A previously undescribed oasis of life, 500 meters below the waves of the Indian Ocean, has been discovered by the Nekton Maldives Mission. Â Video evidence from a submersible, biological samples and extensive sonar mapping indicate that predators in this zone feed on...
Recent Content
Coral test tube babies
Did you know that there is a world-class genomic library and frozen repository (in other words, a coral sperm bank!) that contains more than 48 coral species from around the world? (Check out the different species at:...
How to draw fish
Ever wanted to learn to draw fish? Well, there's a class that you can take on June 30. Maui-based artist Maggie Sutrov will teach us some tips and tricks for drawing fish - no previous experience necessary. This class filled to capacity last time, so be sure to...
Corals beating climate change…to a point
WARNING! Some coral reef systems could face irreversible damage if the world is warmed up by more than 1.5°C. This is what a recent UN Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said.  In 2018, they reported that a 2ºC or more increase would mean...
Monday Archives: Bumblebees and fish could help engineers answer questions
All animals have some form of warning system that helps them regulate their speed and judge their distance from objects. This prevents collisions. Flying and swimming creatures have an extra challenge though; they have to deal with winds and currents that affect...
Aquarium nerdalicious!
Most people have hobbies: knitting, gardening, woodwork, crochet, leatherwork, metalwork, 3D printing…there are endless options. Nobody beats an aquarium nerd though! Look at these items you can buy to show others how much you love your aquarium. First, you have the...
B & W Photos Used to Determine Coral Bleaching Sensitivity
Coral bleaching is the process when stressed corals get rid of the symbiotic algae living in their tissues and turn white. Stressors such as changes in temperature, light or nutrients can cause this color change. So why use black and white photos to determine coral...
DNA to ID public aquarium corals
In the past 30 years, marine heatwaves are estimated to have increased by more than 50%. Ocean temperatures are predicted to increase by 1 - 4° C by 2100. These changes cause the loss of marine habitats and species and change the structure of ecosystems. Luckily, the...
An Event for the Family
Marine Science Day, 4 June 2022 This FREE family event at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) in Gloucester Point, VA, has something for everyone. Events and activities are in person and online so that nobody is left out! There will be science talks, lab...
AI Underwater
Snapshot of a reef survey from YouTube: https://youtu.be/_saAgo2OmXg?t=2 Artificial intelligence (AI) is the ability of a computer or a robot to do tasks that are usually done by humans. A few decades ago, it may have seemed like a sci-fi movie, but these days, we...