19.10.2025
A new study from our Marine Biology Department, published in PNAS, reveals a unique mechanism behind the rhythmic pulsation of the soft coral Xenia umbellata– a species that has existed for over half a billion years.
Key finding: Unlike most animals that rely on a central pacemaker to coordinate rhythmic movements, Xenia operates without a central control system. Each tentacle—or even a fragment of a tentacle—functions as an autonomous pacemaker, forming a fully decentralized network.
This discovery provides important insights into the evolutionary origins of rhythmic motion and may inform future developments in soft robotics, distributed systems, and our understanding of biological rhythmicity.
The research was led by Prof. Tamar Lotan in collaboration with Prof. Yehuda Benayahu (Tel Aviv University) and joint PhD student Elinor Nadir.
