Horseshoe crabs: Ancient creatures who are a medical marvel

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Published 2024-08-11

Correspondent Conor Knighton visits New Jersey beaches along the Delaware Bay to learn about horseshoe crabs – mysterious creatures that predate dinosaurs – whose very blood has proved vital to keeping humans healthy by helping detect bacterial endotoxins. He talks with environmentalists about the decline in the horseshoe crab population, and with researchers who are pushing the pharmaceutical industry to switch its use of horseshoe crab blood with a synthetic alternative used in medical testing.

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All Comments (21)

@jurassictyrantkingYT 4 hours ago

A Survivor from the age of dinosaurs 🦕, And a prehistoric species that is proving valuable to humans today. Humans are now proving to be the most difficult creature they've ever come across threatens their survival as an ancient species.
@pedallove7058 4 hours ago

What a fascinating and valuable story. Thank you so much!
@happyfunjenn 1 hour ago

We need to be kinder to them...
@chariwater1 4 hours ago

We love them here at the shore. ❤
@yvonneplant9434 3 hours ago

Eli Lilly was a graduate of the College of Pharmacy and Science in Philadelphia.. It became the University of the Sciences. The latter is now part of St Joe's University.
@yawenliu6648 2 hours ago

I used to live in Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn , a meet up group took me to spot some horseshoe crabs several years ago
@steveconn 47 minutes ago

Great they prevent testing on rabbits too! Double benefit of these crabbies ❤
@sitindogmas 45 minutes ago

well, i didn't know there was horseshoe crab blood in my pepsi
@stingraytor 2 hours ago

So cute!!!!!!!
@MickeyFlipper 46 minutes ago

They vaguely resemble prehistoric trilobites. Very cool. Definitely needs to be protected
@darsig3317 20 minutes ago

Enlightening story. Thank you.
@rr7firefly 3 hours ago

Human beings are notorious opportunists who will consume every natural resource available, regardless of the damage done to an ecosystem. It is necessary to protect the horseshoe crabs from the ignorant practices that have threatened their continued existence. This is the sad state of the world, folks.
@user-wd7hs2ys8n 9 minutes ago

So Beautiful So Peaceful Nature like Heaven Protect Nature The Relationship with the Nature
@Grandizer8989 1 hour ago

But the Earth is 6,000 years old! 😅
@user-hn4oi7yz1h 4 hours ago

Resembles a bug.
@ForNika 27 minutes ago

The only endangered specie is Humanity, they will survive us too.
@lindabratsch9091 24 minutes ago

They’re just big sea cockroaches! Lol!
@oceanwoods 56 minutes ago

Horrific human entitlement and greed
@stereothrilla8374 29 minutes ago

Old news. Stop reporting on this. News Flash!!! Earth round!😂😂😂
@josephlalock8378 4 hours ago

birders? birding? i remember when they were called 'bird watchers" and they were "bird watching" but that's much too difficult to say🙄