OCEANS

Surfers are used to getting mouthfuls of saltwater.

Why Are Oceans Salty?

The salt in the ocean comes from two main sources: rocks on land and vents at the bottom of the sea.

Killer whales are intelligent creatures, and scientists have recently discovered a new behavior among the species.

Orca Whales Seen Giving Each Other Exfoliating Kelp “Massages”

New research suggests orcas may be using kelp to connect with each other and even exfoliate.

Believe it or not, a great white shark‘s coloring helps it survive.

Why Do Great White Sharks Have White Bellies?

Let’s dive into the evolutionary science behind the great white’s namesake feature.

Biologists have created a marine animal database, from the smallest to the largest known species.

Biologists Launch Most Comprehensive Database of Marine Animal Body Sizes to Date

Scientists have made the first comprehensive marine wildlife size database to help scientists better understand ocean ecosystems.

10 Questionable Creature Features Spawned By ‘Jaws’

‘Claws’ didn’t draw the same crowds as ‘Jaws’ when it premiered two years later.

Great White Shark breaching at Seal Island, False Bay, South Africa.

12 Facts About Great White Sharks

The truth about these apex predators is often stranger—and more compelling—than the fiction.

First live sighting of massive Antarctic squid caught on camera by Nat Geo

The Rare Antarctic Gonate Squid Has Been Caught on Film for the First Time

Scientists captured the elusive Antarctic gonate squid on camera for the first time during a National Geographic expedition.

You can probably guess which shark species is most popular.

Map Shows America’s Favorite Shark Species

Americans can’t stop searching for great white sharks.

How some people spend their summer vacation.

The 12 Best Destinations for Shark Spotting

Want to come face-to-fin with a great white? Book a trip to one of these 12 shark-spotting hotspots.

Loggerhead sea turtles are endangered, and the Loggerhead Marinelife Center is trying to help them out.

A Three-Flippered Sea Turtle Named Dilly Dally Returns to the Sea

Meet Dilly Dally: A loggerhead sea turtle who beat the odds and is now back home after healing from a flipper amputation.

Waikiki Beach is gorgeous, but some visitors aren’t satisfied.

The 20 Most Complained-About Beaches Worldwide

Looking for a peaceful beach getaway? Find out which ones to avoid this summer.

The 8 Most Dangerous Sharks

Shark attacks are extremely rare. But they do occasionally happen, and some species are more likely to be behind the kill than others.

Megalodons May Have Eaten Anything That Moved, According to New Study

Zinc levels show the giant shark ate more creatures than expected, challenging long-held assumptions about its behavior.

This Carnarvon flapjack octopus is tiny, but it can withstand intense pressure thousands of feet underwater.

New Flapjack Octopus Species With ‘Dumbo’ Fins Discovered Off Australia

The Carnarvon flapjack octopus flattens its body like a pancake and uses its Dumbo-like fins to swim.

Why Don't You See Great White Sharks in Aquariums?

While they’re ubiquitous in pop culture, there’s one place where you won’t find great white sharks, and that’s behind glass.

An aerial view of the Great Barrier Reef near Queensland, Australia.

15 Big Facts About the Great Barrier Reef

Australia’s biggest natural wonder is a huge draw for tourists and fish alike. Here’s everything you need to know about the world’s most famous reef.

The bow of the USS ‘Samuel B. Roberts,’ lying more than 4 miles under the surface of the Pacific Ocean.

What Is the Deepest Shipwreck Ever Found?

These are the five deepest shipwrecks ever discovered, including the USS ‘Samuel B. Roberts,’ which went to the depths of the Philippine Trench during the Second World War.

5 Misconceptions About the Arctic

Both the Arctic and Antarctica are cold and icy, but that’s basically where the similarities end.

Why Do Shells Sound Like the Ocean?

The fact that all shells sound just a little bit like the ocean is purely coincidental.

The stingray it on the left, and the skate is to the right.

Skates vs. Rays: What‘s the Difference?

Skates lay black, ravioli-shaped egg cases. Rays give birth to live pups.

A diver is about a meter behind the coelacanth discovered at a depth of 144 meters in North Maluku, Indonesia.

Scientists Capture First Footage of Ancient Coelacanth in Its Natural Habitat

Researchers in Indonesia have filmed a rare coelacanth nearly 500 feet underwater—marking the first time the fish has been recorded in its native environment.

Sea Pigs, Sea Spiders, and More Bizarre Creatures Collected Off Antarctica

Researchers witness strange sea animals, including poisonous sea pigs and hand-sized sea spiders, while sailing to the Denman Glacier.

See the first colossal squid ever caught on camera

Rare Video Shows a Colossal Squid Swimming in the Deep Ocean

A baby colossal squid was filmed deep in the South Atlantic—revealing rare footage of the ocean’s heaviest invertebrate.

Titanic: The Digital Resurrection | Official Trailer | National Geographic

‘Violently Torn Apart’: 3D ‘Titanic’ Model Reveals New Details of the Ship’s End

A digital double promises fresh insight into the tragedy of the ‘Titanic.’