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The Sant Ocean Hall Turns Ten

The ocean is essential to all life, and covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface....

Article

On the Trail of DNA in the Ocean

DNA is everywhere—it can be found in hair, saliva, blood, bones, feces or even...

Personal Perspectives

Up Close and Personal with a Mangrove Root

I got a lot of funny looks at the airport when I opened the oversized cooler for...

Article

Not Just Another Fuzzy Face

Who hasn’t grinned at the sight of a sea otter floating on its back while...

The Time For Earth Optimism is Now

Here at the Smithsonian we think the time for Earth Optimism is now. So we are...

Article

Flippers or Feet? An Extinct Mammal May Have Been Replaced By Today's Sea Cows

In the seagrass beds and kelp forests of the Oligocene-Miocene transition, nearly...

Article

Making a Mark on the Ocean Floor

Until very recently oceanography was a field dominated by men. A seafaring career,...

Personal Perspectives

Shipboard Life in the Antarctic

Strapped in to a harness on the back deck of a 230-foot research vessel off the...

Article

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

You may not have realized it, but you’ve been acquainted with Mary Anning since...

Article

Bugs and Slugs: The Hidden Secret to Healthy Seagrasses

Slip into the water along a sheltered coast in nearly any part of the world and...

Article

Let's Get Our Hands Dirty This Women's History Month

In the ocean world, there are many women to celebrate during Women’s History...

Personal Perspectives

How Oil Feeds the Deep Sea

There can be catastrophic results when a large amount of oil is spilled into the...