Coral reefs are the most diverse marine ecosystem. These reef systems, made of animals called coral polyps, provide homes for a variety of marine life from octopuses to seahorses.

If you look more closely, corals house microscopic organisms such as Zooxanthellae which are algae that live within coral polyps and are responsible for the coral's fluorescing characteristics.

How Corals And Zooxanthellae Interact?

Coral and zooxanthellae share a mutual relationship. This means that both organisms benefit from one another.

What do flooding in Sri Lanka and a heatwave in Asia have in common? 

Last week, the island nation of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean suffered devastating floods and landslides. More than 200 people lost their lives and half a million were forced out of their homes, with some towns under 18 feet of water. This is one of the worst floodings the country has seen, even as more rains are expected.

The world is filled with many diverse environments, each unique with its own ecosystem of living organisms.

From the lush green rainforests to the hot deserts, from the colorful deciduous forests to the white barren tundra -- the plants, animals, and non-living things that comprise the ecosystem form a complex relationship and interact with each other.

This relationship varies depending on the conditions of the environment like temperature, sunlight, water, the fertility of the soil, etc.

Most of the energy that we use for electricity comes from fossil fuels, like coal, oil, and natural gas.

Unfortunately, the enormous amount of energy we consume every day has depleted these non-renewable natural resources. 

As most electrical facilities and appliances rely on these natural resources, researchers have been looking for alternative ways to supply renewable energy. The more common sources of renewable energy are nuclear, solar, wind, and water, but each has their own disadvantages.

When you need a quiet space to focus, where do you go? Perhaps you retreat into the comfort of your bedroom, find a spot under a willow tree, or head to the library where silence is strictly enforced.

No matter where we go, we cannot get away completely from the sounds that surround us.

For animals in national parks all over the United States, noise pollution is now a cause of worry as it is affecting fragile ecosystems. And, the biggest cause of this pollution- none other than humans themselves!

Whispering whales, whistling caterpillars...sound like something straight out of Alice in Wonderland?

Believe it or not, these are real creatures! Many animals use odd sounds to ward off predators, attract mates, form closer bonds, and lure prey.

Let’s take a peek into the lives of two of these extraordinary animals…

Psst...I’ve Got a Secret!

When you think of humpback whales, you probably think of their loud, intricate “songs” that they use to communicate (just think of Dory in Finding Nemo!).

Over a hundred years ago in 1911, something strange was found in the glaciers of Antarctica.

Griffith Taylor, an Australian Geologist, had discovered a blood-red stream pouring out of the ice cascades of Taylor Glacier.

Popularly known as the Blood Falls, scientists had not been able to find the reason behind the blood-red liquid flowing through the ice- until recently.

What Causes The Red Color?

Imagine finding not one or two... not even ten, but fifty new species of spiders!

The thought of these creepy-crawlies is enough to send shivers down the spine for some people. In fact, there is a term for such a fear, and it is known as arachnophobia.

But arachnophobia did not stop scientists in Australia from studying the many unclassified species of spiders. Among the fifty new species, there is a peacock spider that dances for mates, and a brush-footed trap-door spider that can climb up glass walls. Let’s learn a bit more about these eight-legged creatures.

Last year, China had announced that they will shut down their ivory factories by 31 March 2017, and all retail shops by the end of 2017.

In an effort to save elephants from being hunted for their valuable tusks, the government had decided to place a ban on ivory. However, there were quite a few concerns that the ban might not work. 

But things are looking better for the elephants. First steps have been made and there are signs that ivory trade is declining. So now, let’s learn about this good news.

Over the years, cloud shapes have been standardized and recorded in the International Cloud Atlas.

The atlas which was first released in 1896 has become an important tool for meteorologists-in-training and students who study aviation.

This year, for the first time, the Cloud Atlas is being released in full online, as well as in print. The publication will be accompanied by a change that hasn’t occurred for 30 years: the addition of new clouds in the Atlas.

The Science Behind Clouds