Sea Camp: Is Better Human Health Hidden In The Sea?

Summary

Short Wave Podcast Summary: “Sea Camp: Is Better Human Health Hidden In The Sea?”

Release Date: July 21, 2025 | Host: Regina Barber | Guests: Drew Harvell, Marine Biologist

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Introduction to the Sunlight Zone

Regina Barber opens the episode by introducing listeners to the series "Sea Camp," focusing on the ocean's sunlight (epipelagic) zone, which spans from 0 to 200 meters depth. This zone is crucial as it is the primary area where sunlight penetrates, enabling photosynthesis carried out by phytoplankton. Phytoplankton play a vital role in generating oxygen, contributing to approximately half of Earth's oxygen supply. Regina introduces marine biologist Drew Harvell, who specializes in studying marine invertebrates—ancient, spineless creatures inhabiting this vibrant zone.

Quote:
Regina Barber [00:18]: "The ocean makes about half of Earth's oxygen and plankton are responsible for a big share of that. So this zone is essential to our planet's health."

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Exploring Marine Invertebrates: Nature's Superheroes

Drew Harvell dives into the fascinating world of marine invertebrates, emphasizing their remarkable longevity and evolutionary history. These creatures have existed for over 600 million years, showcasing some of the most ancient animal life on Earth.

Quote:
Drew Harvell [01:34]: "They've been on our planet for over 600 million years. So they are some of the most ancient of our animals."

Regina highlights Drew's passion, mentioning her book The Oceans Menagerie, which delves into the unique biology and evolutionary adaptations of these invertebrates. Drew likens the capabilities of these creatures to superpowers, marveling at their seemingly impossible biological traits.

Quote:
Drew Harvell [01:52]: "I think of them as kind of biological impossibilities, sort of like, you know, Superman flying or having invulnerable skin."

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Sponges: Chemical Wonders

The conversation begins with sponges, often perceived as simple sea creatures. However, Drew reveals their complexity and their significant role in biomedical research. Sponges exhibit a stunning array of colors, shapes, and sizes, making them a visual delight for divers.

Quote:
Drew Harvell [04:08]: "They're amazingly beautiful. They come in all colors and sizes and shapes, from vases to runners to huge barrel sponges."

Sponges harbor symbiotic bacteria that produce compounds with potent anti-cancer properties. Drew provides a specific example of Halochondria panacea, a common bright green sponge that contains Streptomyces bacteria. These bacteria synthesize chemicals currently in clinical trials targeting various cancers, including melanoma and pancreatic cancer.

Quote:
Drew Harvell [05:08]: "They actually do the chemical synthesis of these compounds... it's now being used in clinical trials for a whole range of different cancers."

This discovery underscores the potential of marine organisms in developing life-saving medications.

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Sea Slugs (Nudibranchs): Masters of Adaptation

Transitioning to sea slugs, or nudibranchs, Regina and Drew explore their captivating beauty and sophisticated defense mechanisms. Nudibranchs are renowned for their vivid colors and intricate patterns, which serve as visual warnings to predators about their toxicity.

Quote:
Drew Harvell [06:04]: "Sea slugs are just... the most enchanting of the invertebrates in many ways, just because they're a ridiculous circus of colors and shapes."

A remarkable trait of some nudibranchs is their ability to assimilate stinging cells from their prey, such as sea anemones, and repurpose them for their own defense. This process involves selectively ingesting immature stinging cells, transporting them intact through their digestive system, and storing them in specialized cells on their backs. These cells mature and function as efficient defensive harpoons.

Quote:
Drew Harvell [06:54]: "They pass them all the way through their digestive system and into these little packages on their back. The stinging cell completes its development and is then used as a harpoon by the nudibranch."

Drew suggests that studying this mechanism could inspire advancements in human transplantation surgery, particularly in improving organ transplant compatibility without the need for immune suppression.

Quote:
Drew Harvell [08:01]: "There's a real opportunity there to really think a little bit outside the box about other ways to go in and optimize our transplantation surgery."

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Sea Stars: Ecological Engineers

Sea stars, or starfish, are another highlight of the discussion. Drew describes their alien-like appearance, with multiple arms adorned with numerous tube feet and eyes at the ends of each arm. Beyond their captivating appearance, sea stars play a critical role in maintaining marine ecosystems.

Quote:
Drew Harvell [08:52]: "They're certainly one of my favorites because... they have multiple arms. They have thousands of tube feet for running around."

Sea stars are pivotal predators that control populations of organisms like mussels, clams, and sea urchins. However, the sea star wasting disease, akin to a pandemic, has devastated over 20 species, including the giant sunflower star. The decline of sea stars has led to a surge in sea urchin populations, which in turn has caused the deterioration of kelp forests—vital marine habitats.

Quote:
Drew Harvell [09:12]: "When you remove all those sunflower stars, the urchins explode, and they've decimated our kelp meadows."

The resilience and specialized feeding mechanisms of sea stars, such as their ability to exert prolonged force with minimal energy expenditure, offer insights into developing advanced tendon replacement therapies.

Quote:
Drew Harvell [11:04]: "All of these organisms... have these so-called smart tissues, are a lot of interest in transplantation therapy."

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Implications for Human Health and Innovation

Throughout the episode, Drew emphasizes the invaluable lessons humans can glean from marine invertebrates. The unique biological processes and adaptations present opportunities for groundbreaking advancements in medicine and technology. From developing anti-cancer drugs derived from sponge-associated bacteria to innovating transplantation techniques inspired by nudibranchs and enhancing tendon therapies modeled after sea stars, the ocean's hidden treasures hold immense potential for improving human health.

Quote:
Drew Harvell [02:26]: "Understanding these animals superpowers not only helps researchers understand the rules of life, the lessons scientists learn from them can transform our medicines."

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Future Outlook and Conservation

In the episode's closing segments, Drew articulates a poignant message about the importance of conserving marine ecosystems. She underscores that the true wealth of our planet lies not in conventional resources like oil or metal but in the profound biological secrets harbored by oceanic life forms. Protecting these invertebrates is not only crucial for maintaining ecological balance but also for preserving the potential biomedical innovations they offer.

Quote:
Drew Harvell [12:36]: "The most precious resource on our planet is not oil or metal. It's the deep secrets that string our web of life together."

She calls for increased public awareness and protective measures to ensure that these ancient and adaptable organisms continue to thrive amidst changing climatic conditions.

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Conclusion

Regina Barber and Drew Harvell conclude the episode by highlighting the interconnectedness of marine life and human well-being. Drew's insights into the superpowers of marine invertebrates illuminate the profound ways in which the ocean's mysteries can drive scientific and medical breakthroughs. The episode serves as both an educational exploration and a clarion call for the preservation of marine ecosystems to safeguard humanity's future health.

Final Quote:
Regina Barber [13:19]: "Thank you for listening to Short Wave from NPR."

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Additional Resources

• Book Mentioned: The Oceans Menagerie by Drew Harvell
• Related Episodes: Past episodes on nudibranchs and other fascinating marine invertebrates
• Further Engagement: Sign up for Short Wave’s “Sea Camp” newsletter for bonus content and interactive puzzles at npr.org/seacamp

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This episode of Short Wave masterfully intertwines marine biology with potential human health applications, showcasing the ocean's indispensability to our planet and our species. Through engaging dialogue and expert insights, listeners gain a deeper appreciation for the hidden wonders beneath the waves and the urgent need to protect them.

Transcript

[Narrator]

This message comes from Amazon Pharmacy. When you're on hold with the pharmacy and you hear your call is very important, after the 10th loop, you start to doubt that Amazon Pharmacy delivers meds to you fast. Without the hold music, Amazon Healthcare just got less painful.

[Regina Barber]

You're listening to Short Wave from npr. Hey, everyone, Regina Barber here. It's Monday, which means see our summer series where we share sign stories from the ocean, diving a little deeper each week. And today we're finally going to take our submersible downwards to the sunlight zone, also known as the epipelagic zone of the Ocean, which is 0 to 200 meters. That is where sunlight is penetrating the ocean. This is marine biologist Noel Bohlin, who's worked for the national oceanic and Atmosphere Administration, or noaa. Noel is going to be our ocean zone guide for the rest of the series. And the thing that you need to know about the sunlight zone is that the things that happen at the surface are very important for every zone. And that's the photosynthesis that happens courtesy of phytoplankton, the plants of the sea. They eat sunshine, poop out food for other critters, and generate oxygen. The ocean makes about half of Earth's oxygen and plankton are responsible for a big share of that. So this zone is essential to our planet's health. And it's a place that Drew Harvell has seen up close as a diver who studies marine invertebrates. Creatures without a backbone who have been around for a long, long time.

[Drew Harvell]

They've been on our planet for over 600 million years. So they are some of the most ancient of our animals.

[Regina Barber]

Drew was so fascinated with these spineless creatures of the sunlight zone that she wrote a whole book about these ancient creatures and, and how their long evolutionary histories have led to some interesting biology.

[Drew Harvell]

I think of them as kind of biological impossibilities, sort of like, you know, Superman flying or having invulnerable skin. Right. For an animal to photosynthesize, that's legitimately a superpower.

[Regina Barber]

And it's not the only one. Across these marine invertebrates, there's a whole bunch of superpowers. Everything from regeneration to super strength and even stealing other animals abilities. Drew says understanding these animals superpowers not only helps researchers understand the rules of life, the lessons scientists learn from them can transform our medicines.

[Drew Harvell]

Every one of the ones that I talk about in my book also has an important application for humans.

[Regina Barber]

So today on the show, the strange world of the ocean's spineless creatures. What their ancient superpowers are and how they continue to inspire human innovation today. REGINA I'm Regina Barber. You're listening to shortwave Sea Camp, the ocean science series from npr.

[Narrator]

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[Regina Barber]

Okay, Drew, we're talking about the superpowers of marine invertebrates from your book the Oceans Menagerie, and we're going to talk about a few, starting with sponges, which I have trouble imagining. What should I imagine?

[Drew Harvell]

They're amazingly beautiful. They come in all colors and sizes and shapes, from vases to runners to huge barrel sponges. And they're brown and yellow and green and red and purple.

[Regina Barber]

That's amazing.

[Drew Harvell]

And so, I mean, I just get lost when I'm diving just watching them because they're so beautiful and, you know, functionally they seem to be very, very simple. But then when you look deeper, they have amazing functions. And sponges have been of great interest to natural products chemists because it was found that the highest hit rate for anti cancer drugs was from tropical sponges.

[Regina Barber]

Oh, wow.

[Drew Harvell]

We thought the sponges themselves made the chemicals, but we've learned that often it's the bacteria, particular species of bacteria that are housed within the sponge that actually do the chemical synthesis of these compounds.

[Regina Barber]

Can you give me an example?

[Drew Harvell]

I love this one. Because a sponge that's bright green, it's in the intertidal everywhere. Halochondria panacea. Very common. It houses a strain of Streptomyces bacteria that produces a chemical and that is now being used in in clinical trials for a whole range of different cancers. Melanoma, pancreatic cancer, and renal cancer.

[Regina Barber]

It's being used now it's being used now.

[Drew Harvell]

They don't actually pull it out of sponges now. They've actually learned how to create a synthetic derivative. I could go on and on, and I kind of do. In the book, I talk about quite a few examples of cancer drugs that have actually been discovered and produced from sponges.

[Regina Barber]

Let's talk about sea slugs next. Introduce us to these critters. Like, what should we know about sea slugs?

[Drew Harvell]

Oh, my God. Sea slugs are just. They're the most enchanting of the invertebrates in many ways, just because they're a ridiculous circus of colors and shapes. You know, black backgrounds with lime green stripes and polka dots or yellow or pink. They have these beautiful projections that look like flowers all over their backs. I mean, I think everybody who's seen a nudibranch falls in love with it just because they're so beautiful.

[Regina Barber]

A nudibranch being like another name for sea slugs, right?

[Drew Harvell]

Yeah.

[Regina Barber]

And I've learned sea slugs are a relative of snails, but instead of having a shell, they have these, like, chemical defenses in which they. They can eat other animals and steal their powers. Can you tell me more about, like, one of those?

[Drew Harvell]

We have a nudibranch that lives in the Pacific Northwest that eats sea anemones. And when it eats a sea anemone, it uptakes the stinging cells that sea anemones use in their own defense. They select the immature stinging cells so they don't explode when they're eating them. They pass them all the way through their digestive system and into these little packages on their back. The stinging cell completes its development and is then used as a harpoon by the nudibranch.

[Narrator]

Wow.

[Drew Harvell]

And the diversity of this particular group of nudibranchs that does this is very high. They've been very successful, particularly in our shallow waters in temperate and tropical ecosystems. So the beauty of the bright colors is a warning to. To fish and other predators that don't eat me. I'm dangerous. I've got explosives, and I'll use them.

[Regina Barber]

It's almost as if, like, if I were to, like, eat a venomous snake, then somehow I could have venom or something like that. So, like, what lessons can humans learn from that?

[Drew Harvell]

Yeah, I think the lessons we can learn from the ability of nudibranchs to uptake these foreign organs from other groups is in transplantation surgery. It's very hard for us to transplant kidneys, for example, even among different humans, let alone what we try to do from pigs to humans. And the Way we do that now is we try to suppress our immune systems. That's not what nudibranchs are doing. They're playing around with the recognition process. And so it strikes me that there's a real opportunity there to really think a little bit outside the box about other ways to go in and optimize our transplantation surgery.

[Regina Barber]

All right, last but not least, my favorite, maybe yours are sea stars.

[Drew Harvell]

You know, Gina, I think we share that.

[Regina Barber]

Okay.

[Drew Harvell]

They're certainly one of my favorites because, I mean, first, they're like Martians. They have multiple arms. They have thousands of tube feet for running around. They have arms. Eyes on each end of each one of their arms.

[Regina Barber]

Yeah, all their arms are heads. I remember doing a story about that.

[Drew Harvell]

Right? Yes.

[Regina Barber]

Yeah.

[Drew Harvell]

And so, you know, just as an animal, they're very, very strange. And yet, the thing that just as a marine ecologist blows my mind is they are incredibly important ecologically. We think of sea stars as ecosystem engineers because of their power. They're predators. So they eat prey, and they eat a lot of their prey, whether it's mussels or clams or sea urchins. Recently, we've been studying one that lives in deeper waters that used to eat all the urchins and control them. But it was decimated by a huge outbreak of disease. I kind of call it the COVID of sea stars because it affected.

[Regina Barber]

It's the wasting disease. Right?

[Drew Harvell]

It's the sea star wasting disease. And it affected over 20 species. Addition to the sunflower star, which is the biggest and fastest in the world. I mean, this thing is three feet across. It's huge, and it eats a lot of urchins. When you remove all those sunflower stars, the urchins explode, and they've decimated our kelp meadows. And so along the entire west coast from San Diego up to Washington, we've had declining kelp beds, partly due to the removal of just this one species of sea star. And weirdly, for such a big, powerful critter, it was the most susceptible to this disease. And so it's now on the endangered species list, and we've been working for a decade on a recovery program for it.

[Regina Barber]

I really like this. You're talking about how these sea stars, they're eating these urchins. They also eat a lot of clams.

[Drew Harvell]

They.

[Regina Barber]

So how. How are sea stars doing this?

[Drew Harvell]

The trick, the superpower, is that it takes them a long time, and they can hang on without spending much energy. And they hang on because they have hundreds of tube feet which are like little suction cups that grip incredibly strong. And then the other part of the superpower is their smart skin. They can basically cross link the microtubules in their skin to make it stiff under nervous control and then hold that without it costing them anything. And so that's how they win by hour after hour just hanging on and pulling till the clam is opened.

[Regina Barber]

So what could humans do with this superpower of like neural control?

[Drew Harvell]

Well, there's been a lot of interesting research trying to use the ideas in the smart skin of sea stars and sea cucumbers in tendon replacement therapies because of the ability to change under neural control. So all of these organisms, and they tend to be invertebrates that have these so called smart tissues, are a lot of interest in transplantation therapy.

[Regina Barber]

In the epilogue of your book, you write, the most precious resource on our planet is not oil or metal. It's the deep secrets that string our web of life together. What would you like to see in the future in how humans care for the ocean? Like in honor of the statement, you.

[Drew Harvell]

Know, I think that the first step is to try to help people understand just the incredible wonder of these resources and their extreme value, and then from there to take the next step of protecting them. These spineless invertebrates have been on our planet for over 600 million years. They're phenomenal adaptations to change to a changing climate. There are secrets and mysteries that they have solved that are going to be of a lot of use to us.

[Regina Barber]

Thank you so much for talking with me today, Drew. I had a wonderful time.

[Drew Harvell]

Thank you. This has been a really fun session, Regina. I loved it too.

[Regina Barber]

Drew Harvell's book the Ocean's Menagerie is out now where you can read about other invertebrates like jellyfish, octopi, giant clams, sea fans and corals. And if you like nudibranchs, check out our past episode all about these fascinating creatures. We'll link it in our show notes, short waivers if you want to go deeper with sea camp by learning and seeing bonus content and even getting fun puzzles. Sign up for our special limited run newsletter. It'[e-mail] secamp this episode was produced by Burleigh McCoy. It was edited by our showrunner Rebecca Ramirez, and fact checked by Tyler Jones. The audio engineer was Jimmy Keeley. Beth Donovan is our senior director and Colin Campbell is our senior vice president of podcasting strategy. I'm Regina Barber. Thank you for listening to Short Wave from N.

[Drew Harvell]

Foreign.

[Narrator]

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