Downward SpiralArticle 06.04.2022The nautilus’s lineage made it through all five of Earth’s previous mass extinctions. But can it survive the Anthropocene?
Seeing SpotsSpotlight 11.12.2021Spotted eagle rays’ distinctive markings are turning out to be important identifiers, and may become essential for their protection.
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.
Billfish BountySpotlight 11.25.2020A striped marlin slices through a shoal of baitfish, a beautiful reminder of the struggle between predator and prey—as well as the fragility and importance of healthy ecosystems.
Northern Lights from the DeepSpotlight 10.28.2020What could easily be an atmospheric apparition is in fact a formidable predator, and a critical member of its strange, open-ocean ecosystem
The Tuna HerdersPhoto Essay 11.06.2018Climate change has forced these Galápagos sea lions to turn to a new food source. Since they can’t outswim their prey, they use wits and teamwork instead.
Facing the DaySpotlight 07.18.2018Before embarking on an icy fishing expedition in the Southern Ocean, king penguins pause to soak up the morning’s first light.
Mystic MinipizzaSpotlight 04.24.2018This might be your only chance to meet the best-named fish in the sea.
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?
Hammerhead GazeSpotlight 12.13.2017This apex predator’s widely set eyes give it much better binocular vision than most sharks—just one of several reasons why hammerheads are such successful hunters.
Graceful GiantSpotlight 03.21.2017Their record-setting heft doesn’t stop blue whales from being surprisingly sinuous swimmers.
It’s Got GutsSpotlight 06.14.2016An elaborate headdress and a frilly external stomach is apparently just what this deep-sea creature needs to survive its precarious youth.
An Audacious Plan in the TwilightArticle 04.26.2016A team of deep-reef explorers attempts to document the unknown biodiversity of Vanuatu’s twilight zone.
