The super El Niño is cooking coral reefs — can lullabies and probiotics save them?

In the Caribbean Sea, researchers are using underwater speakers to play sounds from healthy coral reefs to attract coral larvae to damaged areas. This innovative approach aims to help coral reefs recover from stressors like high temperatures and pollution. The project, led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, is part of broader efforts to save corals, which are threatened by climate change and a strong El Niño. Rising ocean temperatures can cause coral bleaching, where corals lose their vital algae and may die. Despite their resilience, corals are struggling to recover from frequent bleaching events. Scientists are also moving corals to cooler waters and using protective microorganisms to aid recovery. The situation is urgent, as record ocean temperatures pose a significant threat to coral survival. QUESTION: How might the loss of coral reefs impact marine life and human communities that rely on them?