Flying by the Fat of the Sea

Scientists may have cracked an essential secret of shorebirds’ marathon migrations.

Sep 14, 2021 | 5,300 words, about 26 minutes

In the Absence of Cruise Ships, Humpbacks Have Different Things to Say

Researchers don’t know exactly what the whales were saying, of course, but the discovery that the proportions of call types changed is intriguing on its own.

Sep 2, 2021 | 900 words, about 4 minutes

The Murky Origins of an Enigmatic Artifact

A projectile point dredged from the deep could tell us so much about early people in Tierra del Fuego—if only we knew its age.

Mar 19, 2021 | 600 words, about 3 minutes

Seahorse Dads Have Gotta Feed Those Buns in the Oven

A recent study sheds light on the role male seahorses play in nourishing their babies.

Feb 1, 2021 | 450 words, about 2 minutes

Coral Versus Climate

Coral reefs are projected to do really poorly as climate change accelerates, but most of our data comes from lab studies. How have corals actually responded to an already-changing ocean?

Dec 17, 2020 | Interactive feature

Fukushima’s Radioactive Wastewater Dilemma

What to do with hundreds of thousands of tonnes of contaminated water?

Nov 26, 2020 | 1,400 words, about 7 minutes

Hiding in Plain Light

A natural phenomenon of light and waves helps prey fish use stealth when running from predators.

Jun 30, 2020 | 2 min

Expanding Canada’s Biggest Port Will Be a Blow to Wildlife

A new environmental assessment raises plenty of concerns about the proposed new terminal at Vancouver’s Roberts Bank*

Apr 16, 2020 | 650 words, about 3 minutes

Honey, I Scared the Squids

The sounds made by industrial pile drivers freak out squid, but they seem to adjust. Sort of.

Mar 2, 2020 | 450 words, about 2 minutes

Creatures with Circatidal Rhythms Move to a Different Beat

New research shows that while the song may be different, the players are the same.

Feb 20, 2020 | 750 words, about 3 minutes

Shipboard Swarm on the High Seas

A throng of unexpected visitors to a navy ship sheds light on insect migration.

Dec 30, 2019 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

The South Pointing Spoon

One of the world’s first compasses was a magnetized spoon.

Dec 20, 2019 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

A High-Pressure Job

What construction workers, scuba divers, and a risqué dance have in common.

Dec 17, 2019 | 4 min 20 sec

From Berth to Death

Flu kills. It kills even more when new technology changes everything.

Nov 19, 2019 | 4,200 words, about 21 minutes

The Ants That Picnic on the Beach

A barren Brazilian beach offers a window into how ants forage.

Sep 25, 2019 | 550 words, about 2 minutes

Belugas’ Downward Spiral

The Arctic mammals are losing ground. This warming world is beating them down.

Jul 24, 2019 | 650 words, about 3 minutes

Why Ocean Shores Beachcombing Is a Blast

Collectors at this year’s beachcombing fair in a Washington town had something surprising to put on display.

May 28, 2019 | 6 min

The Baffling Case of the Belugas that Won’t Bounce Back

What’s keeping Cook Inlet belugas from thriving?

May 21, 2019 | 4,500 words, about 23 minutes

Two Flies Walk into a Barnacle

Then they mate and their babies eat the barnacle. Seriously.

May 9, 2019 | 650 words, about 3 minutes

Killer Whales Are Insufferable Gossips

With new technology, scientists eavesdrop on the private conversations of these blubbery blabbermouths.

Apr 1, 2019 | 100 words, a quick read

Fish in Tubes

The salmon cannon is just one place where fish go tubular.

Mar 13, 2019 | 900 words, about 4 minutes

Humpback Moms Need a Quiet Place to Nurse

Ship noise and development could disturb nursing humpbacks during a crucial time.

Mar 6, 2019 | 550 words, about 2 minutes

This Snail Fights Sea Stars with Fancy Frills

New research investigates why some sea snails use precious resources to make their shells extra fancy.

Feb 15, 2019 | 500 words, about 2 minutes

The Stories Whale Lice Tell

Humpbacks can’t tell you who they hang out with. But their lice can.

Jan 2, 2019 | 750 words, about 3 minutes

Okay Google, Let’s Map Some Mud

A massive new map of the world’s mudflats may help save critical shorebird habitat.

Dec 19, 2018 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

Imploding Kelp

The answer to the pressing question of how low kelp can go.

Oct 12, 2018 | 450 words, about 2 minutes

Playing Viking Chess with Whale Bones

Game pieces made of whale bone may be evidence of the emergence of industrial whaling in ancient Scandinavia.

Sep 25, 2018 | 1,000 words, about 5 minutes

Nudibranchs: Armed and Fabulous

These marine mollusks seem to tempt fate with their lack of shell and come-hither colors, but there’s danger in that decoration.

Sep 19, 2018 | 1,700 words, 14 photos

Detecting Pregnancy by Proxy

Subtle changes in how long northern elephant seals dive show when they’re pregnant.

Jul 20, 2018 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

Greenland Sharks Undeterred by Shark-Repelling Hooks

To the shark’s detriment, its vacuum-like feeding technique allows it to bypass the repelling effect of magnetic fishing hooks.

Jul 12, 2018 | 550 words, about 2 minutes

Porpoises Flee from Noise Pollution

Toothed whales, which communicate at higher frequencies than their baleen brethren, are also disrupted by artificial noise.

May 23, 2018 | 550 words, about 2 minutes

Fish on Acid Have Their Senses Confused

Acidic water affects how one fish species parses sight, smell, and sound—a potential sign of neurological disruption.

May 4, 2018 | 600 words, about 3 minutes

The Intertidal Architects of the Coast

Some of the coastline’s most diligent designers are marine invertebrates.

Apr 26, 2018 | 900 words, about 4 minutes

Melting Glaciers Do More Than Raise Sea Levels

The movement of meltwater from ice to the ocean carries some surprising cargo.

Mar 9, 2018 | 800 words, about 4 minutes

Why Scientists Should Do It in the Dark

Sample zooplankton, that is.

Mar 5, 2018 | 500 words, about 2 minutes

Are Scientific Tracking Tags Hurting Wild Animals?

New research shows telemetry tags may force seals to work harder and swim slower.

Jan 22, 2018 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

Climate Change Is Good for These Crabs’ Genitals

We always knew there would be winners and losers.

Jan 18, 2018 | 600 words, about 3 minutes

Shellfish Can’t Say No to Drugs

Unfortunately for them. But it is teaching scientists about the consequences of pharmaceutical pollution.

Jan 5, 2018 | 800 words, about 4 minutes

Hatchery Fish Often Fail in the Wild. Now We Might Know Why

Epigenetics explained, with help from ’80s pop.

Dec 21, 2017 | 850 words, about 4 minutes

Actually, Dolphins Don’t All Look the Same

Humans are more than capable of telling individual dolphins apart just by their faces.

Dec 13, 2017 | 450 words, about 2 minutes

Changes to the Ocean’s Micro Creatures Could Have Macro Effects

The effects of climate change reverberate through the ocean’s food webs.

Nov 27, 2017 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

Fish in Formation

How schools of fish use physics to swim smarter, not harder.

Nov 2, 2017 | 650 words, about 3 minutes

A Hard Shore Is a Dead Shore

How anti-erosion measures hurt fish—and living shorelines may help.

Oct 16, 2017 | 950 words, about 4 minutes

Saving the Ocean One Outfit at a Time

The sea suffers for fashion. Kombucha leather and leased jeans to the rescue.

Sep 26, 2017 | 2,900 words, about 15 minutes

These Cages Save Baby Fish

On developed shorelines, oyster shell “safe houses” offer sanctuary.

Sep 19, 2017 | 900 words, about 4 minutes

The Great Salmon Escape: Is There a Better Way to Farm Fish?

We’ve just seen how open-net fish farms can go wrong. It’s time to look at the alternatives.

Sep 1, 2017 | 600 words, about 3 minutes

Dolphins Master Decapitation

In the Gulf of Mexico, dolphins have learned a deadly new trick.

Aug 17, 2017 | 450 words, about 2 minutes

Ocean Racket Makes for Rascally Wrasses

Motorboat noise spurs rise in fish-on-fish crime.

Aug 4, 2017 | 550 words, about 2 minutes

Why Don’t Whales Get Out of the Way?

Ships are huge and loud, yet they seem to take whales by surprise.

Jul 27, 2017 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

A Healthy Ocean Needs Viruses

And the more we learn about them, the weirder they get.

Jul 21, 2017 | 550 words, about 2 minutes

Not Your Average Beach House

Forget rebar or prestressed lumber—the sea provides a bounty of alternative construction materials.

Jul 6, 2017 | 850 words, about 4 minutes

Putting the Local in Marine Conservation

A new proposal for a code of conduct considers marine protection and the needs of people.

Jun 5, 2017 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

The Shellfish Gene

How shellfish farmers are leaning on genes to unmask the secrets of mussels, scallops, and oysters.

May 23, 2017 | 2,200 words, about 11 minutes

Life Interstitial

What does it take to live between the grains of sand?

Apr 28, 2017 | Interactive infographic

Here Be Tiny Dragons (and Other Micro Beasts)

Researchers reveal the microscopic life in between the grains of sediment.

Apr 18, 2017 | 5 min

Stealing the Slims River

River piracy could become more common in a warming world.

Apr 17, 2017 | 950 words, about 4 minutes

Listen to How Loud the Sea Is

Our interactive sound map explores the busy marine soundscape, from kayaks to cruise ships.

Apr 6, 2017 | Interactive infographic

The Wrong Whale In All The Right Ways

New research reveals how the North Pacific’s wrong whale escaped exploitation during whaling’s heyday.

Apr 1, 2017 | 100 words, a quick read

Rich Dolphin, Poor Dolphin, Beggar Dolphin, Thief

Human activity turns dolphins into beggars and thieves. What does that mean for their social lives?

Mar 23, 2017 | 850 words, about 4 minutes

Luxury Living for Retired Whales

The Whale Sanctuary Project wants to build an ocean home for captive killer whales.

Mar 2, 2017 | 1,000 words, about 5 minutes

A Renaissance Field Guide to Fantastical Fish

Dutch fisherman Adriaen Coenen’s visual masterpiece chronicled the ocean’s denizens, real and imagined.

Feb 24, 2017 | 800 words, about 4 minutes

Pinch Me

In a Washington State lake, two of the most globally invasive crayfish species are duking it out. Should we step in?

Feb 17, 2017 | 1,600 words, about 8 minutes

The Origins of Ghana’s Iconic Black Star Line

The focal point of the African nation’s flag was inspired by the name of its first shipping line.

Feb 3, 2017 | 400 words, about 2 minutes

The Hunter’s Designer Shades

Yup’ik hunters wore visors decorated with beautiful charms and designs.

Jan 6, 2017 | 500 words, about 2 minutes

Santa Claus Is Coming to Port

Before he was seasonal, he was seagoing.

Dec 22, 2016 | 550 words, about 2 minutes

The Questionable Science of Vancouver’s Port Expansion

A flawed environmental impact assessment may have consequences for the western sandpiper.

Nov 28, 2016 | 5,500 words, about 28 minutes

The 6,000-Year-Old Village

Traditional knowledge meets Western science on the central coast of British Columbia.

Nov 22, 2016 | 7 min 30 sec

The Dark Side of Lighthouses

Mouthfuls of molten lead, wild weather, and insanity: the occupational hazards of an early lighthouse keeper.

Nov 18, 2016 | 1,000 words, about 5 minutes

Coral, Explained

A little bit algae, a little bit rock, and a lot animal. If you’ve ever wondered about the life of a coral, this photo essay will help.

Sep 1, 2016 | 2,000 words, 13 photos

Bottoms Up

After years on the ocean floor, these five salvaged beverages were still drinkable—for better or for worse.

Jul 15, 2016 | 900 words, about 4 minutes

Captains of Industry

Five seamen who sold the world (cigarettes, rum, and spinach).

Jun 3, 2016 | 900 words, about 4 minutes

Doing Science with Stories

The experiences of people who live close with the land offer a potentially valuable complement to traditional climate change data.

Apr 27, 2016 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

Infographic: Get the Hell Off My Beach

Coastal access laws around the world.

Apr 15, 2016 | Infographic

The Race for Arctic Oil

Oil companies have always looked north for vast oil fields, and they won’t stop any time soon.

Feb 8, 2016 | Infographic

Et Tu, Ocean?

The role of the sea in melting the Arctic.

Feb 2, 2016 | 3 min 15 sec

Old Coast, New Coast: Halifax Harbour

One December morning, the world’s largest explosion tore through the heart of Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia. The city grieved, rebuilt, and carried on.

Nov 4, 2015 | 500 words, about 2 minutes

All Three Sides of the Story

Five geographical triangles that shaped the ocean’s history.

Oct 14, 2015 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

Hazardous Waters

Five perils that you can encounter at sea, and where they’re most likely to strike.

Jul 29, 2015 | 550 words, about 2 minutes

The Captain and the Punch Bowl

Those were the days—when booze and pottery cemented social relationships.

Jun 30, 2015 | 500 words, about 2 minutes

Manjirō Nakahama: From Castaway to Samurai

The first Japanese person to live in the United States, Manjirō’s incredible journeys are seafaring legend.

Jun 29, 2015 | 600 words, about 3 minutes

The Little Post Office That Could

When Britain dubbed Herm Island too tiny to merit a post office, the islanders found a way to get that problem licked.

Jun 15, 2015 | 400 words, about 2 minutes

Navigating a Sticky Situation

People from the Marshall Islands created beautiful, unconventional charts to navigate across the sea.

Jun 5, 2015 | 300 words, a quick read

Five Islands We Are Really Sick Of

An island stay sounds dreamy, but the reality of these five quarantine islands was often a nightmare.

May 29, 2015 | 700 words, about 3 minutes

Global Shipping and Emissions

Shipping traffic has grown rapidly in the past two decades—and so have its emissions. But what does that mean for the atmosphere?

Apr 22, 2015 | Infographic

Coastal Villages that Moved Away

Build a dam, Sam. Set off a bomb, Dom. Block a view, Lou. There are at least 50 ways to move your coastal village, but we’ve narrowed it down to five.

Apr 22, 2015 | 550 words, about 2 minutes

Stefan Drzewiecki, Submarine Tsar

The world’s first submarine fleet was pedal-powered and short-lived. But its design was a game changer for modern warfare.

Apr 22, 2015 | 450 words, about 2 minutes