L.K. Ward SCUBA diving in blue water

L.K. Ward

L.K. Ward is a former science writer for the Ocean Portal and a graduate of Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, California. Currently an Earth Science Video Producer for NASA, L.K. worked as a science writer chronicling National Geographic scientific and exploratory expeditions around the world prior to joining the Smithsonian team. If L.K. had to choose a favorite animal, it would be Tylosaurus - because who doesn’t love giant prehistoric ocean dinosaurs.

A close-up image of deep-sea fish Argyropelecus aculeatus

15 Creatures in the Gulf of Mexico that are Stranger Than Fiction

A great white shark in the waters of the coast of Guadelupe, Mexico.

How Realistic is the Shark Science in "The Shallows"?

An orange sunset over the ocean.

What’s the Ocean Worth...in Dollars?

A Chevrolet Mako Corvette

These Sleek, Sexy Cars Were All Inspired by Fish

Meet the Tiny Bacteria That Give Anglerfishes Their Spooky Glow

A lionfish dish is laid out and ready to eat.

Swap Your Turkey for a “Turkeyfish” This Thanksgiving

A beaked whale at the ocean's surface

Seeing with Sound: Acoustic monitoring of beaked whales

Although in reality an ichthyosaur and plesiosaur would have likely never battled, this widely shared lithograph by artist, geologist and paleontologist Henry De la Beche even inspired author Jules Verne to pen a similar scene in his book, Journey to the C

Unearthing History: Mary Anning's Hunt for Prehistoric Ocean Giants

A shrimp boat fishes in the Gulf of Mexico

Live Stream Event: Dispatches From the Gulf

These schools of colorful reef fish call Raja Ampat, the global centre of fish diversity, home.

Nature’s Secret Weapon Against Climate Change

Illustration of a real oarfish vs the Pokémon counterpart.

Our Favorite Water Pokémon and Their Real-Life Doppelgängers

An underwater photo of sharks

Why Are We So Afraid of Sharks? It Could Be the Background Music

Colorful corals are disappearing in the Great Barrier Reef.

What We're Reading 10/21