The Fantastically Weird World of Photosynthetic Sea Slugs | Michael Middlebrooks | TED

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  • čas přidán 8. 03. 2023
  • Meet the fantastically colorful and astonishingly adaptable sea slugs that found a way to photosynthesize (or create energy from sunlight) like plants. Diving deep into these often overlooked creatures, invertebrate zoologist Michael Middlebrooks introduces the solar-powered slugs that lost their shells -- but gained the ability to directly harness the power of the sun.
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    • The Fantastically Weir...
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Komentáře • 246

  • @sohovulture87
    @sohovulture87 Před rokem +178

    Fascinating and a great presentation. Always gives me a buzz seeing someone who is so obviously excited by their field.

  • @bottomlessinkwell
    @bottomlessinkwell Před rokem +181

    Perfect random interesting science topic! I love it anytime animals are photosynthesizing which I imagine isn’t all that often. Unless there’s something about my skin I don’t know about.

    • @odis.x
      @odis.x Před rokem +9

      Vitamin d3?

    • @chuckybang
      @chuckybang Před rokem +1

      When we eat leafy greens, the chlorophyll in our bodies reacts with sunlight to produce CoQ10. Not exactly photosynthesis but cool nonetheless.

    • @just-a-fella3212
      @just-a-fella3212 Před rokem +7

      @@odis.x I wonder if genetically engineered photosynthesis might be possible to apply to humans. If so, then it might reduce our need for food although it may also mean we would need to be green.

    • @vapormissile
      @vapormissile Před rokem +7

      ​@@just-a-fella3212 indeed, and Kermit taught us that it ain't easy bein green.

    • @alvaronavarro4895
      @alvaronavarro4895 Před rokem +3

      ​@@odis.x Light just activates the production of that vitamin, It stimulates the cells. But light doesn't take part in the chemical reactions that synthetize vitamin D like It does in plants to synthetize glucose

  • @pietajunior3437
    @pietajunior3437 Před rokem +26

    It's a wonderful thing when a person is so nerdy about a very specific subject. This means that they love it with all their heart, and this guy certainly does so!

  • @harisewak1
    @harisewak1 Před rokem +26

    Now I also want to photosynthesize 🥺

    • @gwang3103
      @gwang3103 Před rokem

      Same here. :(

    •  Před rokem

      That explains why aliens are hairless and green 😂

    • @jessewilliams102
      @jessewilliams102 Před rokem

      I feel like people do photosynthesize but they believe so deeply that it’s not possible that they program their cells to be that way but any skill can be learned with determination and without the constant “this is not real” thoughts.

  • @uumlaut-
    @uumlaut- Před rokem +62

    These are my favorite slugs, and animals in general! I'm currently writing my Batchelor on kleptoplasty and planing on doing something similar for my masters! Amazing talk

  • @jeffreyreed6056
    @jeffreyreed6056 Před rokem +10

    This has been the area I have considered for my PhD. I have looked for and taken many dives in Anilao, Philappines, Indonesia and Thailand. The diversity is incredible and they are so beautiful. Thank you for a wonderful presentation.

  • @OfficialGOD
    @OfficialGOD Před rokem +45

    Beautiful example of a fascinating evolutionary adaptation. Over time, natural selection has favored individuals with the ability to retain functional chloroplasts, as it provides them with an additional energy source.

  • @homo-sapiens-dubium
    @homo-sapiens-dubium Před rokem +23

    I love your passion for slugs, its amazing to think that animals started synthesizing clorophyl!

  • @KJensenStudio
    @KJensenStudio Před rokem +5

    Nudibranchs are so lovely, they look like they'd make great glass sculptures. We had a pet snail named 'Ruffles' once, and Ruffles was an artist of sorts. He/she was mad for eating notebook paper, very particular about which notebook, and would then commence to create elaborate designs only on the glass walls of her house, using her own supply of post-processed papier mache'. A worthy Snail indeed.

  • @miriamrosemary9110
    @miriamrosemary9110 Před rokem +41

    This was awesome!!! I've always liked watching garden snails and slugs, but this is on a whole other level. Absolutely gorgeous, and it really blurs the line between what separates plants from animals. Fascinating.

  • @tylerreeves8026
    @tylerreeves8026 Před rokem +25

    Wow I really like Michael's presentation style and his passion is infectious! What fascinating creatures!

  • @sam81811
    @sam81811 Před rokem +29

    Mindblowing animals, thank you for your research 🙌

  • @chir0pter
    @chir0pter Před rokem +5

    The slugs must have gotten chlorophyll genes laterally transferred to them from the algae or from the chloroplast genome itself, which is kinda crazy. Since chloroplasts are themselves descended directly from bacteria (specifically different Cyanobacteria), this means the slugs acquired these genes from another Domain of life, literally billions of years after those two lineages diverged from a common ancestor!

  • @michelleveronica6097
    @michelleveronica6097 Před rokem +8

    I'm always fascinated with marine invertebrates but didn't even think why some have blue color when it's so rare for land vertibrates.

  • @invox9490
    @invox9490 Před rokem +4

    A Ted with more questions than answers... Loved it.

  • @sMVshortMusicVideos
    @sMVshortMusicVideos Před rokem +5

    I did not know that was possible. A new twist on life's adaptability.

  • @M2164532
    @M2164532 Před rokem +13

    Thanks for this video. Nice to know about such amazing animals. I hope in the future we can realize how they do it.

  • @Anonymous18531
    @Anonymous18531 Před rokem +1

    I live about three hours from Anilao and dive there every month or so. Our nudibranchs are a national treasure. They're like the Hot Wheels of the sea.

  • @mho...
    @mho... Před rokem +3

    Fascinating!
    And the Fact that they figured out how to make Chlorophyll is astonishing!

  • @avirichar4981
    @avirichar4981 Před rokem +3

    i mean while the scifi implications are perhaps sciency fantasy more than anything with the rigorous potential to be questioned into actual problem-solvable reality, this does raise the interesting possibility for a really practical reason behind the idea that any ETs might most often be in the category of "little green men" ...if you can cut out most (to all) of the food chain entirely and go straight to living off of starlight, space travel itself becomes an entirely different animal

  • @gwang3103
    @gwang3103 Před rokem +2

    Fascinating. Emerald sea slugs are such beautiful creatures!
    If only I can 'steal' all the chloroplasts from the vegetables I eat and 'implant' them in my body cells. I'll never have to worry about getting hungry anymore. All I'll have to do when there's no food is go under the sun and take off my shirt. :P

    • @abhishekjha1996
      @abhishekjha1996 Před rokem +2

      If human starts photosynthesis, there will be no shirt any more. People work to collect food. No food required, no need to work, no shirt production.😂

  • @rottenmelodyss_
    @rottenmelodyss_ Před rokem +3

    I would absolutely love to hear more of this man's research!! i love sacoglossans and the weird things they are able to do, my favorite sea slugs!!

  • @newtagwhodis4535
    @newtagwhodis4535 Před rokem +2

    This piqued my curiosity the same way old computer oceanography “games”, basically visual encyclopedias for old computers (1999), from my town’s library helped me first explore the realm of aquatic diversity of life. This was amazing and I can’t wait to learn more about biology. It also fascinates me how they steal these superpowers!

  • @TRAMWAJAZ1
    @TRAMWAJAZ1 Před 11 měsíci +1

    Love those types of TED talks.

  • @jocelyndavalos1247
    @jocelyndavalos1247 Před rokem +3

    I love sea slugs!! We have so much to learn about them. How exciting 🐌

  • @PoshMurder
    @PoshMurder Před rokem +1

    I usually have so much on my mind, I have to pause and rewind videos as I zone out... Yet with this one I was paying attention from beginning to end!
    Absolutely fascinating world indeed, and thank you for sharing your insight. I never thought I would have this sort of interest for invertebrates, yet you've really sparked curiosity within my mind.
    I can only imagine this effect on someone much younger than myself!

  • @brynawaldman5790
    @brynawaldman5790 Před rokem +2

    What a beautiful creature. I own the beauty of the photo pulled me into this clip.

  • @BLOXKAFELLARECORDS
    @BLOXKAFELLARECORDS Před rokem +1

    This is amazing. What a wonderful world when you stop watching The News that's bad... and negative stuff... 😊 you really get to enjoy a magical wonderful world.

  • @TheBillNye
    @TheBillNye Před rokem +3

    Imagine if we fully understood kleptoplasty and could use that mechanism to power solar panels. We could have biological solar panels

  • @mrslukeskywalker
    @mrslukeskywalker Před rokem +2

    This is wild!! What an incredible thing to discover!

  • @patrickm100
    @patrickm100 Před rokem +4

    I need a part 2 and part 3 and 4 ASAP!

  • @aguimoroni6434
    @aguimoroni6434 Před rokem

    The best tedTalk I have heard so far. Very interesting!!

  • @amyc.513
    @amyc.513 Před rokem

    This couldn't be cooler. What an awesome guy and presentation!

  • @vasanthr5623
    @vasanthr5623 Před rokem +2

    Absolutely fascinating!

  • @brendenfullmer5573
    @brendenfullmer5573 Před rokem

    This is so fascinating! I love that there are people in society that can dedicate their lives to studying slugs.

  • @centurionstrengthandfitnes3694

    Wow! This is exactly what I want from a TED talk.
    Far future humanity may, in fact, be green.

  • @Minimaos1
    @Minimaos1 Před rokem

    It's just so cool and interesting for me. I love this unraveled world makes me itch for more.

  • @AKennethNolan
    @AKennethNolan Před rokem

    Sea slugs have always been my favorite animal. Thanks for the fascinating talk!

  • @Vbluevital
    @Vbluevital Před rokem

    Fascinating and beautiful! Thank You

  • @KathyM1612
    @KathyM1612 Před rokem

    Fantastic presentation! You've indeed left me curious about sea slugs now

  • @fbouret
    @fbouret Před rokem

    I didn’t know there were so many kinds of slugs and so pretty! Now I want to explore them! So cool!

  • @IO-zz2xy
    @IO-zz2xy Před rokem

    A wonderful presentation on a facinating topic, thank you sir.
    Regards from South Africa

  • @gabrielgonzalez1993
    @gabrielgonzalez1993 Před rokem

    Love love loved your presentation

  • @susanjane4784
    @susanjane4784 Před rokem +1

    I wandered down a slug hole just like Alice chasing her rabbit and ended up looking at sea cucumbers. All these beasties are wild and wonderful.

  • @kisnpisn4919
    @kisnpisn4919 Před rokem

    one of the most captivating animals i‘ve encountered in the wild.

  • @margaretmurphy9498
    @margaretmurphy9498 Před rokem +1

    Thanks for such an interesting topic. I enjoyed learning something I had no idea sxisted

  • @annekedam6846
    @annekedam6846 Před rokem

    Thoses slugs are beautyfull! A very interresting video. I can understand your passion. Great presentation

  • @MrSoiigaspi
    @MrSoiigaspi Před rokem

    AMAZING RESEARCH! thank you

  • @gabrielcampos6890
    @gabrielcampos6890 Před rokem

    I got that "crazy rabbit hole, lets go" feeling when i watched this

  • @chaotiqueneutreFitzMuad

    Son petit sourire en coin en dit long sur sa passion. 😊

  • @cerarobert1989
    @cerarobert1989 Před rokem +1

    Wonderful explanation.

  • @lucianamunhoz9818
    @lucianamunhoz9818 Před rokem +1

    Really amazing !

  • @Drukgizhabthra
    @Drukgizhabthra Před rokem +3

    Amazing!!!

  • @adhipmitra
    @adhipmitra Před rokem

    Excellent talk

  • @timbenders6989
    @timbenders6989 Před rokem

    Fantastically fascinating!

  • @snailhawk
    @snailhawk Před rokem

    Good to see someone promoting molluscs for a change! They are really the most amazing creatures but so often overlooked. 🐌

  • @SebEyes
    @SebEyes Před rokem +2

    Very interesting ! I won't see Sea slugs the same now...

  • @SnakeAndTurtleQigong
    @SnakeAndTurtleQigong Před rokem +1

    Thanks so much

  • @AkumaQiu
    @AkumaQiu Před rokem

    I had no idea TED was still a thing. wild

  • @jjutt87
    @jjutt87 Před rokem

    So I guess Kirby was a slug who lost its shell?! Phenomenal work and study!

  • @AlexAnom420
    @AlexAnom420 Před rokem

    this guy's got me nerding out as hard as him talking about sea slugs...👍😆

  • @taleandclawrock2606
    @taleandclawrock2606 Před rokem

    Beautiful creatures, how cool for animals to photosynthesise.

  • @snehabhat4876
    @snehabhat4876 Před rokem

    Very interesting discussion. Slugs are pretty cool, who knew.

  • @rvgr12
    @rvgr12 Před rokem

    He lit up when he started to talk about those slugs! 😃

  • @martensamulowitz347
    @martensamulowitz347 Před rokem

    very nice presentation!

  • @Randyjj92
    @Randyjj92 Před rokem

    Very fascinating

  • @avameza8028
    @avameza8028 Před rokem +2

    this is incredible, new creature to look into! I always knew slugs were amazing creatures

  • @michasosnowski5918
    @michasosnowski5918 Před rokem

    Very interesting. Thanks.

  • @Phoenix-np1iu
    @Phoenix-np1iu Před 8 měsíci

    back to my childhood obsession with sea slugs

  • @presenceof
    @presenceof Před rokem

    They're pretty beautiful creatures. Wow.😮

  • @Lulab3ll3
    @Lulab3ll3 Před rokem +1

    Honestly I can’t even begin to imagine all the things we have yet to discover…… just at our fingertips. What’s going to be the next ground breaking, world changing discovery?

  • @iamyers02
    @iamyers02 Před 2 měsíci

    Awesome!

  • @isaak8145
    @isaak8145 Před 2 měsíci

    solid ted talk

  • @graciliraptor3990
    @graciliraptor3990 Před rokem

    It really is exciting!!!

  • @louisroth5941
    @louisroth5941 Před rokem

    The information in this video made me so upset i could cry even though it IS my birthday today

  • @noticedbymany3955
    @noticedbymany3955 Před rokem

    This is a crazy advancement in science could we apply this to human cells? Could you imagine a world wheee people only need to stand in the sun for a while a day like a plant to feed?

  • @katrinamccollough2944

    "Why do I study slugs?" You forgot to mention how FREAKING CUTE nudibranchs are. Just lookit their little non-faces

  • @whirledpeas1182
    @whirledpeas1182 Před rokem

    This guy's interest in slugs far exceeds my interest in life

  • @matthijsmeester293
    @matthijsmeester293 Před rokem +1

    So interesting

  • @marcmarc172
    @marcmarc172 Před rokem

    I can't believe this bright zoologist talked for 12 minutes with his right ear folded. I could never do that!
    oh yeah good talk.

  • @SwedenTomasSmile
    @SwedenTomasSmile Před rokem +1

    Interesting!

  • @deekay1310
    @deekay1310 Před rokem

    I love when people are passionate and knowledgeable about what they do

  • @etothejtheta
    @etothejtheta Před rokem +1

    More of this. Just a nerd, sharing what they nerd about.

  • @kyrab7914
    @kyrab7914 Před rokem

    ... I knew Stephen Hillenburg was surprisingly accurate with Spongebob. Turns out "photosynthesis... Photosynthesis..." Was accurate too

  • @andreasreiser1069
    @andreasreiser1069 Před rokem

    This was a very interesting talk. I wouldn't be surprised if these hybrids of plants and animals were going to evolve into the next dominating species on this planet. 😊

  • @navypinkdesign
    @navypinkdesign Před rokem

    Grass/Water type Pokémon are awesome

  • @FukutenshiYoufan
    @FukutenshiYoufan Před rokem

    The concept of a species stealing other species' skills (genes, cells) is mindblowing. 😍

  • @karen5670
    @karen5670 Před rokem +3

    "You are what you eat" 🐌

  • @velvetine74
    @velvetine74 Před rokem

    People who don't realise what their looking at here need to understand this process could one day encourage thinking or development of processes and technologies that could end world hunger or energy problems. It could even be used to colonise and terraform other worlds.

  • @RhettSteed
    @RhettSteed Před rokem +1

    that is So cool

  • @markdoyle9642
    @markdoyle9642 Před rokem

    RESPECT!

  • @Fochit8611
    @Fochit8611 Před rokem

    I knew this is how corals got their energy but I had no clue sea slugs were also capable of doing so as well

  • @ThingsYouMightLike
    @ThingsYouMightLike Před rokem +2

    This guy is the long haired doppelgänger of someone I know. I couldn't say who that person is. But I'm sure I know someone who this guy is the long haired doppelgänger of.

  • @travisross9913
    @travisross9913 Před rokem +1

    Go you slug guy!

  • @sslaia
    @sslaia Před 11 měsíci

    When the scientists uncover the secret mechanism of those slugs, that would be a step to divinity. People can just incorporate chlorophyl like the slug and get their energy directly from the abundance of sunshine in a warming planet.

  • @frogchair
    @frogchair Před rokem

    My special interest 💚

  • @tristanwegner
    @tristanwegner Před rokem

    12:42 "Slug=Snail minus the shell". That is why German calls slugs Nacktschnecke, literally "Naked snail"

  • @mrvoss
    @mrvoss Před rokem +1

    Thank you, such an interesting angle! Does anybody know of any biomimicry application for human or general to capture CO2?

  • @emmanueljohnson7334
    @emmanueljohnson7334 Před rokem

    I want one of those leaf slugs royal blue and gold that would be cool

  • @McDundel
    @McDundel Před rokem

    Interesting, thank you younger, alternate dimension Ross. 😊