The Machinery Behind a Sea Anemone’s Sting
The third place winner shows some of the complex cellular process behind a sea anemone’s ability to sting, which these animals use both as a defense mechanism and a hunting tool. When a creature ventures into their reach, specialized cells called nematocysts launch from their tentacles, both poisoning the hapless animal and latching into their skin like a harpoon, allowing the anemone to pull its prey closer for digestion.
