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Pacific Ocean

Goblin sharks have elongated snouts and extendable jaws, which they use to snatch prey.

‘Ugliest Shark on the Planet’: See the Elusive Goblin Shark, Filmed for the First Time in Its Deep-Sea Habitat

Scientists spotted the enigmatic creatures in 2019 and again in 2024, marking the first times they’ve been observed alive in the wild. The sightings drastically expand the animals’ known geographic and depth range

The new species was named Microeledone galapagensis ​​​​​​in honor of the location where it was collected.

Cool Finds

‘Cute Little Guy’: Scientists Discover a Tiny Blue Species of Octopus by the Galápagos Islands

The palm-size creature was spotted and collected during a research expedition more than a decade ago, but scientists have just identified it as a previously undescribed species

This satellite image from January 16, 2022, reveals formaldehyde in blue. The volcanic plume from the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano traveled over the South Pacific.

Tonga’s Enormous Volcanic Eruption Cleaned Up Part of Its Own Methane Emissions in 2022, Hinting at a Way to Fight Climate Change

Researchers analyzed satellite imagery of the volcanic plume and found evidence that the potent greenhouse gas had broken down. The work could inform artificial interventions aiming to mitigate global warming, scientists say

The USS Herring entered service in 1942 and completed eight war patrols.

This American Submarine Lost During WWII—Along With 83 Crew Members—Has Been Discovered in the Pacific Ocean

The honors-earning USS “Herring” sank in 1944 after taking down Japanese ships

A team is exploring shipwrecks in Lake Union, including this steel workboat submerged 30 feet deep.

An Underwater Robot Explores the Hidden ‘Shipwreck City’ Beneath the Surface of This Popular Urban Lake in the Pacific Northwest

Using a remotely operated vehicle, researchers are exploring a long-overlooked piece of Seattle’s maritime history

Each by-the-wind sailor is made of a community of genetically identical organisms called "zooids" that perform different tasks.

Millions of Bright Blue Blobs Called ‘By-the-Wind Sailors’ Are Littering Beaches Along the West Coast

The strange creatures are washing up on shores across California, Oregon and Washington this spring—and making the coast smell especially fishy

This Socorro dove recently hatched at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Conservationists have been undertaking a decades-long effort to breed the extinct-in-the-wild species and one day reintroduce it to its native Socorro Island in Mexico.

New, Rare Dove Hatchlings Are a ‘Source of Hope’ for the Extinct-in-the-Wild Birds and a Step Forward in the Ambitious Project to Save Them

The Socorro dove has not been recorded in the wild since 1972, but that could change within only a few years, conservationists say, thanks to a long-term reintroduction effort

The Bering Strait is a narrow waterway between Russia and Alaska that connects the Pacific and Arctic oceans.

Could Building a Dam Across the Bering Strait Save the Planet From Some Effects of Climate Change?

A preliminary study suggests that blocking off the waterway between Russia and Alaska could help the survival of a key system of ocean currents. But there could be potential unforeseen consequences, particularly to marine ecosystems

After researchers aboard the Okeanos Explorer ship couldn't figure out the orb's identity, they sent it to the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History for a more thorough investigation.

Cool Finds

Scientists Found This Mysterious Golden Orb on the Seafloor Nearly Three Years Ago. Now, They Finally Know What It Is

After a long, winding road of tests, researchers at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and other institutions determined that the strange blob once attached a large sea anemone to a rock

The biggest discrepancies were in Southeast Asia.

Sea Levels Might Be Higher Than We Thought, Putting Millions of People in the Path of Coastal Flooding Sooner Than Expected

A lot of past research has used flawed methodology to estimate current coastal water levels, according to a new study

Some researchers think that two varieties of orcas are so different that they should be considered separate species. 

Do These Severed Orca Fins Covered in Tooth Marks Mean Killer Whales Are Cannibals? It’s Complicated, Scientists Say

Researchers suggest that predation by a subspecies called Bigg’s orcas might explain why members of another one, called resident orcas, stay in such large family groups

The pygmy long-fingered possum uses its specialized ears and long digits to hunt for grubs in rotting wood.

Scientists Thought These Marsupials Went Extinct 6,000 Years Ago. They Just Found the Animals Alive

The pygmy long-fingered possum and the ring-tailed glider are rare examples of “Lazarus species”

Mature adults have just one verticle stripe behind their eyes.

These Clownfish Lose Their Baby Stripes in Response to Peer Pressure, New Research Suggests

Tomato clownfish perform a dramatic underwater wardrobe change based on the social dynamics of their environment

Loggers’ Culls, Emily Carr, 1935

These Emily Carr Paintings Will Make You Experience the Beauty of British Columbia’s Landscapes in a Completely New Way

An exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery examines the artist’s attempts to capture nature’s true essence, which she described as “the green idea or ideal”

A giant phantom jelly documented by a recent deep-sea expedition

See a Rare, Bus-Size Giant Phantom Jelly Wade Through Ocean Waters Off the Coast of Argentina

A recent deep-sea expedition along the country’s entire length documented the jellyfish, along with a surprising number of other species

Humpback whales blow curtains of bubbles beneath fish and krill to trick them into thinking they're trapped.

Humpback Whales Are Probably Learning How to Catch Prey With Bubble Nets by Watching One Another

The foraging strategy may help make humpbacks more resilient to food scarcity, emphasizing the importance of preserving their cultural knowledge, a study suggests

Ada Blackjack was the only survivor of a 1921 expedition to Wrangel Island, a remote landmass above the Arctic Circle.

Meet 13 People Who Survived on Deserted Islands, From a Real-Life Robinson Crusoe to a Noblewoman Marooned With Her Lover

Ahead of the release of Sam Raimi’s “Send Help,” revisit the stories of Alexander Selkirk, Marguerite de la Rocque, the Tongan castaways and others who endured in remote locales

The preserve includes roughly five miles of hiking trails, including a mellow route that leads to the beach.

A Stunning Stretch of California’s Rugged Coastline Is Now Open to the Public for the First Time in a Century

Privately owned until 2015, the 547-acre Estero Americano Coast Preserve is welcoming hikers, bird-watchers, wildflower lovers and other outdoor adventurers

Kiyoshi Kimura, known as the "Tuna King," poses with the record-breaking bluefin tuna.

See the Record-Breaking Bluefin Tuna the Size of a Grizzly Bear That Sold for $3.2 Million at a Tokyo Fish Market

The 535-pound fish, purchased by Japan’s self-proclaimed “Tuna King,” was sliced and shipped to sushi restaurants across the country

Three-dimensional reconstructions of the rockhead poacher's insides hint that the fish may beat its cranial pit like a drum

Cool Finds

This Bizarre Fish Has a Hole in Its Head. The Creature Might Use It Like a Drum to Rock Out

The rockhead, or deep-pitted, poacher may use its ribs to beat the inside of its head cavity to communicate with other creatures, according to a new study

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