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Explaining Coral Bleaching

December 18, 2016

While conducting field work in Hawaii, WHOI scientists Colleen Hansel (center) and Amy Apprill (third from left) participated in a media event about coral bleaching hosted by the state’s Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR). The two made a surprising discovery as a result of their work on coral reefs in Hawaii: The toxin associated with coral bleaching, superoxide, may actually provide some health benefits when produced outside of coral cells. (Photo by Laura Weber, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)