Articles tagged as Oceans | Smithsonian Magazine

A preserved specimen of the Blue Lanternfish with bioluminescent spots. New research shows that the blue lanternfish's glow isn't that unique - among ocean-dwelling fish, four out of five are bioluminescent.

Way More Fish Can Make Their Own Light Than We Thought

Bioluminescence evolved a whopping 27 separate times among finned fishes living in the open ocean

June 8, 2016

Age of Humans

The Rise of Ocean Optimism

Sharing news of little wins for the environment fuels hope.

June 8, 2016

An Airbus A300 jumbo jet like this has been sunk off the Turkish coast to create an artificial reef.

An Airbus jumbo jet will soon become home to all sorts of sea life

June 6, 2016

Larval perch with a stomach full of microplastic

New Research

Baby Fish Prefer Plastic Over Natural Food

Larval perch gorge themselves on microplastics, which seems to be stunting growth and affecting natural instincts

June 6, 2016

Pozzi and her team at the Washed Ashore project, achieve a remarkable and convincing array of textures.

Age of Humans

There’s a Bunch of Animals at the Zoo this Summer Made Out of Ocean Garbage

Delightfully whimsical, the sculptures drive home the message that there’s a whole lot of trash washing ashore

June 6, 2016

These comical looking mollusks are common to the Caribbean. Their eyes poke out on stalks from inside large, pink, beautiful shells, and they move along one “step” at a time, with a lift and a flop, leaving tracks behind in the sand.

An Elegant Tool Called Squidpop That Scientists Want to Crowdsource

The device is so easy to use, researchers are asking for a “squidpop blitz” for World Oceans Day

June 3, 2016

The longer a structure has been exposed to the water, the more weathered it appeared.

New Research

This “Lost Underwater City” Was Actually Made by Microbes

Though these formations may not be evidence of a lost city, they show off some intriguing chemistry

June 2, 2016

The scalding solution that pipes from the vents does not boil because of the mass of water pushing down from above.

Journey to the Center of Earth

Scientists Explore Breathtaking Hydrothermal Vents in Virtual Reality

With a high-tech remotely operated vehicle, a team is able to map a dark, hot and toxic vent field on the ocean floor

May 31, 2016

Kelly Slater tests his new wave machine in Lemoore, California

Cool Finds

Surf Legend Builds Artificial Wave That Could Bring Surfing to the Masses

The World Surf League just bought Kelly Slater’s artificial wave technology, a move that could bring surfing to places like Nebraska

May 26, 2016

Cool Finds

Brewery Introduces Edible, Biodegradable Six-Pack Rings

Saltwater Brewery’s new packaging is made of beer byproducts and can be eaten by sea life

May 19, 2016

America's beaches are filled with treasures for beachcombers.

Five of the Best Beaches for Beachcombing in the U.S.

On the hunt for seashells and other buried treasure? Here’s where to look

May 18, 2016

This brittle star, Sigsbeia oloughlini, was found the coast of Esperance, Western Australia.

Journey to the Center of Earth

Meet the Diverse and Bizarre “Stars” of the Deep Sea

As human activities encroach on remote oceans, scientists work to map the denizens of the deep

May 11, 2016

Oceanic whitetip, Cat Island, March 2014 (Instagram: michaelmuller7)

This Photographer Shoots Sharks to Save Them

When he’s not creating movie posters, Michael Muller swims among the oceanic predators, capturing stunning images

May 10, 2016

Sweden wants to ban live American lobsters for fear they will out-claw their own

May 9, 2016

Warm waters have turned the country’s once-pristine coast into a putrid sight

May 4, 2016

Boulder brain coral is usually common in Florida's coral reefs.

New Research

Between Bleaching and Boats, Florida’s Coral Reefs Are Struggling to Survive

The reefs are crumbling in acidifying waters and buried from dredging, according to new reports

May 3, 2016

Cool Finds

Deep-Sea Researchers Spot a Mysterious Jellyfish Near The Mariana Trench

The glowing jellyfish was previously unknown to science

May 2, 2016

OceanOne is designed to work alongside human divers.

The humanoid diving robot could help researchers explore fragile wrecks from the surface of the sea

May 2, 2016

New Research

Eating Toxic Algae Might Make Some Plankton Act Drunk

Though it may seem funny, it could have serious environmental consequences

April 29, 2016

New Research

“Shark Vision” Shines Light on Biofluorescent Species

Using a specially designed filter, divers uncovered the glowing patterns on the skin of catsharks

April 26, 2016