Researchers Shocked to Find Antarctic Penguins Much Happier With Less Sea Ice
Researchers have been surprised to find that Adélie penguins in Antarctica prefer reduced sea-ice conditions, not just a little bit, but a lot. As climate…
Marine Biology
Xenophyophores: Four Freaky New Species of Giant Single-Celled Organisms Discovered on Pacific Seafloor
Two new genera and four new species of giant, single-celled xenophyophores (protozoans belonging to a group called the foraminifera) were discovered in the deep Pacific…
“Enigmatic and Strange” – 300-Million-Year-Old Fish Resembles a Sturgeon, but With Key Differences
Tanyrhinichthys mcallisteri recasts the notion of what it means to be a ‘primitive’ vertebrate, according to Penn paleontologists Lauren Sallan and Jack Stack. Sturgeon, a…
“The Thing” – Analysis of Mysterious Giant Egg, the First Ever Found in Antarctica
In 2011, Chilean scientists discovered a mysterious fossil in Antarctica that looked like a deflated football. For nearly a decade, the specimen sat unlabeled and…
Fighting Fish Synchronize Their Combat Moves and Gene Expression Leading to Tightly Meshed Battles
Betta fish opponents undergo similar brain changes that become more synchronized after longer fights. When two betta fish are fighting for dominance, not only do…
Dramatic Fish Evolution in Action: Land Fish Forced to Adapt After Leap Out of Water
A diverse diet and flexible behavior may have empowered blenny fish to make a dramatic transition out of the water — but once on land,…
Scientists Surprised by Growth Rates in World’s Deepest Photosynthetic Corals
New research published in the journal Coral Reefs revealed unexpectedly high growth rates for deep water photosynthetic corals. The study, led by Samuel Kahng, affiliate graduate faculty in the…
Aqua-Fi: Underwater WiFi With Aquatic Internet That Sends Data Through Beams of Light
Aquatic internet that sends data through light beams could enable divers to instantly transmit footage from under the sea to the surface. The internet is…
Scientists Surprised When They Examine Stomach Contents of Great White Sharks and Find Out What They Really Eat
Understanding how sharks feed is vital for managing human interactions. The first-ever detailed study of the diets of great white sharks off the east Australian…
Beneath the Ocean’s Surface, a Virus Is Hijacking the Most Abundant Organism on Earth
Rice scientists analyze structure, mechanism of phage protein that steals electrons. Beneath the ocean’s surface, a virus is hijacking the metabolism of the most abundant…
A Rising Tide of Marine Disease? How Parasites Respond to Global Warming
Warming events are increasing in magnitude and severity, threatening many ecosystems worldwide. As the global temperatures continue to climb, it also raises uncertainties as to…
“Single Pixel Vision” Discovery in Fish Reveals Clues to How Humans Can Spot Tiny Details
Recently discovered ‘single-pixel vision’ in fish could help researchers understand how humans are able to spot tiny details in their environment — like stars in…
Sea Snakes Have Been Modifying Genetically to See Underwater for 15 Million Years
Sea snakes first entered the marine environment 15 million years ago and have been evolving ever since to survive in its changing light conditions, according…
Researchers Create Bionic Jellyfish That Swim Faster and More Efficiently
Researchers at Caltech and Stanford use microelectronics to enhance jellyfish swimming. Engineers at Caltech and Stanford University have developed a tiny prosthetic that enables jellyfish…
Cyclones Can Damage Distant Coral Reefs 1000 Km Away – 10x Further Than Conventional Modeling
Research finds current models underestimate the impact of hurricanes and typhoons on coral reef communities. Big and strong cyclones can harm coral reefs as far…
“Deep Biosphere” Microbes: Life Is Bubbling Up From Sediments Deep Below the Ocean Floor
The COVID-19 pandemic is a stark reminder that we move through a world shaped by unseen life. Bacteria, viruses, and other microscopic organisms regulate the…
Surprises Surfacing in the Atlantic: Species Far From Home Detected by DNA Traces in Seawater
DNA scientists sampling the New Jersey shore bottle the changing ranges of marine life predicted a decade ago; Fishing DNA from seawater: a harmless, economical…
Tube Worm Slime Displays Self-Powered, Long-Lasting Bioluminescent Glow
Marine organism’s bioluminescence could inspire new eco-friendly, long-lasting light sources. When threatened, the marine parchment tube worm secretes a sticky slime that emits a unique…