New Atlas

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"LarvalBot" underwater robot delivers first batch of coral babies to the Great Barrier Reef

David Szondy December 13, 2018

A Queensland University of Technology (QUT) team has developed the "LarvalBot" underwater robot that, for the first time, has succeeded in reseeding damaged areas of Australia's Great Barrier Reef with heat tolerant baby coral polyps to help combat the effects of predators and climate change.

The "LarvalBot" undersea robot has dispersed microscopic baby corals (coral larvae) to help scientists working to ...

Marine

Underwater drone watches over reefs – and kills coral-destroying starfish

Ben Coxworth September 1, 2018

It's no secret that the world's coral reefs are in trouble, and unfortunately scuba divers can only do so much in the way of monitoring or protecting them. Scientists in Australia, however, have developed an autonomous underwater drone that could be of great help.

The RangerBot can monitor and protect reefs for up to eight hours at atime

Environment

Dead coral recruited to help keep the Great Barrier Reef alive

Michael Irving July 24, 2018

The ultimate fate of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is looking pretty dire. Now, researchers from the University of Queensland have outlined a plan to recycle dead coral into structures that can help protect the remaining reef and promote new growth.

In an effort to help protect the Great Barrier Reef, Australian researchers have proposed recycling dead ...

Marine

The Sculpture Coralarium: The world's first semi-submerged tidal art gallery

Rich Haridy July 19, 2018

Artist and environmental sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor has just completed his most remarkable work to date, a semi-submerged tidal gallery exhibiting a number of artworks designed to evolve over time as they are colonized by algae and weathered by the environment.

This is the first art gallery that is designed to be semi-submerged and visitors must swim ...

Environment

Great Barrier Reef has "died" five times already – but this might be the last straw

Michael Irving May 28, 2018

As the fate of the Great Barrier Reef remains uncertain, a new study has examined the health of the reef over the last 30,000 years, and found that it has suffered five “death events” in the past – but its current woes could be the last straw.

A new study has found that the Great Barrier Reef has persisted through five major "death ...

Biology

Coral reefs put up "cloud umbrellas" to keep cool

Darren Quick April 17, 2018

We've recently seen a number of proposals for protecting coral reefs from the dangers of climate change, and now it turns out that corals already have a self-defense mechanism. They can release aerosols into the atmosphere to create a protective "cloud umbrella."

Scientists have discovered that corals on the Great Barrier Reef emit compounds that end up as ...

Environment

Plastic trash is the latest threat to coral reefs

Ben Coxworth January 26, 2018

As if the world's coral reefs weren't already in enough danger due to bleaching, a new study indicates that plastic trash is also killing them off. According to the study, when such debris comes into contact with corals, the likelihood of disease increases from 4 to 89 percent.

Potentially bacteria-spreading plastic waste on a coral reef

Environment

Giant fans, starfish assaults and the half-baked plan to save the Great Barrier Reef

Nick Lavars January 22, 2018

Australia's Great Barrier Reef is in a bit of trouble. The Australian government has announced a AU$60 million plan to preserve the world's largest living structure, but environmental experts are wondering whether it is simply a way of avoiding a larger, more complex issue.

Researchers at work examining coral bleaching in the Great Barrier Reef

Marine

Giant octopus and historic ship combine to create new coral ecosystem

Rich Haridy October 23, 2017

What happens when you purposely sink an historic WWII ship with a large scale sculpture of a giant octopus? A new fascinating marine experiment blending art and coral reef planting dubbed The Maverick BVI Art Reef.

Environment

Aerial survey reveals extent of coral bleaching on Great Barrier Reef

Rich Haridy April 10, 2017

After a study last month revealed that the Great Barrier Reef was suffering a coral bleaching event for the second consecutive year, scientists have completed an aerial survey of the reef offering more evidence of the environmental catastrophe that is currently taking place.

A recently completed aerial survey of the Great Barrier Reef has confirmed that a coral bleaching ...