State of the World from NPR Saving Coral in Colombia; Rating Your Taxi’s Smell in China
Oct 1, 2025
John Otis, an NPR reporter, interviews marine biologist Elvira Álvarado, the 'mother of coral,' who is passionately working on coral IVF techniques to restore Colombia's reefs. She shares her inspiring journey from diving enthusiast to pioneer in marine science, while explaining the threats to coral reefs and her goals for resilience. The conversation then shifts to China, where ride-hailing drivers are penalized for smelly cars, highlighting the challenges they face and the subjective nature of odor ratings in the industry.
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A Lifelong Calling Underwater
- Elvira Álvarado first felt awe exploring Caribbean coral nearly 50 years ago and it sparked her lifelong work.
- She witnessed corals bleaching and dying, which motivated her shift to reef restoration.
Coral IVF To Build Resilience
- Álvarado's team uses coral IVF to harvest eggs and sperm during a narrow annual spawning window.
- They rear embryos in nurseries and transplant genetically selected, heat-resistant coral back to reefs.
Realistic Goals For Restored Reefs
- Restoration can create reefs that resist warming but won't fully restore original biodiversity.
- Álvarado says future reefs will be different in diversity yet more heat-tolerant.