HMS Challenger and the History of Science at Sea
Sailing ships were once used as scientific instruments themselves, but in the 1800s, ships like the Challenger were transformed into floating laboratories.
Edgar Allan Poe (Sort of) Wrote a Book About Seashells
The American writer was an enthusiast of the sciences, which may explain his decision to “adapt” a text about seashells for publication under his own name.
Turf Algae and Kelp Forests
Structurally complex kelp forests, pushed beyond their tipping points, are being replaced by mat-like, low-structure turf algae around the world.
How “Termites of the Sea” Have Shaped Maritime Technology
These small marine pests have been eating our ships for millennia, forcing us to keep building better boats throughout history.
Solar-Powered Sea Slugs and Survival in Future Seas
These Florida mollusks make off with chloroplasts from algae and cleverly photosynthesize them for their own nutrition.
Sharks Are Hiding from Scientists in Plain Sight—Almost
Marine biologists need to count sharks to save them, but the common practice of using video cameras to record populations could be improved.
The Little Plankton That Could
Arguably the world's most abundant animal, calanoid copepods can leap like whoa Nelly. And check out their enigmatic embryos!
The Horseshoe Crab: Same as It Ever Was?
The seemingly static appearance of these ancient-looking arthropods presents a challenge for scientists who want to study their evolutionary history.
Upside-Down Jellyfish and the Mucus of Death
You could get stung by a jellyfish even when there don't seem to be any around. Meet Cassiopea xamachana and its "stinging water" weirdness.
Stuck in the Midden with You
A midden is, among other things, a refuse site outside an octopus' home. (Release the Køkkenmødding!)