From a Dozen Pairs to a Record Year: The Great Lakes Piping Plover Comeback
By 1990, only about a dozen pairs of Great Lakes piping plovers were left. In 2026, 99 pairs nested on all five Great Lakes and a record 184 chicks took flight.
Divers Rode a “Coral Torpedo” Into the Deep Gulf to Replant a Broken Reef
In spring 2026, a NOAA ship crew and technical divers outplanted propagated mesophotic corals on seafloor habitat still healing from the Deepwater Horizon spill — and photographed every step.
Four Astronauts Flew Around the Moon — and Brought Home Photos of Earth Rising Over Another World
In April 2026, Artemis II became the first crewed lunar flyby in more than 50 years. NASA’s public-domain images from the voyage are as stunning as the milestone itself.
When Arctic Air Hit Florida, Rescuers Saved More Than 600 Cold-Stunned Sea Turtles
In February 2026, a historic cold snap left green turtles floating helpless in St. Joseph Bay. NOAA and partners pulled more than 600 to safety — and brought most of them home.
He Opened His Eyes Between Two Carcasses: How Alaska Saved Walrus Calf Annautaq
Near Point Lay, Iḷisaġvik intern Violet Anniskett saw a walrus carcass move — and found orphaned calf Annautaq. True story with authentic USGS public-domain photos.