Welcome To Oceans Month
Throughout the month of June, we’ll dive into the stories of the deep.
This is a part of Oceans Month, where we explore the science throughout the world’s oceans and meet the people who study them. Want to dive in with us? Find all of our stories here.
You may not know it, but you have a deep relationship with the ocean. Covering about 70 percent of Earth’s surface, the ocean helps regulate the planet’s climate, provides millions with a livelihood—not to mention it is the source for almost half of the oxygen you breathe. As marine biologist and explorer Sylvia Earle says, “With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you’re connected to the sea. No matter where on Earth you live.”
Yet, despite the significant role it plays in our lives, we only know very little about the ocean. Beneath the vast surface there’s a wild ecosystem—an estimated 91 percent of marine species are yet to be identified, and scientists have charted more of the moon and Mars than the topography of the ocean, for example.
That’s why, throughout World Oceans Month this June, we’ll be exploring the science beneath the waves—from journeying to the ocean floor with deep sea researchers, to swimming alongside some of the most surprising animal migrations on the planet, to exploring the invisible forest churning oxygen just below the waves, to resurfacing classic interviews from the SciFri archive, and more.
Take a deep breath and dive in. We’ve got a lot to explore.
Meet A Blue Planet Sub Pilot
From the first filming of a live giant squid to underwater lakes, Buck Taylor has seen it all.
How Seafaring Scientists Are Mapping The Deep
Scientists are discovering new species nearly everywhere they look in the deepest parts of the ocean. Two of them make a case for why this remote habitat is worth our close attention.
How To Grow Coral
Corals have long since been in the news for being at risk of bleaching. At Georgia Aquarium, a team of biologists are helping restore coral in the wild—by cultivating them in the lab.
Kelp: It’s What’s For Dinner
Meet the farmers who want to make cheap, environmentally friendly kelp America’s next favorite vegetable.
Riding The Wave Of Kelp Farming
The kelp revolution has reached the U.S. and it could change everything (including how cows fart).
Marine Habitats Are Protected—But Are They Effective?
Ten percent of the world’s oceans are on track to be protected by 2020. But do they need to be?
Earth’s History In A Column Of Coral
Take a look back in time by examining x-ray images of the insides of corals.
A Daily Audio Diary Of The Narwhal
Researchers have collected the sounds of a group of narwhals in order to monitor how the animals are affected by manmade sounds.
A Possible Oasis In A Sea Of Dying Coral
Pockets of coral in the Pacific and western Atlantic “escape, resist, or rebound” bleaching events while their neighbors die off.
Mapping The Journey Of Marine Animal Migrations
Locked within each map is a story.
Chasing Whales Through Time
Paleontologist Nick Pyenson pieces together the evolutionary story of how whales came to be the majestic, awe-inspiring animals we know today.
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Meet the Writer
About Lauren J. Young
@laurenjyoung617Lauren J. Young was Science Friday’s digital producer. When she’s not shelving books as a library assistant, she’s adding to her impressive Pez dispenser collection.