Do Hungry North Atlantic Right Whales Follow Their Noses?

Whales seem to find food by sniffing for a chemical cue. Scientists are hoping to turn this into an early warning system to help save the imperiled species.

May 4, 2023 | 1,100 words, about 5 minutes

Using the Sound of the Sea to Help Rebuild Ocean Habitats

Playing recordings of a healthy ocean attracts animals to degraded habitats, suggesting that sound could be used to help restore marine ecosystems.

Nov 29, 2021 | 650 words, about 3 minutes

Lack of Snow Is, Ironically, Helping Snow Geese

The birds’ population in northern Alaska is increasing by 35 percent per year.

Jan 13, 2020 | 600 words, about 3 minutes

North Atlantic Right Whales’ Very Important Mother’s Day

With just over 400 North Atlantic right whales in the wild, we are especially thankful for these new moms.

May 10, 2019 | 700 words, about 5 minutes

Penguins Love Jelly

The DNA of gelatinous life forms found in penguin poo might help track the effects of climate change on southern ocean ecosystems.

Jan 4, 2019 | 600 words, about 3 minutes

Some Seabirds Thrive at the Margins

Tidal fronts are the Goldilocks zone for hungry seabirds.

Nov 8, 2018 | 550 words, about 2 minutes

Coral Color Is More than Cosmetic

In one species, differently colored corals have strengthened defenses against different threats.

Apr 19, 2018 | 550 words, about 2 minutes

With No Sharks to Fear, Fish Forgo Defensive Gear

Shark fishing on a coral reef drives evolutionary changes in fish.

Feb 16, 2018 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

A Coral Disease’s History, Discovered in a 19th-Century Encyclopedia

New research proves mothers-in-law don’t always give useless gifts.

Jun 9, 2016 | 350 words, a quick read

The Tricky Hunting Tactics of Dolphins

A question passed down from an amateur naturalist to a graduate student spawned a decade-long bond, and uncovered new secrets of dolphin behavior.

Apr 21, 2016 | 1,000 words, about 5 minutes

Even Turtles Need “Me Time”

Ecotourism is only truly eco-friendly if it takes animals’ schedules into account.

Jan 27, 2016 | 550 words, about 2 minutes

What History Gives, the Sea Steals

In Scotland and around the world, archaeologists rush to understand ancient sites that climate change is both revealing and washing away.

Jan 12, 2016 | 1,900 words, about 9 minutes

Like a Scallop in the Headlights

Who knew a shellfish could do a great Bambi impression?

Oct 29, 2015 | 450 words, about 2 minutes

Where Do Fish Go in a Storm?

Pounding rain and whipping winds affect fish, too.

Sep 2, 2015 | 400 words, about 2 minutes

Deadly “White Syndrome” Kills Coral, and it’s Spreading

As if coral didn’t have enough to deal with.

Aug 11, 2015 | 600 words, about 3 minutes

Whistling Through the Din

Dolphins change their tune in a noisy environment.

May 27, 2015 | 600 words, about 3 minutes

The Tenacity of Water Chestnuts

To keep Massachusetts’s Mystic River friendly for boaters, a volunteer militia dives into the fray and beats back a well-armed invader.

Apr 22, 2015 | 2,000 words, about 10 minutes