A Cure for Coral Reefs?Article 02.28.2018Scientists hope that dosing damaged corals with probiotics could fortify reefs against pollution, disease, and climate change.
Lens of Time: Corals in MotionVideo 06.18.2016Corals occupy their own time dimension, but if given enough time, they reveal a surprising array of behaviors that give them an edge deep below the ocean’s surface.
Bringing out the DeadArticle 10.28.2021By sinking a wide array of carcasses into the deep ocean and studying what turns up when they fall, scientists are learning about some of the world’s most exotic scavengers and the roles they play in the darkness.
The Big Picture 2021Photo Gallery 05.27.2021From the beautiful to the bizarre, this photographic showcase of life on Earth shines a light on some of our planet’s most amazing species and places.
Antarctica’s Upside Down WorldArticle 05.12.2021Clinging to the underside of ice hundreds of meters thick, strange communities of sea life eke out a living in perpetual darkness. Now, researchers are racing to find and study these creatures before they—and their ice sheets—disappear.
Swamp SentinelsArticle 02.18.2021Buried in mud for millennia, some of New Zealand’s ancient kauri trees are revealing surprising clues about Earth’s climate—past, present, and future.
Layers of LifeSpotlight 11.12.2019On a crowded coral reef, species often make their homes on top of one another (literally), living lives that are tightly intertwined both biologically and evolutionarily.
Beguiling IntruderSpotlight 10.30.2019Lionfish are hungry, long-lived, and extremely fertile invaders in their new-found Atlantic home.
Hawaii’s Ancient Aquaculture RevivalArticle 06.12.2019In an ocean state that now imports half of its seafood, a determined group of activists is restoring the age-old aquaculture practices of Native Hawaiians.
The Lobster WarsArticle 05.29.2019In one coastal Mexican town, a sustainable fishery anchors the community. So why has Florida outlawed the same fishing methods?
Allure of the Flower HatSpotlight 02.27.2019What looks like a flamboyant fashion accessory is actually this jelly’s brilliant evolutionary strategy for attracting prey.
Banquet on LegsSpotlight 01.25.2019When an octopus known for its size and hunting prowess encounters a football-field-sized team of spider crabs, the outcome isn’t what you might expect.
The Unsung ReefPhoto Essay 01.25.2019Australia’s corals may get all the headlines, but the country’s kelp-dominated temperate reefs are at least as important and imperiled. Now they’re finally getting the restoration focus they deserve.
The WreckersSpotlight 12.12.2018The lionfish that haunt one of the world’s most famous shipwrecks are now laying claim to new battlegrounds.
Spawning an InterventionImmersive 09.26.2018To help corals survive the myriad threats they currently face, an international team of scientists is mastering the art and science of raising coral babies.
Double FistedSpotlight 07.31.2018Grabbing ahold with both claws, a crab defends itself—and steers the course of another species’ evolution.
Lens of Time: Growing Against the OddsVideo 06.12.2018As reefs endure another onslaught, scientists are taking a closer look at how corals live and grow—and what may enable some of them to persist in a changing world.
Picture of HealthArticle 05.23.2018Despite myriad threats, some coral reefs are thriving, or rebounding, suggesting it may be far too early to write the obituary for these critical ecosystems.
Farm to ReefPhoto Essay 05.08.2018Cuba’s sustainable farming practices could provide a recipe for restoring struggling coral reefs around the world.
A Drop in the Ocean?Article 04.10.2018As the world’s marine ecosystems face ever-increasing threats, is the trend toward huge, remote reserves a promising new development or a worrisome distraction?
