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

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  • Опубліковано 21 вер 2024
  • 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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КОМЕНТАРІ • 248

  • @sohovulture87
    @sohovulture87 Рік тому +184

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

  • @pietajunior3437
    @pietajunior3437 Рік тому +30

    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!

  • @bottomlessinkwell
    @bottomlessinkwell Рік тому +183

    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 Рік тому +9

      Vitamin d3?

    • @chuckybang
      @chuckybang Рік тому +1

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

    • @JBplumbing12
      @JBplumbing12 Рік тому +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 Рік тому +7

      ​@@JBplumbing12 indeed, and Kermit taught us that it ain't easy bein green.

    • @alvaronavarro4895
      @alvaronavarro4895 Рік тому +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

  • @uumlaut-
    @uumlaut- Рік тому +64

    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

  • @KJensenStudio
    @KJensenStudio Рік тому +8

    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.

  • @jeffreyreed6056
    @jeffreyreed6056 Рік тому +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.

  • @miriamrosemary9110
    @miriamrosemary9110 Рік тому +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.

  • @OfficialGOD
    @OfficialGOD Рік тому +46

    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 Рік тому +24

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

  • @tylerreeves8026
    @tylerreeves8026 Рік тому +25

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

  • @harisewak1
    @harisewak1 Рік тому +29

    Now I also want to photosynthesize 🥺

    • @gwang3103
      @gwang3103 Рік тому +1

      Same here. :(

    •  Рік тому

      That explains why aliens are hairless and green 😂

    • @jessewilliams102
      @jessewilliams102 Рік тому

      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.

  • @invox9490
    @invox9490 Рік тому +5

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

  • @sam81811
    @sam81811 Рік тому +29

    Mindblowing animals, thank you for your research 🙌

  • @chir0pter
    @chir0pter Рік тому +6

    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!

  • @Anonymous18531
    @Anonymous18531 Рік тому +2

    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.

  • @michelleveronica6097
    @michelleveronica6097 Рік тому +9

    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.

  • @TRAMWAJAZ1
    @TRAMWAJAZ1 Рік тому +1

    Love those types of TED talks.

  • @M2164532
    @M2164532 Рік тому +13

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

  • @sMVshortMusicVideos
    @sMVshortMusicVideos Рік тому +5

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

  • @gwang3103
    @gwang3103 Рік тому +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 Рік тому +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_ Рік тому +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!!

  • @avirichar4981
    @avirichar4981 Рік тому +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

  • @mho...
    @mho... Рік тому +3

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

  • @TheBillNye
    @TheBillNye Рік тому +3

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

  • @newtagwhodis4535
    @newtagwhodis4535 Рік тому +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!

  • @BLOXKAFELLARECORDS
    @BLOXKAFELLARECORDS Рік тому +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.

  • @PoshMurder
    @PoshMurder Рік тому +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!

  • @jocelyndavalos1247
    @jocelyndavalos1247 Рік тому +3

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

  • @jo-zzz333
    @jo-zzz333 10 днів тому

    I hope Middlebrooks writes a book someday! Kleptoplasty is fascinating, and I would love to learn more about these weird little guys.

  • @patrickm100
    @patrickm100 Рік тому +4

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

  • @mrslukeskywalker
    @mrslukeskywalker Рік тому +2

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

  • @brynawaldman5790
    @brynawaldman5790 Рік тому +2

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

  • @chaotiqueneutreFitzMuad
    @chaotiqueneutreFitzMuad Рік тому

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

  • @brendenfullmer5573
    @brendenfullmer5573 Рік тому

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

  • @susanjane4784
    @susanjane4784 Рік тому +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.

  • @vasanthr5623
    @vasanthr5623 Рік тому +2

    Absolutely fascinating!

  • @IO-zz2xy
    @IO-zz2xy Рік тому

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

  • @centurionstrengthandfitnes3694

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

  • @gabrielcampos6890
    @gabrielcampos6890 Рік тому

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

  • @margaretmurphy9498
    @margaretmurphy9498 Рік тому +1

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

  • @gabrielgonzalez1993
    @gabrielgonzalez1993 Рік тому

    Love love loved your presentation

  • @jjutt87
    @jjutt87 Рік тому

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

  • @kisnpisn4919
    @kisnpisn4919 Рік тому

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

  • @adhipmitra
    @adhipmitra Рік тому

    Excellent talk

  • @rvgr12
    @rvgr12 Рік тому

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

  • @AkumaQiu
    @AkumaQiu Рік тому

    I had no idea TED was still a thing. wild

  • @SebEyes
    @SebEyes Рік тому +2

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

  • @Phoenix-np1iu
    @Phoenix-np1iu 11 місяців тому

    back to my childhood obsession with sea slugs

  • @Minimaos1
    @Minimaos1 Рік тому

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

  • @SnakeAndTurtleQigong
    @SnakeAndTurtleQigong Рік тому +1

    Thanks so much

  • @katrinamccollough2944
    @katrinamccollough2944 Рік тому

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

  • @AlexAnom420
    @AlexAnom420 Рік тому

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

  • @Vbluevital
    @Vbluevital Рік тому

    Fascinating and beautiful! Thank You

  • @annekedam6846
    @annekedam6846 Рік тому

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

  • @amyc.513
    @amyc.513 Рік тому

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

  • @aguimoroni6434
    @aguimoroni6434 Рік тому

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

  • @snailhawk
    @snailhawk Рік тому

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

  • @karen5670
    @karen5670 Рік тому +3

    "You are what you eat" 🐌

  • @cerarobert1989
    @cerarobert1989 Рік тому +1

    Wonderful explanation.

  • @Drukgizhabthra
    @Drukgizhabthra Рік тому +3

    Amazing!!!

  • @StonedtotheBones13
    @StonedtotheBones13 Рік тому

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

  • @AKennethNolan
    @AKennethNolan Рік тому

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

  • @marcmarc172
    @marcmarc172 Рік тому

    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.

  • @snehabhat4876
    @snehabhat4876 Рік тому

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

  • @MrSoiigaspi
    @MrSoiigaspi Рік тому

    AMAZING RESEARCH! thank you

  • @Lulab3ll3
    @Lulab3ll3 Рік тому +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?

  • @etothejtheta
    @etothejtheta Рік тому +1

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

  • @KathyM1612
    @KathyM1612 Рік тому

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

  • @navypinkdesign
    @navypinkdesign Рік тому

    Grass/Water type Pokémon are awesome

  • @deekay1310
    @deekay1310 Рік тому

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

  • @Randyjj92
    @Randyjj92 Рік тому

    Very fascinating

  • @fbouret
    @fbouret Рік тому

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

  • @isaak8145
    @isaak8145 5 місяців тому

    solid ted talk

  • @whirledpeas1182
    @whirledpeas1182 Рік тому

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

  • @velvetine74
    @velvetine74 Рік тому

    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.

  • @tristanwegner
    @tristanwegner Рік тому

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

  • @presenceof
    @presenceof Рік тому

    They're pretty beautiful creatures. Wow.😮

  • @noticedbymany3955
    @noticedbymany3955 Рік тому

    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?

  • @lucianamunhoz9818
    @lucianamunhoz9818 Рік тому +1

    Really amazing !

  • @michasosnowski5918
    @michasosnowski5918 Рік тому

    Very interesting. Thanks.

  • @taleandclawrock2606
    @taleandclawrock2606 Рік тому

    Beautiful creatures, how cool for animals to photosynthesise.

  • @timbenders6989
    @timbenders6989 Рік тому

    Fantastically fascinating!

  • @iamyers02
    @iamyers02 5 місяців тому

    Awesome!

  • @sslaia
    @sslaia Рік тому

    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.

  • @graciliraptor3990
    @graciliraptor3990 Рік тому

    It really is exciting!!!

  • @alexandermoody1946
    @alexandermoody1946 Рік тому

    Nudibranchs may be some of the prettiest animals on our planet.

  • @markdoyle9642
    @markdoyle9642 Рік тому

    RESPECT!

  • @louisroth5941
    @louisroth5941 Рік тому

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

  • @FukutenshiYoufan
    @FukutenshiYoufan Рік тому

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

  • @ThingsYouMightLike
    @ThingsYouMightLike Рік тому +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.

  • @frogchair
    @frogchair Рік тому

    My special interest 💚

  • @emmanueljohnson7334
    @emmanueljohnson7334 Рік тому

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

  • @yixuan_yx
    @yixuan_yx Рік тому +1

    Interesting!

  • @McDundel
    @McDundel Рік тому

    Interesting, thank you younger, alternate dimension Ross. 😊

  • @pamsuepmnos2371
    @pamsuepmnos2371 Рік тому

    With the Endeavor logo I would have expected him to talk about slap fighting or pro wrestling. This is much cooler.

  • @tokyocommute
    @tokyocommute Рік тому +1

    10% about Photosentethic seaslug 90% about side stories

  • @martensamulowitz347
    @martensamulowitz347 Рік тому

    very nice presentation!

  • @matthijsmeester293
    @matthijsmeester293 Рік тому +1

    So interesting

  • @armartin0003
    @armartin0003 Рік тому

    Makes you wonder how the immune systems of these creatures became tolerant of the algal cells, and whether you could encourage this symbiosis in other animals that don't have fur...

  • @AlejandroMeri
    @AlejandroMeri Рік тому

    My favourite sea slugs are the ones that produce Adam!