The oysters nobody can harvest are still making money for coastal communities. Here’s howA 400-acre network of oyster sanctuaries in Pamlico Sound generated about $1.70 in economic & environmental benefits for every $1 invested ...
In 2018, South Carolina pumped 40,000 cubic yards of river sand onto an eroding bird island; enough to fill about 4,000 dump trucks and restore lost nesting groundThe restoration of Bird Key Stono, a vital nesting habitat for endangered bird species, involved utilizing dredged sand from Folly River. T...
Those giant numbers painted on US runways are not random: They tell pilots the direction they’re facing, with Runway 18 pointing roughly south and 9 eastRunway numbers at airports serve as compass indicators that relay the direction of a runway. The numerical designations evolve in response ...
Mary Zmudowski was a California schoolteacher when she donated 155 acres of coastal land to the state in 1950; today it is a 220-acre state beach bearing her nameZmudowski State Beach, a treasured spot north of Monterey, owes its existence to Mary Zmudowski's generous donation in 1950. While facing t...
North Carolina removed 4 to 7 tons of abandoned crab pots from coastal waters; fishermen recycled the metal into 700 feet of new oyster-reef structureAbandoned fishing traps contribute significantly to the deaths of marine life, notably in Chesapeake Bay. A North Carolina initiative creat...
In 1880, teacher Wells Cooke began writing down when migrating birds arrived; 90 years later, the project had left millions of records scientists still use todayWells W. Cooke began recording bird migration dates in 1880 using index cards and a network of volunteers. This initiative expanded into a ...
In 2019, Maryland pumped 60,000 cubic yards of dredged mud onto eroding Swan Island; the material rebuilt about 12 acres of marsh and dunes with 200,000 plantsSwan Island, an uninhabited marsh island in Chesapeake Bay, faces challenges due to severe erosion and habitat loss. The U.S. Army Corps of...
In 2013, Maryland used dredged river sediment to rebuild Battery Island to about 11 acres; crews planted about 60,000 native plants as the island was restoredIn 2013, Maryland utilized dredged river sediment to restore Battery Island to provide new habitat for wildlife. The U.S. Army Corps of Eng...
What is a 'super El Nino' and how will it affect the weather?A significant El Nino in the Pacific Ocean is anticipated to lead to severe climate impacts globally. The World Meteorological Organization...
In 2015, New Jersey pumped 30,000 cubic yards of dredged mud into a breach splitting Mordecai Island; the project rejoined the island and rebuilt nesting habitatMordecai Island in New Jersey has faced significant erosion, losing half of its land over the past century. To combat this, engineers intro...
In 2026, Australian researchers combined satellite images and desktop mapping to uncover more than 1,000 previously uncharted coral reefsIn a groundbreaking study, researchers have unveiled over 1,000 previously hidden coral reefs off the northern coast of Australia, utilizin...
A 99-year weather record just fell: Why is a rare September heat dome pushing U.S. temperatures toward 104°F? NASA maps show the unusual heatSummer was supposed to be winding down. Instead, parts of the south-central U.S. were still dealing with temperatures close to 104°F on Sep...
In 2012, 18,000 volunteers classified 1 million cyclone images; their crowdsourced assessments helped scientists study past stormsInitiated in 2012, the Cyclone Center mobilized volunteers to classify hurricanes via satellite imagery. This groundbreaking initiative sou...
In 2019, 1,500 volunteers counted seals in 90,000 drone photos of a California island; some counts came within 5% of expert totalsIn 2019–2020, over 1,500 citizen scientists analyzed 90,000+ drone images to count wildlife on California's Año Nuevo Island. During winter...
El Nino weather pattern enters record territory: ScientistThe current El Niño is making waves as it ties for the strongest ever recorded, bringing serious consequences worldwide. With climate chang...
Science says a dead whale can feed an entire ecosystem for decades, what happens after it reaches the seafloor is extraordinaryThe massive bones of a whale can hold significant amounts of lipid-rich material. In the low-oxygen environment around a whale fall, microo...
Alabama dumped 16,000,000 used oyster shells from restaurants into the sea. What happened next surprised researchers in development of new coastal lines, marine life, and cleaner waterOyster shells are being repurposed along the Gulf Coast to restore essential marine ecosystems. By forming a strong foundation for new oyst...