Many trips to the beach have been spoiled by the touch of a jellyfish. Wanna see why?
As part of his science series, "SmarterEveryDay," a YouTube user named Destin has captured on video in slow-motion how a jellyfish sting would happen, as the tentacle suddenly shoots out little needles filled with poison. The whole process takes just a fraction of a second.
Dustin went to James Cook University, in Queensland, Australia. He brought along with him a Phantom MIRO LC320S, a high speed digital camera, to consult with Dr. Jamie Seymour, an expert in animal toxins and poisons. With the help of Dr. Seymour and his researchers, they used electricity to cause a sea anemone's tentacle to attack.
According to Dr. Seymour, the sea anemone's reaction is the same as a jellyfish, with the sea creature's needles, called nematocysts, being deployed. This results in what could be a painful poisoning for a person.
This is the first time Dr. Seymour was able to capture video of the stinging process. "I just saw something that nobody else in the world has seen before."
