When jellyfish or squid get caught in nets, their squishy bodies can get damaged. That makes it hard for scientists to study them. To help solve that problem, researchers designed a device that can trap sea creatures in very deep waters without harming them.
The claw-like device has five “fingers” that delicately fold shut around the animals. The researchers recently tested the device by attaching it to a submarine off the coast of California. They captured and released several jellyfish and squid.
The researchers want to add cameras and sensors to the claw that can help them study animals underwater. “These tools are allowing us to do science in the deep sea,” says biologist David Gruber, who worked on the claw.