As striking and fascinating as beluga whales are, we know surprisingly little about them. Their cold, remote, and often frozen Arctic habitat makes them very hard to study. But now scientists have collected hundreds of DNA samples from one Alaska population to reveal crucial information about mate choice and reproductive strategies. The team expected to find that a few highly successful beluga males fathered most calves, but instead it seems that both males and females choose many different partners to reproduce with over the years. Scientists believe this mate switching could be saving the small, isolated population from inbreeding. 

In the icy waters of Alaska’s Bristol Bay, beluga whales rely on an unexpected survival strategy: sharing mates over many years. Long-term genetic and behavioral research reveals a polygynandrous system where both males and females spread reproductive opportunities, creating networks of half-siblings. This approach boosts genetic diversity, reduces inbreeding, and protects the population from genetic drift – showcasing how cooperation, choice, and time help sustain resilience in a small, isolated whale community.

A team of researchers led by the University of Plymouth have earned £3.7million from UK Research and Innovation to conduct an unprecedented assessment of the response and resilience of deep sea coral ecosystems. The five-year project will be delivered in collaboration with organisations across the Maldives, Seychelles and Mauritius and will focus on coral reefs below the surface of the Indian Ocean, employing a number of methods to assess their vulnerability to climate change.

AI analysis of 20 years of satellite data shows floating macroalgae blooms expanding worldwide, with rapid growth beginning around 2008–2010. While floating algae can support marine life offshore, large blooms threaten coastal ecosystems, tourism and local economies when they reach shore.

New research reveals why understanding these social networks is critical for predicting and managing disease outbreaks in oceans already under siege with pressures from climate change, pollution and human activities. 

In a new global study, marine mammal experts from Flinders University and the US warn of the potential of pandemics in marine environments, with some species more vulnerable than others.

A team from Lanzhou University of Technology have developed a novel NiTi shape memory allow (SMA) with harmonic microstructures fabricated via selective laser melting (SLM). This work explores the relationship between microstructural evolution at various deformation stages and corrosion behaviour in seawater environments. The study reveals that in its initial states, the alloy exhibits superior corrosion resistance, primarily owing to dense and stable passivation films composed mainly of TiO₂ and NiO. Post-fracture, the formation of fragmented amorphous phases and nanocrystalline grains accelerates corrosion processes. Leveraging first-principles calculations and electrochemical analysis, the team provides insights into microgalvanic reactions and phase interactions that influence corrosion resistance, paving the way for advanced smart materials in marine applications.

A team of shark researchers from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa has solved a long-standing mystery, identifying the first-ever documented mating hub for tiger sharks, Olowalu, Maui. This challenges the conventional understanding of tiger sharks as purely solitary animals, revealing a predictable seasonal convergence of mature males and females that coincides with the humpback whale calving season in Hawaiʻi.