SKU: 34825723489

Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone

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Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a BackboneA former ocean scientist goes in pursuit of the slippery story of jellyfish, rediscovering her passion for marine science and the sea's imperiled ecosystems. Jellyfish have been swimming in our oceans for well over half a billion years, longer than any other animal that lives on the planet. They make a venom so toxic it can kill a human in three minutes. Their sting microscopic spears that pierce with five million times the acceleration of gravity is

A former ocean scientist goes in pursuit of the slippery story of jellyfish, rediscovering her passion for marine science and the sea's imperiled ecosystems.

Jellyfish have been swimming in our oceans for well over half a billion years, longer than any other animal that lives on the planet. They make a venom so toxic it can kill a human in three minutes. Their sting--microscopic spears that pierce with five million times the acceleration of gravity--is the fastest known motion in the animal kingdom. Made of roughly 95 percent water, some jellies are barely perceptible virtuosos of disguise, while others glow with a luminescence that has revolutionized biotechnology. Yet until recently, jellyfish were largely ignored by science, and they remain among the most poorly understood of ocean dwellers.

More than a decade ago, Juli Berwald left a career in ocean science to raise a family in landlocked Austin, Texas, but jellyfish drew her back to the sea. Recent, massive blooms of billions of jellyfish have clogged power plants, decimated fisheries, and caused millions of dollars of damage. Driven by questions about how overfishing, coastal development, and climate change were contributing to a jellyfish population explosion, Juli embarked on a scientific odyssey. She traveled the globe to meet the biologists who devote their careers to jellies, hitched rides on Japanese fishing boats to see giant jellyfish in the wild, raised jellyfish in her dining room, and throughout it all marveled at the complexity of these alluring and ominous biological wonders.

Gracefully blending personal memoir with crystal-clear distillations of science, Spineless is the story of how Juli learned to navigate and ultimately embrace her ambition, her curiosity, and her passion for the natural world. She discovers that jellyfish science is more than just a quest for answers. It's a call to realize our collective responsibility for the planet we share.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Published: 11/06/2018
ISBN: 9780735211285
Pages: 352
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.50w x 0.90d
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SKU: 34825723489

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Amazon Customer
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 5
Doesn’t burn your face it’s gentle
Style: 100ct
Excellent product
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Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2026
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Mitch
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
Our German Sheppard loves these
Size: Medium
These cost a bit more than tennis balls, but they are so much nicer and longer lasting. For starters, they stay cleaner than tennis balls because they’re smooth rubber. Dirt won’t build up on them and if anything does stick, like grass or soil, it falls off once the dog slobber dries. They’re also thick, so they don’t fall apart or blow out like a normal tennis ball does in our dog’s jaws after 30 seconds. Our GS chomps on these like crazy and the only damage they’ve suffered is a crack that developed from the edge of the hole, but the crack is growing very slowly and none of these balls have totally failed yet. The balls do whistle when thrown ant high speed and that may help a dog track and locate it, but I’m not sure. Our neighbors hear the whistling too so it’s far from silent. Lastly the orange ball is easy to locate out in our yard, but the dark blue practically disappears.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2025
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Casey B
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 5
Great for smaller dogs
Size: Small
These two balls are perfect for the smaller mouthed dog that loves to play fetch. These balls are not only super durable (lots of teeth biting), but float in the baby pool we use for our miniature dachshunds. The value here is much better than you’d find anywhere else. The noise, if bitten hard enough, was “low” at best. Easy to spot/find if overthrown. Will definitely buy again once these are in bad repair; so far, so good-love these for my fur babies!
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Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2024
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E. Schall
Lexington, US
★★★★★ 5
My dogs favorite balls
Size: Medium
These are great for my dog who always has to have a ball in her mouth. Not too hard so I don't have to worry about her teeth. They last for ever. They do lose their shape a little over time (like I said, she always has a ball in her mouth) they become a little oval in shape. They still bounce, she still chases it and she still chews on it so I don't think she notices or cares. I've gotten her a bag full of these over time and I have only seen one that she chewed a chunk out.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2023
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Kimmie is happy
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
My Dachshunds Love These
Size: Small
These balls are durable, flexible material, highly chewable without being easily destroyed. I stuff them with Milkbone Maro Snacks, which are just the right size to twist into the holes in the ball. My dogs literally get an hour+ chewing and chasing entertainment from these. They chew them, they sometimes 'pop' out of their mouths, go rolling across the floor, dogs chasing them. This satisfies their urge to hunt prey. Dachshunds can easily tear this kind of stuff-it-toy apart. These have lasted for a long time without tearing or shredding. I would NOT recommend them for a dog much larger than a tweenie weenie. They're a bit on the small side and might be swallowed by a larger dog. It would be cool it they also came in a larger size (and probably ball wall thickness also) for the bigger dogs to enjoy. These stuff-it chew balls are better than the kong balls my dogs had before these. Highly recommend them.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024

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