Coral Reefs: A Race Against Time

Coral reefs cover less than 0.2% of the ocean but host 30% of all marine species.

That's like cramming an entire city into a single apartment building. But here's the terrifying

part: when water temperatures rise just half a degree above normal, corals expel their

colorful algae partners and turn ghost white. This bleaching isn't just about losing pretty colors.

It's a breakup between coral and tiny algae that live inside them, feeding each other

like best friends sharing lunch. Without these algae, corals starve. Since the 1980s,

19% of reefs have vanished completely. The survivors? They're getting weaker,

growing slower, and struggling to recover between heat waves. Scientists are now