Episode Details

How 5 billion sea stars died is a story that shook marine ecosystems along North America’s Pacific coast. This episode dives into the groundbreaking discovery of the bacterium Vibrio pectenicida, the pathogen responsible for sea star wasting disease, which decimated up to 90% of sunflower sea stars. We explore how the loss of these predators caused sea urchin populations to explode, leading to widespread kelp forest destruction, and what new recovery strategies—such as captive breeding, probiotics, and climate monitoring—could mean for the species and the habitats they support. By understanding the science and the solutions, we can help restore balance to one of the ocean’s most important coastal ecosystems.

Link to article: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/04/science/sea-stars-disease-vibrio-pectenicida.html