Oceans
Wreck of WWII Submarine Found After 80 Years
The USS Harder, known by the nickname "Hit ‘em HARDER," was led by a commander known for his 'particularly audacious attacks' on Japanese warships
Between Dives, Orcas Take Only a Single Breath
A new study finds the black-and-white marine mammals tend to make shorter, shallower dives compared to humpback and blue whales, making orcas the "sprinters" of the ocean
Celebrate World Turtle Day With 15 Photographs of the Delightful Reptiles
These shots from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo contest show why turtles are so terrific
Medieval Icelanders Likely Hunted Blue Whales
New research suggests Viking-age hunters took down the biggest animal on Earth
Beachcombers Discover Rare, Deep-Sea Anglerfish Washed Up on Oregon Coast
Most humans will never see a Pacific footballfish, as the creatures live at depths of 2,000 to 3,300 feet below the ocean's surface
Why Are Tuna Crabs Swarming Off the Coast of San Diego?
Scientists are perplexed by the massive group of crustaceans, but they suspect the animals were pushed north by strong ocean currents originating near Mexico
Belugas May Communicate by Changing the Shape of Their Squishy Foreheads
Scientists documented five different melon shapes among the marine mammals living in captivity: push, flat, lift, shake and press
Scientists Discover a 'Phonetic Alphabet' Used by Sperm Whales, Moving One Step Closer to Decoding Their Chatter
Researchers used artificial intelligence to spot patterns in recordings of the marine mammals' vocalizations, uncovering the "building blocks of whale language"
Massive Mosasaurs May Have Evolved More Than Once
The predators, which were made famous in the “Jurassic World” franchise, likely arose at least three times
This Historic Photograph May Depict the Iceberg That Sank the Titanic
The image, which sold for $22,000 at auction this week, was taken aboard a recovery vessel days after the famous ocean liner went down
Rescuers Save 130 Beached Pilot Whales in Western Australia After Mass Stranding
An additional 29 whales died, officials reported last week, while the reason behind the stranding remains unknown
How A.I. Is Revolutionizing Marine Conservation
Driven by a childhood marked by war and environmental devastation, marine scientist Dyhia Belhabib developed an innovative technology to combat illegal fishing
Glowing Sea Creatures Have Been Lighting Up the Oceans for More Than Half a Billion Years
New research on branching animals known as octocorals pushes the early days of bioluminescence back over 200 million years
11-Year-Old Uncovers Fossils of Giant Ichthyosaur in England, the Largest Marine Reptile Ever Found, Scientists Say
The jawbone fragments belonged to an 82-foot-long creature that represents a new species, according to a new study
Journey Under the Sea With 15 Amazing Photos of Marine Life
These Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest images feature the captivating creatures that live beneath the waves
The World's Fourth Mass Coral Bleaching Event Is Underway—and It Could Become the Worst One Yet
The impacted reefs represent 54 percent of the planet's total, and that figure is currently increasing by 1 percent each week, NOAA scientists say
Sea Otters Have Helped Bolster California’s Kelp Forest
A study that looks back more than 100 years shows that where the animals have thrived, underwater forests have, too
Dive Into the Exotic World of Nudibranchs, the Spectacular Slugs of the Sea
Psychedelic hedgehogs, purple pineapples, living strawberries—these tiny creatures show off their big personalities off the Australian coast
Floating Board From 'Titanic' Sells for Over $700,000
The infamous prop has long been the source of heated debate: Did Jack really have to die?
Sunken British Warship That Left Crew Marooned for 66 Days Has Been Identified
Found off the coast of Florida, the HMS "Tyger" left some 300 crew members stranded on Garden Key in 1742
Page 1 of 72