Hakai Birthday to Us
Our most shared stories from our first year of publishing.
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On Friday, April 22, we turn one. It has been a wonderful year of diving into the best and most important coastal stories we could find, and we appreciate all the support we’ve received from our wonderful readers! Can anyone guess what our most shared story was in our first year of publishing? Hint: it rhymes with ninja lantern park.
Hakai Magazine’s Most Shared Stories, Year One
1. Meet the New “Ninja Lanternshark” by Jason Bittel
This newly discovered shark was named by the scientist’s young cousins.
2. No Wool, No Vikings by Claire Eamer
The fleece that launched 1,000 ships.
3. Tanked: Killer Whales in Captivity by Susan Cosier
A new study shows that killer whales kept for show live shorter lives than those that swim free.
4. The Great Quake and the Great Drowning by Ann Finkbeiner
Mega-quakes have periodically rocked North America’s Pacific Northwest. Indigenous people told terrifying stories about the devastation, but refused to leave.
5. The Unique Language of Newfoundland by Emily Urquhart
Isolated in the North Atlantic, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador developed a subtle and beautiful lexicon to describe their environment.
6. The Ghosts of Fishers Past by Brian Owens
Lost fishing gear keeps on doing the job it was designed for long after its owners are gone.
7. Caribbean Whales Have an Accent by Geoffrey Giller
Research shows Caribbean sperm whales share a unique regional call.
8. A New Treatment Could Save Sea Lions from a Deadly Algae by Sarah Scoles
Researchers are testing to see if alpha lipoic acid can halt the toxic effects of domoic acid.
9. The Feather Cloak of Captain Cook by Heather Pringle
When Captain Cook and his crew landed on Hawai‘i to restock their provisions, the island’s high chief gave the cloak off his back to the British explorer.
10. The Circle of Poo by Larry Pynn
Nutrients from whales’ poo fertilize phytoplankton, which are eaten by krill … which are eaten by whales.
11. The Price of Rejection by Ilima Loomis
New research uncovers hidden losses in the aquarium fish trade.
12. Defenders of the Forgotten Fish by Ben Goldfarb
Tribes of the Columbia River watershed are hustling to keep the Pacific lamprey alive, one fish at a time.
13. Whales Through a New Lens by Erich Hoyt
Forty years ago, the world’s whale researchers met in Indiana. The now legendary, but nearly forgotten, meeting changed the way scientists and the public see whales—and it all started with a few photographs.
14. Caamaño: The Sound of (Whale) Music by Darcy Dobell
Is this where North Pacific humpback whales practice their songs?
15. A Swedish Island’s Rare Balancing Act by Andrew Curry
On Öland, humans and grazing cattle have created a haven of biodiversity and preserved it for thousands of years.