Hakai Magazine Audio Edition

Whales in the Cliff Face

by Devon Bidal • An exposed prehistoric seafloor is a hotspot for ancient whale remains, and now an international team is helping unravel their mysteries.

The original story, along with photos, can be found on hakaimagazine.com.

As African Penguins Go Hungry, a Debate Rages in South Africa: Who Gets the Fish?

by Tommy Trenchard • They’ve been robbed of eggs and guano, soaked in oil, and stung by killer bees—now a dispute about numbers could clinch their future.

The original story, along with photos, can be found on hakaimagazine.com.

Bonus Episode: The Social Lives of Octopuses

Octopuses are some of the ocean’s most enigmatic creatures. Highly intelligent, curious, playful, and, as more and more research is showing, sometimes social. But although we’re witnessing more instances of octopuses interacting with one another—sharing dens, cooperatively hunting, or gathering in large numbers—can they form social bonds with humans? If an octopus seems to reach out to touch us, is it making a connection or just exploring the strange thing in front of it?

In this special episode Hakai Magazine managing editor Adrienne Mason and guests discuss how octopuses perceive their environments, the current understanding of octopus social behaviors, and how we might interpret interactions between humans and octopuses. Guests are researcher Piero Amodio, who studies the behavior and cognition of cephalopods (octopus, cuttlefish, and squid), and Ferris Jabr, who researched and wrote "Can We Really Be Friends with an Octopus?"

If you prefer to watch the discussion in video format, you can find it on YouTube, here: https://youtu.be/mU64zgVrtNU?t=170

Kelp Gets on the Carbon-Credit Bandwagon

by Nicola Jones • Is there potential for seaweeds to help solve the climate crisis?

The original story, along with photos, can be found on hakaimagazine.com.

Rebroadcast: Training the Polar Bear Patrol

by Eva Holland • A grassroots guard learns how to keep people and polar bears safe in a small Arctic community.

Originally published in May 2018, the story, along with photos, can be found on hakaimagazine.com.

Holy Mackerel, Where’d You Go?

by Moira Donovan • A beloved fish with a rich history has become hard to find—will it rise again?

The original story, along with photos and videos, can be found on hakaimagazine.com.

Can We Really Be Friends with an Octopus?

by Ferris Jabr • When octopuses are social, are they reaching out or simply reacting?

The original story, along with photos and videos, can be found on hakaimagazine.com.

Oil Rigs Are a Refuge in a Dying Sea

by Sasha Chapman • Our reliance on fossil fuels is harming marine ecosystems—but the platforms we use to extract oil are giving marine life new homes.

The original story, along with photos, can be found on hakaimagazine.com.

A Key Tool for Cleaning Up Oil Spills Is More Hazardous Than Helpful

by Ryan Stuart • In the decade since the record-breaking use of oil dispersants in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response, science shows they’re dangerous, potentially deadly, and rarely useful. A new court case is forcing the US EPA to reconsider their use.

The original story, along with photos, can be found on hakaimagazine.com.

Bonus Episode: Deep-Sea Mining Demystified

Determining the future of deep-sea mining has become a pressing issue for global society. What we do in the watery depths has direct implications for climate change, technology, marine life, and the financial autonomy of some island nations. If you’ve heard a little buzz about the topic but aren’t clear on the details, this online event is for you.

In this special episode, join Hakai Magazine news editor Colin Schultz and expert panelists John Jamieson, the Canada Research Chair on marine geology; Klaas Willaert, an expert on the law of the sea and a member of Belgium’s delegation to the International Seabed Authority; and Verena Tunnicliffe, a Canada Research Chair and expert on deep-sea biodiversity, for an engaging discussion. They’ll cover how and where minerals form, what the different types of deep-sea mining are, and how each may affect the environment—in the mining area, and far afield. They will also explore how these various forms of mining are regulated, and learn who ultimately holds the decision-making power to push deep-sea mining forward, or reign it in.

If you prefer to watch the discussion in video format, you can find it on YouTube, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMCAXa5wHeQ