NPR Topics: Science · Aug 16, 2026

Billions of sea stars have died. A Northwest tribe is trying to save the species

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Sunflower sea stars are critically endangered in the Pacific Ocean. University of Washington researchers are working with the Samish Indian Nation to bring this 24-armed creature back from the brink of extinction.

Three-year-old sunflower stars explore the kelp forest for the first time. They come in a rainbow of colors but are all the same species. The stars in this cohort are called the "snack pack," so they all have snack names, from Cheeto and Noodles to Sweet Potato.

(Image credit: Jennifer Adler)

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