Articles for category: Marine Biology, Paleontology

Secret Underwater Forests of the Pacific Northwest: Kelp, Otters, & Climate Clues

Secret Underwater Forests of the Pacific Northwest: Kelp, Otters, & Climate Clues

Annette Uy

Imagine swimming through an emerald world where sunlight shimmers in shafts, giant underwater trees sway gently, and curious otters spiral through the shadows. This isn’t a scene from a fantasy novel—it’s the real, mesmerizing realm of the kelp forests in the Pacific Northwest. These hidden underwater jungles are bursting with unexpected life and secrets, shaping ...

School of fish swimming in a vibrant ocean scene under sunlight.

The Oxygen Minimum Zone: Where Fish Thrive With Almost No Air

Maria Faith Saligumba

Imagine plunging into the vast blue ocean, where sunlight fades and the world grows eerily silent. Now, picture a place even deeper—a mysterious realm where oxygen is so scarce it would make most creatures suffocate. Yet, against all odds, life flourishes here. This is the Oxygen Minimum Zone (OMZ), a hidden band of ocean where ...

Glowing squid.

Squid That Communicate in Fluorescent Code: Science of Bioluminescent Language

Trizzy Orozco

Imagine plunging into the inky blackness of the deep ocean, where sunlight never reaches and silence seems absolute. Suddenly, a dazzling display of pulsing lights flickers through the water—a secret conversation in glowing code, exchanged by creatures most of us will never meet. These are squids, masters of bioluminescence, who have turned their bodies into ...

Octopuses: Nature's Colorful Calorie Burners

How to Burn Calories Like an Octopus: Change Color

Jan Otte

Octopuses are renowned for their extraordinary ability to change color in a flash, a skill that allows them to evade predators and sneak up on their prey. This color-shifting capability is not just for show; it plays a crucial role in their survival. What has remained a mystery until recently, however, is the energetic cost ...

Rocky coast of a sea.

How Climate Change is Affecting Coastal Ecosystems and Their Wildlife

Trizzy Orozco

Climate change is a pressing global issue that affects various ecosystems, particularly coastal areas. Coastal ecosystems comprise diverse habitats, including mangroves, salt marshes, and coral reefs, which serve as homes to countless species of wildlife. These ecosystems are laboratories of life, offering shelter, breeding grounds, and food sources for numerous marine and terrestrial creatures. However, ...

Kraken.

The Kraken: Tracing the Origins of the Legendary Sea Monster

Trizzy Orozco

If you’ve ever gazed out over the vast, endless ocean and felt a shiver of awe—maybe even a touch of fear—you’re not alone. Our seas have always inspired both wonder and terror, hiding secrets beneath their rolling waves. Among these mysteries, one legend claws its way into our imaginations with tentacled fury: the Kraken. For ...

A vibrant coral reef

10 Marine Species That Rely on Coral Reefs to Survive

Jan Otte

Coral reefs, often referred to as the “rainforests of the sea,” are some of the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on the planet. These vibrant underwater structures provide habitat, food, and protection for countless marine species. In this article, we’ll explore ten marine species that rely on coral reefs for their survival, highlighting the critical ...