Swimming with golden jellyfish swarms in a saltwater lake in Palau has long been on the bucket lists of adventurous travelers. But that singular experience may be in jeopardy, scientists warn, as these famous jellyfish have all but disappeared.

The jellies likely live on attached to the lake bottom as polyps, an early phase in the jellyfish life cycle. If so, scientists are hopeful that once conditions in the lake improve, a new generation will again produce the free swimming adult medusa that so delight tourists.  

But other experts warn that the long-term future of the lake's unique ecosystem may be at risk due to climate change. What's more, while the jellyfish are a highly visible part of the ecosystem, they may be responding to subtle changes that are less well known. 

"They may simply be the