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Can we save the world's coral?

Corals protect humans and marine life, but they could disappear by 2100. Graihagh Jackson hears from the scientists trying to grow more climate-proof versions.

Corals protect humans and sustain 25% of all marine life. But reefs are under threat from climate change, and mass bleaching events mean that some scientists estimate they could disappear by 2100.

In this episode, Graihagh Jackson is joined by BBC CrowdScience presenter, Caroline Steel. We go to Puerto Rico to see how self-duplicating, carnivorous coral could be the solution. We also speak to the scientist who helped discover what was causing coral bleaching in the first place - back when climate change was commonly denied.

This programme was first broadcast in 2024.

Guests:
Dr Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Professor of Marine Studies at the University of Queensland in Brisbane
Dr Stacey Williams, Executive Director at the Institute for Socio Ecological Research

Picture: Prickly alcyonarian - Dendronephthya sp. Orange red colored soft coral. Credit: ultramarinfoto via Getty.

Presenters: Graihagh Jackson and Caroline Steel
Producer: Octavia Woodward
Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown
Editor: Simon Watts
Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell

Got a climate question you’d like answered? E-mail the team: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

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26 minutes

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