#what?

[todropscience]

TWO INJURED SEA COMBS CAN FUSE INTO A SINGLE ENTITY, AND THRIVE

In a surprising new discovery, scientists have found that two injured individuals of Mnemiopsis leidyi, a species of comb jellies or ctenophores, can fuse into a single entity. This phenomenon, which challenges our typical understanding of biological processes, reveals just how remarkable these planktonic creatures truly are.

Ctenophores, known for their translucent beauty and delicate movement in the ocean, appear to lack a mechanism called allorecognition—the ability to distinguish between self and non-self. This means that, when two comb jellies are injured and placed close together, they can merge, not just physically, but also functionally. Their nervous systems combine, allowing them to share nerve signals (or action potentials), and even their digestive systems become one.

The discovery was made by Dr. Jokura and his team, who were observing comb jellies in a seawater tank. After removing parts of their lobes and placing them side by side, they were astonished to see 9 out of 10 injured comb jellies fuse to form a single organism. Even more fascinating, the newly formed organism survived for at least three weeks, with its muscle contractions fully synchronized within just two hours. The digestive system also fused, enabling food taken in by one mouth to travel through their shared canal and exit through both anuses—although not at the same time!

While the exact benefits of this fusion are still unclear, the researchers believe that studying this phenomenon could provide valuable insights into how organisms integrate nervous systems and even how tissue regeneration occurs. It may also offer clues about immune system functions in species where the lines between individual organisms become blurred.

This discovery offers a glimpse into the hidden potential of the ocean’s lesser-known inhabitants, challenging what we think we know about biological boundaries and cooperation.

Video: Kei Jokura

Reference: Jakura et al., 2024. Rapid physiological integration of fused ctenophores. Current Biology

[ilovemesomevincentprice]

Vincent Price hosts The Horror Hall of Fame (1974)

[brightlotusmoon]

..... what?

[justyourusualash]

now why tf were these two roleplaying as gay men at a gas station in the middle of nowhere?!

[ashtonwithdislexia]

Was this like a common fact that everyone was aware of and just never told me????

Like what???? That's basically the same scene the same shot same pose same everything??? What? Am I just really fucking slow in realising things?

[clearlightwired]

tried to load a game's store page and steam performed a web search for "error" instead?

[cinamun]

First things first, bitch.

[typhlonectes]

[bixels]

Wait Mouthwashing is an Alien-inspired sci-fi horror? I thought it was about dentists.

[cheddar-baby]

Can you imagine how great it would be to put yourself on a kibble diet for like 5 years straight. Daily eating nothing but dry kibble then on the 5th anniversary of your new kibble only diet you crack open a can of wet food. It would be a once in a lifetime experience. I think it would feel like you just met god when the first spoon of slop hit your tongue.

[gh0styai]

Have the nerds. Take ‘em.

[jaymang0]

Yeah, I watch the LawLu-lympics

[ilovemesomevincentprice]

VINCENT PRICE guest stars on THE MUPPET SHOW (1977)

[tommygotwrittenoff]

after they get together buck insists on having a real first Date and eddie indulges him bc ofc he does. buck proceeds to plan something really Romantic. but everything that could go wrong does go wrong. the jeep gets a flat halfway to the restaurant so theyre 20 minutes late (and a little dirty) to the reservation. buck spills one of the extremely expensive glasses of wine he bought them all over eddie. the kitchen runs out of the steak he knew eddie wanted to order. by the end of the night buck is just. 😞😔 eddie im sorry that was the worst date of your life. and eddies like. yeah it was...maybe the dating thing isnt for us. eddie 😭😭😭 pls give me another chance!!! but eddies like. no, dont think dating is the move for us, we should just get married.

[shittyutmv]

*Humbly offers the gremlin (ink) a towel*

thanks, i left it over there for him pt. 1 pt. 2 pt. 4 ink belongs to comyet/myebi

[introvertedx10]