MBARI Senior Scientist Aaron Micallef shares how Geo-Sense leverages distributed acoustic sensing technology to transform monitoring of seafloor processes.

Last month, scientists from MBARI’s Biodiversity and Biooptics Team completed an expedition on the research vessel David Packard to study the biogeography of gelatinous animals. The team conducted blue-water scuba dives and surveys with the remotely operated vehicle Doc Ricketts to understand population boundaries between Central and Southern California.

The National Marine Educators Association has named MBARI Senior Education and Research Specialist George Matsumoto the recipient of the 2026 James Centorino Award for distinguished performance in marine education.

New research published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B by MBARI researchers and collaborators leverages 30 years of video observations to link association behavior to the evolution of eye structure and transparency in deep-sea hyperiid amphipods.

An internationally recognized leader in studying marine biodiversity in a changing ocean, Senior Scientist Francisco Chavez participated in a series of international conferences and workshops in Europe hosted by the Global Ocean Oxygen Network, the World Biodiversity Forum, and Deutsche Bank.

A monthlong expedition with Schmidt Ocean Institute has provided new insight into fluid circulation and seafloor geology in the remote Doldrums Megatransform and Fracture Zone in the Atlantic Ocean.

This week, MBARI and the Monterey Bay Aquarium hosted members of the board of directors from the Oceano Azul Foundation and ARDITI for a two-day workshop to develop strategies for advancing ocean exploration and science in support of conservation and policy.

Last week, MBARI researchers participated in the inaugural conference for the Midwater Science and Engineering Community, a new initiative to advance collaboration, data sharing, and policy impact for the largest habitat on Earth. During the weeklong conference, our team shared decades of expertise in midwater research and technology with peers from around the world.

MBARI postdoctoral fellows Guillaume Liniger, Olívia Soares Pereira, and Shawnee Traylor have been named inaugural Neptune Fellows. This philanthropic fellowship program, administered by the Mission Neptune initiative, supports young researchers working to advance ocean exploration and science.

Meet the MBARI team and learn more about our latest discoveries and technology innovations at this free, family-friendly community event.

MBARI and partners in the FathomNet Program have released a new version of the FathomVerse community science app. The updated app includes new features to expedite verification of labeled imagery, helping advance the development of AI tools that can accelerate ocean discovery.

An expedition with Schmidt Ocean Institute leveraged imaging systems and AI tools, including some developed by MBARI engineers, to document more than 30 new species from the tropical South Atlantic Ocean.

This week, MBARI President and CEO Antje Boetius was awarded the Knight Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit, one of the eight classes of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, the highest honor given by the Federal Republic of Germany.

Earlier this month, a team of researchers from MBARI and the Monterey Bay Aquarium completed a five-day expedition to Guide Seamount and Ascension Canyon offshore of Central California. Some of the animals the team encountered went on exhibit at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, including species on public display for the first time anywhere in the world.

Last week, a team of MBARI researchers participated in the sixth Marine Imaging Workshop, sharing new technology for observing marine life, including artificial intelligence tools to enable real-time classification of ocean animals.

Last week, MBARI researchers participated in the GeoHab 2026 conference, an annual meeting of scientists, students, resource managers, and other stakeholders working at the intersection of marine habitat mapping, benthic ecosystems, and seafloor ecology.

A new collaboration with Bio Bureau Biotecnologia, TideWise, and Equinor is leveraging MBARI’s innovative eDNA-sampling technologies to monitor marine biodiversity around Brazil’s offshore oil fields.

MBARI Postdoctoral Fellow Olívia Soares Pereira has been named a National Geographic Explorer. Recognizing exceptional individuals in their fields, Explorers receive funding and support from the National Geographic Society to illuminate and protect our world through their work in science, exploration, education, and storytelling.

The 2026 Peter Benchley Ocean Awards recognized Julie Packard—chair of MBARI's Board of Directors and executive director of MBARI's education and conservation partner, the Monterey Bay Aquarium—with the Ocean Hero award, honoring her contributions to ocean science and conservation.

In a new study in Nature Communications, researchers from MBARI, the University of Montana, and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa share how autonomous robots equipped with advanced genetic sampling instruments have enabled scientists to understand how microbial activity responds to changing conditions in remote areas of the ocean.