Dr. Angel Yanagihara is a world-renowned biochemist and Director of the Pacific Cnidaria Research Lab in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her innovative research on box jellyfish and relentless work to develop antivenoms was kick-started by her own open water swim where she was badly stung.

Her research – done while night scuba diving with its inevitable sting encounters – was the subject of a National Geographic NOVA documentary.

To learn about her research, watch 23 minutes after the start of the NOVA’s Venom: Nature’s Killer television program below:

Watch Venom: Nature’s Killer on PBS. See more from NOVA. Courtesy of PBS Video