In a rare piece of uplifting environmental news, marine ecologists have documented an extraordinary biological phenomenon that could transform coral reef conservation. Field experiments revealed that severely bleached corals can experience a rapid, near-instantaneous recovery within just a few days if they maintain direct physical contact with a healthy neighboring colony. This rapid exchange of symbiotic algae and vital nutrients offers a powerful natural mechanism against marine heatwaves caused by severe El Niño events, providing new pathways for active reef restoration strategies globally.
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