And now it's time for Who Smarted? Hey, Smarty Pants, can you guess where I am?
Between the seagulls calling, waves splashing, Boathorn's honking.
It's pretty obvious. I'm at McDonald's. Huh?
Just kidding. I'm near the ocean. I just wanted to make sure you're paying attention. but I did pick up some chicken nuggets for a snack.
Anyway, I'm at the Smarty Harbor about to board the Gelatinous Voyager, a submersible that's going to take me and you on an ocean adventure.
What? How do you like that? but it's not just some random motion adventure.
This is a chance to learn about the always fascinating always squishy, sometimes stingy sea creature known as the jellyfish.
Jellyfish? Arr, smarty pants. I can already tell you need some fish schooling when it comes to my kind.
We prefer to be called jellies or sea jellies.
Anyhoo... Welcome aboard to the Gelatinous Voyager.
I'm your skipper, Captain Blabbins. Ahoy!
Ahoy, Captain Blobbins. Mind if I don't shake your tentacle?
No problem. I get that a lot. But it is great to meet you.
I just can't believe we're going to be taught about jellyfish by an actual jellyfish.
Arrrr! Sorry, I meant to talk about jellies.
Hold the fish. Better. You wouldn't want me to call you the trusty narrator fish when you're not a fish, would you?
No, of course not. But hold on. Smartypants, true or false?
Jellyfish are fish, right? The answer is...
False. Jellyfish are not fish. Wow, that is quite a discovery right in the first minute or two of the show.
That's right. And for the record, starfish aren't fish either.
That's why they're called sea stars. Wow, and yet, all this time, so many people have been using common names that are incorrect.
Smarty pants, that's what's known As a misnomer.
Ah, good word. Misnomer. So tell me, if jellies aren't fish, what are you?
We belong to the Phylum Cnidaria, which includes a group of aquatic animals such as corals, sea anemones, Anhydrous.
Interesting. Look at that. We just learned another amazing fact about jellies.
But wait, there's more! Did you know there are There are over 200 documented species of true jellies. although there could be many more undiscovered jelly species.
And we've been floating around since before the dinosaurs.
Wait, jellies are older than dinosaurs? Whoa.
Aye, aye. Jellies have existed more than 500 million years.
In fact, we're the oldest Morty Organ animal on the planet.
Okay, okay, okay, this is all just too much.
My head is going to explode from learning so much so fast.
But on the other hand, I need to know more.
Things like, what are jellies made of? Why are they see-through?
How do jellies sting? And some of our Smarty Pants listeners really want to know, are jellies immortal, a.k.a. do they live forever?
Smarty Pants, get ready to dive deep for another whiff of science and history on... The Smart Egg!
Who smarted? Who's smart? Is it you? Is it me?
Is it science or history? Listen up! Everyone, we make smarting lots of fun on Who Smarted?
The Mysteries About True Histories podcast is back for season two.
If you're a kid who would love to travel through time to solve cool mysteries, complexing puzzles, and tricky riddles, then this podcast is the perfect audio treat for you.
Every week, join me, Molly, and my best friend Max as we take our problem-solving skills to amazing places like ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, or the Galapagos Islands in 1875 to help out the one and only Charles Darwin.
We never know where we're going to wind up or what we're going to find, which is all part of the fun.
So put on your time traveling shoes and listen as a family.
You can listen to mysteries about true histories on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
I gotta say, Captain Blobbins, the gelatinous Voyager is a pretty cool name for a sub.
Aye. But it's more than just a name. The word gelatinous means wobbly and jelly-ish. and Voyager because this sub can travel to and explore ocean locations all over the world.
And speaking of ocean locations, do you know where in the world sea jellies live?
Ooh, that's a great question. Smarty Pants, where do you think jellies live?
Is it A. Tropical areas near the equator where it's warm year-round?
B. Polar areas in the Arctic and Antarctic regions where it's very cold all year.
Or C, temperate areas where the weather is mostly mild with a few changes throughout the year.
Or D, all of the above. The answer is D, all of the above.
Jellies are highly adaptable and can survive in various marine habitats all over the world. be it cool-tempered waters, warm tropical waters, and even the very cold polar waters of the Arctic. and Antarctic oceans.
You can find jellies in coastal waters along the shore.
The open sea floating in the middle of the ocean, and in the deep sea, thousands of feet below the water surface.
Jellies can also live in saltwater and freshwater, although freshwater jellies are less common.
Smartypants, have you ever seen jellies at the beach?
Maybe near where you live or when you've gone on vacation?
Yep, they're pretty much everywhere. Which is a good thing.
Really? How so? How so? How so? Believe it or not, jellies are very important to the marine ecosystem.
We're part of the food chain and are tasty treats for some predators like sea turtles Certain fish, birds, and yes, some large jellies like to munch on smaller jellies.
I wonder what a PBJF sandwich would taste like.
Get it? Peanut butter and jellyfish? We're not fish.
Right, right. Sorry. Also, there's no peanut butter in the ocean.
But did you know some humans do eat jellies?
Really? Yep. Especially inhabitants of East and Southeast Asia.
Word on the street is... were actually quite delicious.
Oh, um, I'll take your word for it. I'm actually more curious to know what jellies eat.
That's easy. Our diets depend on our size and species. but our menu can include microscopic organisms called plankton, tiny animals called zooplankton, small fish, and crustaceans like shrimp and krill.
I see. And how exactly do jellies eat? I mean, do you have a mouth?
Aye, of course we have mouths. It's right here in the center of our bodies.
That's also where we poop out of. Sorry I couldn't hear you.
I said it's also where we poop out of. Huh, that's what I thought you said.
I know, I know. It may sound gross, Smarty Pants, but it's good for the ocean.
When jellies eat and poop, we release nutrients back into the water that help marine ecosystems grow.
In that case, I take back my... Moving on, how do jellies move on?
Do you just float and let the ocean take you?
Nope. We use our mouths to help us move.
By squirting water out of our mouths, we're able to propel ourselves forward.
Then we swim by opening and closing our bodies like an umbrella.
Very cool. It's too bad jellies get a bad rap because of their venomous tentacles that sting.
Ouch! But I can see right through you to who you really are.
Get it? Because I can see right through you?
Of course, I've always wondered, why can you see right through a sea jelly?
Aye, the answer to that question lies in what Sea Jelly's bodies are made of.
Many jellies are transparent or see-through because their bodies are mostly made up of a particular substance.
Okay, smarty pants, see if you can guess what substance jellies are mostly made of.
Is it A, gelatin, which is a protein also found in gummy candy and jelly?
Yum! B, sea slime. Or C, H2O, otherwise known as water?
The answer is C. Jellies are mostly transparent and jelly-like because about 95% of their bodies are made up of H2O, a.k.a. water.
And their watery bodies allow light to pass through them which helps them camouflage and bend into undersea environments.
You know, to hide from predators. So what you're saying is, jellies have the power of invisibility.
Some, but not all. While some jellies are transparent, other jellies may be many colors.
Depending on their species, jellies can be pink, yellow, blue, purple, white, and green.
Come taste the Jelly Rainbow! Ew. But wait a second.
If jellies are made nearly entirely of water, How are you alive?
There has to be some other stuff inside a jelly.
Yes. Jellies have a simple nervous system to detect light and vibrations and can absorb oxygen through their jelly-like skin.
Okay, that's something. But what about a brain, or a heart, or lungs, or bones?
Smarty pants, where do jellies keep those vital organs?
The answer is, we don't. It might sound crazy, but jellies don't have a brain, a heart, blood, lungs, or bones because they don't need them.
Oh, since we're invertebrates, jellies also have no... No what, smarty pants?
What don't invertebrates have? Did you say a backbone?
You're right. Wow, jellies sure keep it simple when it comes to anatomy, which, in case you don't know, is the structure of an organism.
And speaking of structure, jellies are composed of three layers. an outer layer called the epidermis, an inner layer called the gastrodermis, where they digest their food, and a middle watery layer called the mesoglia. that makes up the jelly-like, umbrella-shaped part of their body.
Hey, smarty pants, do you know what mythological name a jelly's bell-shaped body is called?
Is it A, a Medusa? B, a Poseidon? Or C, a Hydra?
The answer is a Medusa. In Greek mythology, Medusa was known for having hair made of snakes and her ability to turn people to stone with just a look.
A jellyfish with its umbrella-shaped bell and long tentacles kinda looks like Medusa's snake-covered head.
At least jellies don't turn people to stone.
But you do sting. Ouch! And speaking of stings, Captain Blobbins, can you help us get to the bottom of a jellyfish legend?
True or false? If you do happen to get stung by a jelly, you can ease the pain by rinsing the sting with...
Human urine, aka pee. Ew. Now that is a good question, trusty.
Smartypants, the answer is... coming right up after this quick break and a word from our sponsors.
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Now back to Who Smarted? Okay, smarty pants, pretend you're splashing around in the ocean in pretty shallow water when suddenly you get a painful feeling in your leg.
You've just been stung by a jelly, and it hurts!
Ouch! According to legend, one way to ease the pain of a sea jelly sting is to rinse the area in pee.
It could be your own or someone else's. The question is, true or false?
Does this actually help? The answer is...
False. Sorry, but that jelly myth is officially busted.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , The use of urine to treat stings has been tested and proven unhelpful.
Ah, so what should you do if you're ever stung by a jelly?
According to NOAA, if you're ever stung by a jelly, You want to first make sure that no tentacles are stuck in your skin.
If they are, remove them with tweezers. Next, flush the area with ocean water and then an acidic liquid like vinegar.
And always ask your doctor about the best way to care for your sting.
My rule is, if I see jellies, I'm staying out of the water.
Aye. That is a good rule. But what I want to know is, why do jellies sting people?
The same reason jellies sting anything. To defend themselves.
But I wasn't going to hurt it. Or them. True.
But they don't know that. Stinging also helps jellies catch their prey.
Our tentacles have tiny structures called nematocysts, which are like microscopic harpoons filled with venom.
When something brushes against the jelly's tentacles, the nematocysts fire and inject venom into the target.
Ouch! I see. And do all jellies sting? Nope.
Not all jellies sting, and some, like the moon and mushroom jellyfish, have mild stings that aren't very harmful to humans.
But other jellies like the box jellyfish and a tiny, almost invisible jelly called the Iru Kanji have very powerful venom that can cause severe pain and injury, and even death.
Uh, I sure hope we don't run into those jellies today.
Aye, I'll keep an eye out for you. Of course, one jelly you can't miss is known as the Lion's Mane.
It's one of the largest jellies with a body that can grow to be around 7 feet or 2.1 meters in diameter. with tentacles that can grow to be over 100 feet or 31 meters long.
Yanks! I think I'd stay out of the ocean forever if I saw one of those jellies swim up to me.
Ah, despite their size, a sting from a lion's mane is rarely fatal.
But you're definitely better off looking and not touching.
Same goes for all jellies. Good point, Captain Blubbins.
Live and let live, I say. And speaking of living, is it true there is a kind of jelly that can live forever?
Aye. You be talking about the immortal jellyfish.
Which of course is a misnomer. So what do you think, Smarty Pants?
True or false? An immortal jelly can live forever.
The answer is... True. Ish. Huh? Unlike other jellies.
The immortal jellyfish can reverse its aging through a process called transdifferentiation.
Under certain conditions, such as if it's injured, it can transform from its adult Medusa form into a juvenile or polyp form.
Essentially, they can grow younger and become jelly kids again.
Aye. And it seems immortal jellyfish can potentially live forever through regenerating their cells.
Although... they can still be killed by predators and disease.
Scientists are fascinated to understand immortal jellyfish because it may help them better understand aging itself.
In humans. Wow. Who knew sea jellies not only helped the oceans, but could also unlock the mysteries of human aging?
Kind of like a gelatinous fountain of youth.
Well, thanks for the tour, Captain Blabbins.
I'd shake your tentacle, but I don't want to get stung.
No worries. Let's head back up. and get some lunch.
Oh. My tummy and I would be immortally grateful.
A special shout out to Faye in Zamora, Mexico.
Faye wrote to tell us she loves the show because even though it isn't easy for her to learn new things.
She learns a lot from Whosmarted because we make learning fun.
Aw, we are so happy to hear that, Faye. Keep smarting, smarty pants.
This episode, Jellyfish, was written by the immortal Liane French and voiced by Mateo, Portuguese man-of-war karatei.
Adam, Box Within a Box, Davis, and Jerry Colbert.
Technical direction and sound design by Josh Flowerhat-Hahn.
Our associate producer is Max Lion's Mane Kamaski.
The theme song is by Brian C. Wasp Suarez.
We'll see you next time. This has been an atomic entertainment production.
Too smart and...
