Bella, our participant scientist, shares her observations on colour in the deep sea from the OET Hawaiian Islands expedition, exploring what these visual details can reveal about the extraordinary life inhabiting the ocean’s darkest environments.

In a recent interview with Dr Michela Lee Mitchell, an Ocean Census Species Discovery Award 2026 recipient researching Actiniaria (sea anemones), we explored the remarkable diversity, biology and hidden complexities of these marine creatures.

In a bustling workshop room in Senckenberg am Meer, the air hums with the soft excitement of species discovery. Here, early-career researchers from across the world, as well as mid-career to retired experts, have gathered for a species discovery workshop, united by a shared fascination of isopods.

In 2025, the Ocean Census achieved exciting milestones in advancing the understanding and discovery of marine biodiversity.

In the spirit of the “Twelve Days of Christmas,” we’ve gathered twelve remarkable marine species whose colours, shapes, and surprising behaviors capture the wonder of the season. 

The Ocean Census is proud to celebrate the extraordinary achievement of Belgian conchologist Yves Terryn, who has discovered 67 new species of auger snails (family Terebridae) through work supported by the Ocean Census Species Discovery Awards. 

Dr. Marta Gellert is coordinating the AccTaS project, a major international effort to advance knowledge of Tanaidacea, a diverse but under-studied order of small benthic crustaceans.

From discovering ancient Megalodon teeth on the seafloor, to watching hydrothermal vents bloom into view in one of Earth’s most remote regions, Dr. Michelle Taylor has spent her life on the edge of the unknown.

En este reportaje, hablamos con algunos de sus estudiantes sobre su investigación en esponjas, organismos a menudo ignorados pero fundamentales para los ecosistemas marinos.