An ancient presence

Brain coral colonies can live for hundreds of years, and their skeletons preserve a record of environmental and climate changes throughout their lifetimes. WHOI scientists studying Earth’s past climate can use geochemical techniques to decipher the climate records. This old colony, photographed in the Red Sea by scientist Konrad Hughen, was damaged earlier in life, but continued to grow in this unusual form to three feet in size.  (Photo by Konrad Hughen, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)