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?
Beautiful UglySpotlight 04.22.2022While the Asian sheepshead wrasse’s allure may be debatable, the fish’s color-changing, sex-changing abilities are hard to disregard.
Keeping the Magic AliveSpotlight 04.19.2022Paired black-browed albatrosses perform elaborate bonding rituals, but climate change may lead to higher divorce rates.
Snuggle for SurvivalSpotlight 12.26.2021Teamwork helps the world’s largest penguin species thrive under the harshest conditions.
Single MomSpotlight 11.24.2021In a delicate ritual that might last only a few minutes, this female squid demonstrates remarkable self-sufficiency.
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.
Eye SpySpotlight 10.28.2021While this highly adapted fish peers out on its prey- and predator-rich surroundings, shapeshifting, pigmented cells enable it to all but disappear into its environment.
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.
Wanted AliveSpotlight 07.14.2020For the first time in decades, Icelandic whalers have stopped hunting fin whales, thanks in part to a growing appreciation for the value these mammals bring to both marine and human communities.
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.
Restoring Harmony in Haida GwaiiArticle 10.15.2019A collaboration between Haida tradition and Western science may offer a way to bolster both Haida culture and the marine ecosystem intertwined with it.
Unexpected PlaymateSpotlight 08.27.2019A young humpback whale is spotted off the coast of Sri Lanka. Is it a sign of a promising trend, or just a fluke?
Sucker DeceptionSpotlight 07.30.2019Mesmerizing bioluminescence is a rare trait—and a clever lure—for this deep-sea drifter.
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?
Deathly BeautifulSpotlight 04.18.2019This picturesque battle between a blue dragon sea slug and a Portuguese man o’ war is a matter of life or death—for both parties.
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.
