S2 E5: Six Bleaching Events in Six Years: What Happens when Coral Bleaching Becomes Annual?

This week we're heading back to spectacular Lizard Island to uncover what’s changed since last year’s record-breaking coral bleaching event.

 New research station co-director Dr David Abrego takes us a vivid tour of this world-renowned reef science hub and shares the sobering reality of back-to-back bleaching events that are pushing corals to the brink.

 From flying over glittering turquoise waters to diving deep into marine heatwaves, coral adaptation, and reef restoration, this episode is a rollercoaster of awe, hope, and heartbreak. Discover why Lizard Island has been visited by the likes of David Attenborough and former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, how it inspired world heritage protection, and why what happens there could determine the fate of reefs everywhere.

Highlights include:

• The stunning geography and biodiversity of Lizard Island
• The science behind coral bleaching and why it’s now annual
• Hopeful insights into coral resilience and adaptation research
• What each of us can do—right now—to help protect the reef
• How solar-powered science and climate action are lighting the path forward

This is more than just a reef update—it’s a call to action. Because if we protect the reef, we protect ourselves.