Fish and marine environment

A colony of the coral Acropora eurystoma in the Gulf of Eilat, where reproductive hormone patterns were studied over three years.

Corals have a hormonal clock and it may help detect distress on reefs

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A three-year study of corals from the Gulf of Eilat has found cyclical patterns of reproductive hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. The findings may help in the future with early detection of damage to the reproductive capacity of coral reefs.
The killifish is an emerging research model for studying the genetic architecture of aging and age-related pathologies, which often exhibit sex-dependent patterns between females (left) and males (right). Credit: Itamar Harel

The gene that speeds up the start of life – and may take a toll in old age

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New research led by the Hebrew University points to a gene that demonstrates a rare evolutionary compromise: it aids in rapid growth and early sexual maturation, but may shorten life expectancy and increase the risk of tumors later in life.
A great white shark will still remain a “shark” in everyday language, but a new genomic study suggests the evolutionary definition of the group may be much more complicated. Illustration: depositphotos.com

New genomic study challenges evolutionary definition of sharks

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Research shows that most of the species we call “sharks” may be closer to bettas and skates than to an unusual group of deep-sea sharks. If the conclusion is confirmed, “shark” would be a useful term in everyday language, but not
Unusual DNA sequences that have undergone direction reversals have been discovered within the genomes of tilapia fish from Lake Malawi. These genetic structures may accelerate evolution by keeping together genes key to survival and reproduction, perhaps explaining how hundreds of species arose so quickly in a single lake. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Scientists discover DNA "reversals" that accelerate evolution

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Research in Lake Malawi pangolins shows that chromosomal inversions keep beneficial gene pools together, aid rapid adaptation and may accelerate the formation of new species
A dedicated aquaculture system where the researchers grew three local species of algae. Photo: Tel Aviv University

Research has proven: Seaweed is safe to eat from an allergenic perspective.

Another step towards developing efficient, healthy and environmentally friendly food systems
Greenland shark. From the study Nature Communications, 17(1), 39. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67429-6

Greenland shark retains sight for centuries. Possibly with DNA repair

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A study in Nature Communications found adaptations for low-light vision and hints at maintenance mechanisms that prevent retinal degeneration in extreme old age. However, despite the evolutionary and environmental distance, it may be possible to learn something about the preservation of vision in humans.
The first animals on Earth. The sponge Theonella swinhui. Photo: Micha Ilan Laboratory

The sponge from the Gulf of Eilat that produces anti-cancer substances and neutralizes arsenic: This is how Theonla Swinhoey's "laboratory" works

When you think of sponges, the image of SpongeBob immediately comes to mind. But what sponge lives in Eilat that contains bacteria, anti-cancer substances and dangerous toxins? The hottest questions about the most interesting animals. Zvait website
Xenia umbellata. Courtesy of researchers from Tel Aviv and Haifa Universities.

Israeli study: Soft coral performs rhythmic movement without a central brain

A distributed neural “pacemaker” system has been discovered in the Red Sea Xenia umbellata: each arm beats independently but synchronizes with the others; the findings were published in PNAS and may change the understanding of rhythmic movement in evolution
Microalgae from BarAlgae. Photo: University of Haifa

From high-tech to the ocean: Artificial intelligence that optimizes microalgae growth

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Efrat Kadosh, Director of Climate-Tech at the Maurice Kahn Marine Research Station at the University of Haifa, is leading the development of artificial intelligence models based on data from BarAlgae Farms – to stabilize, improve and transform the growth of
Predators and keep fish populations healthy. Female sandbar shark. Photo: Meron Segev, Sharks Association in Israel

The Hadera sand shark: A giant predator, a warming sea, and new questions about the Mediterranean Sea

Dozens of sandbar sharks gather every winter in the warm waters of the Hadera and Ashkelon power plants – Dr. Adi Barash reveals a species that is not considered Mediterranean at all, explains their role as apex predators, the threats from fishing
Sea urchin research at Tel Aviv University. Photo by Shahaf Ben Ezra

Pathogens, storms and extreme temperatures: the causes of mass sea urchin deaths

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A pair of studies from Tel Aviv University map 110 mass mortality events of sea urchins since 1888 and show that pathogens are the main cause, while also presenting a "corona swab" method for non-invasive genetic sampling under the skin.
Optical illusions of birds. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Are animals susceptible to optical illusions? What fish and birds can teach us about perception

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This led to our research question: Do other animals also “fall for” the same tricks? If a small fish or a chicken is exposed to the illusion, what does this tell us about the way they see and interpret their environment?
The unagi from the episode of the series "Friends" is a freshwater eel that is considered a sought-after delicacy in Japan. Photo: Pixabay

Cultured Ongi Eel: A Japanese delicacy becomes a global experiment for a new marine protein

New research led by Ben-Gurion University and sponsored by Forsea Foods shows that cultured seaweed production could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help combat the climate crisis.
Underwater military remains. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Weapons from World Wars on the Seabed – A Surprising Habitat for Marine Animals

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New research reveals that World War II munitions dumped in the Baltic Sea are home to a rich variety of marine organisms – despite high levels of toxic substances. Another finding points to a phenomenon
Coral reef | Credit: Maoz Fine

Corals in the Gulf of Eilat withstood an unprecedented marine heat wave and remained stable

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International study led by researchers from the Hebrew University reveals that Eilat corals survived four years of heat waves, including 30 DHW in the summer of 2024 – the highest in the world; spot bleaching observed for the first time in shallow waters
Fish farm in Thailand. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Fish for Rosh Hashanah, without harming the sea

Artificial intelligence helps make fish farms more effective, environmentally friendly, and profitable – and also reduces dependence on destructive fishing
Octopus Americanus in the wild. Photo: Chelsea Bennice, Florida Atlantic University

Each arm of the octopus has its own function.

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For the first time, the arm movements of octopuses in diverse natural environments have been analyzed, revealing surprising patterns of role division and extraordinary motor flexibility.
Corals in the Red Sea. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Gifts from the Sea: Molecules from the Coral Sea Could Change the Way We Fight Resistant Bacteria

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Researchers at Ben-Gurion University have discovered natural molecules produced by bacteria living on corals in Eilat that reduce the violence of pathogenic bacteria and increase the effectiveness of antibiotics – without the need to kill the bacteria.
"The Fish Matrix." Christian Ziegler, Mate Nagy, and Liang Li

At virtual reality school, fish teach robots

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Scientists use VR on zebrafish to teach robots how to group
Ultrasound examination for leeks. Screenshot, Chaim Lest

For the first time in Israel: An ultrasound examination revealed an advanced pregnancy in a finless sea bream

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The elongated legionnaire (Abu Napha) is the most poisonous and dangerous species in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo: Oren Klein

Dizziness, paralysis and the risk of death: the health dangers of puffer fish

Dozens of poisonings have been documented in Mediterranean countries, including Israel. A new international study reveals the extent of the danger and how to protect yourself from the invasive species.
Divers explore the coral reef in Eilat. Illustration: depositphotos.com

The coral reef in Eilat has temporarily "shut down" due to sea level change

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New research from the Hebrew University and Bar-Ilan University reveals that the coral reef in the Gulf of Eilat experienced a temporary "shutdown" about 4,500 years ago due to falling sea levels. The researchers identified a recovery after about 3,000 years and found
Eilat's northern coast near the Kinet Canal, 23/4/2024. Collecting details and photographs by Omri O'Oshai

Who painted the beaches of Eilat pink?

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In April 2023 and 2024, mass die-offs of planktonic amphipods occurred in the Gulf of Eilat. Researchers have found that this was the effect of seasonal circular currents called eddies.
The 'gardeners' of the reef. Four healthy sea urchin species on Reunion Island (Photo: Jean-Pascal Quod)

The Gardeners of the Sea Are Disappearing: Are Coral Reefs Facing Collapse?

The deadly parasite that destroyed sea urchins in Eilat has also spread to the Indian Ocean
Photo: Naja Bertolt Jensen, Unsplash

When marine animals become plastic distributors

Marine animals eat microplastic particles and excrete them in their feces, endangering the marine environment.
Within the canopy created by the algae, many species find food and shelter. Fry of the Sargus species drawn above a Sargassum forest in Bat Galim. Photo: Sarah Ohion

Haifa's underwater forest

Sea robin (Prionotus carolinus). Credit: Annick Grierson, Harvard University

A fish with legs

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Sea robin as an evolutionary model for trait development
The size of a bus, a whale shark. Photo: Miron Segev, Sharks in Israel

The sea giant is in danger: what threatens the whale shark?

Photo 4: The life cycle of the blooming sea lily Edwardsiella carnea. a. Mature male and female polyps release gametes into the water column. b. Free-swimming planula formed after fertilization. c. The planula infects the comb host Mnemiopsis leidyi and develops into a worm-like parasitic stage. d. Planula after the parasite stage exits the comb host to the water column (e), where it can either settle on the sea floor (f) and develop into a polyp (a) or infect another comb host or a scyphozoan host such as Rhopilema nomadica or Rhizostoma pulmo (hypothetical parasite spillover) (gh) . A planula after the parasite stage may leave the scyphozoic host and move through the water column (i), where it may settle on the sea floor (f) and develop into a polyp. The dashed line represents an alternative route.

Jellyfish under attack: Researchers have found parasitic sea lilies in jellyfish for the first time

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Researchers have discovered for the first time the existence of parasitic planoles (sort of larvae) of the sea lily that grows in jellyfish in the Mediterranean Sea that allow the sea lily to spread beyond the immediate environment, a finding that may affect ecosystems
The coral reef in Eilat, under artificial night lighting. Photo: Shaf Ben Ezra

Contaminate the DNA - how does artificial lighting harm fish?

Israeli researchers examined the effects of light pollution on reef fish and found that sleep disturbances are not a problem reserved only for humans
wandering thread. Photo: Amir Yurman, Haifa University

The swarms of the common jellyfish in Israel, the wandering cord, swim towards the west and do not drift randomly in different directions

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Aquaponics, growing fish and vegetables in a circular economy. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Combining fish and vegetables - not only on the plate

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A circular economy is becoming a strategic asset in everything related to food security. Researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev propose a circular method for recycling water, food and energy that allows fish and vegetables to be grown together efficiently
Eilat national monitoring survey photos - Kadrit - Interuniversity Institute

The coral reef in Eilat is in a very sad state

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This figure appears in the annual report of the National Monitoring Program of the Bay of Eilat for the year 2023 of the Ministry of Environmental Protection; The report indicates that the sea level continues to warm at a rate 2.5 times higher than the average
A researcher examines a killifish fish. The image was prepared using DALEE and is not a scientific image

Cracking the code for longevity? A breakthrough in understanding the relationship between sex and life expectancy

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A study by Hebrew University researchers opens innovative avenues in understanding the influence of sex cells on life expectancy and sheds light on the central role of sex cells and fertility on longevity
The sea urchin Diadema setosum before (left) and after (right) mortality. The white skeleton is exposed after the tissue is loosened and the spines fall off

The global sea urchin population is in real danger for its continued existence

The plague that destroyed the sea urchins in Eilat has spread to the Indian Ocean and threatens to destroy sea urchin populations all over the world
Studying the reproductive timing of corals. The image was prepared using DALEE and should not be considered a scientific image

Citi coral and village coral

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Prof. Oren Levy researches the timing of the reproduction of corals around the world and is surprised by Dioc. However the biological clock of the corals is not adapted to the volume lights
Gal Vared holds a rope on which a soft coral grows in the coral reef at a depth of 15 meters in front of the Katsa beach (photograph: Dr. Ronan Lieberman)

Encouraging news: plastic pollution in the Gulf of Eilat is low compared to other coral reefs in the world

The research team: "We must act quickly to continue to protect our coral reefs" * The article is dedicated to the memory of Tal Ilon, a man of the sea, commander of the Kfar Gaza alert squad who was murdered on the 7
Leucoraja ocellata species photographed at the cold end of its range, Labrador Sea, Newfoundland, Canada. (Photo: Shahar Chaikin)

living on the edge

Fish that change their distribution towards the poles due to climate change are declining in abundance
Two pairs of introductory divers and their guide surround the artificial reef Photo: Dr. Jenny Tiniakov

Artificial reefs protect the coral reefs in Eilat

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Researchers from Ben Gurion University followed divers in Eilat for 15 years and found that the placement of the artificial reef reduced the pressure of diving on the natural reef
The pituitary gland of the zebrafish. The variety of cell types are marked in different colors: in purple - phytocytes, in red and green - two types of hormone-producing cells

Where does the fish secrete from: back to the origins of the pituitary gland

Weizmann Institute scientists are challenging a 200-year-old doctrine about the formation of the gland from the secretion of hormones. Their findings may lead to new approaches in the treatment of various medical problems
Shark eggs among worms of the genus Lamellibrachia, near the salt ponds. Photo: Prof. Maxim Robin Blum, University of Haifa

Diving with sharks

A research robot discovered a colorful abundance of life at a depth of a kilometer in the sea * Researchers examined how a unique and abundant environment was created, in the depths of the sea, off the coast of Israel
Soft corals of the Dendronaphtia species, which are common in the Eilat and Red Sea region, were found at a depth of 42 meters in the Mediterranean Sea. Photo: Hagai Nativ, Morris Kahn Sea Research Station

Corals from the Red Sea have invaded Israel's Mediterranean coast

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Until now, the low temperatures of the Mediterranean water in winter have been a barrier to the arrival of tropical corals. The establishment of the Dendronaphtia we found indicates that at least last winter, the waters of the Mediterranean Sea were warmer than before
Neri's research focused on species of sharks and bats - important predators whose population has been significantly affected in recent years. Gray racket. Photography: Ilan Burnakash

Caught in the net: what fish in Gaza?

In the Gaza Strip there is no law or supervision against fishing for protected species - therefore, sharks and bats that are in danger of extinction are hunted there freely. A new Israeli study presents a method for collecting data from social networks that enables
Sniper fish. Photo: Dr. Orit Nafha, University of Haifa

Prosocial behavior in fish

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A new study conducted at the University of Haifa found that even the sniper fish, which lack the "higher" areas of the cerebral cortex, which are seen as being responsible for social behavior, act in a pro-social way towards their friends, until they feel "cheated"
The colonies of a unique marine creature age in their entirety, rejuvenate again - and God forbid. Botrill flower, photo: Dr. Osherat Ben-Hamo

Phoenix of the sea

The animal that breaks the laws of nature: a new Israeli study reveals that the colonies of the flower botryll, a unique marine creature, age in their entirety - and then return to being young again. The phenomenon was named "Orshina Rhythm"
Ancient sturgeon fish. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Why do some species survive mass extinctions? The secret may be a hidden "whole genome duplication".

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Geneticists have discovered a whole genome duplication event that occurred in the past in the common ancestor of sturgeons and paddlefish that may have helped them during the mass extinction 200 million years ago
"Within two days a healthy hedgehog turns into a tissueless skeleton." Black sea urchin dying

The coral reef in Eilat is in real danger

A deadly plague wiped out all the black sea urchins in the Gulf of Eilat within a few months and threatens to collapse the coral reef
Corals in the Red Sea. Illustration: depositphotos.com

Mushrooms and corals - lovers or enemies?

On relationships in the depths of the sea, and their effect on climate change
Tilapia fish that were affected by the virus and died. Courtesy of the researchers

Between viruses and fish

The genetic sequence of a virus that caused the morbidity and mortality of tilapia fish is not similar to any known genetic sequence
African killifish. Illustration: depositphotos.com

delay the diseases of aging

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On aging fish, folding proteins and a new route for the development of medicinal substances
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