WRITER Damond Benningfield
DISCUSSION
The Panama Canal links the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean beyond. With all that water around it, it’s hard to imagine the canal running low. […]
Radio Program
Our regular Science and the Sea™ radio program presents marine science topics in an engaging two-minute story format. Our script writers gather ideas for the radio program from the University of Texas Marine Science Institute’s researchers and from our very popular college class, Introduction to Oceanography, which we teach to hundreds of non-science majors at The University of Texas at Austin every year. Our radio programs are distributed to commercial and public radio stations across the country.
WRITER Damond Benningfield
DISCUSSION
If you go walking with a friend, the odds are that your preferred walking speeds won’t be the same. So the person who usually walks faster probably will slow down […]
WRITER Damond Benningfield
DISCUSSION
Sniffing a whale’s breath doesn’t sound all that appealing. But a recent study suggested that a good sniff could help scientists analyze a whale’s health. The study looked at North […]
WRITER Damond Benningfield
DISCUSSION
Listening to the rhythm of the falling rain is one of life’s simple pleasures—and an inspiration for music, poetry, and much more. And in recent years, it’s become a source […]
WRITER Damond Benningfield
DISCUSSION
For most marine life, methane seeps are nasty. Toxic compounds bubble into the ocean from below the sea floor. But life always seems to find a way. Microscopic organisms thrive […]
WRITER Damond Benningfield
DISCUSSION
Some microscopic organisms can live just about anywhere. They can survive extreme temperatures and pressures, total darkness, and environments that are infused with nasty chemicals. Some of them produce methane, […]
WRITER Damond Benningfield
DISCUSSION
People have traveled far across the oceans in search of greener pastures. Polynesians journeyed thousands of miles, hopping from island to island as they expanded eastward. And one period of […]
WRITER Damond Benningfield
DISCUSSION
For anyone who’s ever had a cold, the flu, or any other illness caused by a virus, getting rid of viruses might sound like a good idea. But many viruses […]
WRITER Damond Benningfield
DISCUSSION
The oceans near the poles are cold—really cold. Because of the salt content, water temperatures can remain below freezing for most or all of the year. And that can be […]
WRITER Damond Benningfield
DISCUSSION
Cats sometimes drop food at their owner’s front door—lizards, mice, or other small prey. A recent study found that killer whales sometimes offer food to people as well. But the […]