Scientists Invent Underwater Umbrellas to Protect Coral Reefs -- and It Appears to Be Working

Scientists say simple “underwater umbrellas” can reduce coral bleaching by shielding corals from sunlight that worsens heat stress. In a study published in Frontiers in Marine Science, researchers tested the shaded structures in the Caribbean and found the corals under shade suffered less bleaching; some even regained color. Lead author Karen Neely of Nova Southeastern University said the design works best for smaller, high-priority areas such as individual corals or nurseries, though future engineering could scale to larger reef sections. During summer 2024 in the Florida Keys, Neely’s team deployed 20 shade devices over 10 colonies of two brain-coral species, lowering light exposure by 60%.