News archives

school of anchovies

Study Proposes New Explanation for California Anchovy Booms and Busts

Despite the ecological and economic importance of anchovy off California, their population’s characteristic rises and falls have remained mysterious for decades

Hand-made seaweed lantern and Seaweed Speakeasy event schedule with the ocean in the background

Scripps Oceanography Celebrates Seaweed Diversity in California

The Center for Marine Biodiversity and Conservation at Scripps hosts Seaweed Speakeasy as part of the 2023 California Seaweed Festival

Resaerchs on a small coastal vessel.

Oceanographers Explore Turbulence in the Depths of La Jolla Canyon

Researchers with Scripps Oceanography’s MOD group are using pink dye and a suite of ocean tech to study underwater dynamics off La Jolla

Rob Lampe in the lab

Ocean Acidification in Coastal Upwelling Regions Shown to Impact Phytoplankton Nutrient Acquisition

Increased acidification shown to limit iron availability, a critical element for the survival of phytoplankton

Ocean Pavilion Logo for COP28

Ocean Pavilion Returns to the UN Climate Conference with Call for Ocean Science to Lead Climate Solutions

In year extreme weather events driven by rising marine temperatures, the ocean will take center stage at COP28 in Dubai November 30 – December 12

A scuba diver and a school of fish

Diving Sector Could Hold the Key to Advancing UN Sustainable Development Goals

Scripps Oceanography-led paper pinpoints how the diving community can play a critical role in global marine conservation and sustainability

Administration of a spawn-inducing hormone into a Sunflower Star

Star studded team successfully spawns three Sunflower Sea Stars at Birch Aquarium at Scripps

Hope is on the horizon for the critically endangered Sunflower Sea Star thanks to a groundbreaking collaborative effort among accredited aquariums and zoos and research laboratories

Banner Year for Birch Aquarium

Aquarium closes out its 30th year “on the hill” with record attendance, record scholarships and a prestigious AZA Award

Scripps Student Spotlight: Julia Chavarry

Biological oceanography PhD student researches the ecological role of gelatinous zooplankton in marine food webs

A bioluminescent wave off Scripps Pier in April 2020

Historic Red Tide Event of 2020 Fueled by Plankton Super Swimmers

The swimming ability of dinoflagellates lends them a competitive advantage over other plankton species, contributing to harmful algal blooms

Scripps biological oceanographer and mission leader Lisa Levin (third from left) with students and colleagues before Alvin’s July 16 deployment

Scripps Researchers to Explore Deep-Sea Methane Seeps in Alvin Submersible

Expedition hopes to better understand how far the chemicals from seeps spread underwater, and which organisms can utilize them as a food source

Expanding Access to Coral Reef Conservation Technology

Scripps researchers recommend how conservationists and scientists can use 3D modeling technology called large-area imaging

UC San Diego Celebrates Opening of the Ted and Jean Scripps Marine Conservation and Technology Facility

New facility is dedicated to marine biodiversity and conservation research, discovery and education

Portrait of a man standing under a pier

Scripps Student Spotlight: Orion McCarthy

Marine biology PhD student studies how coral reefs in Maui are changing over time in response to climate change

New Study: Protecting Large Ocean Areas Doesn’t Curb Fishing Catches

Five years after the creation of Mexico’s Revillagigedo National Park, the largest fully protected marine area in North America, experts report no negative impacts on the Mexican fishing sector

Composite image of diatoms seen through a microscope

Phenomenal Phytoplankton: Scientists Uncover Cellular Process Behind Oxygen Production

One out of 10 breaths contains oxygen generated by cellular mechanism in microscopic algae

Blue blob washed up on California beach is a Velella velella.

What Are Those Blue Blobs Washing Up On SoCal Beaches?

By-the-wind sailors have been spotted along the Southern California coastline this spring

Researchers Track Endangered Nassau Grouper Eggs with Underwater Microscope

Scripps Oceanography researchers show fertilized eggs stayed local, but in some years drifted to nearby islands

Scripps Student Spotlight: Denise Alcantara

Journalist and current MAS Marine Biodiversity and Conservation student works to improve coral reef policy in the Philippines

A group of sleeping 2-month-old northern elephant seals on the beach at Año Nuevo State Park, California.

Elephant Seals Drift Off to Sleep While Diving Far Below the Ocean Surface

Brainwave patterns show elephant seals take short naps while holding their breath on deep dives, averaging just 2 hours of sleep per day while at sea

Photo of a rainbow over an island

First Eight Island-Ocean Ecosystems Selected for Global Ridge-to-Reef Rewilding Campaign

Island-Ocean Connection Challenge aims to restore 40 globally significant island-ocean ecosystems by 2030

Biological oceanographer John McGowan 1924-2023

John McGowan: 1924-2023

Renowned biological oceanographer and World War II veteran drew link between ocean ecology and climate change

Acorn worm Yoda demiankoopi

“Bizarre” Yoda Acorn Worm Makes Top 10 Marine Species List

Scripps Oceanography scientists officially described the deep-sea worm in 2022; now it’s among the top 10 new species acknowledged by the World Register of Marine Species

Scripps Student Spotlight: Eesha Rangani

Marine biology master’s student studying invertebrates, involving the systematics of deep-sea Nereidid worms

Marine scientists deploy an acoustic instrument off a ship.

New Study Examines Noise Reduction from Retrofitted Shipping Vessels

Scripps Whale Acoustics Lab teams up with shipping giant Maersk to identify vessel designs that reduce radiated noise

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