A new study has recently confirmed the extinction of the smooth handfish, the very first marine fish species to be declared officially extinct in the modern era. So what went wrong for these bottom-dwelling fish? And what lessons can we learn from their untimely demise? Unfortunately, extinctions of marine species are nothing new in our … More The first marine fish extinction of the modern era
Two new studies from the University of Gothenburg, utilizing novel research techniques involving tagged elephant seals and robotic gliders, have uncovered new small-scale ocean currents in the Southern Ocean and highlighted their big importance. As the technology available to researchers has improved over time, the only limiting factor to what can be uncovered about our … More Satellite-tagged seals and underwater robots uncover new ocean currents
Deep-sea anglerfish have one of the most bizarre and disturbing mating behaviours in the animal kingdom, known as sexual parasitism, where dwarf males bite into and then permanently fuse bodies with larger females. However as off-putting as this may sound, it is actually a remarkably effective strategy. Sexual reproduction is one of the most important … More Unholy matrimony: the nightmarish sex lives of anglerfish
A team of researchers, in association with the Schmidt Ocean Institute, have completed an in depth 46-day scientific exploration of the Coral Sea Marine Park in Eastern Australia, all from the comfort of their own homes during the coronavirus lockdown. Over the past few months most of the world has stayed at home as we … More Scientists finish first completely remote ocean expedition during lockdown
New research from the University of Hawai’i has shown that the deep-sea corals Leptoseris can grow at a much faster rate than previously realised. It challenges the widely held assumption that deeper corals living on the brink of darkness grow extremely slowly. When you think of corals you normally picture diverse and colourful structures in … More Surprisingly fast growth rates discovered in deep-sea corals
Written by Joe Baker On the 25th May 2020, George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, after a white police officer, Dereck Chauvin, knelt on his neck for almost 9 minutes straight. This event, which has sparked worldwide protests and re-invigorated the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as countless other cases of police brutality have … More The black lives of marine biology
Written by Rebecca Greatorex As we continue to experience a global pandemic on a scale many of us have never seen before, I would like to discuss a rather overlooked group of animals which have also been affected by this global crisis – marine creatures. However, unlike us, they are likely to be affected in … More The potential benefits of COVID-19 on marine wildlife
A new paper by researchers from MBARI has revealed the true extent of the famous Endeavour Segment of hydrothermal vents in the Pacific Northwest. Their high resolution map of 572 chimneys has changed what we know about this region and hydrothermal vents in general, as well as opening up new possibilities for researchers. Hydrothermal vents … More New map gives us our best look yet at hydrothermal vents
Researchers have recently described four new species of deep-sea scale worms with beautiful iridescent scales and sparkly bristle-like hairs. Nicknamed ‘glitter worms’ these new species are not just visually stunning but also extremely interesting. On land worms are arguably one of the most simple and un-interesting animals you can find, but under the waves their … More New species of ‘glitter worms’ discovered in the deep
‘Tales of marine love that are often as hilarious as they are disturbing’ – New York Post Combining a wealth of important information and intriguing innuendos, Dr Marah J. Hardt’s ‘Sex in the Sea’ provides a delightful insight into the reproductive behaviours of a range of marine creatures in our oceans. From gender-fluid fish and … More Book Club: ‘Sex in the Sea’ by Marah J. Hardt
Marine Madness 