Sylvia Earle to receive Green Book Award

Sylvia Earle, winner of the 2009 Ted Prize for her plan to create a global network of protected marine areas, will be celebrated again this week for her dedication to saving the world's oceans. On April 28th, the Stevens Center for Science Writings is awarding Earle the 2010 Green Book Award in recognition of her commitment to raising awareness of our imperiled marine environment in such books as "Exploring the Deep Frontier," "Sea Change," and "The Atlas of the Ocean."

You can hear our interview with Sylvia Earle in this week's encore presentation of Seas the Moment.

Climate Clamor - Simon Donner

Part 4 of Skeptic Check: Climate Clamor featuring Simon Donner, Geographer at the University of British Columbia, discussing the effects of climate change on the oceans as observed through study of coral reefs.

Master of Camouflage

This week's show about the evolution of intelligence features a segment on the ability of cuttlefish to change the colors and patterns of their skin to match their surroundings. As Roger Hanlon, senior scientist at Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory in Massachusetts, describes in "Feather Knows Best", this helpful adaptation has been honed to the point that the cuttlefish can undergo this transformation in the blink of an eye. In the video above, a cuttlefish floats just above the ocean floor, its color ranging from purple to yellow. At about 27 seconds in, it suddenly takes on the colors and pattern of the ocean floor, and if you didn't see it happen, you'd probably swim right by without seeing the animal at all. At least, that's what it hopes.

Captain Charles Moore at the Ted Conference

Watch Captain Charles Moore's talk at the 2009 TED conference about plastic in the oceans and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Captain Moore speaks more about our plastic legacy on Earth: A Millennium Hence on Are We Alone?

Now you sea them...

Yes, Seth and Molly really did record this week's show at the beach. Not only did it give the show its authentically beachy sound, it also gave our portable recording equipment a much needed shot of salty sea air. We may have to fake it if we do a show about a microphone incineration plant.