Sea monkeys, also known as brine shrimp, are a popular low maintenance pet for children. Evidence from a new scientific study shows that sea monkeys and other tiny animals living in the ocean might actually have a significant affect on the current of the water, comparable to wind and tides.

Sea monkeys, also known as brine shrimp, are a popular low maintenance pet for children.

Evidence from a new scientific study shows that sea monkeys and other tiny animals living in the ocean might actually have a significant effect on currents, comparable to wind and tidal forces.

Sea monkeys travel together in large groups, and their routine involves rising to the surface of the water at night to feed on algae, before retreating back to the ocean depths to avoid predators during the day.

Since there are so many of the small animals moving together at the same time, they may have a significant, but previously unknown impact on global ocean patterns and currents.

John Dabiri, a professor of aeronautics and bioengineering at the California Institute of Technology, who worked on the study is quoted as saying: "The organisms in the ocean appear to have the capacity to influence their environment by their collective swimming."

Sea monkeys are attracted to light, so for the study, researchers used different colored lasers to manipulate their movement in an aquarium.

They then measured the force of the brine shrimp’s movement, and determined based on the results that they might generate up to a trillion watts of energy in the ocean.