These Solar-Powered Carnivorous Flatworms Divide and Conquer | Deep Look

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  • čas přidán 25. 03. 2024
  • Tiny marine flatworms called acoels hunt for prey in coral reefs. They're referred to as “plant-animals'' because they've got a partnership with photosynthetic algae that live inside of them. But this acoel's real superpower is its ability to regenerate any part of its body!
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    DEEP LOOK is an ultra-HD (4K) short video series created by KQED in San Francisco and presented by PBS Digital Studios. See the unseen at the very edge of our visible world. Explore big scientific mysteries by going incredibly small.
    ---
    Researchers are studying a species of tiny marine flatworm called an acoel that has some surprisingly amazing abilities, despite being smaller than a grain of rice.
    “They have two very obvious superpowers,” says Dania Nanes Sarfati, a researcher at Stanford University who studies acoels.
    “They are able to regenerate any part of their body. And they also have a very intimate relationship with algae that they keep inside their bodies that they exchange energy and other nutrients with. When you look at them, they just look like a little worm, but if you look inside you can see there's this green photosynthetic algae that are living between the acoel cells.”
    In addition to catching prey to eat, acoels will flatten themselves out in sunny spots so that their photosynthetic internal algae can absorb sunshine.
    “It’s like they’re on vacation every day,” says Nanes Sarfati.
    --- What are acoels?
    Acoels are a group of small, simple, soft-bodied flatworms that mostly live in marine environments. Acoels lack a permanent but they do have a mouth that they use to eat prey.
    --- What do acoels eat?
    Acoels eat tiny prey like planktonic plants and animals that float in the water. An acoel will expand its head like a net to engulf its prey and then jam its meal into its mouth.
    --- How do you pronounce acoel?
    Acoel is pronounced “a seal.”
    ---+ Find additional resources and a transcript on KQED Science:
    www.kqed.org/science/1991736/...
    ---+ For more information:
    Acoels by Sarah J. Bourlat and Andreas Hejnol
    www.cell.com/current-biology/...
    Sikes Lab at University of San Francisco
    sikesj61.wixsite.com/sikeslab
    Dania Nanes Sarfati
    biox.stanford.edu/people/dani...
    ---+ More great Deep Look episodes:
    Want a Whole New Body? Ask This Flatworm How | Deep Look
    • Want a Whole New Body?...
    The Undying Hydra: A Freshwater Mini-Monster That Defies Aging | Deep Look
    • The Undying Hydra: A F...
    This Snail Goes Fishing With a Net Made of Slime | Deep Look
    • This Snail Goes Fishin...
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  • Věda a technologie

Komentáře • 452

  • @yikersdawg8866
    @yikersdawg8866 Před měsícem +1154

    Forbidden cornflakes

  • @bokkenka
    @bokkenka Před měsícem +306

    I'm not overweight... I'm overpopulated.

  • @lil----lil
    @lil----lil Před měsícem +623

    Tardigrade: I'm immortal!
    Acoels: Hold my poop!

    • @KQEDDeepLook
      @KQEDDeepLook  Před měsícem +156

      If they start working together, we are in trouble.

    • @thehantavirus
      @thehantavirus Před měsícem +4

      @@KQEDDeepLooki think acoela belong in the subphylum acoelomorpha, so they arnt flatworms.

    • @squidyspecifications7709
      @squidyspecifications7709 Před měsícem +7

      ​@@thehantavirus they are not within the phylum platyhelminthes but they are indeed flat and worms.

  • @celarts5752
    @celarts5752 Před měsícem +276

    Idk why but flatworms are weirdly cute to me, like their lil faces are adorable

  • @saintantonius6311
    @saintantonius6311 Před měsícem +356

    Whenever there is a flatworm, there's almost always a scalpel. It's almost like a symbiotic relationship. 😆

    • @plokijum
      @plokijum Před měsícem +16

      Scalpel: mmmm stem cells😋🔪

    • @plokijum
      @plokijum Před měsícem +6

      Scalpel: mmmm stem cells😋🔪

    • @snapslingpeavine1371
      @snapslingpeavine1371 Před měsícem +7

      Scalpel: mmmm stem cells 😋🔪

    • @saintantonius6311
      @saintantonius6311 Před měsícem +9

      @@snapslingpeavine1371 Replicating comments!? How fitting. XD

  • @haf1872
    @haf1872 Před měsícem +271

    I don't like flatworms but for this orange cornflakes, I'll give an exception

  • @vbgvbg1133
    @vbgvbg1133 Před měsícem +295

    >be flatworm
    >get ripped in half lengthwise
    >relatively minor injury
    >regenerate 300%
    life is good

    • @tosyl_chloride
      @tosyl_chloride Před měsícem +15

      also spontaneously rip themselves apart anyway

    • @humanhuman7280
      @humanhuman7280 Před měsícem +24

      @@tosyl_chloride "i dont like how my back feels" *rips* *itself*

    • @HowManyHintsDoYouNeed
      @HowManyHintsDoYouNeed Před měsícem +6

      ​@@humanhuman7280"time to make another one"

    • @tungsten2009
      @tungsten2009 Před měsícem +2

      *casually rips a new backhole by itself*

  • @rfdebeaumont
    @rfdebeaumont Před měsícem +252

    Flatworm math: 1 - ½ = 3 👌

    • @khangtrantan9756
      @khangtrantan9756 Před měsícem +11

      Lmao

    • @em0jr
      @em0jr Před měsícem +8

      1 flatworm existing in 3 states all at once. Sounds like quantum physics to me :)

    • @D0p3of09
      @D0p3of09 Před měsícem +1

      The Math maths!

    • @jaredguerra2222
      @jaredguerra2222 Před 28 dny +2

      You have to round up... duh!🙃

    • @TonyEllen990
      @TonyEllen990 Před 28 dny +1

      Underrated comment. Please divide the likes in half to receive 3x the current value!😁

  • @JustYourAverageGirl2002
    @JustYourAverageGirl2002 Před měsícem +89

    When someone says flatworms, what usually comes to mind is like, tapeworms or the hammerhead worm which is invasive and nasty. These are....kind of cute.

    • @KQEDDeepLook
      @KQEDDeepLook  Před měsícem +37

      Their cheery orange color helps!

    • @magnumopus9058
      @magnumopus9058 Před měsícem +3

      @@KQEDDeepLook does their color come from the creature they eat? it looks like artemia nauplii, maybe a copepod

    • @HowManyHintsDoYouNeed
      @HowManyHintsDoYouNeed Před měsícem

      ​@@magnumopus9058they said it contains toxens to keep predators away.

    • @laragardner1675
      @laragardner1675 Před měsícem

      and aquatic planaria that also divide and are predators

  • @henchman1366
    @henchman1366 Před měsícem +66

    the fact that the butt splits into TWO heads, is just, as horrifying as it is awesome

  • @jheckie14
    @jheckie14 Před měsícem +151

    1:15 "you wouldn't kiss a butt" Oh, Laura, sweet summer child Laura...

    • @hessiboi_
      @hessiboi_ Před měsícem +33

      NOOO LEAVE LAURA ALONE DONT RUIN HER INNOCENCE 😔

    • @dzuchun
      @dzuchun Před měsícem +16

      That felt more like Frank's line honestly 😅
      Don't french-kiss a nudibranch
      u il diiiie *SLUUURP*

    • @DeltaParadoxLLC
      @DeltaParadoxLLC Před měsícem

      No self respecting person would*

    • @deepaknarayan3713
      @deepaknarayan3713 Před měsícem +6

      Well, we don't know the other side of Laura

    • @Cleeon
      @Cleeon Před měsícem +1

      Wew, guys, just stop, ok

  • @NewMessage
    @NewMessage Před měsícem +197

    Well.
    * pushes bowl of corn flakes away *

  • @Kennmnny
    @Kennmnny Před měsícem +24

    Man, i just love these solar powered, immortal, poop spitting, orange sea cornflakes.

  • @infernus..
    @infernus.. Před měsícem +58

    You always amaze me with strange creatures that I never knew existed on Earth

  • @TragoudistrosMPH
    @TragoudistrosMPH Před měsícem +30

    Wow, organisms like this make me excited to learn what alien life will look like.
    Surely unrecognizable in many cases!

    • @Zaxares
      @Zaxares Před měsícem +3

      I also wonder if one day we humans too might genetically modify ourselves with something like this to help sustain us as we embark on (very) long, lonely journeys through space in search of new habitable worlds. The ability to self-photosynthesize, whether through symbiotic algae living in our skin or modifying our own cells to contain chlorophyll, could be a massive gamechanger in long-term survival/sustainability on space flights without needing to carry a lot of stored food with us.

  • @khangtrantan9756
    @khangtrantan9756 Před měsícem +10

    Dancing acoel 0:18
    Edit:
    - Acoel: "NUH UH-"

  • @osmosisjones4912
    @osmosisjones4912 Před měsícem +18

    The activity of a reef looks more like a city then a rain forest

  • @tripwire202
    @tripwire202 Před měsícem +11

    The sound effects this episode are golden!

    • @phaolo6
      @phaolo6 Před měsícem +1

      I expecially like the one when the flatworms eat 😅

  • @jakubsolar4670
    @jakubsolar4670 Před měsícem +10

    I remember your first flatworm video, also dedicated how from two chunks, each can regrow new body rest. I did also heard about some photosynthetic flatworms, just green and freshwater. Even with that, it's cool to introduce to audience new species I never heard before for sure!

    • @KQEDDeepLook
      @KQEDDeepLook  Před měsícem +5

      Great! Here's a link to our first flatworm video on planaria, for those that have not seen it. It goes into even more detail about regeneration: czcams.com/video/m12xsf5g3Bo/video.html

  • @hokostudios
    @hokostudios Před měsícem +5

    The sound and music team definitely killed it this episode! Those sounds when the worms slurped something up were so funky!
    Pretty fun getting another visit of flatworms. What strange little critters they are!

  • @NathanHarrison7
    @NathanHarrison7 Před měsícem +3

    Wow! Never heard of these little guys. Thank you for posting. And for the fun script and narrator.

  • @angelamccollister
    @angelamccollister Před měsícem +10

    That very first image reminds me of the Hungry, Hungry Hippos game. Lol

  • @mynameme2458
    @mynameme2458 Před měsícem +3

    Now this is a real life Pokemon

  • @theusher2893
    @theusher2893 Před měsícem +4

    I can't begin to imagine the knowledge we'll gain from studying these.

  • @lilr6199
    @lilr6199 Před měsícem +3

    I’ve never heard of the word Holobiont, but I’ve definitely seen them in different sci fi media, love that I get to see it in real life and put a name to such a cool relationship!

  • @orawal
    @orawal Před měsícem +2

    5 minutes of pure amazing infotainment! Deep Peeps you guyz rock!!!

  • @shardinalwind7696
    @shardinalwind7696 Před měsícem +11

    “You wouldn’t want to kiss one”
    Thanks for the warning, Deep look. I was just about to kiss one, you saved me

  • @gowokegobrokee
    @gowokegobrokee Před měsícem +1

    This was the coolest one yet I think!!

  • @Wised1000
    @Wised1000 Před 22 dny

    This is why I love this channel, I consider myself pretty knowledgeable in biology, yet you guys can, and do, surprise me with organisms I have never heard about! Usually
    a regeneration story talks about planaria. This particular, and particularly interesting, flat worm I didn't know. Good job, and thanks!

  • @suly3243
    @suly3243 Před měsícem +1

    I’m glad you dropped this before April 1st because I almost thought this creature wasn’t real

  • @darksoals
    @darksoals Před měsícem +18

    I always thought it was funny that we consider life forms like this so different when almost every animal has multiple symbiotic bacterial colonies inside them. Each living thing is more of a collective than an individual. Every cell has a life and a birth and a death. It’s just where do we want to draw the line.

    • @roelin360
      @roelin360 Před měsícem +5

      Great point! The holobiont distinction for this animal does seem too arbitrary

    • @PhoenixProdLLC
      @PhoenixProdLLC Před měsícem

      You're twisting my melon, man :P

    • @HowManyHintsDoYouNeed
      @HowManyHintsDoYouNeed Před měsícem +1

      But I don't think cutting off a human butt would suddenly birth two new humans.

    • @darksoals
      @darksoals Před měsícem +2

      @@HowManyHintsDoYouNeed that’s…not at all what I’m referring to. I’m referring to lives living within a larger life.
      You seem to have gotten stuck on functionality lol.

    • @HowManyHintsDoYouNeed
      @HowManyHintsDoYouNeed Před měsícem +1

      @@darksoals oh so you weren't making a logical comment. My bad.

  • @MrAIProgrammer
    @MrAIProgrammer Před měsícem +6

    splitting into 3 parts is an idea for a horror movie !

  • @CatDrKahl
    @CatDrKahl Před dnem

    I think their tiny lil tails are adorable :3

  • @adpirtle
    @adpirtle Před měsícem +3

    Watching things swallow each other alive gives me the creeping horrors. Thanks!

  • @killermakd2015
    @killermakd2015 Před měsícem +4

    I liked how you guys did make another sea-creature video after following up with your playlist on my previous reply. Loved it!! Thanks.

  • @zenoluvswof9936
    @zenoluvswof9936 Před měsícem

    Love watching these videos when I'm about to fall asleep or when I'm anxious, the narrator always has a calm voice and it's nice to calm down and learn some animal facts at the same time!

  • @apusapus9375
    @apusapus9375 Před měsícem +4

    Endlich ein neues Video, super !!

  • @heavenlynature7113
    @heavenlynature7113 Před měsícem

    Fascinating thanks for the great work.🎉

  • @finpark7785
    @finpark7785 Před měsícem +4

    good god this channel is amazing. Another amazing creature I knew nothing about that I'm now obsessed with.

  • @josephhall7019
    @josephhall7019 Před měsícem +1

    would have been so cool to see a timelapse of the growth of another!

  • @phreeesubz
    @phreeesubz Před měsícem +2

    *THIS IS INSANE*

  • @Lfppfs
    @Lfppfs Před měsícem +6

    Another awesome video!

  • @weidwingelobjegdiv
    @weidwingelobjegdiv Před měsícem +4

    Congratulations, it's twins

  • @zacharywong483
    @zacharywong483 Před měsícem +1

    Absolutely fantastic video, as always!

  • @kimbratton9620
    @kimbratton9620 Před měsícem +9

    The flatworm sure has an interesting way of life for sure!

  • @footfault1941
    @footfault1941 Před měsícem

    Coral & reef fishes are the staple of documentaries. Unique ecosystems are featured there. Despite its number covering the surface here & there, it's never been seen, let alone referred to! Few among viewers, however, might be aware of this extraordinary, monstrous creature for sure! Like acoel, like Deep Look! Open-mouthed as ever!
    PS. Thanks for an easy access to a research paper in description. A nice follow-up & complete viewer-friendly attention!

  • @opossumboyo
    @opossumboyo Před měsícem

    My favorite part of my undergraduate was working with wacky little creatures like this. Things that just look like a blob are so fun to watch groove around your petri dish.

  • @SGTGhost
    @SGTGhost Před měsícem +4

    that is really cool

  • @TragoudistrosMPH
    @TragoudistrosMPH Před měsícem +1

    1:12 "You mean rat hole to rat hole!? 🤢" -Tiger (Future Man)
    (Great show!)

  • @user-ej3ue7re6d
    @user-ej3ue7re6d Před 21 dnem +3

    I really like this channel.

  • @loobydoopoppycock8361
    @loobydoopoppycock8361 Před měsícem +3

    Flatworms are one of my favourite phylums in the animal kingdom, I'm so happy to see more videos on them :]

  • @temporaladvisor3958
    @temporaladvisor3958 Před měsícem

    Well, that was absolutely fascinating. It's as if these flatworms are the missing link bridging plants and animals.

  • @isaaczsters
    @isaaczsters Před měsícem

    That knife scene is really throwing me back to when y'all covered planarians

  • @Sjmm21
    @Sjmm21 Před měsícem

    This was super cool!!!

  • @christinasornbutnark1208
    @christinasornbutnark1208 Před měsícem

    That was. AWESOME!!!

  • @lisanidog8178
    @lisanidog8178 Před měsícem +1

    Amazing evolution with animals.

  • @dr.schnuffelpou2316
    @dr.schnuffelpou2316 Před měsícem

    What a cool organism!

  • @vivianwilson1271
    @vivianwilson1271 Před měsícem +1

    A GRISLY , GROTESQUE SCENE BECOMES A PLEASANT , EXCITING EXPERIEÑCE UNDER THE SOOTHING VOICE OF THE PRESENTER!!!V.W.

  • @tom_something
    @tom_something Před měsícem

    Fascinating.

  • @dumbbirdwayne
    @dumbbirdwayne Před měsícem +1

    Flatworms are some of my favourite animals, such strange dudes

    • @Langkowski
      @Langkowski Před měsícem +2

      There are two unrelated phyla of flatworms: Platyhelminthes and Xenacoelomorpha

  • @wuziq
    @wuziq Před 19 dny

    so incredible

  • @WolfGuy100
    @WolfGuy100 Před měsícem +1

    Now I can never look at cornflakes the same again.

  • @lorddiana7746
    @lorddiana7746 Před měsícem +1

    I remember watching The Future is Wild (speculative biology of future evolution) and they had predatory worms with gardens of algae on them as well
    Wild

  • @ahmedwaly9073
    @ahmedwaly9073 Před měsícem

    Amazing

  • @preksha6599
    @preksha6599 Před měsícem +3

    it's like a charged up planaria

  • @erwinzer0
    @erwinzer0 Před měsícem +1

    Kudo whoever synthesized the sound effects ❤

  • @snowymuffin
    @snowymuffin Před měsícem

    I’m so amazed at how they can regenerate! WOAAH 😯

  • @brindawansarkar3013
    @brindawansarkar3013 Před měsícem +3

    Fascinating creature 👽👽👽👽 1:3

  • @efbless
    @efbless Před měsícem +2

    New symbiosis just dropped

  • @ghoulishRobot
    @ghoulishRobot Před měsícem

    These little guys are pretty cool 👌

  • @drowningpooralice5505
    @drowningpooralice5505 Před měsícem

    I got some live rock once and had a few of these cats pop up. They were the most interesting thing in my tank that also happened to be the hatdest worker.

  • @jaredguerra2222
    @jaredguerra2222 Před 28 dny

    The one significant figure with trailing numbers that matter.

  • @justinjyeung
    @justinjyeung Před měsícem

    Such incredible creatures! That 1-to-3 regeneration seems unique in the tree of life, but totally makes sense that it would arise through evolution. And, they're totally adorable li'l orange blobs too! XD

  • @heathercontreras1586
    @heathercontreras1586 Před měsícem +2

    WHOA!

  • @NinaRoad
    @NinaRoad Před měsícem

    I’m in shock!!!

  • @icecreambutstupid1873
    @icecreambutstupid1873 Před měsícem +2

    They're so awesome! sometimes they look like little orange ghosts!

  • @vishakhakanojiya5912
    @vishakhakanojiya5912 Před měsícem +2

    I ❤ deeplook

  • @MinhthanhLe-wz6fd
    @MinhthanhLe-wz6fd Před měsícem

    this make me remembered of creature of sonaria , this is a photocarni i remembered

  • @IshanYaar
    @IshanYaar Před měsícem +2

    i always share your video with my friends and teachers

  • @Jeffra_010
    @Jeffra_010 Před měsícem +2

    Slight subtitle mistake at 3:47 - you probably meant "tail" and not "tale" in "Acoels can drop their tale/tail and clone themselves"

    • @KQEDDeepLook
      @KQEDDeepLook  Před měsícem +2

      Thanks - we'll go take a look at that.

  • @shaimaalthwadi3996
    @shaimaalthwadi3996 Před 22 dny

    2:07 “oh foo- oh. Oh never mind I wasn’t hungry anyways”

  • @alexandreramalho9637
    @alexandreramalho9637 Před měsícem

    that's awsome

  • @takumi2023
    @takumi2023 Před měsícem

    love the video.

  • @footfault1941
    @footfault1941 Před 28 dny

    Often those tiny bizarre creatures are in fact monstrous in their special abilities. Acoels are one of them, thanks to Deep Look, totally unfamiliar to most of us otherwise. A creature like this makes me wonder what its ability of cloning for? Is it part of representative strategy? What about genetic diversity? Hermaphrodite? Stunning!

  • @da2935
    @da2935 Před měsícem

    Hi! Loved this!!! Question, though, what predators keep their population in check?

  • @jurjenbos228
    @jurjenbos228 Před měsícem

    Reminds me of those fantasy stories where your enemies double if you hit them. Impressive, but terrifying in a way.

  • @LOL_MANN
    @LOL_MANN Před měsícem +4

    I want to put one in my laval lamp fr 🌋

  • @aprilmeowmeow
    @aprilmeowmeow Před měsícem

    at 2:10, i feel that way with food sometimes after work 😅

  • @uttaranbhunia4939
    @uttaranbhunia4939 Před měsícem +2

    Are you kidding me. This is crazy

  • @smokeyboi4646
    @smokeyboi4646 Před měsícem +5

    I love me some flat worms

    • @KQEDDeepLook
      @KQEDDeepLook  Před měsícem +1

      Great! We have an episode on planaria as well: czcams.com/video/m12xsf5g3Bo/video.html

  • @thechosenone5644
    @thechosenone5644 Před 28 dny +1

    I think acoels were reclassified from turbellarians (which have similar abilities) to xenocoelomorpha. so not regarded as flatworms anymore :(
    Great video!

  • @localpieceofcheese
    @localpieceofcheese Před 11 dny

    Funny looking dried mango slices

  • @Koekie5616
    @Koekie5616 Před měsícem +3

    Nature's Deadpool

  • @JustanothaGuy
    @JustanothaGuy Před měsícem

    Tardigrades have been real quiet ever since the acoels dropped.

  • @scribbly07
    @scribbly07 Před měsícem

    I love how they look like they have little tails

  • @syedrafiqkazim448
    @syedrafiqkazim448 Před měsícem

    advanced coral

  • @teleman07
    @teleman07 Před měsícem

    Finally found my ideal lifeform.

  • @IchigoG
    @IchigoG Před měsícem

    Tardigrade: are immortal
    Me holding a match stick lit:
    u sure about that?

  • @garylawson5381
    @garylawson5381 Před měsícem

    These weird little cuties have spoiled my appetite!

  • @Leto_0
    @Leto_0 Před měsícem

    Holobiant reminds me of sophonophores and how they challenge our definition of an individual