Bay scallop season will open later this month in some N.C. waters for the first time in years. While a harvest is good news and might in part be the result of improved water quality and seagrass beds, all is still not well for the tasty bivalve.
Science
What Lurks in the Dark Abyss?
Goosefish like this one, deep water coral, cusks and mussels are just some of the creatures that researchers at the University of North Carolina Wilmington are finding in the deep submarine canyons along the East Coast.
Oyster Reefs Could Combat Warming
UNC researchers think that oyster reefs in certain settings can be very effective in storing carbon and may be an essential line of defense against global warming.
On the Brink, Part 2: There’s Hope
After 20 years of fighting to prevent the extinction of the magnificent ramshorn snail, biologist Andy Wood may be getting some help.
On the Brink: The Story of a Man and a Snail
Andy Wood is all that stands between a rare snail and oblivion. For 20 years, he’s searched for the animals in the streams and ponds of the southeast coast and may have single-handedly saved them from extinction.
Taking Measure of a Storm’s Potent Punch
Powerful computer models largely developed in labs at the University of North Carolina can now predict the amount of storm surge a hurricane might produce in a given location.
Seneca Guns: The Booms of Summer
Jets breaking the sound barrier, shifts in tectonic plates, earthquakes and meteoric explosions have all been blamed for the mysterious booms that occasionally rattle windows along the coast.
Seas Rising Faster Along Northern Outer Banks
Amid the ongoing debate in the state legislature over sea-level rise comes new government research that indicates that the sea is rising north of Cape Hatteras faster than in any other place in the world.
From Trash to Watery Treasure
Derelict crab pots, once destined for landfills, are back in coastal waters with a new lease on life as oyster reefs.
Marshes Hold Clues of Ancient Hurricanes
Scientists, in a field of study called paleotempestology, are searching the salt marshes behind barrier islands for signs of past hurricanes.
Taking Measure of an Iconic Fish of the Albemarle
Researchers are working with commercial fishermen to try and better understand the migration patterns of striped bass in Albemarle Sound and the Roanoke River.
