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An oil drilling platform in oil-free water two years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Overview

Gulf Oil Spill

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The midwater scyphomedusa Atolla tenella, as seen under a microscope.
Photo

Midwater Sea Jelly

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These Smithsonian field stations enable scientists worldwide to conduct long-term studies on mangrove ecosystems.
Photo

Description of Smithsonian Field Stations

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Swimmers brave the waters in the shadow of a coal-fired power plant. Coal plants like this one emit CO2 into our atmosphere which is warming the planet and altering the chemistry of the ocean.
Overview

Climate Change

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a crocheted microbe
Article

Make Your Own: Bioluminescent Dinoflagellate

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A sea turtle swimming
Overview

Sea Turtles

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Smithsonian researchers eat a meal in preparation for a fossil excavation
Article

At STRI, No Whales Yet, But There Are Fossil Sea Cows...

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a man snorkels above a reef while a woman in flippers sits on a boat
Timeline

Sunscreen in the Environment

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Two nurse sharks hover over a baited cage
Lesson Plan

What a Day for Ocean Microbes

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a lanternfish's scales glitter blue in a black sea
Article

The Ocean at Night

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The Sant Ocean Hall is the National Museum of Natural History's largest exhibit, providing visitors with a unique and breathtaking introduction to the majesty of the ocean
Article

Celebrating the Ocean With New Museum Exhibits

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