Coral

If corals are going to survive on today's ecologically stressed reefs, they've gotta be tough. Scientists have therefore been developing a special "turbo-charged" coral, which has recently been found to be reproducing on the Great Barrier Reef.

Living coral reefs consist of rigid "skeletons" inhabited by the tiny coral polyps that built them. A new research project aims to restore damaged reefs faster than ever, utilizing 3D-printed skeletons made of the same material as the real thing.

Coral rely on a symbiotic relationship with algae to maintain good health. Scientists have now gained unprecedented insight into this phenomenon, making observations of coral cells engulfing algae for the first time ever.

Researchers have put forward an interesting way of preventing some of this damage brought by ocean acidification, through a study demonstrating how releasing an alkalinizing agent from shipping lanes could help protect much of the Great Barrier Reef.

Scientists have demonstrated a new way we may be able to limit damage to the world's coral reefs, by taking coral species that have already survived severe heat stress and transplanting them to degraded reefs to sow the seeds for restoration.

Most earthquakes last seconds to minutes, but others rumble along slowly for weeks or months, at low frequencies that may not be felt at the surface. Now researchers in Singapore have discovered the slowest earthquake ever found, lasting 32 years.

Scientists are taking inspiration from recent advances in human microbiome research to investigate how transplantations of helpful bacteria can help increase heat tolerance in vulnerable coral species, with some promising early results.

An international team of researchers has made a discovery that could prove useful to the efforts to preserve the world's coral reefs, using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing tool to identify a key gene that regulates their response to heat stress.

OMA has unveiled plans for an ambitious underwater project located just off the coast of Miami Beach. Named ReefLine, it's conceived as an artificial reef and snorkeling attraction, and will reach a total length of 7 miles.

In an attempt to help secure the longterm future of corals from the Great Barrier Reef and elsewhere, Contreras Earl Architecture has unveiled the world's first dedicated coral conservation center. It will keep over 800 species of hard coral alive.

As if they don't already face enough challenges from bleaching, many of the world's coral reefs are currently being eaten by the crown-of-thorns starfish. A simple new portable test kit, however, could detect their presence sooner than ever before.

As recent bleaching events have shown, warming ocean waters pose a great threat to the existence of natural wonders like the Great Barrier Reef, but a new study shows why they aren’t the only factor that needs to be taken into account.