Seafood
How to kill lobsters with kindness
Countries are banning boiling lobsters alive. Scientists suggest these alternative and more humane ways to slaughter seafood.
Author: Anastasia Yandulskaya
I am a PhD candidate at Northeastern University in Boston. I study regeneration of the nervous system in water salamanders called axolotls. In my free time, I like to read science fiction, bake, go on walks around Boston, and dig up cool science articles.
Ecology
Here’s how non-scientists can help protect marine life
Have you ever wanted to help do marine science research? Marine protected areas could use your help!
Archaeology
A shipwreck treasure reveals the tragic history of African elephants
Shipwrecks are time capsules harbored by the ocean. What can a 500 years-old sunken ship from the Atlantic Ocean tell…
Oysters
Got oyster shells? Use them to build a house!
Scientists reveal how to curb waste AND make construction more sustainable.
Behavior Conservation
Mommy dearest: Female sperm whales are the pillars of their families
Still living with your mom? Nothing to be embarrassed about - especially if you are a sperm whale!
Regeneration
Going with your gut? Not if you are a sea cucumber
This creature poops out its guts when spooked! But can it grow them back?
Coastal Management Ocean Exploration
How to find a nursery for a baby manta ray
Great news! Scientists discovered lots of cute baby manta rays off the Floridian coast. Only two other manta ray nurseries…
Conservation
Drowning in bad news about the ocean? Cheer up with these uplifting stories!
Bad news fatigue is real, and a strategy called ocean optimism means to tackle it. These success stories of victories…
Parasitism
Wormception: How one parasite lives inside its cousin
Where do worms live? In the dirt, on sidewalks after a rain storm, and on the bottom of the sea…
Parasitism
Where other bugs fear to tread: seals carry superdiving lice
Seals carry their lice everywhere they go, including their deep dives in the ocean. But how do seal lice fare…
Ocean Exploration
SURFO Special: How do you take a perfect picture…underwater?
Capturing the perfect picture has always been difficult… especially underwater. Current methods tend to be expensive and hard to operate,…
Ecology
SURFO Special: Ocean Color Optics and Imaging: Phytoplankton in Narragansett Bay
What can the color of the ocean tell us about the tiny algae that live in it? SURFO student Taylor…
Coastal Management
SURFO Special: How can understanding the scenarios of rising sea levels help New England parks prepare for Nor’easters?
Will Cape Cod ever become an island? Rising sea levels come with increased threats of flooding, especially in the areas…
Behavior
Where’s that accent from? Dolphins from different seas talk in different whistles
Dolphins talk to each other by whistling, but whistle sounds vary between seas. What causes those differences in dolphin accents?
Behavior
How does an octopus decide what to eat?
Under the sea, octopuses spend a lot of time hunting their dinner. Their choice of prey ranges from clams to…
Neurobiology
Counterintuitive? Fish make more brain cells in water rich with carbon dioxide
Fish continuously make new neurons in their brain. Ocean acidification is harmful for marine life, but can it help fish…
Neurobiology
Why don’t whales have strokes?
Whales can't breathe underwater. But even though whale brains should be damaged by the lack of oxygen, they aren't. Scientists…
Ecology
The Adventures of Shell-ock Holmes: A case of green sea turtles
How can scientists find sea turtles in the ocean? Traditional methods like capturing and tagging are invasive and expensive. Is…
Neurobiology
Sensitive skin? Dolphins feel touch best on their faces
Hands are among the most touch-sensitive body parts for humans, but what about dolphins? Scientists studied how well dolphins feel…
Behavior
Octopuses can learn from an iPad too
As many universities are moving this semester’s coursework online, some may be wondering if learning from a screen is really…