Pacific Ocean

Fiji's Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama recently led a rally in support of this year's UN climate summit in Germany, at which Fiji will be presiding.

Fijians speak from the front lines of climate change

Environment

This year’s global climate summit is taking place in Germany, but it’s being led by the Pacific island nation of Fiji. Here’s what half a dozen Fijians think about hosting the conference and life in the cross-hairs of climate change.

A simulation of the floating screens to be deployed by Ocean Cleanup to capture small plastic down to 1 cm, up to massive discarded fishing nets.

Two proposals to clean up our oceans of garbage: Will either work?

Technology
Plans for Hughes Glomar Explorer

Confirmed: The CIA’s most famous ship headed for the scrapyard

Technology
A sea surface temperature anomaly in the tropical Pacific Ocean during the peak of the 2009-10 El Niño.

El Niño is back, and global temperature records are in danger

Environment
The island formed after an eruption at the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano, a two hour boat ride from the island of Tonga.

What do you do when a new volcanic island arises from the great blue ocean? You climb it.

Environment
NOAA researchers Carrie McAtee and Kristine Meise board a rigid hull inflatable boat deployed from the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island.

For a team of researchers stranded on an island with a storm coming, the solution was simple. Send in the Navy

Environment

A team of NOAA researchers were counting Hawaiian monk seals on a small chain of Pacific islands when they discovered that Tropical Storm Iselle was headed their way. It took a rescue mission by the US Navy to get them out safely.

NOAA researchers Carrie McAtee and Kristine Meise board a rigid hull inflatable boat deployed from the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island.

For a team of researchers stranded on an island with a storm coming, the solution was simple. Send in the Navy

Environment

A team of NOAA researchers were counting Hawaiian monk seals on a small chain of Pacific islands when they discovered that Tropical Storm Iselle was headed their way. It took a rescue mission by the US Navy to get them out safely.

Nuku Island is in the southern part of Tonga.

Here’s how a tiny Pacific island got better Internet than the US

Technology

Until last year, citizens of the island nation of Tonga were connected to the world via slow, expensive satellite Internet. Now a new and seemingly unlikely fiber optic network has boosted business and firmed up connections with the widespread Tongan diaspora.Until last year, citizens of the island nation of Tonga were connected to the world via slow, expensive satellite Internet. Now a new and seemingly unlikely fiber optic network has boosted business and firmed up connections with the widespread Tongan diaspora.

Pat Colin, a marine scientist at the Coral Reef Research Foundation, explores the waters off of the Pacific island nation of Palau for organisms to send to the National Cancer Institute in the U.S.

Scientists search Palau’s coral reefs for new anti-cancer drugs

Environment

One of the more potent reasons for saving species and the environment is that nature is where we find our most powerful medicines. For three decades, a hunt’s been underway on land and sea for molecules that could help fight cancer. That hunt is winding down now in the coral reefs of Palau.

SS Kroonland is seen on 2 February 1915 at the Culebra Cut while transiting the Panama Canal. Kroonland was the largest passenger ship to that time to transit the canal.

The Big Canal

A century ago, American engineers embarked on what was then the greatest building project in history. It took 10 years and 75,000 men to construct.