{
  "id": 6589295,
  "title": "Meet the coral matchmakers betting on Florida’s toughest survivors",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/meet-the-coral-matchmakers-betting-on-floridas-toughest-survivors",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-10T13:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2026/09/10/meet-the-coral-matchmakers-betting-on-floridas-toughest-survivors/234665"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Off Florida's coast, a team of scientists and volunteers in scuba gear is descending to the ocean floor to plant young coral onto a reef and monitor its health in the increasingly warm waters. The University of Miami's \"Rescue a Reef\" program is dedicated to advancing conservation efforts and raising awareness about this critical work. Programme manager Devon Ledbetter explained that some coral species are more resilient to rapidly warming oceans due to climate change. The program has planted 615 coral this summer, with 228 being part of a thermal bleaching study. Their findings are given to state environmental and wildlife authorities. Coral reefs protect coastlines from erosion and flooding, but are facing grave dangers from the warming climate. While the fourth global coral bleaching event concluded in mid-2025, an upcoming strong El Nino could bring more widespread bleaching, including in Florida's waters. The program began in 2015 and, in addition to its scientific goals, aims to educate the public and rebuild the ecosystem \"one coral at a time.\" Even with the end of the bleaching event, sea surface temperatures remain higher than they were 25 to 30 years ago.",
  "summary": "MIAMI, Sept 10 — Off Florida’s coast, a team of scientists and trained volunteers in scuba gear descends to...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}