Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Science

What an ancient jellyfish can teach us about the evolution of sleep

An upside-down jellyfish drifts in a shallow lagoon, rhythmically contracting its translucent bell. By night that beat drops from roughly 36 pulses a minute to nearer 30, and the animal slips into a state that, despite its lack of a brain, resembles sleep.

What an ancient jellyfish can teach us about the evolution of sleep
Image: Phys.org
An upside-down jellyfish drifts in a shallow lagoon, rhythmically contracting its translucent bell. By night that beat drops from roughly 36 pulses a minute to nearer 30, and the animal slips into a state that, despite its lack of a brain, resembles sleep.

Originally published at Phys.org

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