Bleached corals brought back to luminous life, in two lab experiments
Recent lab experiments suggest that bleached corals can be revived with the help of algae, offering a potential solution to mass coral mortality. This follows significant bleaching events in Lakshadweep and the Andamans caused by ocean warming.
Why it matters
Coral reefs are vital marine ecosystems, and finding ways to reverse bleaching is essential for preserving biodiversity amidst climate change.
Bleached corals brought back to luminous life, in two lab experiments center In the natural environment, it is only sometimes that bleached corals recover once the heat stress subsides. Aaron Bull Getty Images/iStockphoto https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/ab97b5/article71602217.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/istockphoto-1077171172-612x612.jpg Aaron Bull Beautiful coral scenes with vibrant fish life and divers While bleaching prevention methods have been studied, little attention has been given to reviving corals that are already bleached. A staggering 80 per cent of the world’s vibrant coral reefs experienced extreme levels of heat stress from warming oceans between 2023 and 2025, exacerbated by the 2023 El Niño. Swathes of reefs were struck by bleaching and mortality, and India’s corals were no exception in this fourth global mass coral bleaching event in recorded history.
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