Oceans
North Atlantic Right Whale Numbers May Be Stabilizing at Last
After a decade of decline, the latest population estimate is good news—but conservationists say we "have a long ways to go" to safeguard the marine mammals
Rapid Melting of West Antarctic Ice Shelves Is 'Unavoidable,' Study Finds
Even under a best-case climate scenario, global sea levels will likely rise because of this accelerated melting, scientists say
Why Ten Billion Snow Crabs Disappeared Off the Coast of Alaska
The unprecedented die-off represents roughly 90 percent of the eastern Bering Sea population
Early Europeans Ate Seaweed for Thousands of Years
Researchers found biomarkers of seaweed and other aquatic plants in samples of dental plaque
New Synthetic Horseshoe Crab Blood Could Mean Pharma Won't Bleed the Species Dry
The “living fossils” have been vital for testing intravenous drugs, but a few large pharmaceutical companies are using a lab-made compound instead
Scientists Have Created Synthetic Sponges That Soak Up Microplastics
Made from starch and gelatin, the biodegradable sponges remove as much as 90 percent of microplastics in tap water and seawater
Why Do Orcas Keep Harassing Porpoises?
An endangered group of killer whales in the Pacific Northwest has been toying with porpoises for decades—and new research offers some possible explanations
Dugong Populations Are Declining in the Great Barrier Reef, Study Finds
Destruction of seagrass habitats and "indiscriminate" gillnet fishing have both contributed to the marine mammals' dropping numbers, scientists say
Nine Orcas Have Died in Fishing Gear Near Alaska This Year
A "new behavior" from the animals might be linked to this sudden uptick in deaths, as they have been feeding in front of fishing nets, a trade group says
Where Did South Africa's Missing Sharks Go?
After a spate of orca attacks spooked the fish, they have now been found
Antarctic Winter Sea Ice Hits a Record Low 'by a Wide Margin'
On September 10, the ice reached its lowest annual maximum in the books amid a record-smashing year that's ringing "alarm bells" for polar ice
Brainless Jellyfish Are Capable of Learning, Study Suggests
Scientists provide evidence that tiny Caribbean box jellyfish—which lack a central nervous system—can learn to navigate through mangrove roots
See Underwater Wreckage From the Battle of Midway in Stunning Detail
Never-before-seen photos and videos shed new light on the pivotal World War II conflict
How an Orca Skeleton Made Its Way From Florida to the Smithsonian
Washed up in a rare stranding event, the newly collected specimen will offer rich exploration for researchers
What Is This Mysterious Golden Orb Scientists Found on the Ocean Floor?
After bringing the four-inch-diameter blob to the surface, researchers still only know that it is “biological in origin”
Puffins Are Making a Comeback in Maine
After a down year in 2021, the birds have had two good years in a row
The U.S. Government Is Trying to Stop an Upcoming Titanic Expedition
A company is planning a mission to recover artifacts, including the famed Marconi wireless telegraph, in 2024
Efforts to Bring Back the Caribbean Reef Shark May Become a Conservation Success Story
The endangered creature is a target for fishing off the coast of the Bahamas—and a magnet for ecotourists who just might save it
The Locations of These Shipwrecks Are No Longer a Secret
A marine sanctuary is letting fishers know where previously hidden wrecks can be found
Why 'Hot Springs' Draw the World's Largest Gathering of Deep-Sea Octopuses
Some 20,000 octopuses congregate near an inactive underwater volcano off California's coast, using heat from thermal springs to hatch their eggs faster
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