GoKawiilStanford team finds bleached coral can recover when fused to healthy coral
Stanford researchers discovered that bleached coral fragments placed in direct contact with healthy coral regained their color within seven weeks, while fragments kept only millimeters apart but not touching died of starvation. The study, published in Science Advances, grew out of a chance 2025 observation by marine biologist Steve Palumbi of a dead coral piece leaning against a healthy one and regaining color.