Science and the Sea

Launching Fangs – September 24, 2017

HOST Damond Benningfield

DISCUSSION

Sea urchins have some of the best defense mechanisms around. Sharp spines jab any predators that try to grab them. And tiny, venomous fangs on the end of long stalks […]

Algae Octopus – September 17, 2017

HOST Damond Benningfield

DISCUSSION

The algae octopus uses an elaborate camouflage scheme to stay safe. It can change the color and shape of structures on its body and arms to make it look like […]

It’s a Snap – September 10, 2017

HOST Damond Benningfield

DISCUSSION

Ocean creatures don’t have to be big to be loud. One of the loudest of all is only a couple of inches long. But it produces “bangs” that are louder […]

Naming Rights – September 3, 2017

HOST Damond Benningfield

DISCUSSION

A small crab in Japanese waters has a pattern on its back that looks like the face of a fearsome samurai. Legend says the crabs are the reincarnated spirits of […]

Doctorfish – August 27, 2017

HOST Damond Benningfield

DISCUSSION

The doctorfish sounds like it should scurry from reef to reef, healing other fish along the way. In reality, though, the name tells us that the fish is dangerous: It […]

Doggerland – August 20, 2017

HOST Damond Benningfield

DISCUSSION

A sand bank in the North Sea, between Great Britain and Denmark, has long been a popular fishing ground. Dutch vessels, known as doggers, plied the shallow waters above the […]

Sensitive Hearing – August 13, 2017

HOST Damond Benningfield

DISCUSSION

To a whale, sonar can be the equivalent of a heavy metal concert. The sonar can overpower other sounds, so the whale can’t hear its companions or prey. If the […]

Changing Marshes – August 6, 2017

HOST Damond Benningfield

DISCUSSION

Salt marshes cover millions of acres of American coastline, particularly along the Gulf of Mexico. Their shallow, grass-filled waters provide habitat for fish and shellfish, birds, and other critters. They […]

Keeping Warm – July 30, 2017

HOST Damond Benningfield

DISCUSSION

Athletes are always looking for that extra edge — a way to beat the other guy by running a little faster or hitting a little harder. A fish that looks […]

New Maps – July 23, 2017

HOST Damond Benningfield

DISCUSSION

The geology of the ocean floor is just as varied and amazing as that of dry land. Mountain ranges stretch across thousands of miles, trenches plunge miles deep, and cracks […]