The mystery of glowing deep sea coral is a mystery no longer
The dark depths of the ocean are still shrouded in mystery for us humans. Despite our species’ tenacious approach to figuring it all out, we have yet to understand so many facets and elements of the planet we call home. That said, curious researchers from the School of Zoology, the Read More...
Dolphins are using coral as a skin treatment
New research suggests that dolphins rub up against coral for more reasons than scratching a hard-to-reach itch. The cetaceans, which are known to rub against the rough surfaces of coral, take naps in coral beds, and enjoy soaking on sponges along the reef may actually be using the coral to treat Read More...
Thailand’s pristine Maya Bay reopens with eco-restrictions after tourism ban
If you haven’t been there yourself or seen it in tourism ads, you may recognize the iconic Maya Bay from the 2000 film The Beach, by Danny Boyle starring Leonardo DiCaprio. In the movie, Maya Bay is the setting of a jealously guarded secret beach, whose location cannot be exposed to the public Read More...
These are the inaugural winners of the Earthshot Prize
We have previously wrote about Earthshot Prize nominee Vinisha Umashankar, a clever 14-year-old student from Tamil Nadu who created a mobile ironing cart that runs off solar power. Although Umashankar didn’t win an Earthshot Prize, the five other recipients were recently announced. Here are the Read More...
A new discovery about algae reproduction could help save coral reefs
The type of algae known as dinoflagellates are valuable for improving the health of corals in warming waters, and now, researchers from Rice University have discovered that they reproduce via sex, meaning that algae sex could be critical for the survival of coral reefs. The algae reproduce by Read More...
Snorkelers discover record-breaking coral in Great Barrier Reef
A group of snorkelers in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef discovered a true treasure during a dive last week. While swimming off the coast of Goolboodi island in Queensland’s Palm Island Group, they stumbled across a coral measuring 17.4 feet (5.3 meters) tall and 34.1 feet (10.4 meters) Read More...
Scientists observe coral and algae phenomenon for the first time
Coral and algae have a very special relationship. Coral provides algae with shelter while algae give coral energy and its signature colors. Despite the critical nature of this relationship, scientists had never witnessed the moment in which coral cells envelop single-cell algae. That is until Read More...
Community coral planting restores Belize’s expansive reefs
Hurricane Iris swept across Belize in 2001, destroying large amounts of the vital coral reef ecosystems that lay off the coast. Marine biologist Lisa Carne had witnessed these corals in their pre-storm splendor and was devastated at their destruction. With the ambitious goal of bringing the reef Read More...
How making sense of a scent can help protect coral reefs
Have you ever thought about what corals smell like? Caitlin Lawson, Marine biologist at the University of Technology Sydney in Australia, has made it her mission to collect the gaseous, smelly chemicals that corals release under different conditions with the hope that a deeper understanding of Read More...
Scientists use new technique to produce more heat-resistant coral
Rising sea temperatures have created a crisis for coral populations that are experiencing widespread bleaching events. Researchers are being forced to get creative with solutions to save reefs. A team in Australia may have an answer to the crisis with a technique they call “directed Read More...