In 1865, rabbits were released on a remote New Zealand island as emergency food for shipwreck survivors; they survived for 127 years and developed distinctive traitsIn 1865, rabbits were brought to Enderby Island, evolving distinct traits over the next 127 years. As conservation efforts aimed to restore...
In 1961, Liberty Bell 7 sank after Gus Grissom's flight; 38 years later, crews recovered the capsule from more than 15,000 feet beneath the Atlantic OceanFor thirty-eight years, astronaut Gus Grissom's Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft lay lost beneath the waves. A skilled salvage expert ventured int...
In 2002, South Australia scuttled ex-HMAS Hobart in 2 minutes and 17 seconds; 18 years later, a marine survey recorded more than 50 fish species around the destroyerThe HMAS Hobart, once a formidable navy destroyer, has transformed into a vibrant artificial reef after being submerged for eighteen years....
In 2017, Jordan sank a 100-foot C-130 Hercules cargo plane off Aqaba; marine life has been colonizing it ever sinceA retired Jordanian C-130 Hercules plane was intentionally sunk offshore Aqaba. This created an artificial reef to foster marine life and c...
In 1993, Miami lowered a retired Boeing 727 called Spirit of Miami into the sea; a storm split it apart a year later, and coral, oysters, and fish moved inThe Spirit of Miami, a retired Boeing 727, now lies submerged beneath the waves, purposefully sunk to provide an ecological haven. The deva...
A 7-year-old found human teeth on UK's Cornish coast. They may be linked to the 1721 Royal Anne Galley wreckWhile exploring the rugged coast of Cornwall, a young boy stumbled upon human teeth, igniting an archaeological inquiry. The investigation ...
In 2011, North Carolina scuttled the 180-foot Coast Guard buoy tender USCGC Spar off Morehead City; divers later documented sand tiger sharks using the wreckResting peacefully on the ocean floor off North Carolina, the USCGC Spar, once a buoy tender, has transformed into a vital habitat for sand...
In 1997, HMCS Saskatchewan was sunk off Nanaimo; 448 days later divers recorded 46 taxa, including 9 molluscs and 7 echinodermsIn British Columbia, artificial reefs are transforming the marine landscape, demonstrating swift colonization by diverse marine species wit...
A 13th-century cellar in Germany looked ordinary until archaeologists discovered its ceiling was built from a medieval shipArchaeologists studying a 13th-century cellar in Constance, Germany, have discovered that its ceiling was made using at least 19 planks fro...
Lake Ontario’s Bermuda Triangle: Hundreds of ships and dozens of planes have disappeared in the Great Lake. Many are yet to be foundAmid rising tensions, President Trump proposed renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America. This unique body of water is steeped in maritime hist...
16th-century shipwreck of a merchant vessel discovered off the coast of Ramatuelle in France accidentally when navy researchers scanned the seafloor in routine sonar investigations16th-century shipwreck of a merchant vessel discovered off the coast of Ramatuelle in France accidentally when navy researchers scanned the...
In 1240s, three trading ships vanished in a Menorca cove, archaeologists have now found their wrecks and a possible clue: a sudden meteotsunamiThe three ships represent more than the remains of a possible natural disaster beneath the water. Their cargoes offer valuable clues about ...
In 2006, volunteers lowered a stripped Boeing 737 into the Pacific; 20 years later, the jet has become a cold-water artificial reefA retired Boeing 737 now rests on the seafloor off Vancouver Island. This aircraft was transformed into an artificial reef by Canada. The X...
In 1986, Florida sank this 189-foot ship off the Florida Keys; decades later, its stripped superstructure is covered in sponges, corals and hydroidsThe Thunderbolt, a former military and research vessel, now serves as an artificial reef off Marathon in the Florida Keys. It was intention...
In 1942, the tanker SS Gulfoil was torpedoed in the Gulf of Mexico; nearly 70 years later, NOAA found its wreck covered in Lophelia coralThe SS Gulfoil, a World War II tanker, has transformed into a stunning coral reef over the years. After resting on the seabed for decades, ...
A Byzantine royal ship sank off Croatia in the 7th century, 1300 years later it was discovered with 600 grams of gold including a gold ring linked to emperor HeracliusA 1,300-year-old shipwreck off Croatia's Mljet island revealed over 600 grams of gold. This significant discovery includes a signet ring po...
In 1864, a bottle of Guinness was brewed under Queen Victoria; 162 years later, divers recovered it from a shipwreck, where its preserved yeast may help recreate the taste of Victorian stoutA 162-year-old Guinness bottle has been pulled from a shipwreck in the English Channel, opening a rare window into Victorian brewing. The s...