The search for a mysterious creature in Antarctica that could help cure skin cancer

Sea spiders were among the creatures seen by the Antarctic divers during the search (Picture: Courtesy of Sam Affoullouss and the Desert Research Institute/Cover Media)

A strange organism living in the icy waters of Antarctica could hold the key to curing melanoma skin cancer.

A team from the University of South Florida (USF) has returned from a six-week expedition to one of the most remote regions on Earth to study a species of ascidian, commonly known as a sea squirt, which contains a bacterium capable of killing melanoma cancer cells.

USF chemistry professor Bill Baker’s research has identified the organism’s potential c...