Parasitic Cookiecutter Sharks Terrorize Not Only Great White Sharks, Whales, but Animals of All Sizes in Varying Ocean Depths

Medicine & Technology Sep 04, 2021

Initially believed to prey on larger apex predators, research suggests that the parasitic cookiecutter sharks, Isistius brasiliensis, prey on animals of all sizes other than the great white sharks and orcas.

Increasing Atmospheric Acidity Upsets Ecological Balance in the Ocean

Jul 09, 2021

There are a number of factors that affect the ecological balance of the oceans, and a new study offers insight into how atmospheric acidity also harms the waters and those living in them.

Oceanic Microbes Consume Methane 50 Times Faster, Regulating Earth's Temperature

Jun 15, 2021

Researchers found that oceanic microbes dwelling in carbonate chimney rocks consume methane 50 times faster than those that live in sediment, effectively regulating the Earth's temperature.

Researchers Uncover Mysterious “Drowning” Disease That Kills off Sea Stars

Jan 07, 2021

Researchers might have discovered why sea stars have been dying all around the world for the past seven years, with some species pushed to the brink of extinction.

Floating Rocks Size of Manhattan Brave The Oceans

Aug 29, 2019

A volcano underneath the Pacific Ocean erupted and nobody knew about it, until the rocks the size of Manhattan, New York, were seen braving the waters to reach areas around the world.

From Single Cells to Us—The Tale Of Evolution As It's Told At Deep-Sea Vents

May 07, 2015

In the search for the origins of life, scientists have found a striking new link between lone cells and complex creatures like humans. The connection comes from observing life under the harsh conditions that exist near volcanoes more than a mile below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.

Why Whales Are Known To Have Some Nerve

May 06, 2015

Marine biology researchers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) have discovered a unique nerve structure that allows massive rorqual whales to fish effectively. The nerves within the tongues and mouths of these whales can "stretch" to more than twice their resting length and then snap back into position effortlessly.

Introducing the Pocket Shark

Apr 24, 2015

Researchers studying the feeding habits of sperm whales ended up finding more than they could have expected when they came across on the second ever known specimen of an incredibly rare and very small shark dubbed the "Pocket Shark." The first pocket shark was discovered 36 years ago near Peru but hasn't been seen since.

The Nonstop Flight Down South—How One Songbird Species Commutes Thousands of Miles Without a Break

Apr 01, 2015

Think that you’ve got a long commute into the office every morning? Think again. While you may be used to sitting in traffic for hours on end, it turns out that one little songbird’s lengthy migration will put your commute to shame.

The NonStop Flight Down South—How One Songbird Species Commutes Thousands of Miles Without a Break

Mar 31, 2015

Think that you’ve got a long commute into the office every morning? Think again. While you may be used to sitting in traffic for hours on end, it turns out that one little songbird’s lengthy migration will put your commute to shame.

Humpback Whale Freed From Entanglement Along Hawaiian Coast

Feb 23, 2015

If you were in the area of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii last week and thought that you were fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of humpback whale, you were probably right. But the sighting wasn’t such as a rare sight, with the more than 25 ton mammal acting as a sitting duck along the Big Island’s Kona Coast.

Leave it to the Limpets—Researchers Find New Strongest Natural Material On Earth

Feb 19, 2015

If you’ve ever been pulled out to sea by a riptide you know the true power of the oceans. When a tide changes, waves can crash down on the shores with immense power, and if you’re destined to live on these shores you’d obviously have to endure a lot. And in a new study published this week in the journal of the Royal Society Interface, researchers from the University of Portsmouth and the Queen Mary University of London are revealing just how much.

Can You Fathom the Trash? New Study Reveals Eight Million Tons of Plastic Trash Reach the Oceans Each Year

Feb 13, 2015

If you were to guess the amount of tonnage of trash in the sea, we bet that you’d be off by a couple of millions. That’s right, millions with an “M”. You may think that you can estimate the trash based on what you see at the beach, but researchers say that the calculation is a bit more complex than what the average guesser might think.

NASA Satellite Reveals ‘Cloud Streets’ Over Bering Sea

Feb 03, 2015

While NASA researchers are still waiting for the initial readings from their newest mission, the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission which plans to give researchers and farmers vital information about the moisture of any given soil on the face of the Earth, another mission has its sights set on the seas this week. Releasing a new image courtesy of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite, researchers at the space agency reveal that while all may seem calm below, the clouds above the Bering Sea tell a tale much more interesting than the waters it hides.

When Roses Bloom in Northern California, Researchers Take Notice

Feb 02, 2015

While the presence of small pink roses may seem like an innocuous blossom, researchers from the University of California, Santa Cruz are finding that as little creatures appear they signal warmer waters to come. No, these pink roses aren’t flora species, they’re hot pink sea slugs found traditionally in southern California tide pools. But as they’ve migrated north, researchers now believe that coastal water temperatures are on the rise, and this could have serious implications farther up on the food chain.