/
Please read the instructions
I, too, love the blue. A fascinating shot of a fascinating creature.
The World Through My Eyes
Just awesome!! Syl
The World Through My Eyes
Fantastic color — great image!
(Spec Nature)
Amazing shot!
Macro 123
Wow, stunning one!!
macro 1-2-3
This photo should be used in class, at school !
Please add your photo to Photos pour l’école / Photos for school
Read the group rules first.
Beautiful shot!
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Seen in photos pour l’école / photos for school (?)
Hello
You can add this photo in more groupes :
flickr.com/groups/naturegroup/
flickr.com/groups/54989341@N00/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/animals/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/animals-edu/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/nature-edu/
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http://www.flickr.com/groups/thenatureconservancy/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/natureandfun/
http://www.flickr.com/groups/beautiful_nature/
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Seen in your Flickr Faves set. (?)
This would be great in our Contest "Life Under The Big Blue"
I hope you post his to the Contest and group Pool ^_^
Hi, I’m an admin for a group called Top 25 Blue, and we’d love to have your photo added to the group.
Stunning image and a great explanation of jellyfish propulsion!