Brad Gemmell of USF has discovered another reason why jellyfish can be considered “the world’s best swimmers.” He found that jellyfish produce two vortex rings that spin in opposite directions and give the creatures a boost, similar to that of an airplane.

“The fact that these simple animals have figured out how to achieve a ‘ground effect’ type boost in open water, away from any solid surfaces, has the potential to open up a range of new possibilities for engineered vehicles to take advantage of this phenomenon,” Gemmell said. These findings could enhance development of ocean monitors.

• Bradford Gemmell