Japanese schoolchildren develop jellyfish sting cream
The kids say they wants the proceeds from their product to renovate and run a local aquarium
The aquarium club at a school in Ehime prefecture, western Japan, has developed a jellyfish sting inhibitor prototype and is aiming to release the product in February next year with help from a private company.
With products to prevent jellyfish stings still rare in Japan, members of the Nagahama high school aquarium club in Ozu will start promoting the anti-sting cream mainly among surfers to begin with.
“I would like to contribute the profits to the local economy,” said Rara Shigematsu, 17, the aquarium club member leading the project.
Members had been researching symbiosis between clownfish and sea anemones. They discovered that the mucous coat of clownfish with its high concentration of magnesium prevents them from being stung by sea anemones.
Clownfish inhabit the tentacles of anemones, which have stinging cells similar to those of jellyfish, to protect themselves from predators in a symbiotic relationship with their host.
The students also found that the chemical properties of the mucous coat of clownfish can prevent jellyfish nematocysts from being activated as well.
