Coral Reefs: A Race Against Time

Coral reefs are dying and it's happening faster than scientists predicted. When ocean temperatures

rise just half a degree above 28 Celsius, corals literally kick out their colorful

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

It's like evicting the tenant who pays 90 percent of your rent. These tiny algae

provide almost all the coral's food through photosynthesis. Without them, corals starve within

weeks. The scary part? Nineteen percent of all reefs are already destroyed,

and we're losing more every year. But here's the twist: some corals in extreme environments like

the Persian Gulf survive temperatures above 34 degrees. Scientists are now studying these survivors