Coral reefs are natural wonders that don’t just mesmerize us with their colorful and diverse ecosystems — they’re also economically invaluable. Industries like aquaculture, tourism, and fisheries rely on them, amounting to a staggering US$375 billion globally each year. That means entire coastal communities depend on the health of local reefs.
But reefs are in trouble. Climate change, pollution, and other human impacts are driving a rapid decline, with scientists warning that up to 90 percent of coral cover could vanish in the next decade. In response, researchers around the world have been scrambling to find solutions. One new approach, from a collaboration between scientists in the U.S., Italy, and the Netherlands, offers a surprisingly elegant fix: a nanogel that makes reefs smell like home.
Their study, published in Trends in Biotechnology, details how a bio-inspired gel mimics the chemical cues coral larvae use to identify ideal habitats. It’s a ...
