[This study] began when I and other marine biologists were concerned about the source of ‘stinging water’—an irritating sensation that occurred while in the mangrove forest waters studying upside-down jellyfish, and working together with aquarists at major public aquariums,” Cheryl Ames, an author of the study from Tohoku University, Japan, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, told Newsweek.
“There were several theories exchanged by fellow marine biologists, and comments posted online by people after experiencing stinging water during snorkeling or swimming in those areas. We wanted to find out the scientific explanation behind the long-standing stinging water puzzle,” she said.