Oceans
Site news
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Labor abuses remain a challenge in parts of the global fishing industry, especially for migrant workers at sea. Stanford's Center for Ocean Solutions and Center for Human Rights and International Justice partnered with fishers, industry, government, and civil society to develop a digital platform that strengthens accountability.
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Brief pulses of electrical current can dramatically extend the lives of sea squirts, whose rapid stem cell regeneration and simple immune systems make them a useful analog for understanding aging in humans. The findings point toward new strategies for protecting species from environmental shifts, and mitigating age-related decline.
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Manu Prakash and French collaborator Marcel Babin are being honored for their research on microbial life trapped in sea ice, enhancing our understanding of modern polar ecosystems.
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Researchers presented new methods for tracking wildfire pollution and recovering bleached corals while former government officials and leaders from business and civil society called for urgent responses to food security, climate risks, and AI energy demand.
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A Stanford-led effort combines bluefin tuna tag data and historical catch records to reconstruct the evolution of the fishery in the context of extensive movement and mixing.
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Although climate models predicted Antarctic sea ice would steadily dwindle, its extent grew for decades until 2016. A new study finds the ice finally receded when wind-driven upwelling unleashed warmer, deeper water.
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Disputed access to ocean areas and resources, such as ports or fisheries, are the primary types of conflicts occurring across coastal countries in Africa, highlighting the need for equitable intervention strategies as more industries expand into the ocean.
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As oceans warm and ecosystems shift, Stanford's Hopkins Marine Station is helping detect trouble early – and prevent collapse before it starts.
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Our list includes a mix of favorites, high-impact stories, and some of our most-read research coverage from the past year.
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Scientists have discovered wintertime seismic activity in the ocean around Antarctica controls summer growth of phytoplankton, tiny organisms that fuel the marine food web and sequester huge amounts of carbon from Earth’s atmosphere.
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Stanford researchers are studying how changing weather patterns, rising temperatures, and ecological shifts affect the global food system, while developing ways to improve food security for all.
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A new framework informed by Stanford-led research and stakeholder convenings balances conservation with cultural heritage and sustainable resettlement of communities removed from an island chain decades ago.
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Small-scale fishers harvest 40% of wild-caught fish and support economies worldwide, but are threatened by climate change and overfishing. New research categorizes small-scale fisheries into five types, offering a clearer framework for sustainable seafood policies.
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An analysis of shark tooth shapes, a proxy for body size and diet, reveals species with specialized traits are most at risk of extinction. The findings are the latest example of the biodiversity crisis affecting the tree of life’s most distinctive branches. Unless threats like overfishing are addressed, “you end up with a more boring world.”
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Ninety years of tidepool observations in Monterey Bay have taught Stanford researchers about climate change impacts on the ocean and the evolution of science.
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New analysis of isotopes preserved in ancient seafloor sediments suggests oxygen levels in Earth’s deep ocean stabilized at modern-day levels long after the rapid burst of evolution that gave us most major animal groups.
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Stanford researchers are uncovering the journey of microplastics in our environment and their effects on human health, while developing practical solutions to mitigate their impact.
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Companies in cruise tourism, seafood, container shipping, and other sectors in the ocean economy disclose little about their ocean-specific impacts and rarely set targets for reducing them, a new study finds.
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Domestic vessels account for the majority of port visits globally. Inspecting them in addition to foreign vessels is key to deterring illegal fishing, scientists say.
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Stanford marine biologist Steve Palumbi uses fundamental science to find practical solutions to pressing questions about ocean life and its future. His lab’s work on the effects of heat waves on marine life has implications for the environment, economies, health, and culture.
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This year’s Big Ideas for Oceans seed grants support research on seagrass ecosystems, carbon dioxide in seawater, kelp for climate mitigation, and women’s experiences working in fisheries and aquaculture.
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Stanford researchers are working to create a unique, interdisciplinary curriculum to help students better understand both the physical and biological ocean systems and the human relationship with them.
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Halleh Balch develops nanoscale environmental sensors to probe the molecular mechanisms that underlie ocean-climate interactions and explore paths to improve water security and sustainability.
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Stanford scholars discuss ocean sustainability, high-seas protections, and interdisciplinary science at the One Ocean Science Congress and U.N. Ocean Conference.
