Coral Reefs: A Race Against Time

Coral reefs are dying at an unprecedented rate and most people have no idea why. When ocean temperatures

rise just half a degree above normal, corals literally expel the tiny algae living inside them

that keep them alive and colorful. This is coral bleaching. Think of it like your body rejecting

its own stomach during stress. These algae provide up to 95% of the coral's food through

photosynthesis. Without them, coral turns ghost white and starves within weeks.

We've already lost 19% of all reefs globally, and another 15% could disappear

within a decade. The ocean absorbs excess CO2, making water more acidic,

which also weakens coral skeletons. It's like trying to build bones while swimming in soda.