Scientists reverse coral bleaching quickly using new Stanford method
Stanford researchers reversed coral bleaching at record speed by touching healthy fragments to dying ones in a lab.
Corals that turned ghostly white returned to full health in just seven weeks during this specific laboratory experiment. This rapid recovery is the fastest documented case for bleached corals returning to life so far today.
Scientists observed that bleached corals touched by healthy clones fully recovered through brief physical contact between the two distinct groups. Healthy corals sent life-giving algae and nutrients to starving partners to kickstart the recovery process within only three days.
Lead author Danny Collins explained that while bleached corals seem dying, they are not actually dead yet when they touch healthy tissue. Genetically identical corals recognize each other and fuse their tissues to create microscopic channels allowing nutrients to flow freely.
Algae inside the damaged pieces multiplied at ten times the normal speed, doubling every four days during the second week. Once the pairs were separated, the healing finished in seven weeks, the same time needed for those left touching.