Scientists have captured a rare view of one of the ocean’s least understood whales—without ever seeing it. By listening to the sounds beaked whales naturally produce, researchers have reconstructed a three-dimensional picture of their deep-diving behavior in the Gulf of Mexico.

For the first time, a science team directly documented and extensively sampled a freshened water system beneath the ocean floor. This major discovery comes from the initial analyses of sediment cores recovered during an international scientific expedition led by Co-Chief Scientists Professor Brandon Dugan (Colorado School of Mines, Golden, USA) and Professor Rebecca Robinson (Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, USA). The cores, retrieved from deep below the sea floor, are now being opened, analysed and sampled by the science team, during almost a month of intensive collaborative work at the University of Bremen. During January and February 2026 the expedition’s scientists are working side by side to uncover new insights into the formation, evolution, and significance of this newly documented subseafloor freshwater system.

Artificial light from major coastal cities can disrupt the nighttime biology of sharks, according to new research that provides the first-ever measurements of melatonin—a hormone tied to biological rhythms—in wild sharks.

Florida’s Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is increasingly stressed by nutrient pollution, harmful algal blooms, and rising atmospheric CO₂, which acidifies lagoon waters and reduces aragonite—the calcium carbonate shell-building organisms need. By mapping aragonite saturation across the IRL, researchers found nutrient-rich areas have lower aragonite levels, putting shellfish and other marine life at risk. This study provides the first comprehensive lagoon-wide assessment of aragonite saturation, filling a key knowledge gap on coastal acidification in shallow estuaries.

In 2025, BioMARatona saw more than 3,000 citizen science observations of marine life along Portugal’s coast. 

To the point:

Cellular energy threats: Presence of mercury was linked to inefficient fuel use during energy production in wild birds’ cells, while certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) may prevent protective responses to cell stress

Foraging shapes exposure: Older birds and males carried more mercury through diet, food choice and lifetime accumulation in a key component of the birds’ blood, however PFAS levels showed no such links, suggesting different contamination routes

Early marine algae adapted their light-harvesting systems for weak blue-green light, suggesting how photosynthesis evolved.