Oceanography
Amazing Sea Butterflies Are the Ocean’s Canary in the Coal Mine
These delicate and stunning creatures are offering Smithsonian scientists a warning sign for the world's waters turning more acidic
May 14, 2013 |
By Hannah Waters
Baby Weddell Seals Have the Most Adult-Like Brains in the Animal Kingdom
The newborn seal pups possess the most well-developed brains compared to other mammals, but that advantage comes with a cost
May 09, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Baby Sand Tiger Sharks Devour Their Siblings While Still in the Womb
This seemingly horrific reproduction strategy may be a way for females to better control which males sire her offspring
April 30, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
14 Fun Facts About Penguins
Which penguin swims the fastest? Do penguins have teeth? Why do penguins sneeze? How is penguin poop useful?
April 25, 2013 |
By Hannah Waters
For Some Species, You Really Are What You Eat
Flamingos, shrimp and many other animals use chemical compounds found in their diets to color their exteriors
April 24, 2013 |
By Marina Koren
10 Things We’ve Learned About the Earth Since Last Earth Day
Pigeon-eating catfish, Antarctic trash, and more: A list of surprising, alarming and exciting discoveries about our planet from the past year
April 19, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
19th Century Shark Tooth Weapons Reveal A Reef’s Missing Shark Species
Lashed to swords and spears from the Pacific's Gilbert Islands are teeth from two shark species that were never known to have swam in the area
April 03, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Microbes Buried Deep in Ocean Crust May Form World’s Largest Ecosystem
Far below the ocean floor, scientists have discovered a microbial community away from undersea vents, beyond the reach of the sun
March 29, 2013 |
By Hannah Waters
Greenland’s Glaciers Are Hemorrhaging Ice, Best Seen By Photos from Space
Satellites snap pictures of Greenland's glaciers, which a new study shows are vanishing at an accelerated pace, helping to spike global sea levels
March 29, 2013 |
By Claire Martin
Brown Polar Bears, Beluga-Narwhals and Other Hybrids Brought to You by Climate Change
Animals with shrinking habitats are interbreeding, temporarily boosting populations but ultimately hurting species' survival
March 22, 2013 |
By Claire Martin
Untangling the Mysterious Genetic Tentacles of the Giant Squid
Contrary to prior speculation about the elusive creatures, all giant squid belong to a single species and they all share very similar genetics
March 20, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Nearly 8 Miles Down, Bacteria Thrive in the Oceans’ Deepest Trench
The Mariana Trench may serve as a seafloor nutrient trap, supporting remarkable numbers of microorganisms
March 17, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
14 Fun Facts about Marine Ribbon Worms
Ribbon worms swallow prey whole, grease themselves with their mucus to slide quickly through mud, split into thousands of new worms if repeatedly severed, and much more
March 15, 2013 |
By Emily Frost
Vanishing Marine Algae Can Be Monitored From a Boat With Your Smartphone
An app allows boat travelers to track declining levels of phytoplankton, a microscopic organism at the base of the marine food chain
March 15, 2013 |
By Claire Martin
Stressed Corals Dim Then Glow Brightly Before They Die
Measuring how coral fluorescence changes may serve as an early indicator of the declining health of a reef
March 13, 2013 |
By Rachel Nuwer
Climate Change Could Allow Ships to Cross the North Pole by 2040
Melting sea ice will open up shipping lanes across the Arctic, potentially making the Northwest Passage and North Pole navigable during summer
March 04, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Transforming Raw Scientific Data Into Sculpture and Song
Artist Nathalie Miebach uses meteorological data to create 3D woven works of art and playable musical scores
March 01, 2013 |
By Marina Koren
Melting Polar Ice Will Spike Sea Levels at the Equator
Expect higher sea levels in the equatorial Pacific and lower ones near the poles by 2100, according to new research
February 21, 2013 |
By Claire Martin
Flushing Your Anti-Anxiety Pills Down the Toilet Could Affect the Behavior of Wild Fish
A study shows that wild perch are less fearful, eat faster and are more anti-social when exposed to a common pharmaceutical pollutant
February 14, 2013 |
By Joseph Stromberg
Is It Love? Why Some Ocean Animals (Sort Of) Mate For Life
A look at the mating systems of some monogamous ocean animals show that finding life partners helps species protect themselves and their young
February 13, 2013 |
By Emily Frost
