How Marine Protected Areas Can Pay for Their Own Protection

The area right next to a marine protected area is a prime fishing spot—and researchers think fishermen will pay to access it.

Dec 22, 2021 | 800 words, about 4 minutes

Bone-Eating Worms, Super-Sized Isopods, and Other Surprises from Dumping Alligators in the Sea

Scientists are sinking carcasses to reveal how death on the surface contributes to life on the seafloor.

Dec 21, 2021 | 3,700 words, about 18 minutes

Adapting to Climate Change Will Only Get More Expensive

A new estimate puts the cost of adapting and repairing coastal infrastructure damaged by climate change in the United States at hundreds of billions annually. The sooner adaptation planning begins, the less expensive it will be.

Dec 16, 2021 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

The Future Is Full of Zombie Garbage

As the coast erodes, decades-old trash is coming out of the ground.

Dec 15, 2021 | 800 words, about 4 minutes

A Key Tool for Cleaning Up Oil Spills Is More Hazardous Than Helpful

In the decade since the record-breaking use of oil dispersants in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response, science shows they’re dangerous, potentially deadly, and rarely useful. A new court case is forcing the US EPA to reconsider their use.

Dec 14, 2021 | 1,900 words, about 9 minutes

Seaweed Is Putting Sea Turtles in a Hot Mess

The great Atlantic sargassum belt is inundating turtle nesting beaches with seaweed, causing a raft of problems.

Dec 13, 2021 | 650 words, about 3 minutes

Archaeologists Have Unearthed Exciting Secrets on Haida Gwaii

Archaeological excavations have revealed the oldest domestic dog remains ever reported in the Americas, roughly 11,000-year-old stone tools, and the tantalizing signs of far more to come.

Dec 9, 2021 | 1,000 words, about 5 minutes

Hidden on a Mountain in the Desert, Signs of the World’s First Reefs

Archaeocyaths were Earth’s original reef builders, and one of the best places to see them is in the Nevada desert.

Dec 8, 2021 | 1,000 words, about 5 minutes