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An environmental chemist collects samples of oil in the Gulf of Mexico from the Deepwater Horizon spill. The resulting chemical “fingerprint” of the oil will help determine the origin of other samples.
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Oil Samples in the Gulf

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Pirates divide up the riches they plundered. Most pirates abided by their own codes of conduct, and life aboard pirate ships was more democratic than that on naval ships of the time. Watch a slide show about legendary pirates from the Golden Age of Pirates.
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Pyle's "The Sacking of Panama"

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As Dampier studied the plants he encountered in Australia, he wrote that they were “for the most part unlike any I had seen elsewhere.” In fact, nearly all the plants Dampier observed were entirely unknown to botanists at that time.
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More Australian Plants

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Blackbeard may have been the most notorious pirate of all. Fierce and ferocious-looking, he stood 6’4” tall and had wild eyes and an explosive temper. To add to the effect, he tucked slow-burning cannon fuses under his hat.
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Portrait of Blackbeard

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Pirate Henry Morgan arrives with his rifle and his crew in Panama City
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Morgan in Panama City

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During what is known as the Golden Age of Piracy, pirates reaped great rewards—and, if they were caught, faced terrible punishments. Here are some of the most legendary pirates of that time.
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Dividing Up the Treasure

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The coastline of American Samoa National Marine Sanctuary
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American Samoa National Marine Sanctuary

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A juvenile Kemp's ridley sea turtle emerges from the nest
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Kemp's Ridley Hatchling

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A nudibranch showing a closeup of their fleshy, tentacle-like growths, called cerata.
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Aeolid Nudibranch Defense

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A dredge from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can be seen removing a sandbar off of Virginia Beach, VA.
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Dredging Sand

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Phoenix the right whale diving in North Atlantic.
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Right Whale Tail

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An offshore cage is stocked with 70,000 Pacific threadfin (Polydactylus sexfilis).
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Commercial Aquaculture

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