Submitted by the University of Washington Marine Laboratories.

Dr. Leslie Babonis from Cornell University is the 2025 Distinguished Lecturer. On June 30, at 7 p.m. at Brickworks, she will present “How the sea anemone lost its sting.”

On July 2 at 7 p.m. in the FHL Commons area, she will present “The origin and diversification of cnidarian stinging cells.”

Jellyfish are famous for their powerful sting. Their tentacles are packed with cells harboring tiny harpoons that can fire at a moment’s notice, delivering a toxic cocktail of venoms from the tip of a spiny dart. Although they are closely related to jellyfish, corals and sea anemones do not pack quite the same punch. In fact, these animals have traded in their venomous harpoon for a sticky web of fibers. Why would they do this? It seems sea anemones have evolved the ability to use their “stinging” cells for more than just stinging.