![Strands of red coral with blue glowing tips](https://www.snexplores.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/042224_jb_corals_feat-1030x580.jpeg)
Animals
Corals may have been the first life forms to glow in the dark
Ancestors of modern octocorals may have lit up the deep sea as far back as 540 million years ago.
By Jake Buehler
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Ancestors of modern octocorals may have lit up the deep sea as far back as 540 million years ago.
A vast swath of ocean surrounds Antarctica, hidden under the ice. Here, strange creatures burrow into the dark underbelly of a floating glacier.
Each tail flap uses less than half as much energy than swimming solo, making it easier for fish to catch their breath after an underwater sprint.
This field of science looks to understand life — past and present — by studying how organisms altered their surroundings.
Destabilized by waves and vanishing sea ice, one of the glaciers lost 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) of ice in 16 months — a possible hint of worse to come.
Offshore wind farms cost more than onshore ones. But their ability to make ‘green’ hydrogen and capture carbon dioxide could help this wind power pay off.
Giant kelp are at risk due to climate change and human activities. In New Zealand, a community effort is rebuilding these underwater algal forests.
Shading coral reefs during the sunniest part of the day may help corals survive marine heat waves.
This dangerous trend appears relatively new — and growing. Studies also have begun linking it to our warming world.
Living corals could be frozen for safekeeping. Scientists could later revive them to restore reef ecosystems that are withering in warming seas.