Pacific Ocean

Outside of the U.S., international whale capture is alive and well.

What Will It Take to End International Killer Whale Capture?

The West may have rejected whale captivity, but the painful relationship between humans and orcas is far from over

A diver documents dead coral in the Great Barrier Reef near Lizard Island in May 2016 after a bleaching event.

Repeat Bleaching Destroys Massive Swaths of the Great Barrier Reef

Rising ocean temperatures have taken a toll on the World Heritage Area

A new study on grey reef sharks turned up a few surprises.

Ocean Preserves Keep Fishing Boats Away from Grey Reef Sharks

Scientists tracked hundreds of reef sharks to find that massive marine refuges can work—with one caveat

Detail of a surfer in "A View of Karakakooa, in Owyhee," an etching made by an artist accompanying the Cook expedition.

What the First European to Visit Hawaii Thought About Surfers

The Europeans were fascinated by Pacific Islanders' comfort in the water

J2, better known as "Granny," was the oldest-known living orca.

World’s Oldest-Known Orca Is Missing and Believed Dead

Over a century old, "Granny" hasn't been spotted since early October

Dwarf minke whale

Unidentified Complex Sound From Earth's Deepest Trench May Be New Whale Call

Known as the Western Pacific Biotwang, researchers believe it may be a previously unrecoreded call from a dwarf minke whale

Want to See Installation Artist Doug Aitken's Latest Work? Grab Your Scuba Gear

This year, the Great Barrier Reef was found to be hiding another reef beneath it.

Top Eight Ocean Stories That Made Waves in 2016

2016 wasn't all bad: Stubborn environmental problems were livened up thanks to new solutions, “gee whiz” discoveries and mysterious orbs

Surface water seasonality between October 2014 and October 2015 in the Sundarbans in Bangladesh. Dark blue indicates permanent surface water; light blue indicates seasonal surface water.

High-Resolution Satellite Images Capture Stunning View of Earth's Changing Waters

An unprecedented mapping project shows the elusive patterns of Earth's surface water over 30 years

Moana

How the Story of "Moana" and Maui Holds Up Against Cultural Truths

A Smithsonian scholar and student of Pacific Island sea voyaging both loves and hates the new Disney film

Coconut Crab's Pinch Among the Strongest in the World

The unusual crustacean's pincer rivals the bite of a lion

Life Aboard a Renovated World War II Tugboat

With help from friends, a transplanted Philadelphian embarks on a voyage of discovery through Alaska's waters

Papahānaumokuākea may be a mouthful, but now it's the world's largest marine protected area.

President Obama Just Created the World's Largest Marine Protected Area

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is now twice the size of Texas

Adorable Stubby Squid Found Off the Coast of Southern California

Researchers aboard the E/V Nautilus happened across a particularly cute stubby squid

A brittle star swimming over a field of polymetallic nodules

Future Deep Sea Mining Sites Are Bursting With Rare Marine Species

The area is full of rare metals, but a new study shows it's a hub for deep-sea diversity, too

The Great Blue Hole, a 354-foot deep cavern and popular dive site in Belize's Lighthouse Reef

Explore Some of the World's Deepest Blue Holes

The Dragon Hole in the South China Sea is now the "world's deepest" underwater sinkhole. Learn why these geologic wonders form in oceans around the globe

Awaroa Beach

New Zealanders Just Crowdfunded a New Addition to this National Park

Over 40,000 people donated to buy Awaroa Beach and gift the site to Abel Tasman National Park

Did Ancient Pacific Islanders Use Obsidian to Make Their Tattoos?

A team of Australian researchers think they may have found tools used to ink the ancients

An acorn worm observed at a dive spot called Twin Peaks

Mission to Mariana Trench Records Dozens of Crazy Deep Sea Creatures

The <i>Okeanos Explorer</i> has spent three months mapping the seafloor and recording deep sea life in the ocean's depths

New research is causing the original keystone species, the ochre sea star Pisaster ochraceus, to lose some of its supposed ecosystem-controlling powers.

Tide Shifts Against the Concept of a Keystone Species

Starfish challenge a key ecological concept, ushering in a slightly-more democratic era for tide pools everywhere

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