the ocean

SpaceX conducted the fourteenth test flight of its Starship system, launching the full rocket stack and recovering the Super Heavy booster with a splashdown in the ocean. Live coverage of the launch drew a large audience, with viewers watching the ascent, stage separation and booster descent in real time. The flight is part of SpaceX's rapid, iterative testing campaign to develop the fully reusable vehicle that the company plans to use for Moon and Mars missions and for NASA's planned lunar landings.

Scientists and commentators are highlighting an El Niño event described as unlike any previously recorded. The claim, widely shared online, points to abnormal ocean temperature patterns and associated extreme weather, from heatwaves to storms, affecting regions worldwide. Discussions focus on how climate change may be intensifying El Niño cycles and what this means for global weather in the months ahead.

Hurricane Polo has intensified to become one of the strongest storms ever recorded, with forecasters linking its unusual strength to El Niño conditions in the Pacific. Warm ocean waters associated with the climate pattern are seen as a key driver behind the storm's rapid strengthening, drawing widespread attention to El Niño's role in extreme weather this season.

Scientists and commercial fishermen in New England are calling on federal agencies to maintain funding for a deep-ocean observation system that tracks conditions in Atlantic waters. Researchers use the system to study ocean changes, while fishermen rely on its data for safety and understanding fish stocks. The two groups, often at odds, are jointly pressing for continued federal support.

SpaceX's Starship completed a full-duration test flight of roughly three hours, returning through the atmosphere and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean north of Hawaii. The flight marks another step in the rocket's development campaign, with observers tracking how the vehicle handled reentry and recovery. SpaceX has not detailed the outcome of every test objective, but the splashdown confirms the ship survived to its planned end point.

Scientists and US media are raising alarms about a slow-moving, planetary-scale Kelvin wave in the Pacific making its way toward the California coast. The ocean phenomenon could raise sea levels by up to a foot as El Niño conditions keep warm water trapped along the coastline. Observers warn the combined effect could worsen coastal erosion and flooding risks for communities already exposed to rising seas and winter storms.

SpaceX's Starship completed a test flight with a splashdown in the ocean, with the rocket appearing to burn up as it descended. The landing marks another step in the company's testing campaign for the vehicle it eventually intends to use for missions to the Moon and Mars.

Corporations frequently defend their fossil fuel emissions as insignificant compared to the global total, a framing critics call misleading. A new Guardian piece examines what the true cost of those emissions would be if their full environmental and economic impact on the oceans were properly counted, challenging the industry's 'drop in the ocean' argument and reigniting debate over corporate accountability for climate damage.

New research highlighted by ScienceAlert finds that as the Pacific Ocean warms, its water-age circulation is behaving counterintuitively: younger surface waters are becoming older, while older deep waters are becoming younger. The finding suggests warming is disrupting normal ocean mixing and ventilation patterns, with possible implications for heat storage, carbon uptake and marine ecosystems across the Pacific.

Scientists are tracking a slow-moving kelvin wave, a vast pulse of warm ocean water travelling along the equatorial Pacific toward the US West Coast. The phenomenon is closely tied to El Niño-Southern Oscillation dynamics, and observers warn it could shift weather patterns, raise coastal sea levels and influence storm activity for California in the months ahead, sharpening fears of extreme conditions on the West Coast.

The Pulitzer Center has published guidance for journalists interested in joining its Ocean Reporting Network, an initiative aimed at expanding coverage of ocean issues worldwide. The FAQ explains eligibility, what the network offers reporters, and how to apply, as the Center seeks to grow a global community of journalists covering marine and coastal stories.

A moderate magnitude 4.8 earthquake hit the North Pacific Ocean about 40 km south of Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico, on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at 23:53 local time. The quake, detected by Volcano Discovery, is drawing attention among residents of the coastal Colima region who monitor seismic activity, though no immediate damage or injury reports accompany the initial readings.

A Chinese deep-ocean drilling vessel has returned to port carrying core samples collected from the South China Sea, which state media and scientists have described as scientifically precious. The specimens are expected to aid research into the seabed's geology and the region's resource potential, at a time when the South China Sea remains a focal point of both scientific work and territorial disputes involving China and its neighbours.

Surfers are checking the latest surf report and forecast for South Ocean Beach, along with live surf cams, to plan sessions. The update covers current wave conditions, expected swell, and outlook for the coming days at the San Diego beach spot.

Maersk is highlighting how artificial intelligence is transforming global ocean shipping networks, from route optimisation to supply chain planning. The Danish shipping giant says AI adoption is changing how cargo moves across the world's maritime trade routes. The piece adds to a wider industry conversation about automation and efficiency in logistics as companies seek resilience after years of disruption.

A Kelvin wave is an underwater pulse of unusually warm water that travels eastward along the equator in the Pacific. Meteorologists are watching current Kelvin activity because such waves can push warm water toward the coast, influencing ocean temperatures, marine life, and weather patterns, and potentially shaping conditions that could affect California's climate outlook.

UNESCO has unveiled its ONE OCEAN installation during the UN General Assembly in New York. The installation forms part of the organization's ongoing ocean advocacy, timed to coincide with the annual gathering of world leaders where marine protection and climate issues are on the agenda.

A sailing yacht struck a whale and sank in the Pacific Ocean, leaving its four crew members adrift in a life raft. After several hours at sea, all four sailors were rescued unharmed. Italian media, including Il Messaggero and sailing outlets, are reporting the unusual collision, prompting discussion about whale strikes and safety at sea.

A live broadcast showing divers attempting a deep ocean dive and catching fish, billed as a very hard challenge, is attracting millions of viewers worldwide. The stream, ranked highly in the oceans category with engagement in the millions, is drawing large audiences watching the demanding underwater fishing challenge unfold in real time, with reactions focusing on the difficulty and danger of the activity.

Tropical Storm Hanna has formed in the Atlantic Ocean, according to forecasters, who say the storm currently poses no threat to land. It is being closely tracked as the season's weather systems develop, but officials report no immediate concerns for coastal areas as Hanna remains over open water.