Vaquita

Why Scientists Couldn’t Save the Vaquita, the “Panda of the Sea”

It might be the end of the line for the vaquita, the world’s rarest marine mammal. A dramatic last-ditch attempt to capture one has failed.
Juvenile American Eel

The Final Migration of the American Eel

Every year, thousands of American eels make an amazing migration from their freshwater homes into the Atlantic Ocean, where they spawn and die.
Japanese tsunami debris

Marine Debris and Its Dangerous Hitchhikers

Larger pieces of floating debris, like that caused by the Japanese tsunami, may carry hitchhikers in the form of organisms native to their place of origin.
Ducks in algae bloom

The Problem With Algae Bloom

Climate change is a wild card that seems to be exacerbating conditions that can lead to Harmful Algae Blooms.
Drained Tampa Bay

When the Sea Recedes

When caused by storms, receding oceans are result of an inverted storm surge, a “negative surge.” Storm surges have a few causes.
Warning no swimming sign, Sandy beach, Oahu, Hawaii

Rip Currents: Hidden Danger of the Beach

Beating the heat at the beach? Be careful of rip currents, one of the greatest hazards to ocean ...
Orca whale

How Killer Whales Kill

Orcas may look cute, but don’t be fooled. They display some of the most sophisticated hunting techniques of any animals on Earth.
Roman Sea Monster

Sea Monsters of the Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest is particularly known for their sea monsters, largely because of the continuity of stories about unidentified sea creatures.
Humpback whale

Why Have Whales Come to New York City?

What brought whales to the city? It’s a tale of water quality, plankton, and an unassuming but vital fish called the menhaden.
Barracuda school

How Do Fish Schools Work?

Fish schools turn, contract, expand, even part and come back together all without missing a beat. Yet fish are individuals, not a hive mind.