Oceans

Scientists Map Largest Deep-Sea Coral Reef Off Atlantic Coast

Scientists Map Largest Deep-Sea Coral Reef Off Atlantic Coast

For the first time, scientists have succeeded in mapping the largest deep-sea coral reef in the world, which runs hundreds of miles off the Atlantic coast of the United States. The massive 6.4-million-acre reef is bigger than the state of Vermont, a press release from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said. “It’s eye-opening […]

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    Popular Sashimi Tuna Species in Sharp Decline in Indian Ocean

    Popular Sashimi Tuna Species in Sharp Decline in Indian Ocean

    The yellowfin tuna that is commonly used to make sashimi and other dishes like poke bowls may become scarce if overexploitation rates don’t improve, particularly in the Indian Ocean, a press release from international research initiative the Sea Around Us said. A new study by an international team of researchers has found that, since the […]

    Millions of Plastic Pellets Wash Up on Beaches in Spain

    Millions of Plastic Pellets Wash Up on Beaches in Spain

    The sandy beaches of Spain’s northwestern Galicia region have been inundated with millions of plastic pellets, sometimes referred to as “nurdles” or “mermaid tears,” reported Reuters. The pellets ended up in the sea when a container fell off the Liberia-registered ship Toconao, BNN Breaking reported, and are the remnants of common plastic items like plastic […]

    Divers Find Plastic Litter Accumulating in Lake Tahoe

    Divers Find Plastic Litter Accumulating in Lake Tahoe

    Researchers completing the first dive survey of Lake Tahoe have found an accumulation of plastic litter in a small section of the lake. Lake Tahoe, which lies on the border of California and Nevada, is the 10th deepest lake in the world. Last year, researchers from the Desert Research Institute and University of California Davis […]

    Newborn Southern Resident Orca Whale Spotted in Puget Sound

    Newborn Southern Resident Orca Whale Spotted in Puget Sound

    A new baby orca whale was spotted recently in Washington State’s Puget Sound with the southern resident orca whales’ J pod, reported The Seattle Times. According to researchers, the calf is likely only a few days old. Brad Hanson, a wildlife biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told The Seattle Times that the […]

    Japan Earthquake Kills at Least 55, Displaces Thousands as Rescue Efforts Continue

    Japan Earthquake Kills at Least 55, Displaces Thousands as Rescue Efforts Continue

    A 7.6-magnitude earthquake that struck Japan’s Noto Peninsula on New Year’s Day has killed at least 55 people, reported Reuters. Freezing temperatures were making the efforts of approximately 3,000 rescuers to reach people trapped beneath demolished buildings in isolated coastal areas more difficult. Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said access to the secluded northern portion […]

    Coral Scientist Predicts Massive Bleaching Events in 2024

    Coral Scientist Predicts Massive Bleaching Events in 2024

    Following what is expected to be the warmest year on record, next year could bring massive coral bleaching events that disrupt marine ecosystems.  Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, a marine studies professor at the University of Queensland, Australia, is predicting that coral reefs will experience dramatic bleaching. Hoegh-Guldberg and colleagues shared their predictions in a “Perspectives” piece for […]