Hakai Magazine Audio Edition

by Victor R. Rodríguez • International officials will soon decide the fate of Mexican totoaba fish farming—and with it, possibly the last glimmer of hope for the vaquita.

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

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.

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.

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?"

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.