To eat or to breathe? That is a question that most of us never want to have to answer, but one the gargantuan blue whale must ponder every day. Scientists used to think that filter feeders like the blue whale fed on miniscule crustaceans called krill at their leisure, without a thought to how their food source is distributed throughout the ocean.

Watching a vulture chomp down on rotting animal flesh is tough for humans to stomach, but for the vulture--it's brunch! The physiology of this scavenging bird has evolved over time so that the birds can literally stomach their meal. Now, new research shows that the characteristics of their heavy-duty bellies are encoded in their genes.

Conservation efforts are working for endangered marine mammals and fish, helping them repopulate their old habitats. A new study examining the population data of several marine species showcases success stories for many endangered creatures, including northern elephant seals, green sea turtles, and humpback whales.

Design inspiration comes in a lot of forms. When it comes to solar panels, engineers sometimes look toward the butterfly. One may not think this little insect is a powerhouse for harnessing solar energy, but a butterfly's beautiful wings offer far more than flight. On cloudy days, a Cabbage White butterfly positions its wings in a v-shape and holds this stance for several moments before taking flight.

People mostly think of jellyfish as delicate creatures, traipsing around the deep blue sea with every ocean flow that moves them. But according to biologists, that’s just not true. A new study published in Current Biology claims that jellyfish are able to discern oceanic currents and position themselves to swim against them.

Never heard of the maned wolf? You’re not alone. As one of the most unique mammals on the planet, the maned wolf does not get the recognition it truly deserves. In fact, maned wolves are so unique that many scientists believe the species is the lone survivor of the large South American canids that went extinct during the Pleistocene era.

Frogs may not be high on the grocery list in some countries, but the coveted helmeted water toad, also known as the Chilean giant frog, is a culinary treat in Chile. The largest amphibian in the country is at risk of extinction, according to a recent scientific study and researchers say that human consumption is one of the main causes for the animal’s drastic population decline.

There are many animals with the ability to camouflage, but when it comes to near invisibility through disguise there’s no doubt that cephalopods are the guys you want at your masquerade party. Cephalopods, or marine mollusks with prominent heads and long arms, are comprised of octopuses, squid, nautilus, and cuttlefish.

People mostly think of jellyfish as delicate creatures, traipsing around the deep blue sea with every ocean flow that moves them. But according to biologists, that’s just not true. A new study published in Current Biology claims that jellyfish are able to discern oceanic currents and position themselves to swim against them.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is facing some serious troubles. New research indicates that rising oceanic temperatures and changing environmental factors are devastating the expansive reef. Spanning nearly 1,430 miles, the Great Barrier Reef has 600 different types of hard and soft coral. But over the past 27 years, the Great Barrier Reef has lost 50 percent of its coral cover, according to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

The ocean is one of the most mysterious places on the planet. Due to the vast expanse and immense depth of the world’s oceans, it’s impossible to explore every inch of the sea, and researchers are discovering new organisms every day. In 2014 alone, scientists identified 1,451 new species in the world’s oceans, according to a report published by the World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) last Thursday.

With all of the devastation that hurricanes cause on land, it’s easy to disregard the damages done within the ocean itself. Nova Southeastern University’s Oceanographic Center (NSU) researchers have recently determined that the oceanic changes in currents during a hurricane accelerate the distribution of invasive marine species, according to their research article published in Global Change Biology.

A teensy, little songbird can reportedly fly over the ocean without stopping for respite or feeding. In the latest issue of Biology Letters, a published scientific study proves that the blackpoll warbler flies approximately 1,700 miles from the northeastern United States and eastern Canada over the Atlantic Ocean to South America as a part of its autumn migration.

With so many coral reefs degrading, scientists have learned that managing reef fish may help sustain the diminishing ecosystems. A new study published in the scientific journal Nature stated that the addition of fish to a coral reef ecosystem helps rehabilitate the dwindling environment. Fishing is the primary reason for coral reef degradation on a global scale.

It’s hard to debate the rarity of an animal when only two have ever been seen. Scientists recently identified the tiny pocket shark for a second time, and the discovery happened by chance in a Mississippi laboratory. The National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ship Pisces scooped up the shark in 2010 while collecting specimens in relation to a sperm whale feeding study.

Have you ever thought about what happens to a pod of cackling dolphins when a noisy boat whips past? Well, they just chortle a little louder, that’s all. Unfortunately, though, straining to be heard drains energy from the marine mammals, new research suggests. Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Northwest Fisheries Science Center and the University of California – Santa Cruz have discovered that the added metabolic cost of vocalizing louder calls and whistles adds up over time.