Oceans

Microbes

Mystery microbes of the sea

Biologists find archaea a true curiosity. They make up one of life’s three main branches. The two better known branches are bacteria and eukaryotes (u KARE ee oatz). That last branch includes animals, plants and fungi. But archaea have remained mysterious. Very little is known about them. In fact, their unique status wasn’t even recognized until relatively recently, in 1977.

Earth

Nature’s coast guards

Barrier islands aren’t just for beach vacations — they protect coasts from storms and flooding.

Environment

Home, plastic home

Some ocean life is moving into floating piles of plastic trash.

Animals

Motion in the ocean

Scientists figure out why pulsing corals pulse.

Earth

Ahead of the wave

Scientists are working to predict — and tame — the tsunamis that can threaten some coastal communities

Climate

Explainer: El Niño and La Niña

Climate

Climate’s troublesome kids

The recurring climate events El Niño and La Niña trigger long-lived changes to weather around the world.

Earth

Less ice, more seawater

Shrinking ice sheets contribute to rising sea levels, large-scale study confirms.

Chemistry

Explainer: Ocean acidification

Here’s why shellfish and other animals in the sea suffer when the ocean is forced to absorb too much carbon dioxide.

Climate

Watching our seas rise

Satellites, coral reefs, ancient Roman fishponds and sinking cities help us understand how humans are changing sea level.

Microbes

Living long beneath the sea

Microbes in the mud beneath the seafloor may live millions of years, redefining what it means to be old and alive.

Oceans

Icy inns at Earth’s end

Intrepid researchers discover icebergs host large and lively communities of life.