Aqua

An aquarium has announced the arrival of seven African penguin chicks, a notable boost for a species listed as critically endangered in the wild. African penguin numbers have collapsed in recent decades due to overfishing, habitat loss and climate change, making successful breeding programmes at zoos and aquariums an important part of conservation efforts. The births are being celebrated as a small but meaningful contribution to keeping the species alive.

Engineers have unveiled an aquatic soft robot modeled on feather stars, marine invertebrates with feathery, flexible arms. The robot navigates in three dimensions using only two pneumatic actuators, demonstrating how biomimetic design can achieve complex movement with minimal hardware. Observers in the robotics and mechanical engineering communities have highlighted it as a notable example of biomimetics, pointing to potential uses in underwater exploration and marine research.

An artist taking part in CoinCoinTober, the October duck-themed art challenge on Mastodon, has posted a drawing of a red-crested pochard. The piece combines watercolour markers and watercolour pencils on watercolour paper. The artist says they are starting to find their footing with the mixed materials and finding the process fun, sharing the work under art, painting and bird-related hashtags as part of a year-long art practice.

An artist is taking part in the CoinCoinTober drawing challenge, sharing a watercolour illustration of a gadwall duck made with watercolour markers and water-soluble pencils on watercolour paper. The creator says they are getting more comfortable with the materials and finding the process fun. The item has so far drawn only light engagement from other users.

An artist has posted a new self-portrait created using mixed-media techniques, combining drawing with watercolor and aquarelle. The work was shared publicly under art hashtags including #selfportrait, #watercolor and #mixedmedia. The piece has drawn a small amount of early attention, with viewers able to follow the artist's output through the tagged art communities.

The Waikīkī Aquarium in Honolulu held a Deep-Sea Day event focused on the abyssal ocean, offering visitors an educational look at life in the ocean's deepest zones. The event, highlighted by the University of Hawaii, aims to raise public awareness of deep-sea ecosystems and the importance of protecting little-seen marine habitats.

An artist has shared an ink and wash painting of a blue-and-yellow macaw, rendered in watercolor and lined ink. The piece is being shared under wildlife and birding tags, with viewers praising the colorful parrot as a pretty bird. The artwork is drawing attention among nature and art lovers online.

The Cox Science Center & Aquarium in West Palm Beach is presenting a 'Cats & Dogs' exhibition, highlighting the science behind America's most popular pets. The feature is being promoted by local lifestyle and regional press as a family-friendly attraction, inviting visitors to explore animal behavior, senses and biology through hands-on displays.

Aquanova reports that its delivery technology improves the absorption of xanthohumol, a compound derived from hops, according to a clinical study. The finding, covered by Nutrition Insight, points to potential applications in supplements and functional nutrition, where xanthohumol's bioavailability has traditionally been a limiting factor for product development.

Skidaway Marine Science Day is returning to the University of Georgia's Skidaway Island campus in Savannah, Georgia, offering free admission to the UGA Aquarium. The annual event showcases marine science research and coastal education, drawing families and visitors to explore the aquarium and campus facilities without charge.

Aquatic Crew, a cozy ship-management simulation game set on the Côte d'Azur of the 1970s, has received its store page ahead of release. Players will lead diving expeditions inspired by the legendary Jacques Cousteau, searching for sunken treasures and fame while managing their vessel and crew along the French Mediterranean coast.

A new program lets children in Baltimore earn free admission to the National Aquarium by reading. Local outlet WBAL-TV reported the initiative, which ties reading goals to aquarium tickets as a reward for young participants.

A French-speaking artist has posted a new piece for the CoinCoinTober daily art challenge: a Mandarin duck drawn with a mix of felt-tip pens and watercolor pencils on white paper. The work, tagged with art challenge and no-AI hashtags, is drawing small but positive engagement from the community.

ScubaFit and Aqua Body Strong are offering dive centers a new program combining scuba diving with fitness training, aimed at generating additional revenue and building community around dive shops. The companies position the offering as a way for operators to attract fitness-minded customers and diversify beyond traditional dive courses and charters, though details of the partnership or rollout remain limited.

Birdwatchers are highlighting the dipper, the UK's only aquatic songbird, which lives along fast-flowing streams in Scotland, Wales and northern and south-western England. Enthusiasts say the bird is easy to miss until you learn its characteristic dipping movement and where to look. The sighting notes are drawing appreciation from nature lovers sharing their own spotting tips.

Staff from the Los Angeles Zoo, the Aquarium of the Pacific and the U.S. Geological Survey have released 653 endangered southern mountain yellow-legged frogs into the San Gabriel Mountains. The release is described as a major milestone for local wildlife conservation, boosting survival prospects for the declining California-native species Rana muscosa in its historic habitat.

MIT researchers have developed an aquabot — a paper-thin swimming robot powered by living muscle cells rather than motors or batteries. The cell-driven swimmer can navigate its way through a maze, demonstrating precise, untethered movement at tiny scales. The work highlights how biological actuators could enable soft, miniature robots for medicine or environmental sensing, and it is drawing attention across robotics and biotech communities.

The PlayStation title Aquanaut's Holiday, developed by Sony, is marking its thirtieth anniversary of release in Spain. Retro gaming fans are recalling the underwater exploration game, remembered as an early simulation and adventure classic from the original PlayStation era, with posts celebrating the milestone and its place in gaming history.

Aquaculture Europe 2026 is putting circular economy approaches at the heart of its discussions, with a focus on turning waste into a resource. The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency highlighted how reusing nutrients and by-products from fish farming can cut pollution and create value. The event is expected to draw researchers, industry players and policymakers working on sustainable aquaculture across Europe.

The North Myrtle Beach Aquatic & Fitness Center is launching a fundraising effort to support the fight against breast cancer. The South Carolina facility is organizing the campaign to raise money for the cause, adding to local community efforts around breast cancer awareness and research.

A regional weekend roundup highlights three entertainment options: a show by ska band The Aquabats, a vocal seminar hosted by Vita Nova Entertainment, and an event featuring Nor Cal Roller Derby. The list gives residents a quick guide to concerts, training workshops and local sports happening over the coming weekend.