Coastal Job: Port Deacon

A deacon finds there’s no better way to serve Hamburg’s port workers than from a floating church.

Dec 22, 2020 | 600 words, about 3 minutes

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fun, Fungie

A longtime resident of the Irish harbor of Dingle, Fungie the dolphin has likely left this world for good.

Nov 25, 2020 | 600 words, about 3 minutes

Svalbard’s Mysterious Disappearing Shipwrecks

In the Arctic, maritime history is vanishing without a trace.

Nov 5, 2020 | 1,000 words, about 5 minutes

This Seawater-Infused Wine Is Sweet, Thick, and Not at All Salty

After 2,500 years, wine enthusiasts bring back a wine adored by ancient Greeks.

Nov 2, 2020 | 500 words, about 2 minutes

The Race Against Catastrophe

In Arctic waters, researchers are scrambling to record baseline environmental data, while communities brace for the inevitable—shipping disasters.

Oct 13, 2020 | 2,300 words, about 11 minutes

Claiming Ultima Thule

For centuries, people have debated the location of ultima Thule—a mysterious northern land. Residents of Smøla, Norway, believe they live in that fabled place; other contenders say not so fast.

Sep 8, 2020 | 3,400 words, about 17 minutes

The Earthquake That Brought Enlightenment

When disaster struck Lisbon in 1755, one controversial ruler saw a path to modernization.

Sep 1, 2020 | 1,500 words, about 8 minutes

The Oddball Dolphin of Dingle

Living solo for decades in an Irish harbor, a dolphin named Fungie has taught us something about solitary cetaceans—maybe they prefer to be alone.

Jul 14, 2020 | 3,800 words, about 19 minutes