logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2023
13m 21s

Florida Corals Are Dying. Can A 'Coral G...

NPR
About this episode
Coral reefs in Florida have lost an estimated 90% of their corals in the last 40 years. And this summer, a record hot marine heat wave hit Florida's coral reefs, exacerbating that problem. Scientists are still assessing the damage as water temperatures cool. And one researcher is taking coral survival a step further: Buffing up corals in a "gym" in his lab. Reporter Kate Furby went to South Florida to see the coral reefs up close and talk to the innovative scientists working to save them.

Questions about the science happening around you? Email shortwave@npr.org — we'd love to hear about it!

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy
Up next
Jun 12
Why your sunscreen is finally getting a major upgrade
Until this week, the United States hadn’t approved a new sunscreen ingredient in over 20 years. That changed Tuesday, when the FDA approved a new chemical for U.S. sunscreens. It’s called bemotrizinol, and NPR science correspondent Maria Godoy joins us to tell us all about it — i ... Show More
9m 30s
Jun 10
How a single flu shot could protect you for decades
Every year, tens of millions of people in the U.S. get the flu vaccine. That’s because the virus changes year-to-year and protection only lasts around six months. Adolfo Garcia-Sastre wants to change that. He’s one scientist working on a universal flu vaccine that could provide d ... Show More
11m 26s
Jun 9
Your DNA is changing all the time. Here’s why
We tend to think of the DNA strands that contain our genetic code as consistent, stable units. But in reality, the cells that make up our bodies are constantly replicating and changing. Even as you read this sentence, in fact, the genes within your cells are mutating. So, what ca ... Show More
14m 12s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2023
Coral Part II: Coral Conservation
Kristen and Sara discuss the threats facing coral reefs around the world, what conservationists are doing to help, and how we can all get involved! Resources for this episode: Visual Feature | Status of Coral Reefs of the World What Florida’s coral bleaching means as high ocean t ... Show More
59m 20s
Aug 2023
Why the Coral Reef Crisis in Florida Is a Problem for All of Us
<p>A marine heat wave is warming the waters off the coast of Florida, pushing temperature readings as high as 101 Fahrenheit and endangering a critical part of sea life: the coral reef.</p><p>Catrin Einhorn, who covers biodiversity, climate and the environment for The Times, disc ... Show More
28m 12s
Sep 2023
The Secret Lives of Coral
When we think of coral most of us probably think of giant, colorful reef structures. But there's so much more to coral! We take a deeper look at the tiny animals that make up those reefs--and that can be found beyond those reefs, as well. Video for Weekly Challenge: Lens of Time: ... Show More
41m 29s
Nov 2021
Listening to coral reefs
Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, and also some of the noisiest. Up close, a healthy reef teems with trills, whoops, buzzes, hums and snaps made by the diverse lifeforms that inhabit it. But as many reefs are now degrading due to rising temperature ... Show More
27m 11s
Aug 2023
Drowning coastal ecosystems
Global sea levels are rising more than 3mm per year under current climate conditions. At this rate we are due to hit an alarming 7mm rise per year by the end of the century. If this is not slowed, it could lead to the drowning of essential coastal ecosystems like mangroves and la ... Show More
28m 5s