Jellyfish: aliens, assassins or adventurers?

Did you know that jellyfish can sink boats, compromise fisheries by destroying captive breeding pens, and enter industrial sites that use seawater intake for cooling – including desalination plants, nuclear plants and nuclear aircraft carriers. Yes, they have all fallen victim to jellyfish. A poorly understood member of “the other 99%” as the invertebrates are known, jellyfish are simple creatures, floating, stinging, eating, and breeding en masse, in immense 'blooms', that can be 1,000km in length. Blooms occur worldwide and to some it seems they are becoming more prevalent, or perhaps they are now being monitored more closely. A 'Bloom' So....how big, how bad and why? Take a listen to this podcast to find out. Michael Schubert talks with Lisa Gershwin. This is our first podcast from Sound Minds a brand new podcast platform set up by three academic broadcasters from Australia, who met during a digital content diploma programme and were teamed up serendipitously for a project, which has now turned into a podcast series.  We will certainly be featuring more of their great podcasts - watch this space! FEATURED Current Oriented Swimming by Jellyfish Dr Lisa Gershwin MUSIC Koop – Jellyfishes Deya Dova – Jellyfish PICTURES Main picture of jellyfish: Mark Morgan Jellyfish bloom by JR