Summary

The website content discusses the unique environment and perceptions of the Atolla reynoldsi jellyfish, which inhabits the deep sea's midnight zone, and the philosophical musings inspired by this alien-like ecosystem.

Abstract

The article delves into the concept of habitation in extreme conditions, specifically focusing on the Atolla reynoldsi jellyfish that thrives in the midnight zone of the ocean, 3,300 feet below the surface. This region, devoid of sunlight except for the bioluminescence of its inhabitants, is likened to the Land of the Midnight Sun. The author, Erika Burkhalter, reflects on the jellyfish's sensory experiences, which are vastly different from our own due to the lack of sunlight and the crushing water pressure. Burkhalter, a neurophilosopher and photographer, uses this subject to inspire wonder about life forms that exist under conditions unimaginable to humans, questioning what they might perceive in their environment. The article also includes a SoundCloud link for an auditory experience related to the topic and concludes with an invitation for readers to subscribe to the author's stories and consider supporting the platform and its writers.

Opinions

The author expresses a sense of awe and curiosity about the Atolla reynoldsi jellyfish's ability to survive and perceive its environment in the absence of light and under immense water pressure.
Burkhalter suggests that the jellyfish's world is as foreign to us as living on the moon or in another solar system, highlighting the vast difference in living conditions and sensory experiences.
The article conveys a deep appreciation for the wonders of nature and the diversity of life on Earth, emphasizing the importance of exploring and understanding these alien-like ecosystems.
The author implies that the jellyfish's perception of its environment might be as normal to it as our perception of the sky and the moon is to us, drawing a parallel between the familiar and the unknown.
Burkhalter encourages reader engagement and support for creative content on Medium, acknowledging the value of storytelling and artistic expression in connecting with and appreciating the natural world.

“The Midnight Zone.” Photo ©Erika Burkhalter

Poetry, Science, Photography

Habitation Zone

Jellyfish perception

Thirty-three hundred feet down under the sea —

that’s where it starts, the habitation for the Atolla reynoldsi jellyfish.

The midnight zone. That’s what they call it.

It’s like the Land of the Midnight Sun at midnight in winter. Underwater.

Only the aurora borealis is made from bioluminescence.

And how would you ever know the difference — if you were born here? The horizon of the atmosphere is a watery breath that you’ll never breach.

It’s like reaching for the moon by pointing a finger.

The moon is there. You don’t need to read the parable to know it. You can see it without the help of any fingers.

But, down here, you can’t see it. You can’t even fathom its existence.

They say that eagles can see movement under the snow.

What does the jellyfish see?

We have no conception.

Two and a half miles down — that’s where it ends, the habitation zone for the Atolla reynoldsi jellyfish.

I recently read about a new jellyfish (it’s not actually the one pictured above, but you can see and read about it here) which lives so deep in the sea that there is no light, other than bioluminescence.

Can you even fathom that? To never see the sky? To never see the moon or the sun? To live in a world where the water pressure would crush most other living beings? It’s an entirely different type of existence than ours. It’s about as different as living on the moon, or in another solar system.

And it just makes you wonder — what do they perceive?

Erika Burkhalter is a yogi, neurophilosopher, cat-mom, photographer, and lover of travel and nature, spreading her love and amazement for Mother Earth’s glories, one photo, poem or story at a time. (MS Neuropsychology, MA Yoga Studies).

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