Great LakesCoastwideCaribbeanMid-AtlanticNortheastSoutheastHawaii & AlaskaWest CoastGulf of MexicoInternational

Science

International
Science

World - Plankton Are Making Ocean Plastic Pollution Even More of a Mess

Microbes tear up plastic into teeny tiny pieces that are even more dangerous to ecosystems

International
Science

World - The Legendary Ocean Explorer Protecting ‘Hope Spots’ Around the World

Sylvia Earle, a pioneer of both deep sea diving and ocean conservation, has made it her mission to protect the ocean’s biodiversity, one spot at a time.

Science

World - Predicting the fate of shallow coastal ecosystems for the year 2100

A new study of shallow-water ecosystems estimates that, by 2100, climate change and coastal land usage could result in significant shrinkage of coral habitats, tidal marshes, and mangroves, while macroalgal beds remain stable and seagrass meadows potentially expand.

Coastwide
Science

USA - Sea turtle nests break records on US beaches, but global warming threatens their survival

INDIAN ROCKS BEACH, FLA. Just as they have for millions of years, sea turtles by the thousands made their labored crawl from the ocean to U.S. beaches to lay their eggs over the past several months. This year, record nesting was found in Florida and elsewhere despite growing concern about threats from climate change.

Arctic & Antarctica
Science

Norway - Could today's conservation requirements be the nail in the coffin for Svalbard's cultural heritage?

The warming in Arctic regions is happening three times faster than the global average. This has major consequences for the unique cultural monuments at Svalbard.

International
Science

World - Microbes in Ocean Plastic Trash: Harmful and Promising

NTU Singapore scientists find both potential threats and promising resources in the thriving colonies of bacteria and fungi on ocean plastic trash

Coastwide
Science

USA - Science: NOAA Unveils New Data Visualization Tool For Exploring Coral Reef Data

NOAA’s National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) launched a new data visualization tool today, which will provide free and easy-to-access information on the status of U.S. coral reefs.

International
Science

World - Diving into the Mysterious World of Sea Ducks

Plunging into the icy waters of North America's coasts, sea ducks navigate a world unseen by most. Despite representing a significant portion of the continent’s duck species, these unique marine birds are among the least understood. Yet, unlike other waterfowl, many sea duck populations have declined, sounding an urgent call for our attention.

International
Science

World - Ripple effects of climate change have created a 'new ocean'

The impact of climate change on marine ecosystems is becoming increasingly complex. A recent study offers a new perspective on how climate change and local temperature fluctuations interact to affect marine life.

International
Science

World - Enabling climate change adaptation in coastal systems

In recent years, there has been a proliferation of scientific publications on how coasts can adapt to the impacts of climate change. However, a study led by marine biologist Dr. David Cabana of the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS) at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon has revealed a significant gap: few of these research findings translate into actionable recommendations.

International
Science

World - Who should collect, manage and have access to data from the oceans?

Research institutions from Norway and other countries have collected a great amount of data from the northern oceans in recent years. Many people want access to this information

Coastwide
Science

USA - History-Making Oceanographer and Ret. Navy Captain Dies at 92

Retired U.S. Navy Capt. Don Walsh, best known for his daring dive to the deepest spot on Earth, nearly 36,000 feet below the ocean’s surface, has died at age 92.

Northeast
Science

MA - Piping plovers popping in Massachusetts: Researchers identify record year for the bird species

Long classified a federally threatened species, the small, stocky piping plovers are bouncing back, with more nesting on Bay State beaches this year than ever before, according to a Mass Audubon report released Tuesday.

Mid-Atlantic
Science

NC - Rarely seen whale species died on Emerald Isle after swallowing mylar balloon

At the end of October, a Gervais’ Beaked Whale washed up on Emerald Isle. She was about a year old and weighed just over 670 pounds. Over a dozen scientists gathered together to figure out her cause of death.

International
Science

World - Endangered turtle population under threat as pollution may lead to excess of females being born

Researchers find exposure to heavy metals cadmium and antimony and certain organic contaminants, accumulated by the mother and transferred to her eggs, may cause embryos to be feminized in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), a species already at risk of extinction from a current lack of male hatchlings.

Arctic & Antarctica
Science

Antarctic - Ancient Landscape Discovered Beneath The East Antarctic Ice Sheet

Of particular interest to Astrobiology mission planners are the ice-covered worlds in our solar system – Enceladus, Europa, Ganymede, Mimas, Titan, etc. and the probability that they have vast oceans beneath their surfaces. As we seek to penetrate the outer surface, what sorts of geology will we find underneath? Studies in Earth’s polar region can help us develop the tools to study these icy worlds from space, on their surfaces, and one day, beneath their outer surfaces.

International
Science

World - New Hydrothermal Vent Found In The Iguanas Vent Field, Galapagos Islands

Scientists on a Schmidt Ocean Institute expedition have discovered a new hydrothermal vent field larger than a professional soccer field.

Arctic & Antarctica
Science

Arctic - Arctic shifts are driving dramatic population swings among gray whales, study explains

CORVALLIS, Ore. — Gray whales undergo substantial “boom-and-bust” population cycles in response to shifting Arctic conditions, new research reveals. Since the 1980s, scientists have observed three significant die-offs in the eastern North Pacific gray whale population.

International
Science

World - Scientists Discover Healthy Deep-Sea Coral Reef and New Seamounts in the Galápagos

Two healthy and pristine coral reefs have recently been discovered in the waters surrounding the Galápagos Islands. The largest of the detected reefs stretches for nearly 800 meters.

International
Science

World - Crust-forming algae are displacing corals in tropical waters worldwide

Over the past few decades, algae have been slowly edging corals out of their native reefs across the globe by blocking sunlight, wearing the corals down physically, and producing harmful chemicals.

West Coast
Science

CA - The Storied Bolinas Marine Laboratory Is Reborn

The College of Marin's lab, one of two in the state's community college system, closed for lack of funding 18 years ago.

Gulf of Mexico
Science

FL - Beach Lights Dim Prospects for Marco's Sea Turtles

The 2023 Sea Turtle Season ended on October 31st and for other parts of Florida, they’ve seen their nesting numbers tripled. Even FWC spokesperson, Tonya Long added, “widespread reports from nesting surveyors around the state are showing record-breaking years, especially for loggerheads and green turtles, as she described the phenomenon as "exciting."

International
Science

Turkey - More than 550K loggerhead, green sea turtles hatch in S. Türkiye

A total of 589,112 endangered sea turtle hatchlings, including 445,592 loggerheads and 143,520 green turtles, have emerged from their eggs and made their way to the sea on the 20 beaches along Türkiye’s southern coast this year, according to local experts.

International
Science

World - Unlocking Climate Secrets: How Ocean Salt Patterns Influence Global Weather

A new study reveals the critical role of oceanic salt distribution in regulating global climate, linking historical cooling periods such as the Little Ice Age to changes in ocean salinity and circulation.